The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)(105)

“No, thank you.” She shared a knowing smile with her mother-in-law, Henrietta. “When we read my destiny card at the beginning of the pregnancy, I drew the Keeper of Roses.”

When they saw my blank look, Henrietta asked, “Aren’t you familiar with the card?”

“I’m not familiar with any of the cards,” I admitted. I realized they were talking about the Deanzan cards, like the pack Ada had had. Ordinary people used them for games and fortune-telling. For the Alanzans, the cards had a more sacred meaning and were holy to Deanziel, the moon angel who governed inner wisdom.

Alice’s frown smoothed out, but her confusion remained. “When Cedric introduced you as his fiancée, I just assumed . . .”

“That I was Alanzan?” I finished.

Both looked embarrassed, and then Alice asked, “Are you going to convert after you’re married?”

“I hadn’t planned on it.”

“Then why go to the trouble of raising money for Westhaven now?” asked Henrietta. The Galvestons would’ve liked to go there as well but were waiting until the colony was more settled and required no charter fees. They hoped to earn money in gold in the meantime.

“For Cedric. I want him to be able to practice safely. And he’s very interested in taking up a leadership role there,” I explained. “Being a charter member would help with that.” Awkward silence fell, and I tried to fill it when it was clear they wouldn’t. “So. What does the Keeper of Roses mean?”

For a moment, I didn’t think they’d tell me. “It shows a man who works hard in his garden, protecting delicate flowers against harsh conditions. He’s ultimately rewarded with beautiful blooms,” said Henrietta.

I turned to Alice. “So for you, it’s symbolic of the pregnancy. You’re going through a lot of tough times now, facing a lot of hardships on this journey . . . but your baby will be born healthy and strong, ultimately flourishing as the roses do. I’d hope the card’s message could be extrapolated to your family’s all-around prosperity in Hadisen.”

Both women stared at me in astonishment.

“Was I close?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Henrietta at last. “Something like that.” Her eyes lifted beyond me. “Glen! Get down from there before you break your neck.”

The two young Galveston daughters were splashing in shallow water, but the younger son was trying to climb some of the rocky outcroppings that marked the beginning of the foothills and mountains. He wasn’t going to get very high free-handed, but I could understand her concern. He didn’t seem to hear.

“I’ll go get him,” I said. I rose, both wanting to be helpful and get away from the stares.

Glen had made impressive progress getting up, which only meant he was in more danger if he slipped and fell.

“Glen,” I said. “Your mother wants you. It’s too dangerous up there.”

He didn’t even look at me. “Just a minute. I’ve almost got another one.”

“Another what?”

He stretched his arm up to a small jutting of stone and whooped triumphantly. Then he scrabbled down like some kind of rock lizard. The front of his overalls had a huge pocket that was filled with rocks. He slipped his shiny new find in with the rest.

I beckoned him back toward his family. “Isn’t that heavy to carry around?”

“It’s for my collection. I’ve got dozens more. Did you know there are people—special smart people—back in Osfrid who study rocks all the time?”

“I do know that. They’re called geologists.”

“Geologists.” He said the word like he was tasting it.

“The king commissions them to travel and learn new things about rocks and minerals.”

“I’d like to do that. But once we’ve got enough gold for a farm, they say I’ll have to help work it.”

I patted his head. “Never assume you’ll have to follow the destiny someone else has planned out for you. And I’ll show you some other neat rocks.”

I walked him over to the shaded pond, where I’d previously noticed some small mottled pebbles. Glen was fascinated, and I left him to it, figuring he couldn’t get in much trouble. As I approached the others from the back of the shanty, I overheard Henrietta speaking to Cedric.

“—not my place, but are you sure that’s the best idea?”

“Of course it is,” said Cedric. “I love her.”

“That’s fine and well, but you’re letting yourself get charmed by a pretty face. Once you’re out of bed, you’ll see the real consequences. What are you going to do when you have children? I hope you’re at least going to make her convert.”

“No one makes her do anything. As for children . . .” Here, Cedric hesitated. “Well, we’ll get around to discussing it.”

“You’d better discuss it now,” said Francis. “It’s a serious matter. You’re an educated man with a business background—exactly the kind the Alanzans need to go forward and build respectability for the future. Founding Westhaven is the right way to do this. But how will it look if your own wife isn’t a member of the faith?”

“It’ll look like she has her own opinions and goes with them—just as we’ve been telling the orthodox we have the right to do. And the point of Westhaven is to welcome people of all beliefs. Alanzan or otherwise.”