*Rhys*
After the meal, my mother rises and, with a twinkling, sweeping smile that encompasses everyone at the table, including her former mate, says, “Why don’t we retire to the drawing room together? Trulliad has been kind enough to arrange for some small entertainment.”
One look at her face and I know that my Maman has some devilish plan in mind.
“Dancing!” I exclaim moments later, seeing the floor cleared and Trulliad at the piano, accompanied by a weedy-looking servant with a violin. “How very kind of you, Maman. That is just what I was hoping for.”
My mother swans over to me in a cloud of jasmine. “Darling, the world does not revolve around you, and I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression that it did. Now sit down there and rest your leg. Lùmien will dance with me, of course.”
