You Are Mine (20 page)

“
The third
oldest?”

“
Yes. She loves things
like that. She wanted to go to the tournament, but wasn't allowed.”
I didn't need to say quite so much, but he doesn't look
upset.

“
I'll ask your Father if
she can help.”

My load feels lighter already. “That
would be fantastic. I'd love it if she could stay with us.” Avoid
whatever punishments she's been taking in my absence. Hopefully
very little.

“
I can't guarantee
anything, but I'll try.”

“
Thank you, Chancellor
Zade.”

“
We'll consider it
repayment of the favor you just did for me.” The vague reference to
the kiss makes my face heat again. There's no reason for me to act
this way about my duty. He stands. “And you can call me
Zade.”

That's absurd. Why does he keep
bringing it up? “I believe it would be improper.”

“
Improper? We're getting
married.”

I rise. “Mother always calls Father
Master, Councilman Stephen, or Father.”

He shakes his head and rubs his
shoulder. “I have to be Chancellor Zade everywhere else. I'd like
one place I don't have to be. Please just call me Zade.”

A barbarian does own me. “If you
insist.”

“
I do.” He moves behind
his desk. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“
Of course.”

“
Nice dress, by the
way.”

I trip over the rug. “Thank
you.”

He likes the outfit. Called it a
dress, but that's probably a good thing. He didn't notice that it
was too different. Katherine is wonderful.

As I head back to my room, there's a
lot to think on. Much more happened in that room than I expected. A
new servant. No matter what he says, I doubt I can trust the new
servant. A ball to plan. I don't know how I'll ever manage.
Hopefully, Chancellor Zade is able to convince Father to let
Bethany come.

And the Chancellor. His attention was
much different than I thought it ever could be. Though I continue
thinking about all that happened and all that I need to do, the
memory of his kiss lingers.

Chapter
Eighteen

I
wait in the entryway for my new servant. It makes me feel
like mother. She often stood waiting for guests or Father like
this, though always people of note, not servant girls. Cynthia
lingers beside me playing with her beaded necklace.

Chancellor Zade didn't stay with us,
instead rushing out to greet her. Treatment of servants in Envado
must be more different than I presumed.

“
I can't believe you're
getting an Envadi servant,” Cynthia says. “It will make you the
talk of the town. Everyone will be jealous. No one's ever had a
servant from Envado before.”

“
One that's paid? Doubtful
they'll be envious.”

“
Paid?”

“
Apparently, it's how
things are done there. Chancellor Zade's manservant must be as
well.”

“
That's
different.”

I almost mention how I like the idea,
but hold back. I don't want my own sister to think I'm going
mad.

The front door opens and the
Chancellor strides in, a huge smile on his face. Behind him is a
woman. She's almost as tall as my intended, but not quite.
Certainly taller than my sisters and me. She's wearing a
serviceable gown. Dark blue, appropriate length, not too fancy, but
neat and clean.

She's close to my age, though older or
younger than me, I'm not quite sure. Her face is smooth, cheeks
still a little babyish, but she carries herself as if she were,
well, as if she were a man. Long striding steps, full of confidence
and power. Intimidating. She's very pretty though. Her long blonde
hair complements her tanned skin.

“
May I present, Miss
Waverly.” Chancellor Zade gives my new servant a genuine
smile.

She looks down at me with piercing
brown eyes and grins. “A pleasure to meet you.”

This is so different from customary
servant behavior, I can do nothing but stare.

“
Are you really from
Envado?” Cynthia asks.

“
I am.”

“
Do they host balls
there?”

What's she getting at?

Waverly tilts her head to the side,
brow crinkled. “Of course we do.”

“
Then you
can help us plan.” Cynthia turns to me. “Isn't
this perfect Serena? She can help make the ball really stand out.
We'll make you the talk of the town. Now if only Father allows
Bethany to come, it will be the best Chardonia has ever
seen.”

“
You're planning a ball?”
Waverly asks.

“
I
—
” The Chancellor clears his
throat. “This is something I just learned about. I hoped you'd be
willing to help with it.”

“
I'd love to help.”
Waverly faces me. “Balls are my favorite sort of thing.”

“
Let's get you to your
room.” Chancellor Zade turns to a waiting servant, Phyllis. “Show
Miss Waverly to the servant quarters. Once she's ready, show her
around and explain her duties.”

“
Yes, Master,” Phyllis
says.

He scowls until Waverly says,
“Wonderful. I'll see you soon.” She curtsies at the Chancellor.
“Master.” She turns to me and gives another curtsy.
“Mistress.”

A smile flickers across his face.
Phyllis leads her from the room. What sort of servant have I been
gifted this time?

***

Cynthia's really taken to talking
during dinner. I don't believe she's taken a bite of dessert.
Rather unfortunate. It's yummy, a sort of flaky shortbread with
seared and chilled bananas.

Her excitement about the festivities
is a relief, if a bit much to listen to. Inviting adequate dance
partners for her will have to be one of my priorities.

I polish off my dessert and wait for
Cynthia and Chancellor Zade to finish. And wait. And
wait.

“
We must make good use of
the gardens. It might be cool for the fall, but the trees will be
lovely colors. If only more flowers would be in bloom.”

“
We could spell them to
bloom for the night,” the Chancellor suggests.

“
You can do that? That's
wonderful. Don't you think, Serena?”

“
Yes, it will be. If
you'll forgive me, I must excuse myself.” Jumping at the chance, I
stand.

“
I've got to leave, too,”
Chancellor Zade says, already on his feet.

