“We’re neighbours, Your Grace. The Soutner lands share a border with Gloomenthrall.”
“We share more of a history than that.” Alia chided.
“True. My siblings and I grew up playing with the Gloomenthrall girls.”
“Come now, Regal. We have a closer association than childhood friendship.” She prodded, wondering if he would be willing to say the words out loud. All the time they’d been talking, Alia had been conscious that Perri was creeping closer and closer. Brandth at her back like a solid protective shield.
“Some things are too painful still to talk about, Alia. I remain haunted by the loss, the abject tragedy of losing my young bride.”
Regal played the bereaved widower role insanely well. The grief that shimmered in his eyes looked all too real. His slightly padded broad shoulders hunching a little, as if life had dealt him a brutal blow. Nearby ladies, listening in, were gripped with sympathy, their body language indicating that they wanted nothing more than to rush over and pat and comfort Regal. Damn, he was good.
“Which particular loss are you referring to? Your seven older brothers? Your grieving father who never got over their loss? Or perhaps your nephew, and his two brothers who stood next in line to inherit? And let’s not forget the various sisters, nieces and cousins, who met ends all too young and unexpectedly.”
“My family has suffered great and onerous losses over the years.” Regal acknowledged. His posture once more rigid, shoulders back. Eyes still edged with grief but even as Alia watched he nudged that aside, lifting his chin, nobility and determination shining forth. “To honour them, in their memory, I intend to dedicate myself to ensuring that the Soutner lands flourish. That the line is secure. That the Soutner legacy will live on and thrive through my descendants.”
“A noble aspiration, Baron Soutner.” Talac acknowledged.
“Sounds to me like you will need a wife by your side to secure a strong legacy. Is that why you’re here?”
The dimples were back, this time with a self-deprecating smile. Regal’s gaze sweeping over the nearby ladies. “I would never be so presumptuous. But if the Gods were to favour me, then I would consider myself most blessed.”
“You’ve always been a man who has made his own luck. I have great faith you’ll be successful in whatever you choose to put your mind to.” Alia made an elaborate show of just noticing the nearby figure clad all in grey. A matching veil covering their face. Plaited red hair sending out fiery glints as the fast disappearing late afternoon sun slipped towards the horizon. “Oh, Regal, I have someone here who no doubt would also like to wish you good luck. You remember my sister, Perri, don’t you?” She barrelled on. “Perri, you’ll never guess who’s here, Regal Soutner.”
“P… Perri?” Regal’s face was chalk white, his gaze fixed searchingly on the grey veil covering Perri’s face as if he wanted to bore through it.
“Hello, Regal. It’s been a long time.”
“That’s what I said.” Alia bubbled gaily. “Ten years almost to the day since we were altogether. He’s here looking for his bride.”
“Really?” Perri’s tone was nothing but courteous.
“Something tells me he’ll be very successful on that front. What do you think, Perri?”
“Oh, yes. Given how the Gods favour you so, Regal, your bride may already be standing only a few feet away from you right at this moment.”
“Oh, look, the musicians are starting up.” Alia pointed past the far end of the tents where the lilt of a mandolin and the drum of a beat sounded. “Come on, Perri. I know how much you love to tap your toe. Lovely seeing you Regal. Am sure we shall bump into one another again and again at one or other of these events for the brides.”
“Brides.” Echoed Perri in a merry voice. “They’re everywhere suddenly, are they not? Be careful where you step then, Baron Soutner, you wouldn’t want to carelessly stumble over yours and not know it.”
* * *
Perri focused her gaze upon Alia’s back, putting one foot in front of the other as her sister pushed through the party-goers. Breathe. Blink. Swallow. It was time to breathe again. She’d just spoken to Regal. No, not just spoken. Taunted him. The equivalent of shooting a cannon across his bow, declaring war.
She felt… giddy. Facing off with him like that. Speaking up. It was gratifying to discover that all the old memories, and the whirlwind of battering emotions that had effectively chained her over the last ten years were nothing but dust. They had no hold over her. She was free.
Yes, she still loathed Regal. But she no longer loathed herself. She forgave the blinkered child she’d been. Who’d fallen in love with a golden boy, and married a golden young man the day of her seventeenth birthday. Perri forgave herself.
As they emerged onto the grassy area where the musicians were set up to one side, and a few young couples were dancing, Perri took a big deep breath. And it felt glorious. Like a prisoner emerging from a long stretch in the fetid darkness.
“Are you okay?” Alia squeezing her sister’s hand, pulling her to a halt.
“Yes. Yes. I feel… rather marvellous.” She could do with a celebratory drink though. Squeezing Alia’s hand in turn. “We did it.”
“We certainly did. Now we shall have to wait and see how Regal responds to our presence here.”
“Did you see how pale he turned? It was most gratifying.”
“Yes, the ghost of his presumed dead wife appearing before him, he wasn’t expecting that, was he?”
