Page 37 of Deals & Dream Spells (The Charmed Leaf Legacy #2)
“The elaborate conspiracy of asparagus appreciation,” Rosavyn declared, her eyes alight with mirth. “An agreement among the elite to pretend that this objectively unpleasant vegetable is somehow the height of culinary sophistication.”
They both dissolved into laughter, Mariselle allowing herself to once again conveniently ‘forget’ the years of family enmity that stood between them.
It was only when she noticed Evryn watching her with bemusement and …
something else she couldn’t quite determine that she forced herself to straighten in her seat, pressing her lips together in a vain attempt to compose her features into something more befitting a Brightcrest in enemy territory.
“I beg your pardon,” she said to Lady Lelianna, smoothing her skirts. “I didn’t mean to speak so … freely.”
“No need to apologize,” Lady Lelianna assured her.
“As you can see, my children express themselves without reservation. Though I do occasionally wish they would temper their candor with a modicum of decorum, particularly when we have guests.” She directed a pointed gaze first at Rosavyn, then Evryn.
Evryn leaned toward Mariselle, his shoulder brushing against hers as he spoke in a mock whisper loud enough for everyone to hear. “Mother pretends to be horrified by some of our more inappropriate comments, but we’ve caught her laughing behind her napkin far too often to be fooled.”
Lady Lelianna’s lips pursed in exaggerated disapproval. She began to scold her son, but Mariselle was only vaguely aware of her words, distracted by Evryn’s proximity and the way his breath ghosted across her cheek as he laughed.
She was reminded suddenly of the night they’d soared above the Dreamland ruins astride his pegasus, Evryn’s arm encircling her waist, holding her firmly against him.
At the time, she’d been entirely consumed by the glowing light of the lumyrite network illuminated across the ground below, by the thrill of discovering it perfectly intact.
It wasn’t until they’d begun their descent that she’d become aware of his nearness and how it wasn’t entirely …
unpleasant. How she seemed to fit perfectly within the circle of his arm.
He drew back now, the moment of feigned intimacy having passed, and she shook her head a little, forcing her shoulders back. The bracelet slid down her arm, a reminder of his latest magical trick, no doubt designed to spring some mortifying surprise at the most inopportune moment.
The remainder of tea passed in more traditional conversation—the weather, upcoming social events, the latest ridiculous rumors the gossip birds were spreading. Yet something had shifted in the atmosphere. Rosavyn’s hostile edge had softened, and Aurelise has warmed up considerably.
As the tea service was cleared away, Lady Lelianna turned to Mariselle with a warm smile. “You simply must join us again soon,” she said. “Perhaps next week?”
“That’s very kind,” Mariselle replied. “I shall have to consult my calendar, but … yes, I would enjoy that.”
Evryn escorted her to the entrance hall, where Tilly had already been summoned from below stairs. As they waited for the butler to retrieve Mariselle’s gloves, Evryn leaned slightly closer.
“You survived,” he observed, his voice pitched for her ears alone. “And even managed to find common ground with Rosavyn, which I frankly thought impossible. I remain convinced that asparagus is perfectly acceptable, however. In fact, I rather like it.”
“Your judgment is clearly impaired,” Mariselle replied, though without real heat. “Though your family is … not what I expected.”
Something flickered in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could respond, the butler returned with her gloves, and the moment passed.
“I wonder how you’ll fare when it’s your turn to visit my family,” Mariselle said, tugging her gloves on. “That should prove interesting.”
Evryn’s brows shot up. “My turn?”
She stifled a groan but kept her smile firmly in place, mindful of Tilly and the butler still close by.
“My birthday dinner two weeks hence,” she explained.
“Mother will put on her usual show of organizing a simple family gathering, and it occurs to me now that it would look rather odd if my supposed beloved didn’t attend. ”
“Your birthday?” Evryn blinked in surprise. “I had no idea.”
“A formal invitation will be delivered soon,” she said, then added in an overly bright and entirely fake tone, “Something to look forward to!”
The journey home passed in contemplative silence, with Tilly occasionally glancing at her mistress but seeming to understand that Mariselle needed the sanctuary of her own thoughts. She stared out the carriage window, her mind a tumult of conflicting emotions.
The Rowanwoods had been nothing like what she’d been raised to expect.
There had been no coldly calculating plots, no obvious magical manipulations, no evidence of the heartless ambition her parents had always attributed to them.
Instead, she’d witnessed warmth, genuine affection, and the kind of easy family dynamic she hadn’t been aware was even possible.
Had it all been an elaborate performance for her benefit? She didn’t think so. The siblings’ interactions had felt too natural, too unguarded to be mere theater. And what would the point have been in a performance like that? No, it had to have been genuine.
The thought was mildly terrifying, for if the Rowanwoods were not as she had been taught, what else might be untrue?
A deep, aching sadness settled over her. Whether genuine or not, the Rowanwoods’ family dynamic had shown her everything that was lacking in her own. The contrast between their easy affection and the cold formality of Brightcrest Manor had never been more stark.
And regardless of how enjoyable the afternoon had been, the fact remained: this was all temporary.
She would never truly be part of their family.
Once Dreamland was restored and the magical contract fulfilled, the charade would end.
Evryn would return to his life, she to hers, and this brief glimpse of what family could be would fade into distant memory.
But she refused to surrender to such melancholy.
Once Dreamland stood restored—her vision made manifest, her true abilities finally revealed—everything would change.
Her parents would see her, truly see her, for perhaps the first time.
She harbored no illusions that they would transform into the warm, affectionate family she’d glimpsed today; that fantasy was too far-fetched even for her dreamer’s heart.
But there would be respect where now there was only dismissal.
Recognition where now there was only oversight.
Things would be different. They would be better .
And that had always been the true purpose behind this desperate gamble.