Page 3 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2

"Very well. I shall send an invitation. I was also hoping to invite Lord Wentworth," Lord Fallmartin says.

"Should I know him?" I attempt to recall the crests. "Wentworth is a blue crest with a bird of some kind, right?"

Lord Fallmartin looks pleased. "Yes, indeed. He has a head for numbers, and is one of the reasons the royal family is as wealthy as they are."

The realisation sinks in that he wants to invite him because of the potential advantages of forming a business partnership. It's an interesting way to look at invitations for social events, and even if I'm not entirely sure how to make the most of it, it's something I should definitely consider when I'm the one sending out invitations.

"Is there anyone you wish to invite?" Lord Fallmartin asks Bastian.

He shrugs, a sour expression on his face. "Not particularly. It's not as if I can dance with who I want."

Lord Fallmartin ignores his sulking and turns his attention to me. "I also wanted to talk to you about your tutor."

"My tutor?"

"You said you wished to continue in your history studies," Lord Fallmartin says. "I've employed a tutor to work with you on that. He'll also be helping you with reading, writing, and arithmetic. If there are other subjects you discover that you wish to learn more about, then we can discuss those in the future. I've also arranged for him to teach Bastian at the same time."

My brother sits up straighter. "What?"

"You're my heir," Lord Fallmartin says, taking a moment to eat some of his food. "There are things you need to know how to do, and it's time you learned. The tutor is coming to teach Beatrice, so he can come to teach you too."

"I don't need a tutor, I'm not a child," Bastian says.

"You're acting like one," Bella mutters under her breath.

I smother a laugh, doing my best not to show my amusement on my face. That will only make matters worse.

"Neither is Beatrice, but she sees the advantages of learning," Lord Fallmartin responds off-handedly. "Your first lessons will be tomorrow afternoon, I expect you both to be there on time." The way he looks at Bastian makes it clear that he's not aiming the statement at me.

I'll have to rearrange my time in the library with Linc, but I think he'll understand, especially when it means that I'll be able to understand more of his books at the end of it. As much as he says it doesn't bother him, I know he'd prefer it if we could read some of his favourites together and then talk about them.

"Thank you," I say to Lord Fallmartin.

He gives me a surprisingly genuine smile and finishes his breakfast, while Bastian stews in his seat at the end of the table.

Lord Fallmartin rises, and we all do the same.

"Bastian, you should attend my morning meetings with me," he says, barely looking at my brother before sweeping out of the room.

Bastian scowls at the instruction but downs the rest of his blood and stalks after Lord Fallmartin.

"Well, I guess we know who Uncle Gerard's favourite is," Bella says, leaning back in her chair.

"What do you mean?"

She rolls her eyes. "Please, don't play coy. I know you're smarter than that."

"I'm not his favourite."

"I think you'll find you are," she responds. "No one plans a ball in a week without a good reason to."

"He said that was for Bastian."

"If it was for Bastian, then he would have mentioned it the moment the two of you came to court," she responds. "He's known when your birthday is the entire time."

I open my mouth to protest, but close it again when I realise I don't know how to.

"You're marrying a prince, and you've clearly said something that impressed Uncle Gerard, so now you're the favourite," she says.