*On Hiatus* A Midnight Dance

A Faint Hope

Marriage. Would that really solve our problems? While I knew Charles wouldn't go out and sell his sisters', if the offer was already present, who could blame him? It wouldn't be selling if both parties wanted the union. The issue was that I didn't want it. I wanted to be close to my family. What was the point of a husband if he was gone for so long? Business ventures were necessary to the upkeep of a household, but that kind of life, I knew it wasn't for me.

"What to do?" I asked myself.

Since my return home, my bedroom had become my haven. Tomorrow, I would return to Nightingale Manor to check on Delilah. Her well-being was more than a promise. I truly cared for her. Sure, guilt was part of it, but I enjoyed being with her. I might not know everything was vampires, but she was patient with me.

Sighing, I rolled over on my side. A breeze blew through the small crack in the window. No news from Belle or Lord Nightingale. What could I do?

If I married Adam, I'd save my family. If I joined Delilah's family, she wouldn't be sent away. She'd have someone to look after her here as she waited for news of her brother. Family was important, but what if it was at the expense of another family? Could I live with that? Could I live with the fact that I'd destroyed a family?

"Goddess, guide me."

Unfortunately, I didn't receive a divine revelation. Instead, I lost sleep and woke up with a headache. Emily helped me get ready in the morning before I dragged my feet down the stairs. The family was already eating by the time I arrived. No one talked. Not even the twins.

They ate quickly and returned upstairs with Emily. I stared after them. They weren't normally so quick to leave. What were they up to?

"We need to sell things," Vivian suddenly blurted out.

I gulped down my water, hoping not to choke on the bread lodged in my throat.

"Vivian, stop," Charles said with a sigh.

"We have furnishings and other household items we can sell," she continued. "We don't use them anymore."

"We're not selling mother's things!"

Vivian glared at Charles. "Watch your tone. We're at the dining table, not Father's office."

Charles winced. I looked away. This was not going to end well.

"If we don't sell it," Elaine suddenly said. "The bank will come and take it."

We stared at her. Normally, she'd let us speak out opinions first before choosing which ones to back. 

"There's no guarantee we'll have enough funds," Charles began.

"I'm with Vivian and Elaine," I said. "We'll hold an auction. We might garner some sympathy, and buyers will pay more."

"That's wishful thinking."

"It won't hurt to try," Vivian said. "Look, somehow, we've survived by not selling things inside the house."

"I agree," Elaine whispered. "After all, how long do we have until the bank asks for the house?"

Her words cast a cloud of doom above our heads. Losing the house was the worst thing imaginable. If it came to that, perhaps Charles would force me to make a choice. I didn't want to think about it.

As we finished the meal, Jonna walked into the room.

"Lord Ross is here," he announced.

Charles dabbed his mouth with a napkin and stood.

"He's looking for Lady Avaline."

"He has some nerve showing up here," Vivian said angrily. "He's half the reason we're in this mess."

"Now that's," Charles began.

"If it wasn't for his prompting, you wouldn't have gone on that expedition," Vivian retorted.

"Have him wait in the lounge," I told Jonna.

Vivian turned to me. "You're meeting with him?"

I gave her a look. "He's my guest. I'll see what he wants and send him on the way."

"Ava," Charles said. "About what I said-"

He got his own look. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

When I walked into the lounge, Lord Ross stood. The bruises on his face were like angry spots against his complexion. He looked a lot better than Charles. I'm sure he was the luckiest. 

"Lady Avaline," he said in greeting. "Thank you for meeting with me."

I gestured to the couch. "To what do I owe this visit?"

He didn't speak until we were both sitting.

"First, I'd like to apologize. The excursion ended in disaster."

I stayed silent. Disaster was one way of saying it.

"It seemed that your worries should have been taken more seriously."

I gripped my skirt tightly. "Why are you here?"

"Due to the expedition's failure, the backlash is very... loud."

"If you're here for pity, you won't find any," I told him.

"No," he said. "On the contrary, I...I'm here so you change my mind."

I frowned. He wasn't making any sense. "What are you on about?"

"I aim to make this right," Adam began. He wringed his hands. "You see, I'm taking a walk...a ride that may lead me to unexpected places."

Was he saying what I think he was?

"Go on."

"Many would advise against it but I need to make this right. This isn't how I want to run my business. I don't wish to bankrupt my partners."

"That's...a honorable way of running things," I muttered. I cleared my throat. "You said you wanted someone to change your mind?"

He chuckled. "Well, yes and no. On my own, it might be a fool's errand. But if I had... others with me, I might a peace of mind."

Others...soldiers. Sebastian's men. Now, I knew why he'd come to visit. While the soldiers couldn't leave to retrieve Sebastian, no one would stop them from escorting Lord Ross on a ride.

"I'll see what I can do," I said. "How soon were you thinking of taking this...vacation?"

"In a few days. Less if it's possible."

"I'll send word then."

He smiled. "Thank you my lady."

I stood. "I'm not doing this for you," I told him. "It's my family on the line too and... Lord Nightingale. Our families shouldn't be devasted over this."

He bowed. "I understand."

I didn't wait to see him off. Instead, I rushed out to the carriage. Lady Owen would definitely help me talk with Lieutenant Bretman. I'm sure he would be more than happy to go along.