You Are Mine (Mine #1)(71)

Zade recovers much faster than I do. “Thank you.”

“You'll have to forgive Councilman Daniel, he's unavailable to greet you himself.”

This explains her sole presence. Yet, why let his wife greet us by herself instead of a servant?

“Don't worry about it,” Zade says.

“I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Annabelle, Councilman Daniel's.”

“Pleasure to meet you. I'm Chancellor Zade and this is my intended, Serena.” I give a curtsy enjoying this introduction better than the one Thomas always gave at the tournament. “I've enjoyed working with Councilman Daniel. He's a good man.”

“Yes, he is. Won't you please sit?” She indicates a couch with a table in front of it filled with refreshments.

I perch on the couch. Once I'm arranged, Zade says, “You have some nice hunting grounds. I wonder if you'd let me explore them.”

Annabelle's smile widens. “Please, feel free. Would you like someone to show you around or do you prefer solitary exploration?”

“Solitary exploration suits me.” He kisses my gloved hand. Heat floods my checks. It must have been to help spread word that he's interested in me as a wife. Though it's only to save his life, it doesn't stop the warmth sweeping through me. “Enjoy your visit.” With a bow at Annabelle, he leaves the room.

I stare after him feeling lost. He's taken charge of everything until this point. I squeeze my hands together, wishing they were free of their gloves.

“Just us girls then.” Annabelle settles in a chair across from me.

I pull the invitation out of my handbag and give it to her. Before I have too much time to think on it, I say, “We're hosting a ball and would like the privilege of having the company of your husband and you.”

“Hand delivering the invitations, what a nice touch.” Her eyes brighten as she scans it. “And it's been spelled. However did your future husband come up with the idea?”

After grabbing a cup and saucer off the tables, I take a sip of lemon water, trying to think of what I can say and what I should avoid. “He's Envadi, you know. He has new ideas about a great many things.”

“I've heard.” She grabs her own cup. “If you don't mind my asking, what did he think of your engagement dress?”

The cup slips on my saucer. I hurry to correct it before it spills. Either she was there or word must be traveling about my taboo incident. She's curt. Two can play at that game.

“He approved. Did you know that in Envado, they don't have engagement ceremonies and when they marry, the bride wears a white dress sort of like a ball gown, trimmed with their favorite color of ribbons and flowers?”

Her brows shoot up. “I hadn't heard.” After taking a sip, she says, “I would've enjoyed a wedding dress like that.”

My breath goes out of me. She's perfect to introduce to Katherine. Afraid it will give away my shaking hands, I set my cup down. “If you're interested, I know someone who creates magnificent dresses. She's making my ball gown. In fact, she made this as well.”

“That dress. Really?” She sets her own cup down. “It's beautiful, but does seem a little different.”

I take a deep breath. I want to help Katherine, but I don't want to endanger either of us or Zade. Whatever trouble I get in will reflect poorly on him and make things worse. “The buttons in the back are only decoration. These laces in the front are the true way of tightening and loosening the gown. I often dress and undress myself.”

“Often? You have other dresses like this?” Her face is void of emotion.

Suddenly, I feel as if I've said too much. Given too much away. I haven't mentioned Katherine's name yet. Perhaps she can escape punishment. But I've put myself and Zade in danger.

A moment passes. Though I try hard not to, I end up fidgeting with my gloves. How can I reply to ease her fears about me?

“I'm afraid I've been too frank,” she says. “I didn't mean to scare you. It's just, your engagement dress was a welcome change. To know you've also managed to change your everyday dresses is unbelievable. I'd love to know who your seamstress is and utilize her.”

Relief rushes through me. “Your husband wouldn't mind?”

“No more than yours.” She grins.

But will she mind the seamstress? “What are your feelings on the tarnished?”

She mumbles, “We, uh, don't have any tarnished servants.”

“You don't? How do you manage without them?” I've never heard of such a thing before. Even Zade has tarnished servants.

A high-pitched laugh bounces through the room. “Oh, we get by.”

“Your husband must be owed a lot.”

She grabs a pastry. “Before getting on the council, he was a banker. Met a lot of people who were trying their best to stay out of debt but struggling. He now hires some of them and pays them to help keep them out of debt.”

This is going better than expected. “Our owners are more alike than we first thought. Mine also pays his workers, though he also employs the tarnished at the same price instead of giving them just food and shelter.”

The pastry falls to her lap. “He pays the tarnished?”