Page 80 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 1

"Lady Beatrice," the seamstress says to get my attention.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering which of these designs you preferred." She holds out a couple of drawings for me to look at. Both are beautiful, with wide black skirts and red highlights. "I'll switch the red for orange for the All Hallow's Ball, and create you a matching mask."

I'm a little taken aback by the fact I get to choose, I assumed it would all be decided for me and delivered to my room like my other dresses. "I think this one?" I point to the drawing on the left.

"An excellent choice." She bows and disappears out of the room, leaving me alone with my brother.

Bastian watches me with a curious expression on his face.

"Yes?" I prompt him.

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this before."

"In fairness, I haven't had much of a reason to have an opinion on ball gowns before." I shrug.

"It's not that, you're different here than you were at home."

I meet his gaze, steeling myself for the insult that I half-suspect might come. "So are you," I respond.

"I did tell you that this place would give us a chance to be who we were meant to be," he says. "Do you at least see now why I wanted to come?"

"I already understood why you wanted to come here, Bash. You explained it just fine the night we arrived." The events of the Golden Moon are seared into my memory and into my nightmares. I'm not about to forget them any time soon.

"I'd hoped you'd really understand. If you like it here..."

"I like not having to worry about the leaky roof," I respond. "Having good food to eat, a comfortable bed, somewhere safe for Pip where she never has to go without." And having someone I can talk to about anything. But I don't add that part. I'm not supposed to be thinking about Linc like that, and even if I was, I don't think Bastian would appreciate knowing that.

He steps forward. "That's why I did this."

"No, Bastian, you did this because you always wanted more power than you had."

"Didn't you? We were left powerless after Da died, I just wanted to change that." His voice breaks a little.

"I understand," I say firmly, not adding that it doesn't excuse some of the things he's done since he arrived here. It isn't an excuse for lying to me in order to get me to Castle Sanulieon, or killing a woman in front of me. But it is understandable. "I need to go speak to Lord Fal-our father now."

He looks like he wants to say something else, but I don't think there's anything else for him to say. What's done is done, and there's no going back. And if he wants me to forgive and forget, then he's in for a shock.

SIX

I knock on the study door, surprisingly nervous about coming here. I've never been inside before, and now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever been alone with Lord Fallmartin either. Which is a surprise considering I've lived here for nearly two months already.

"Come in," he calls.

I push open the door and step inside.

"Ah, Beatrice, please take a seat." He gestures to the chair on the opposite side of his desk.

I take a deep breath and sit down, moving my skirt so it doesn't get trapped beneath me. I slip my hand into my pocket and fiddle with the key Linc gave me. It's surprisingly soothing to keep it in my pocket.

"Bastian's wedding will happen the week after next," he says.

"I see." I don't. There's no reason for him to call me into his study to tell me that.

"Once his wedding is past, we'll need to start properly preparing you for yours."

"Preparing me?" I echo, a hint of dread within me.