| |
URSULA WAITED TO SLIP back into one of her manic spells until after Dante had sent Belinda away to prepare the harem for the coming inquisition. I was certain that Murphy was already briefing the off-duty guards in his office in the basement.
“Unbecoming?” The princess seethed as she paced before the fireplace and glass wall that spanned the back of Dante’s room. “What do you call dropping in unannounced and leading a witch hunt based off an event that was a success?”
“A success?” I pressed my lips together to keep from smirking. “You didn’t seem to think I was so successful the other night.”
Ursula stopped in front of my armchair and turned her glassy eyes and unhinged gaze on me. “Just because it was a success doesn’t make it any less stupid. As you can see, it has done us no favors with the council.” She stepped in closer, forcing me to crane my neck to look up at her. “They will undoubtedly count this against us in the evaluation.”
“For what it is worth,” Dante said, touching Ursula’s shoulder to draw her attention away from me, “you did a wonderful job handling the interrogation.”
“It’s worth nothing.” Ursula ripped her arm away from him and retreated to one side of the fireplace, glaring out across the darkened lawn as if searching for spies or assassins. She’d had more than her fair share of both, and I was sure that contributed to her...issues.
“How long will this evaluation take?” I asked, sticking to the facts since the what-ifs were useless stress fodder.
“A full night?” Dante shrugged. “Perhaps two. They will certainly be gone before Imbolc to prepare with their households.”
“And what sort of things will they ask our donors and security?”
“Baited questions, to be sure.” Ursula huffed. I could think of a few inquiries that were innocent and damning enough. Apparently, Dante could, too. He folded his arms and leaned against the fireplace mantel.
“Such as: How does the princess discipline the duchess when she is displeased with her behavior?” he asked.
Ursula’s chin hitched as she turned to glare at him. “Would you have preferred me to lock her away in a coffin and leave your bed cold at dawn?”
Dante’s brows rose. “Touché,” he said, echoing my opinion. “And this is why we prepare our household.”
“And...what?” I snorted. “Tell them to lie their asses off?”
“We give them an acceptable version of the truth,” Dante said. “The princess verbally reprimands the duchess if she is not satisfied with her performance. The duchess has never left the premises without an escort.”
“And everyone plays along?” I’d dealt with plenty of petty crime duos who couldn’t keep a story straight between the two of them. With the guards and harem, our household was a hundred strong. “That’s expecting a lot,” I said.
Dante nodded. “It is. But we invite only the best into our home, and they are always well taken care of. We should count ourselves lucky that the council had other matters to tend to this night.”
“It is too little time to prepare,” Ursula said, absently slipping a fingernail between her teeth. She left the window and deposited herself in the empty armchair next to mine. “You’ve ruined us.”
“Me?” I gaped at her. “I’m not the one who does all the screaming and china smashing around here—”
“If you were not such a worthless scion, I wouldn’t be driven to such depraved behavior.”
“Well, if your lessons weren’t riddled with so much prehistoric drama, maybe I’d have a better idea of what the hell you expect from me.”
“You vapid leech!” Ursula slapped the tabletop between us with enough force that I jumped. “The history of House Lilith is now your history as well, and if you do not study it, you are doomed to repeat it. Your ignorance endangers us all.” She looked at Dante and held out her hands, palms up. “Do you see what I have to endure?”
I ground my teeth and squeezed the arms of my chair to keep from reaching over the table and strangling her.
“Please,” Dante said, his brows arching. He looked at each of us, but I could tell he was pleading more with me, begging me to yield to the princess. “Let us get through this evaluation, and I will gladly take over the duchess’s next history segment. You’ve been working too hard, Your Highness. A little rest would do you some good.”
And breaking her face would do me some good, but I kept that insight to myself. Besides, I couldn’t complain about having more time with Dante, as long as his lessons sounded less like a blood-soaked recap of a Jersey Shore episode. Thinking of bad television, Laura popped into my mind.
“Shit.” I jolted up out of my chair. “Someone needs to check Laura into a hotel. Like, now.”
