Page 20 of Love & Letter Charms
“Nonsense,” Iris said, though she did lower herself back onto the settee with poorly concealed relief. “You’re always welcome, Hadrian.”
As she so often did, Aurelise watched them carefully, searching for any hint of discomfort in their interaction. Two Seasons ago, Iris and Hadrian had been engaged before Iris had broken it off, only to become betrothed to Jasvian—Hadrian’s closest friend—mere weeks later. The entire situation had seemed impossibly fraught with potential for resentment and hurt feelings. Yet as she observed them now, Aurelise was reminded yet again that she was likely the only person who felt any secondhand awkwardness over the whole thing.
“If you’re looking for Jasvian,” Iris added, “I’m afraid he’s at the tea house. Lady Rivenna required assistance with something.”
“Ah. Thank you.” Hadrian turned to leave, then paused. “Lady Aurelise, I nearly forgot—congratulations on your selection for the Crown Court. My sister mentioned it this morning.”
Aurelise fought to keep her grimace from showing. She’d forgotten that Lady Willow Blackbriar had also been chosen. “How kind of her.”
“She’s quite nervous about it all, actually. Though excited as well. This entire Crown Court business has rather taken everyone by surprise. No one expected anything quite so dramatic this Season.” He smiled kindly. “I’m sure you’ll both manage beautifully.”
“Thank you,” Aurelise managed, the words like ash in her mouth.
After Hadrian’s departure, Mariselle collapsed back onto the floor with a laugh. “That poor man. Every time he visits, we’re doing something absolutely ridiculous.”
“He’s used to it by now,” Rosavyn said, still not having moved. “I’ve thoroughly destroyed his capacity for shock.”
Aurelise lowered herself back down with considerably less grace than before. “Lady Willow is exactly the sort of accomplished, confident lady who belongs in a Crown Court. Unlike me.”
“Stop that,” Iris said, her tone firm but not unkind. “You are every bit as accomplished as the others selected, Aurelise. And confidence is often little more than noise. There is a steadiness in you that runs deeper than most perceive, and because of that, you’ll survive this. You’ll attend the required events, you’ll make absolutely no impression whatsoever on Prince Ryden, and by Season’s end, he’ll have chosen someone appropriate who actually wants to be a princess.”
“Exactly,” Rosavyn agreed. “We can teach you how to be boring, if you’d like.”
“I’m already exceptionally boring.”
“That’s hardly true. You could be far worse,” Rosavyn insisted. “You could talk exclusively about … I don’t know … the historical evolution of spoon design.”
“The magical properties of lumyrite spoons,” Mariselle added.
“The optimal spoon curvature for soup consumption versus dessert enjoyment,” Rosavyn continued.
“Oh, Iris!” Mariselle suddenly lifted her head from the carpet. “There’s an idea! What about?—”
“No,” Iris answered flatly. “I am not naming my firstborn child Spoon.”
“Oh, but it’s so elegant in its simplicity!” Rosavyn chimed in. “And terribly practical. Everyone needs spoons. Jasvian will love it.”
“I suppose it’s marginally better than Grandmother’s suggestion of Teacup Supreme,” Aurelise mused.
Mariselle’s laughter burst forth in an inelegant snort. “Did she really suggest Teacup Supreme?”
“Yes. Complete with ‘Supreme’ as a middle name.”
“My favorite is still Kazrian’s suggestion of Doorknob,” Rosavyn said, her whole body shaking with barely suppressed mirth.
“Stop,” Iris said through her laughter. “Jasvian has threatened to ban us all from the house if we continue this absurd naming nonsense.”
“What about—” Mariselle began.
“No.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say!”
“The answer remains no. There will be noSpoonin this family.”
“And I will not be talking about spoons either,” Aurelise said firmly, “though I needsomethingboring to talk about. I need to be so utterly forgettable that he’ll barely notice I exist.”
“Fine.” Rosavyn sighed. “We’ll come up with some other tedious topics for you, Lise. Weather patterns. Soil composition. The correct method for organizing a linen closet.”
