Charlotte After Dark

Chapter 43: Trust No One

I followed Valentina from the parlor like a puppy, trying my best not to keep a foot out of line as she glided down the hallway. Her gait was flawless and free, like the floor below her moved and she stood still. Her hair glimmered in the light of the hallway, tied up in a tight chignon bun offset slightly to the side. She was wearing a green gown that cascaded behind her, her bodice tight across her torso. Her bracelets twinkled and dangled from her thin wrists as she didn't even wait for the doors to the main dining room to open for her, expecting them to open at her mere presence.

I tried not to follow too closely for fear of running into her. I kept silent, not at her request, but it seemed like the only way I might survive the night. Her agitation during the rest of the lesson was clear, and she found any reason to scold me for an error after I didn't flounder during the dancing portion. I still couldn't figure out if she was more angered at me, or at Luca.

I stopped clear in my tracks as we rounded into the dining room. Standing, with a smile like an idiot, was none other than Audra Novak.

Audra. Freaking. Novak.

"Audra Novak," Valentina said, speeding up as she approached Audra, planting a kiss on either side of her cheeks.

"This is my niece, Charlotte," Valentina gestured towards me.

The acid seemed to flow off of her words less than usual, but it was simply Valentina's public face, as opposed to her private face.

"Charlotte, don't gawk," Valentina reminded me.

"I have already had the pleasure," Audra smiled.

"You have?" Valentina replied, surprised.

What are you doing here? I mouthed, but Audra brushed me off with a small wave of her hand by her hip.

"Your darling niece was under my guidance for a short time," Audra explained.

Guidance. I scoffed to myself at the idea.

"Was she this difficult when she was with you?" Valentina asked. It was a question that really didn't expect an answer.

Audra smiled. It was saccharine and fake, but Valentina didn't seem to notice.

"She is very strong-willed," Audra replied.

"Strong-willed like an ass, perhaps," Valentina remarked.

"Even asses can be broken. The trick is a firm hand," Malcolm chimed in.

Before I could formulate a response, Malcolm entered the dining room with Luca not too far behind him. He looked agitated, and worn, but took his seat at the end of the table as he always did. Malcolm filed in, taking a seat next to Audra as we all took our seats.

"You are late, Lucanus," Valentina reminded him with the irritation clear in her voice.

"A man cannot be late to dinner in his own home," was Luca's reply.

Valentina glared at him. I wasn't sure what she was angrier about: Luca's tardiness, or the reminder that this was his home, and not hers. She was distracted from responding by the servants that funneled into the room with trays of pitchers and goblets.

Our evening flowed into an event of boring conversation while Audra and Valentina talked in excitement with each other and Malcolm and Luca talked about business. The conversations melded together after a while and I wasn't too sure what anyone was saying. I sat alone, in the middle of the table, wondering why Audra was here. As I watched her converse with Valentina, and how Valentina eyed her with satisfaction, I felt a pit of despair grow in my stomach.