Page 85 of Wolf's Bane
“I have many shirts.”
“One presentable shirt,” she clarified. She had witnessed Alek parade around in shirts with the collar open, sans cravat, the fabric so threadbare that he wore practically nothing. While she heartily supported his radical aesthetic, society placed many undue pressures on a person, including itchy shirts.
They approached Colonel Chambers’ home, the gravel path to the front of the estate once more lit by braziers.
“It’s one dinner. Eat what they serve. Don’t growl. Laugh at jokes,” Solenne said.
“I refuse. I am not an animal trained to laugh at a buffoon’s japes,” Alek complained.
“Well, that buffoon offered to pay for our wedding, so no growling.” Chambers hadn’t made any demands or intimated that his generosity came with strings attached other than indulging Charlotte. Still, better to be polite.
“I would be happy with a small ceremony at the magistrate’s office.”
“As would I, but this will be over soon.”
“Four days.”
“Yes.” A tingle of excitement went up her spine. Four days until the wedding. It hardly seemed real, and there was much left to do, like the last fitting of her new dress and arranging travel plans. She wanted to leave the day after the wedding to Alek’s house to arrive before the equinox, with plenty of time to spend lazing in bed in inns along the way. “I can hardly wait,” she said, laying her hand on his arm as they approached the front steps.
The door burst open, and Charlotte spilled out, massive notebook and quill in hand. “Oh, thank the stars! It’s a disaster. Come in. Hurry.”
Charlotte ushered them to the drawing room, already occupied with Colonel Chambers and two other people she did not recognize. Charlotte made hasty introductions for Mrs. Parkell and the doctor from Founding, Dr. Sheldon. Nothing in the room made Solenne think they were amid disaster.
The room was decorated in a heavy-handed retired military man sort of style. Weapons adorned the walls, ranging from antique colonial energy blasters, more modern and gunpowder-based firearms, swords, the occasional spear and poleaxe, and a variety of daggers arranged artfully like a sunburst. Each piece was museum-quality, but more importantly, each weapon had the distinction of appearing well used, and maintained in a functional state.
As for the colonial weapons, Solenne wouldn’t trust one of those to fire without taking off the shooter’s hand.
“Admiring my collection? I picked up a few odds and ends in my travels. Let’s have a drink while we wait for dinner,” Chambers said. While he poured, Charlotte pulled Solenne to one divan.
“It’s terrible,” her friend lamented. “Poor Jase was examined today, and he absolutely cannot get out of bed for another three weeks.”
“I thought he was improving,” Solenne said. She had not spoken to Jase since the night of the solstice when he apologized for his rudeness, but Charlotte kept her abreast of his condition.
“Slowly, but this means we must delay the wedding because Lionel insists that Jase attend, which of course he must. Three weeks will put us at the autumn equinox.”
Three weeks. Disappointing.
“Other than the delay, what is the disaster?” Solenne asked.
“It’s not, you know, a problem?” Charlotte glanced across the room at Alek.
Solenne replayed the conversation they had when Charlotte gave her the infamous book. Had she inadvertently dropped a clue that implicated Alek? Or had Charlotte pieced it together on her own?
Probably. Clever friends proved such an inconvenience when one had a secret to keep.
She plastered a forced smile on her face. “No problem, other than the disappointment of waiting.”
“Oh, I know, and I’m mightily apologetic. Though, I confess, I am glad to have you for a few weeks more before you run off to Alek’s homestead. Waiting is so odious.” Charlotte smiled at Chambers across the room. He returned the smile, which struck Solenne as odd. She had never seen Chambers wear any other expression than grim determination, even while he had been half-heartedly courting her. What a strange visage Chambers made while happy.
“Is there a problem, my sweet?” he asked.
“Just our mutual disappointment in delaying the wedding,” Charlotte replied.
“Ah, yes, understandable but necessary. I’ve made arrangements for the day before the equinox, if that’s agreeable to you and Aleksandar?” Chambers looked toward Alek, who joined the conversation.
“The day before? You’re not worried about the beast?” Alek asked.
“The beast is dead. What better reason to celebrate?” Chambers gave Alek a hearty slap on the back. “Unless you think there’s two beasts in one territory?”
