Page 8 of House of Blood and Roses: Vol. 2
"It is a start," he responds. "Once I have more of an idea about where you're up to with your letters, we can work on something different."
"Oh." I pick up the quill and start to do as he says, tracing the shapes and thinking about the way my hand moves across the page to make them. As much as I want them to be perfect straight away, several of my lines wobble, and they don't look neat the way I want them to.
I try not to let myself get too frustrated and take a deep breath before doing the next one. It's going to take some doing, but I know it'll be worth it in the end.
The door finally opens and Bastian steps inside.
"You're late, Lord Bastian," Mr Foccett says.
"I'm here now," he responds.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at my brother. I know he's focused on power and growing it and doesn't think it's worth spending time learning about all of this, but he's wrong about that. We have to understand the system to survive in it.
Mr Foccett sets Bastian off on the same exercise he has me doing, supervising us both as we go through the motions. When I'm done, he produces a second sheet. It's tedious going, and I find myself wishing I already knew how to do this, but there's no point dwelling on that when I don't know.
By the time a servant enters with a tray of tea, my fingers are stained with ink, but I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere, even if that involves a frustrating amount of repetition.
"Lord Fallmartin would like to speak with you," the maid says to Mr Foccett.
He nods. "Of course. I'll be back." He disappears, and the maid sets down the tray, following him out of the door.
Bastian groans and leans back. "If I have to trace another row of letters..."
"It's necessary," I respond.
He sighs and runs an ink-stained hand over his face. "I feel stupid. My wife can read and write, but I have to sit and learn it like a child."
My heart aches for him. "I know. I find it frustrating too," I admit. "But we didn't learn this as children, so we have to learn it now, even if it's annoying."
"You're so much better at being patient with this kind of thing," he says.
"Maybe. But that doesn't mean you're not going to get it," I assure him. "You're smart, Bash. You'll be reading and writing in no time."
"I know. And I don't want to have to employ a secretary to help me with all of the paperwork needed to keep House Rothorne running. How will I know that they can be trusted if I can't read what they're writing?"
"That's a good reason to learn," I assure my brother. "And you'll feel better for it."
"I know you're right. I just can't believe that we have to do this when we're adults."
"Be angry at our parents for that, not at Lord Fallmartin," I say, realising as I do that it's the first time I've ever defended our vampire father, especially at the expense of the parents who raised us. "Our mother knew who our real father was, and even if she wanted to protect us, she could have done better at preparing us for all eventualities."
"I'm surprised to hear you say that," Bastian says, looking at me for what feels like the first time.
"I'm surprised to be saying it," I respond. "But it's true. She knew there was a chance we could end up here, and she should have made sure we were prepared. Though maybe she intended to, but died before she could."
"You're a far more forgiving person than I am, Bea."
"Then maybe you should try it, you might not be so angry all the time if you can find it in yourself to forgive people once in a while."
"Have you always been this wise?"
"Yes. You just rarely like listening to me," I point out.
He laughs. "I'll do better at that."
There's a part of me that isn't convinced that's true, but I keep quiet about it. He's spent so much time angry that it's nice to have a conversation with him where he's not being, and I intend to make the most of it, even if I doubt it's going to last.
But there's at least a month's worth of shared lessons ahead of us, which means it's better for there to be peace between us than not.
