Harlow considers my question for a minute before answering. “Yes and no. Yes, because I met the guys and we had Edith. Yes, because the world is a better place. Yes, because it’s interesting and I get to work on my art–my passion–whenever I want to between jobs. But also… it’s hard. It’s grueling. I hate running, even to this day, and it feels like torture every morning. But I suppose there’s a sense of duty attached to the role of a Lady. Because if I don’t do it, who will?”
“A sense of duty,” I murmur. “I understand that.”
“I’m sure you do, beingPrinceAlexander. Did I ever tell you that whenever I played MASH with my friends, I always hoped I’d get you as my future husband?”
I laugh. “What’s MASH?”
She stares at me. “You didn’t play MASH? It’s this game where you’re supposed to predict who you’ll marry, where you’ll live, how many kids you’ll have–” she stops talking and shakes her head with a smile. “Anyway, it’s just odd that I’m now here with you. And I hope you know–I hope you all know–that you can talk to us. We’re not going anywhere. Except for maybe along-awaited vacation to Bali or Greece when training is over, but you can still call us for anything.”
“Thank you, Harlow.”
I say goodbye and exit the car, walking up to the manor in slow motion. When I open the front door, clean piano notes from a familiar melody sound through the whole house.
I walk into the lounge to see Astern sitting at the grand piano, her fingers flying over the keys. Her hair is wet, and she’s in fresh pajamas. Her eyes are wild, and her body is straight and composed as she continues playing Beethoven’s Sonata 14 perfectly. Otto and Max are on the sofa behind her, looking on in a daze, and Lachlan is sitting in a chair next to them. They’re all watching her play, and a knot forms in my gut as the events of the last two days play out in my mind.
The song is sad, and I find myself drawn to her, and the piano.
I carefully sit down next to her on the bench, and I wait for her to finish the sonata while I tilt my head and look at her face. Her brows are furrowed, like she’s concentrating hard. I have to wonder how long it’s been since she’s played. It can’t have been that long if she’s not reading music… surely she must still play if she’s this skilled.
Or perhaps she’s justthattalented.
When the song ends, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she opens her eyes, they’re clear and determined, as if the music is helping her combat whatever’s eating away at her insides.
“Clair de lune,” she whispers.
I nod once, and then I turn to face the piano fully. Her fingers hover over the keys, and mine hover over the other end of the piano, ready to play with her.
“Three, two, one,” I whisper, and then I’m playing Debussy from memory. Exhilaration fills me as we play together–as the sound of the song fills the house.
It’s as if we’re resigning ourselves to this fate and to this life, but somehow finding the beauty in it.
Somehow finding our sense of duty, as Harlow said.
It’s not fair–not in any sense. Especially not for me.
But if I can continue sitting next to Astern–orCharlotte–at the piano, then maybe things will be okay.
There are worse fates in the world.
PART II
CHAPTER 26
Lottie
Three Months Later
My alarm goes off at six sharp, and I hop out of Otto’s bed to relieve my bursting bladder. When I’m finished, I brush my teeth and wash my face, and then I change into the leggings and long-sleeved shirt I brought over from my room last night. As I pull my hair into a ponytail, Max saunters into the bathroom shirtless.
“Morning, Lot,” he says, rubbing his eyes and kissing my cheek.
He turns the shower on, and I admire his bare backside as he steps into the cool waterfall.
“Citadel is on the move,” he tells me through the glass. “We should go over our plan one more time when you’re done with your run.”
“Sure. Have they made their move into Blackwell then?”
“Theo’s system picked their car up in Oxford. Slow and steady.”
