them. Permit me to
provide for my wife.”
She frowned and turned around.
He stopped her with a finger to her lips. “We
haven’t talked about money, Rain, but I have a lot. If you want to
spend the rest of your life lazing on the grass, watching the
birds, you may. However, I know you’re both smart and driven, so if
you want to turn your talents toward helping others, you may. Spend
every dime you make on charity or public works if you like. It’s
what I did with the ambassador position, in a way. You’re in the
position to do a lot of good, if you so choose.
“However, don’t begrudge me the chance to
spoil you if I like. You’re invited to do the same for me.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “You want a
closet full of dresses?”
He kissed her nose. “I was thinking along the
lines of you being a light in my home, but if buying me dresses
makes you happy…” They laughed.
What he’d said about her doing good stuck
with her. She’d never thought much about what she’d do if she had
the wealth to do anything she chose. She definitely didn’t want to
spend her days lying around because she’d get fat for sure, but
she’d never seen herself as working in the public eye. Maybe she
could be an anonymous donor or something. Surely there were worthy
causes out there that could use an influx of cash. There always
were.
Her thoughts served as a good distraction as
they entered the chamber where the party was being held. Once
they’d passed between the Haunt guarding the door, she stiffened.
The glittering crowd within daunted her, unused as she was to
company. Even when Fallon linked arms with her and sent her an
encouraging smile, it still took courage to step into the
crowd.
Right away a mother and her three young
daughters swarmed them. Thanks to the slow aging processes, it took
a little observation to tell who was which, for the mother didn’t
look a lot older than her children. It helped when Fallon
introduced them. “Rain, this is Lady Septis and her daughters,
Justice, Fleur and, ah…forgive me, I’ve been gone a long time.”
“Jael,” Lady Septis said with a smile. “I
don’t believe you’ve met before, as she has so recently come of
age.” She turned the smile, a trifle too bright, on Rain. “And you
are Lord Fallon’s new wife! Word has traveled fast. Congratulations
on your new alliance. But you must find it lonely here in the Dark
Lands. You’re from away, aren’t you? You must come and visit us at
your leisure. It’s never too late to make new friends.”
Rain felt a twinge of suspicion. She wasn’t
the type to make friends easily, and that overdone smile of Lady
S’s made her uncomfortable. Peeking at Fallon’s easy expression
didn’t help, either. Sometimes she hated the façade of his.
The next lady who accosted them helped Rain
to solidify the sensation she was having of something wrong. Young
and bouncing, with a husband in tow, the girl nearly smothered Rain
with overtures of friendliness. “Do you like shopping? Oh, but of
course you do!” The girl laughed giddily. “We should go together
sometime and have lunch. I know this wonderful little shop…”
Rain frowned, her suspicions now knee deep.
The girl was social climbing, and while the Rain didn’t consider
herself of any importance, she did resent friendship offered under
false premises. When the girl started to trail off, her face
showing uncertainty in the wake of Rain’s cool expression, Rain
said slowly, “You have something green in your teeth.”
Horror widened the girl’s eyes. She slammed a
hand over her mouth and sent a chagrined glance at her husband,
who’d been startled into peering at her.
The unfortunate lady’s hand dropped, then
flashed back up to her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t realize…
Come on, Gari! We have to fix it.”
Rain did feel a tiny stab of guilt as the
girl rushed off.
Fallon looked at her with reproach, but there
was laughter lurking in his eyes.
She
provide for my wife.”
She frowned and turned around.
He stopped her with a finger to her lips. “We
haven’t talked about money, Rain, but I have a lot. If you want to
spend the rest of your life lazing on the grass, watching the
birds, you may. However, I know you’re both smart and driven, so if
you want to turn your talents toward helping others, you may. Spend
every dime you make on charity or public works if you like. It’s
what I did with the ambassador position, in a way. You’re in the
position to do a lot of good, if you so choose.
“However, don’t begrudge me the chance to
spoil you if I like. You’re invited to do the same for me.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “You want a
closet full of dresses?”
He kissed her nose. “I was thinking along the
lines of you being a light in my home, but if buying me dresses
makes you happy…” They laughed.
What he’d said about her doing good stuck
with her. She’d never thought much about what she’d do if she had
the wealth to do anything she chose. She definitely didn’t want to
spend her days lying around because she’d get fat for sure, but
she’d never seen herself as working in the public eye. Maybe she
could be an anonymous donor or something. Surely there were worthy
causes out there that could use an influx of cash. There always
were.
Her thoughts served as a good distraction as
they entered the chamber where the party was being held. Once
they’d passed between the Haunt guarding the door, she stiffened.
The glittering crowd within daunted her, unused as she was to
company. Even when Fallon linked arms with her and sent her an
encouraging smile, it still took courage to step into the
crowd.
Right away a mother and her three young
daughters swarmed them. Thanks to the slow aging processes, it took
a little observation to tell who was which, for the mother didn’t
look a lot older than her children. It helped when Fallon
introduced them. “Rain, this is Lady Septis and her daughters,
Justice, Fleur and, ah…forgive me, I’ve been gone a long time.”
“Jael,” Lady Septis said with a smile. “I
don’t believe you’ve met before, as she has so recently come of
age.” She turned the smile, a trifle too bright, on Rain. “And you
are Lord Fallon’s new wife! Word has traveled fast. Congratulations
on your new alliance. But you must find it lonely here in the Dark
Lands. You’re from away, aren’t you? You must come and visit us at
your leisure. It’s never too late to make new friends.”
Rain felt a twinge of suspicion. She wasn’t
the type to make friends easily, and that overdone smile of Lady
S’s made her uncomfortable. Peeking at Fallon’s easy expression
didn’t help, either. Sometimes she hated the façade of his.
The next lady who accosted them helped Rain
to solidify the sensation she was having of something wrong. Young
and bouncing, with a husband in tow, the girl nearly smothered Rain
with overtures of friendliness. “Do you like shopping? Oh, but of
course you do!” The girl laughed giddily. “We should go together
sometime and have lunch. I know this wonderful little shop…”
Rain frowned, her suspicions now knee deep.
The girl was social climbing, and while the Rain didn’t consider
herself of any importance, she did resent friendship offered under
false premises. When the girl started to trail off, her face
showing uncertainty in the wake of Rain’s cool expression, Rain
said slowly, “You have something green in your teeth.”
Horror widened the girl’s eyes. She slammed a
hand over her mouth and sent a chagrined glance at her husband,
who’d been startled into peering at her.
The unfortunate lady’s hand dropped, then
flashed back up to her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t realize…
Come on, Gari! We have to fix it.”
Rain did feel a tiny stab of guilt as the
girl rushed off.
Fallon looked at her with reproach, but there
was laughter lurking in his eyes.
She
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