Page 11 of The Lies We Conjure
Because he’s a gentleman and this is how gentlemen human, apparently.
“You know,” I say, “I think I’m good to walk on my own. Very kind of you to offer. Very regal.”
He pointedly slips both hands into his trouser pockets. “Suit yourself.”
I have no idea if it’s me, or if it’s him, or the combination of the two of us, but there’s a thorn buried somewhere beneath this Auden and Lavinia relationship. If I’m going to survive the next four hours, I need to steer this ship in an entirely new direction.
“Auden,” I begin as we finally start strolling across the beautiful, star-shaped ceramic tiles of the garden, “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Can we give it another go?”
I hold out a hand to him, hoping that starting over at a proper handshake will do some symbolic heavy lifting to get us out of our apparent social death spiral. “I’m Lavinia, nice to meet you again.”
Auden eyes my peace offering and for a small moment, my heart drops at the thought of him delivering the same clear admonishment his grandmother dealt Wren. I know Ursula Hegemony is watching us from her seat at the head of the table. And though she turned her nose up at us, Auden’s own admission is that he mustdo what his grandmother says, and she instructed him to take care of me.
It’s a small gamble. A tiny, little dare.
Auden sets his very nice mouth into a line, a decision made.
He reaches out and accepts my hand.
His fingers are warm and dry, and carefully still—a clasp rather than a shake, which keeps the offending bunny bauble from swinging his way a second time. His eyes lift to mine, narrowed slightly, as if they’re trying desperately to read something that isn’t there.
Because I’m not who he’s looking for.
I breathe as shallowly as possible, trying to stave off my panic at the idea that—again—Auden Hegemony can see right through me.
But then his face breaks into that classically handsome smile.
“Auden, and likewise, Lavinia.”
CHAPTER5
AUDEN
This Lavinia Blackgate is not the one who lives in my memory.
That girl never would’ve smiled at me. Never would’ve admitted fault or started over. She certainly wouldn’t have apologized or tried to make me laugh.
Too sanctimonious. Too snobbish. Too thorny.
Too much of a Blackgate.
Even ten years ago, at age seven, I knew exactly the type of woman she would become. Several bouts of ouranimusrelationship made sure of that. Lavinia Blackgate was destined to be arrogant and beautiful enough to believe she was entitled to everything she desired, and when she inevitably didn’t receive all she thought she was owed, she’d be propelled by vengeance at the smallest perceived slight.
And though the deaths of my father and hers had to have changed both of us in ways that we’re still processing and might always process, I can say that even with the distance, even with the decade between, this Lavinia Blackgate is not at all what I expected.
“Um, whatdoyou remember about me from the last time you saw me?” Lavinia asks. Her accent, word choice, even mannerisms are still very American despite her upbringing abroad. “What… ten years ago?”
That’s a loaded question considering what happened on these grounds the last time she was here, and because I’m a nicer person than her younger self ever gave me credit for, I skip the worst and go for the most inane.
I point toward a swell of greenery at the very western edge of the manor’s manicured garden, before it sprawls into more wild, naturalvegetation. “The last time we were together, you found a dead skunk under that bush and wanted to resuscitate it.”
Instead of a well-timed quip, Lavinia promptly trips over the lip of a star-shaped tile in her ridiculously high heels. She nearly falls into the approaching table but rights herself without my help—though perhaps taking my arm would’ve been advisable.
Still, gentleman that I am, I don’t comment on Lavinia’s regrettable choices as I pull out a seat for her. She thanks me, exasperation clear against her now-pink cheeks as she pins me with her sable-dark eyes. “You remember that, of all things?”
No,I think,I was simply kind enough not to bring up the worst of it.
Lavinia blinks at me, the blush delicate as she watches me, waiting—earnest and honest enough, it seems, though this is yet another unexpected expression coming from the thundercloud of a girl I once knew.
