Page 116 of His Greatest Treasure

Seren already had his phone out – although actually it looked like he took his mate’s phone – and was scrolling through for his elder’s number. “Excuse me a moment.”

His mate followed him out of the room and I wasn’t sure whether he would always do that or whether it was because he had to walk past Kingsley to get out. Not that Kingsley was moving anywhere. He had his arms around Glimmer’s waist and was watching us all with interest.

When Seren came back in, he stayed near Glimmer, too.

“Nana says she’ll ask around about Rhod and Glenwise. She says it might not be too hard to find two dragons without a clan. That’s unusual. Depends if they went together or not.”

Alfie squirmed a bit. “They left together.”

“She’ll call if she finds out anything. And she says you’re welcome to visit when you’re ready. Icould hear Gramps in the background, planning a party to celebrate the alliance. He said it was going to be all our mating parties at once.”

I cringed. I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that.

Alfie asked, “Uh, do I want to know what a mating party is?”

Seren laughed. “I’ll tell you all about it.”

Chapter 46

Alfie

Usually when the Somervilles entertained guests, we dressed formally and dined on the finest foods. This time, we stayed casual.

Well, the food would still be incredible, thanks to Mrs. Wilson, but I didn’t put on my black tie suit. I felt very bold and daring as I walked downstairs in black trousers and a crisp white shirt. I didn’t even put on a tie!

Morgan had rushed into my room, looking a bit panicked, and said that he hadn’t brought a change of clothes suitable and asking to borrow some of mine, and I’d said that nobody needed to dress for dinner.

Even as I walked down to meet the others, though, I felt my nerves pulling at my insides. Icould have got this very wrong, after all. My clan could disapprove of my decisions and then I’d let them down and our reputation would be ruined and the Somerville name—

Blaze squeezed my fingers.

“What’s the matter, my darling?”

“Should I go and change?” I asked, and plucked at the collar of my shirt.

“No, you look wonderful.”

“Do you think people will mind not wearing black tie?”

“I think they want to have a lovely evening, my darling. What they’re wearing doesn’t matter.”

I nodded and held my head up, determined to walk into the parlour with all my dignity. Unfortunately, Morgan had always been better at that than me. He’d managed to perfect the look of blank pride that my father desired on our faces, and I’d always been lacking.

When I walked into the parlour, I saw a few people gathered. They’d taken me at my word and had dressed in smart-casual clothes. To be fair, all of the Somerville wardrobe was smart, so dressing it down was actually an effort. My father had notbelieved in casual.

It was when I saw Great Aunt Evangeline, though, that I knew I’d made the right choice. She was a woman who could make anyone feel scruffy just by being in the same room as them. I’d once seen her totally humiliate a tiger shifter who’d come here on some business or other and he’d been wearing an exquisitely tailored suit but he’d also thought he was better than he was and had tried to look down on us. He’d learned that nobody was more regal than Great Aunt Evangeline.

She’d made him squirm with discomfort with every gentle word and refined movement. She’d nearly killed him with patronising kindness.

Now, though, she was dressed smartly but plainly, which was probably as close to casual as she got. It was her manner, though, which marked her as a real aristocrat.

When Morgan and Lew entered the room, the largecuraidhshuffled his feet awkwardly, obviously unused to the formal occasions and he tugged at his open shirt collar, unused to wearing those, too.

Morgan had borrowed one of my shirts after all, and he looked as crisp and cool as ever.

Great Aunt Evangeline welcomed them graciously and they sat with her. It only took a minutefor them both to be put at their ease. My great aunt had enough class to treat people well.

When it was time to go through to the dining hall, I asked, “Will you allow me to escort you, Great Aunt Evangeline?”

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