The Toll {Book 2}

26. An Offer- Ferdinand

I asked Nadia if she'd prefer to stay upstairs the next morning, while I went down to reiterate to my family that we were choosing to leave. She seemed reluctant, at first, to leave me the burden on my own, but after convincing her that I cared only that she was comfortable, she agreed to stay in my room. I went down to the breakfast room, finding Mother and Father, and the two LeClaire adults eating some porridge and reading. They looked up as I entered, expectant looks on their faces. They thought I was here to apologize.

I gave them a brief reminder of our conversation last night, and let them know that I already sent out a telegraph to the Lephards, asking if we could spend a few nights with them until we were able to find a judge who could marry us. After that, we would find an apartment of our own. They were welcome to come to the wedding, as well as visit us at any time, but it was best that we don't stay so close that we start burrowing under each other's skins.

Mother sniffled the whole time, but, to my surprise, seemed to take it better than she had last night. She nodded her head, agreeing that perhaps this was for the best, and already telling me she'd visit as soon as she could. I kissed her cheek, saying farewell, and shook Father's hand and Mr. LeClaires.

After all my goodbyes and thank yous were said, I went back to my room where Nadia sat on the chair, our packed bags already at her feet. We had to walk to the Lephards, so we decided to wait until the sun warmed the air a bit more.

A few minutes later, though, our plans changed yet again when the bell rang. At first, we thought it was just another of the LeClaire's guests, but then Nadia perked up, sitting upright in her chair.

"Hannabella!" she said, getting up and running to the door. She stuck her head into the hallway, listening as Hannabella's unmistakable voice drifted along the stairs. I hovered a little behind, but as soon as Nadia was sure that it was indeed her friend, she dashed from the room and disappeared into the foyer below.

I followed, understanding on a few words about hospitality and the duty of Flauns when it came to Rumonin refugees, before Nadia must have appeared in the midst of the conversation and cut it short. When I reached the small foyer, Nadia had Hannabella wrapped in a hug.

"Have you suddenly developed the gift of clairvoyance, darling?" Hannabella asked in Rumoni. "How did you know I was here?"

"I heard you."

Hannabella's eyes flickered to me, and I knew she had received the telegram. She knew a bit of what my family was like now, and it filled me with a bite of shame. I didn't want her to think ill of them, but I also knew that I couldn't stomach their words any longer.

Mrs. LeClaire, the person Hannabella had been chatting with, crossed her arms and ruffled her brow. She stared from Hannabella to me to Nadia, rotating in a circle, unsure what to do. I gathered Hannabella had lightly scolded her, which made her upset, but the power of Hannabella's fame also played a part here. Mrs. LeClaire would never dare to become too angry-- not with a woman so well known, so very talented, so very honored by the queen.

"At any rate, I came to see you, Nadia," Hannabella said, kissing her cheeks. She wore a deep green hat, swatched in tulle, and it bobbed against Nadia's hair. "Ferdinand told me that you would like to come back to stay, and of course I said yes."

As Hannabella talked, a rustle further back in the house drew me eyes down the hall. I caught a glimpse of a skirt as it whisked behind a corner, and sighed as I walked down to ferret out our audience members. Rounding the corner, I came upon Katya, pretending to be absorbed in the wallpaper pattern. With squinted eyes, she silently mouthed numbers as she ran her finger down the line of flowers in a row. I'd never seen her that concentrated on anything in her entire life.