Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Choice

Satrine

Loren and I sat in the carriage, practically fused to each other’s sides, and I was as enthralled as he in how he was fiddling with my fingers.

“I daresay…”

I blinked and my head came up to see Aunt Mary sitting across from us.

I was so into my guy, I totally forgot she was there.

Then again, my guy was life. All broody, needing-me, hot-AF-in-bed, romantic, dashing, with a healthy dose of kickass vigilante thrown in, who could blame me?

Mary had her own carriage but demanded to ride with us when Loren escorted me the short distance home, completely oblivious (or not?) to the fact that we might want some privacy while that happened considering I actually didn’t need an escort at all.

Fortunately, this had given me the opportunity to run some interference. This interference took the form of me writing a heavily nuanced note to Mom about the fact Aunt Mary was in town and she was to stay with us, and then we sent her carriage ahead of us.

I just hoped Mom was preparing, and not freaking.

But considering how I felt when I first laid eyes on Dad’s aunt, I had a feeling she was.

Aunt Mary, a woman who was born closer to Dad’s age then my granddad’s, so she was more like an aunt/sister to him. A woman who was totally OTT, but in a hilarious way. A woman who was sharp as a tack, and therefore had Dad’s number (to the point she tried to warn Mom off in the beginning, alas, Mom was in love with a charming snake, so it didn’t work).

A woman we got after the divorce because she loved us, we loved her, and we all shared something huge: We all kept hoping Dad would be a good guy when he just wasn’t.

This world’s Aunt Mary, one could say the drama was at fever pitch.

But she was a scream, and more, it seemed so far so good with Mom and me not getting found out.

“…you two owe me a debt of gratitude,” she went on. “For obviously, you are most enamored with each other. And equally obviously, it is me who had the foresight, indeed, it could almost be described as beneficent clairvoyance, to arrange your marriage.”

Loren did not make note that the woman had no idea I existed therefore she couldn’t possibly have done that.

He said, “Lady Mary, rest assured, you have my undying gratitude.”

Aww!

“As it should be,” she snipped.

I swallowed back laughter.

Loren’s fingers closed around mine and he tucked my hand close to his chest.

I looked up at his profile, his strong jaw, his long lashes, and my heart squeezed knowing Mom and me…

We were never, ever going home.

I was never leaving him.

I was in deep with him.

And he needed me.

So I was going nowhere.

Fortunately, from our discussion before it all went down last night, I knew Mom agreed with this.

So we were set.

We were here, and here we would stay.

And I couldn’t say I didn’t grieve our family, my friends, the concept that I’d never again drink a Diet Coke.

But the truth of it was, at this point, if I was given a choice, I would choose here.

Maxine.

Ansley.

And Loren.

As the ride was short, on this thought, it was over, I knew this as the carriage swayed to a halt.

And as was obviously her wont, Aunt Mary didn’t delay in bringing the drama.

She released the catch on the door, kicked it open with her boot, and shouted to Edgecomb, one of our footmen, who was currently racing to the carriage, “You there! Stop dallying! See to these steps this instant!”

I couldn’t swallow that giggle.

Loren gave my fingers a squeeze on his chuckle.

We were then treated to the highly enjoyable show of Aunt Mary trying to exit the carriage at the same time keep a hat on her head that was bigger than the door to said carriage.

She managed it.

Loren alighted before me so he could help me out as Edgecomb was escorting Aunt Mary to our front door, which was thrown open before she climbed the second step.

“Auntie Mary!” Maxine cried, darting down the steps.

I stopped dead.

I’d never seen her so animated.

They embraced.

I heard Aunt Mary mumble, “My beauteous beauty.”

Maxine sprung back.

“You’re here!”

“I am, my dearest,” Mary confirmed.

“You met Sattie and Lorie?” she asked.

“Lorie?” Loren murmured.

I pressed tighter to his side, overwhelmed by this.

The doctor had said we needed to be patient. That Maxine would respond to stability, begin to sense she was loved and being looked after, and then she would blossom. That the more she was around the people with whom she’d be sharing her life, even if she wasn’t directly interacting with them, the more comfortable she would be, and the more she would come out of her shell.

Loren hadn’t been around that much, but he was around.

Thus, it seemed the doc knew what he was talking about.

“Yes, my darling girl,” Mary responded.

