Page 88 of Wolf's Bane
“Cheer up. It’s not an omen,” Luis said, delivering a tray packed with pastries.
Solenne turned away from the window. “I never said it was an omen, and are those almond croissants? Cook made almond croissants?” Cook usually saved those for a special treat, birthdays and the like. She stuffed one in her mouth, barely chewing. “Oh, these are so good.”
Luis reached for one, and Solenne slapped his hand away. “No. Bad brother. Cook made them for me.”
“Cook made them for everyone.”
“On my wedding day. Get your own wedding day,” she said, causing him to blush. “Fine. One. You can have the muffins.” Starberries stained the muffins a deep magenta. On a normal morning, Solenne more than happily smothered them with butter before devouring, but there were almond croissants to be had.
Luis uncovered a plate with fluffy scrambled eggs, still steaming. “Cook also said to eat something besides sugar, or you won’t last the day.”
“Thank you. Pull the chair over. There’s more than enough to share.”
With the tray balanced on the bedside table, Luis dragged over the old green chair. “Nervous?” he asked, grabbing a muffin.
“No,” she lied.
“Wow, you area terrible liar. It’s insulting how bad you are. Like, are you even trying?”
She kicked his feet. “I’m not nervous about the ceremony, just everything that comes after.”
He nodded, which would have been sagely, but he stuffed another muffin in his mouth. “I wish you weren’t leaving so soon. Papa calmed down.”
She shook her head. Godwin’s reluctant acceptance was only part of the issue. The atmosphere in the house felt electric, like before a storm. There would always be a reason to delay departure or stay.
She fell into that trap when she left university on a temporary break, to help Godwin set his finances in order and get the house under control. She fully intended to return, even though she had to pay her own way, but she kept putting it off until returning to her studies seemed impossible.
It was bad enough she and Alek had to wait out the effects of the equinox. Once that had passed, they were off because she feared that if she and Alek did not leave soon, they would never leave.
“He can barely speak a civil word to Alek. I won’t let Papa treat Alek as inferior. I’m sorry, I can’t abide by it,” she said.
Luis nodded. “It’ll be strange not having you here. You’ve always been…here. I’m envious, actually. You get to see the world, or at least bits of it.”
“We’re going to Alek’s property. That’s hardly traveling the globe.”
“The only place I’ve ever been to is boarding school.”
Solenne hid a yawn behind her hand.
“Did you get any sleep?” Luis asked.
“Nerves kept me up, so I did a bit of packing.” Two trunks sat against the far wall.
“Wow. Alek will have to hire another cart just for your luggage.”
“Oh, hush. I packed light. I don’t know how long we’ll be or what condition the house will be in.”
“How much of that is books?”
“I only packed a dozen books.” Two dozen, but why split hairs. Plus, she wanted to bring a decent stock of herbs and medicine with her. A few plant clippings would be helpful, too. There wasn’t time. She had weeks to prepare, and there wasn’t enough time.
She glanced at the rain outside the window.
“It’s nearly time. Do you need help with your hair?” Luis brushed away crumbs as he stood.
“I thought I’d wear it down.”
Already wearing the proper undergarments, Luis helped her button the back of the dress. It was a soft linen of deep indigo, embroidered with green leaves and hooded purple blossoms at the hem and neckline.
