Page 35 of His Beauty
Bonnie planted her elbows on the table and began to rub at her temples, as Ember crossed to the tea tray to fix a cup of tea for their sister. They’d been raised in the same house, but after Ember’s father had died, Mother had slowly changed the poor girl into a sort of unpaid servant. It had never been right, but Bonnie was ashamed to admit she hadn’t noticed until it was too late, as she was lost in a book more often than not.
But now, Tiffany gave Ember a grateful smile as she took the tea. “Thank you, Ember. I appreciate the help. My feet are so sore!”
Tiffany had never minded having Ember do things for her, but it was nice to know her marriage to Lysander had mellowed her and taught her the value of appreciation and help.
From the way Ember smiled in return and sank into a chair beside Tiffany, it appeared she didn’t mind doing nice things in return for appreciation. At least now she wasn’texpectedto do anything. And here at Blabloblal, Mother wasn’t around to give any of them orders.
It was wonderful to be away from her control, even if it had meant bucking society and striking out on her own.
Speaking of that…
With a sigh, Bonnie began to collect the papers in front of her. They needed to be placed in the correct order so when she got to Inverness, it’d be easier to ensure their printing.
“So what is she moping about?” Ember asked their sister in a loud whisper.
Tiffany replied in an equally unbelievably loud whisper, “Something to do with the publishing company I think.”
Her lips twitching fondly at her love for these two sisters of hers, Bonnie shook her head. Without turning, she said, “I think I have finally found the last piece of my book.” The last piece she’d be able to manage at least. “I am returning to Inverness tomorrow and will start setting type for the first printing run. I am going to market it as particularly interesting to women.”
Ember hummed. “That does not sound like moping. Not that I am not thrilled to be here, but I thought it was something…dire?”
“I thought it was.” Tiffany sniffed. “You should have seen her when Lysander brought her back here. She was close to tears, and I keep catching her sobbing into her soup?—”
Bonnie whirled around. “That is not true!”
She knew it wasn’t true, because even though she’d felt like sobbing often in the days since she’d left Oliphant Castle, she hadn’t once given in to it.
“Which part?” Ember asked. “The being close to tears, or the sobbing?”
“Or the soup?” Tiffany added unhelpfully. “I cannot abide soup.”
“And I adore it,” snapped Bonnie, remembering the squash soup Lyon’s new cook had made. “So I would not ruin it with tears.”
“Aye, that sounds disgusting,” Ember deadpanned. “Very salty.”
Tiffany frowned over her teacup. “I am only just now getting over the urge to cast up my accounts every time someone mentions eating soup. Do not make it worse.”
“Cast up your accounts? What does that mean?” Ember cocked her head to one side. “As in…you have a ledger or journal of your expenses? And you toss it over your shoulder or out of a boat or something?”
Huffing, Tiffany lifted her feet encased in delicate slippers to rest on the ottoman in front of her. “To cast up one’s accounts is a euphemism. A polite way to say…”
With her free hand, she gestured at her stomach.
“To become pregnant?”
“No,” offered Bonnie, trying to keep a straight face at her sister’s outdated language. “That isincreasing.”
“Well, that is certainly true.” Ember eyed Tiffany’s belly wryly.
Now Tiffany was gesturing from her stomach, up her esophagus, to her mouth. “To cast up your accountsmeans…you know.”
“Breathing?” Ember guessed. “Is that a dance? You know I never took the same dancing lessons as the two of you.”
Now, Tiffany was opening her mouth, pretending to heave. That, along with the motion of her hand as she dragged something vile up from her stomach, made it clear what she meant.
From the way Ember’s eyes twinkled as she cocked her head to one side and pretended not to understand, Bonnie guessed she was just teasing Tiffany.
“You are…gasping for breath? You smell something bad? What does this have to do with your accounts?”