His dessert is untouched. Come to
think of it, he didn't eat much at dinner. And why is he leaving at
the same time as me?

“
Goodnight, Cynthia,” he
says.

“
Goodnight,” she says. “I
have more ideas we can discuss in the morning.”

Zade leads me through the halls. The
farther we go, the more my nerves jitter inside me. It seems to
take longer than usual. What could he want? Is he going to punish
me for something? When we stop at the foot of the stairs leading to
my room, he pulls both of my hands into his. I'm sure he can feel
me shaking, but whether it's from worrying or the contact, I don't
know.

He says, “If you have any issues with
Waverly, will you tell me?”

Why's he so concerned? Is it for me or
her? It must be for her. He's never been this way with me before.
“If you wish.”

“
Thank you. Please be nice
to her. It's difficult being in a new country with unfamiliar
people.”

“
Is that how it is for
you?”

His lips turn up in an almost smile.
“It was. Sometimes it still is. A lot of times, I guess. Notably
when I attend council meetings. I'm growing more comfortable with
it, though it hasn't been long. I'm sure Waverly will adjust
quickly.”

The way he says her name, it's
different. Protective. Fellow countrymen have to stick together.
Still, it's weird for him to care so much about a servant girl,
even if they're from the same country. Maybe there's something
else. Not just the way he says her name, but how he acted around
her. Almost like caring. There has to be more to it. Maybe she's
running away from the law and he's trying to help her escape. We're
housing a fugitive!

“
Is she supposed to be
tarnished?”

He drops my hands. “What?”

“
I don't mean to be rude,
it's just, if you're going to break the law, the punishment will
come down on me, as well. I've a right to know about it.” Really, I
don't, but I want to know, and he's been more forthcoming than any
other warlock.

He folds his arms. “What if I am
breaking the law?”

I am being too forward. But, he didn't
indicate a punishment with the question. And if it's to help
someone like Katherine, I understand, maybe even agree with it. If
he's not really breaking the law though, saying I support it could
wind up with me being punished. Or turned into a tarnished myself.
There's not an easy way to answer.

He stares at me, his face growing
harder as time passes.

“
I'm sure a Chancellor
does what's right,” I say.

“
She's not on a tarnished
list. We don't have tarnished in Envado.”

It's my turn to stare at him. Once I'm
recovered enough to speak, I say, “What do you do with non-magics
or those who break rules then?”

“
They're punished
according to what fits their crime. Sometimes imprisonment,
sometimes they have to fix something or help with the community. It
depends.”

“
What about Waverly
then?
”

“
What about
her?”

“
Why's she a
servant?”

“
She chose to become a
servant.”

“
Oh.” She chose it? How
does a girl choose something? I have fifteen reasons for wanting to
know. And counting. A few more months and mother will probably
announce another pregnancy. “How can she do that?”

He huffs. “She just decided she wanted
to do it and did.” He shifts away from me. “Council meeting
tomorrow, so I won't see you until the day after.”

Tension moves between us with
intangible waves. The line must have been crossed somewhere. He's
acting so odd, but I can't say I regret asking. Despite his
behavior, I know more than before, and without getting punished for
it. “Goodnight then.”

“
Night.” He heads down the
hall away from me.

I head up the stairs. I said too much.
When will I learn to hold my tongue? Punishment would have been
dealt at home. At least a knock on the head. But Chancellor Zade
didn't do that. He didn't do anything. My steps slow until I come
to a halt. He never does anything.

The only spells he's ever cast on me
were part of the engagement ceremony. And he's never lifted a fist
at me. Perhaps he's trying to lull me into state of ease so the
punishment feels harsher when finally dealt. But those kisses. If
that is how he's going to treat me, will society have a problem
with it? They always accept that men punish us. And how would it be
for me? I resume my ascent, but continue wondering about his
actions, and what will happen because of them.

Chapter
Nineteen

O
nce I'm in my nightgown, I sit at the vanity and work on
taking my hair down. It's rather pleasant doing this myself. I keep
thinking of how Chancellor Zade noticed my dress and said it was
nice. I hope Katherine's coming tomorrow while he's gone. I'm
excited to see if she's willing to design a dress for the ball.
Maybe even another dress or two for the week. That's a lot to ask
without pay though. I wish there was a way for me to earn some
coins like Waverly's doing.

When my hair is down, I grab a brush
and work through the locks. After a few strokes, there's a knock on
my door. Cynthia must have an idea that she can't wait to share.
“Come in.”

Waverly bounces in the room.
“Evening.” She sets a tea tray on the vanity before me.

I stop brushing my hair mid-stroke.
This was supposed to stop with Phyllis. Perhaps it's some other
tea. There's no reason to tamper with me when I'm just going to
bed. Even if it's not the Califrasum, I've no use for any type of
tea.

“
What's wrong?” Waverly
asks.

I stare at the tea tray.
“Nothing.”

“
Clearly something.” She
grabs the tea pot and lifts it to a cup. “We can talk about it
over
—
”

“
No.” I slam the brush on
the vanity. I won't be forced into drinking it again. She stops. Is
this going to bring problems like it did with Phyllis? Please tell
me it won't. “I mean, no thank you. I wouldn't care for any tea
this evening.”

Her forehead wrinkles. She looks from
me to the tea tray and then laughs. “Oh, don't fret. Zade told me
about the Califrasum fiasco.” His name rolls easily from her. “I
wouldn't drink tea either if something like that happened to me.
This is just warm milk.”