“She’s my sister!” Maxine exclaimed excitedly.

Oh shit.

I was going to cry.

Loren dropped my hand and wrapped his arm around me.

“Indeed, she is, my dear,” Aunt Mary replied.

But her voice was weird.

This made me focus on her.

She was now gazing up the steps to where Mom was standing, Carling (as ever) hovering at her shoulder.

Oh shit times two.

I was about to hustle forward in an effort to continue running interference.

But Mom floated gracefully down the steps, took Mary by the arms, bent to touch cheek one, then cheek two, and kept hold of her as she pulled back.

“Mary,” she whispered.

“I am…quite…overwhelmed.” Aunt Mary’s voice was husky.

And again, I was going to cry.

I turned into Loren and pushed close.

“Let’s get you inside. There’s much to share,” Mom said.

Oh boy.

But Mary’s hand darted up, she pressed her fingers to Mom’s mouth, Mom’s eyes crossed to look at them, I nearly let out a hysterical laugh, and Mary spoke.

“We shan’t speak of it. Ever. It’s unspeakable. It is good I’ve arrived, Corliss. I will be your shield. There isn’t a member of the peerage who would cross me. The deeds have been done. The stories have been told to the proper authorities. They never need be uttered again. And that is behind us.”

Okay, seriously.

Everything just…

Fell into place.

I mean, maybe Mom was right.

With the way things kept happening, it felt like we were supposed to be here.

Mary raised her parasol like a banner before her, hooking Mom’s elbow with her own and forging forward so Mom had no choice but to forge with her.

“Now, we look to the future!” she proclaimed like she was releasing a battle cry. “And leave the wicked ways of the past behind!”

They disappeared inside.

Maxine came to us, and I wasn’t proud of it, but my mouth was agape as she clasped Loren’s other arm and made us forge ahead too.

“Auntie Mary’s always a load of fun,” she shared.

“We’re learning that, poppet,” Loren muttered.

Poppet?

Maxine gazed up at him with bright eyes.

Oh my God!

Wasn’t he just the best?

We made it into the house just as Mary was nearly shouting, “By Brigid! The wonders you have wrought! And I’m barely but ten steps inside!” She whirled on us. “Maxine. Come here, child. You and your mother are going to take me on a tour of these delightful changes you’ve made. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

Maxine let Loren go and dashed to Mary.

“Carling, send someone to follow with pen and paper,” Mary demanded. “I might have notes.”

“Right away, milady,” Carling replied, and took off.

Mom looked over her shoulder at me as she pulled Mary and Maxine to the stairs, saying, “First, let’s start in Maxine’s room. I want your opinion. We’re redoing it. There’s this lovely yellow wallpaper that we’ve found.”

“Yellow, my dear?” Mary asked while they went up the steps, those words coming out like, the color of vomit, my dear? “Everyone knows a bedroom should be blue.”

They disappeared up the stairs.

Loren turned me into his arms.

Mm.

This felt good.

When I caught his eyes, I said, “Hi.”

“We’re going to Le Cirque Magique for dinner tonight.”

Nice.

Our first date.

Instead of shouting Yippee! I said, “All right.”

“Tell Idina to pack a case. Your mother’s home is getting crowded. Tonight, you’ll again be staying with me.”

Nice!

“Righty ho,” I agreed, grinning.

He studied my mouth before he kissed the grin right off it.

I was panting when he lifted his head and shared, “Now, I have some things I need to do. I’ll arrive to collect you at seven this eve.”

Ummmmmm…

The brazen schemer!

I squinted my eyes at him and held on when it seemed he was going to let me go.

“That kiss was awesome, my lord, but not so fast.”

His lips twitched.

“Do these things have anything to do with a certain Madam Dupont?” I demanded to know.

“Darling.”

I waited.

Apparently, that was all he was going to say.

“Loren,” I snapped.

“I won’t exert myself. I promise.”

“I should hope not, since you also promised you healed fast, and I would hate to feel the need to sleep alone in my own bed to allow you room to do that.”

He gathered me back to him and put his lips to mine.

“This is most assuredly incentive to see to my health.”

“Indeed,” I agreed.

I felt his lips smile against mine, he kissed me again, this time hella more thoroughly, so I was swaying and dazed when he ended it, lifted up, kissed my forehead and murmured, “See you at seven.”

And then he was away.