“Laura?” Ursula’s eyes narrowed. “Your sister out in California?”
“Uh...” I swallowed and glanced at Dante.
“I am so sorry, my dear.” He closed the gap between us and took one of my hands in his. “But she cannot be permitted to leave until the council finishes their evaluation.”
“What?” My voice trembled in my throat. “No, but...she has nothing to do with this.”
“Mr. Murphy has already located two wolves who are watching the manor on behalf of the council. Our every move is being noted. Anything and everything we do will be dissected and used against us.”
“Is someone going to explain why my scion has a human guest, and I was not told?” Ursula shrieked.
Dante closed his eyes and released my hand, pinching the bridge of his nose as he turned to answer the princess. “She has not been here long, and you have been...reclusive, cousin. I was considering updating you shortly before the council arrived.”
“Considering.” She snorted. “Is that your acceptable version of the truth?”
I didn’t give Dante a chance to reply. “What do you care if my sister visits? I can’t exactly go see her whenever I want to, now can I?”
“Your sister is a human celebrity.” Ursula covered her face with one hand and groaned as if she couldn’t believe how incredibly stupid I was. “Paparazzi tail her everywhere. Don’t think I haven’t seen the tabloids Mandy leaves lying around in the harem. If one of them should get a picture of the two of you—”
“It’s not like I went out to get a mani-pedi with her.” My jaw clenched. “That might have warranted a ‘Mother, may I?’ But watching television in my bedroom hardly seems like something that should require your royal blessing, Your Highness.” I rolled my hand in a mocking gesture and bowed my head.
Dante’s cell phone buzzed, and he held up a hand, silencing us as he fetched it from his pocket. “It is Regina.” He gave us a stern look, demanding our silence, before answering the call. “How may I help you, Lady Beauclair?”
He was silent for a long moment as the councilwoman’s high-pitched voice buzzed unintelligibly through the receiver at his ear. I tried to make out what she was saying—from the strain on Ursula’s face, I could tell she was doing the same—though I only caught a few words, none of which made sense out of context.
“How fortunate you were not in your rooms at the time,” Dante finally said, pausing to glance down at the screen of his phone. “That must be Blood Vice calling to inform me now. You are of course welcome to stay with us here in Ladue. I will have Belinda prepare three guest suites.”
Ursula and I looked at one another. Her eyes reflected the same horror I felt swirling up through my stomach and into my throat. What the hell was Dante doing to us? When he ended the call, Ursula stood and faced him. Her mouth opened, but she looked too confused and hurt to think clearly. So, I spoke for both of us.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?”
Dante cringed at my crass language, but I didn’t care. It was a legitimate question and deserved more than one expletive. He held up a finger, quieting me again as a new call came in.
“Captain Nicks... Yes, I am aware... I have a personal interest in this investigation. Please, keep me abreast of your findings... Very good.” The call ended, and he immediately set to scrolling through his contacts.
“Dante,” Ursula said, scoffing at his inattentiveness. She was used to being coddled by the duke. I found the change in him alarming, as well.
“The Nightfall Opera House is ablaze,” he said, eyes still glued to his phone. “Blood Vice has not yet determined if it was arson, but the council believes it was an assault intended for them. The fire began on the floor where their rooms were located.”
“Or one of them started the fire in order to score a sympathy invitation to stay here,” I suggested, realizing right away how paranoid I sounded. Ursula was rubbing off on me, despite my best efforts to remain of sound mind.
“I suppose that is possible,” Dante said. “But baseless accusations will get us nowhere. They are just as likely to suspect us of attempting to thwart their evaluation. Inviting them to stay here is the best way to prove our innocence.”
“I don’t like it.” Ursula folded her arms. “Rescind the invitation. Let them waste their time hunting for new accommodations.”
“This is my house, Your Highness.” Dante finally glanced up from his phone and gave Ursula a level look. “I will not go back on my word. I suggest you stop wasting time and help the duchess prepare the others.”