Gossamer in the Darkness (Fantasyland)

He and I were standing off to the side when I asked, “Are you all right?”

He didn’t seem upset anymore. In fact, his face wore a fond expression (yes, almost to the point of doting) as he watched Maxine’s fascination with a painting on the back of a large hide that depicted a mountain range and a huge, beautiful lake.

“Yes, of course, why?” he answered, but he didn’t take his gaze from Maxine.

“Nothing,” I mumbled.

That earned me his attention.

“Why did you ask?” he pressed.

“Aunt Mary can be…”

He cut me off.

“They lived. People knew them. She’s not the only one to speak of them.”

He was talking offhandedly, not to mention somewhat tersely, about his mother and sister.

“She didn’t mean to sound insulting,” I assured. “She gives backhanded compliments like no one I’ve ever met, because they’re completely backhanded, but she actually means them as compliments.”

“I’m not angry at your aunt,” he stated firmly.

“Okay,” I whispered.

His lips twitched. “I do spoil you, though.”

“You do not,” I returned.

He looked around us, pointing out that it was the middle of the day, and I had learned in finally getting to know my betrothed that he wasn’t the idle rich. Although he was considering a future endeavor of serving his king (again) in one manner or another—along with his side pursuits of being a vigilante—he, and his father, had a variety of things they needed to attend to in order to remain wealthy as sin.

I knew this because at dinner (another one we had alone, just two nights ago, outside a delightful brasserie at the edge of a large cobblestone courtyard, surrounded by trees, glass-fronted shops and other eateries—it was no Le Cirque Magique, but it was me and Loren alone, so it was its own version of everything), he had talked to me about them.

However, I’d glazed over somewhere between his shipping interests, some partnership he had with a rich guy named Apollo up in Lunwyn, and the string of printing presses he and his dad owned across Hawkvale and down into Fleuridia.

In fact, I’d glazed over so badly, I’d only come unglazed when I heard his rich, attractive chuckle before I felt his firm, delicious lips press to mine.

When he’d pulled away, he’d said, “We’ll leave it at the fact I have many interests, so there will be a number of soirees you’ll need to organize to keep our investors happy, and a number of opportunities to wear wildly becoming gowns as men try to tempt me into investing in their schemes.”

“You know, of the last thousand words you’ve recently said, I only heard ‘soirees you’ll need to organize’ and ‘wildly becoming gowns,’” I’d replied.

Which hadn’t made him chuckle.

It had made him laugh.

Which had made me happy.

Short story long, when I’d read about this exhibit in the paper, and learned the existence of this museum, and told him we had to go, he’d rearranged his schedule in order to escort us here.

In truth, he gave into my merest whim, as evidenced by the fact we’d walked by a shop after our dinner two nights ago, I’d seen a hat pin in the window that I’d said in a throwaway manner, “That’s pretty,” and it was delivered to our house the next morning.

So, yes.

Totally spoiled.

Something he’d been doing since I lost it in his bedroom after Le Cirque Magique.

Or maybe this was just Loren. From what Aunt Mary said outside, and every indication I’d had since I’d met them both, the Copeland men tended to indulge the women in their lives.

But I couldn’t get past thinking that he was trying to help me make up for lost time, secluded in Fleuridia, away from Maxie and even Aunt Mary.

All this on my mind, I blurted, “I’m going to find my way.”

His brows slid together. “Pardon?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, outside earning the reputation of the best hostess in all the Northlands, entirely so your investors will understand how clever you are for marrying such a prize as me,” I joked.

He grinned.

I moved closer to him and went on quietly, “But I’ll find my way, Loren. You don’t have to look after me. You don’t have to worry about me. About any of us.”

As I was speaking, he’d slid his arm around me, but he pulled me closer when he replied, “It’s good Mary is here. I fear your mother being away so long, she, as well as you, will need a guiding hand in society.” He sent a small smile down to me. “I’m uncertain Lady Longdon murders a party, but I’ve no doubt she can set you on the path to figure out how you intend to do it.”

My insides froze.

Murders a party.

I’d told him I murdered a party.

And I did.

I mean, my friends were probably lamenting the demise of my yearly Halloween bash as much as the demise they thought became of me.