Page 52 of The Mirror and the Curse

“If you send Chay my way, I promise to keep him out of your hair until your boyfriend gets back,” Maria stated with a grin.

Eddi tossed a small bunch of grapes to a pair of cinder sprites in search of dropped treats under the table. They settled down to munch with happy squeaks, their spiraled horns bobbing.

“Wish you wouldn’t encourage those critters,” Ianthe complained. “Remember how they set fires at a tea party one summer? Everyone says they’re safe to have around now, but I don’t trust them.”

Eddi just smiled. “I think they’re awfully cute.”

“Look, look! No, don’t look. It’s Chay. He’s coming,” Maria spluttered. “Did you mean it, Eddi?”

“Of course. Calm down and look cool.”

Maria obeyed with surprising self-control, pretending to adjust her sun hat.

Ianthe giggled.

“Hey, Eddi!” Chayton Thunderbull sauntered up to the table with his badminton racket propped on his shoulder. “Be my partner for a doubles game or two? After that dusting we just took from Emenike and his partner, my partner ditched me. I need more coaching.”

Eddi turned to him with a chuckle. “True, but I’m terrible at badminton. You should ask Maria. She’s got mad skills.”

Chay followed her glance to Maria, and Eddi glimpsed a spark of interest.

Maria looked up from beneath her dark lashes and smiled just enough to reveal her dimple. “I’d be happy to be your partner for a few games, Chay.”

“Great! Thanks, um, Maria.” He offered his arm, and Maria rose to accept it, looking remarkably fresh in her lacy white gown and broad-brimmed hat, like a picture-perfect lady from a century past.

“She’s good,” Ianthe sighed as soon as they were out of hearing, “and not just at badminton.”

“She is,” Eddi agreed, “and if she can keep him busy and out of my hair until Fidelio gets back, I’ll be forever grateful.” Not only had Fidelio not told Raquel that he and Eddi were together, he hadn’t, as far as Eddi could tell, said a word to anyone else.

“Fidelio gets back tonight, right?”

“Yes.”

“Raquel arrived this morning, you know.”

“I really couldn’t care less,” Eddi observed in a languid tone.

“I’m so sure,” Ianthe said sharply. “You know, Raquel irritates everyone, but she’s toxic to you, Eddi. Maria and I have both noticed how you’ve been more relaxed this weekend than in weeks. Not exactlyhappy,but not moping, which is an improvement.”

Eddi sat upright in her chair, ready to argue. But then her head drooped. “I know. I don’t need a lecture.”

Ianthe’s eyes narrowed. “I think you do need to hear some truth. We’ve hardly seen you since the Summer Ball. Either Fidelio monopolizes you, or you’re upset because he’s with Raquel instead of you. You’re always stressed and don’t make time for us or your other friends.”

“Okay, fine, it is Raquel,” Eddi grumbled, tossing another bunch of grapes to the sprites. “She drives me crazy, always trying to steal him from me.”

“Are you sure they weren’t together over the weekend?”

“Yes. Fidelio is in Vetricia at his cousin’s wedding to Lady Gillian. Raquel was in Auvers at somebody’s birthday party.”

“Her grandmother’s ninetieth,” Ianthe stated.

“How do you know?”

“I heard her talking about it with Fidelio last week, trying to convince him to join her in Auvers after the wedding.”

Eddi sighed. “Yeah. She never gives up.”

Ianthe shook her head. “You know what I think? Your prince is even more stressed than you are, pulled between you and Raquel like an elastic band.”

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