Page 117 of The Cannibal

I was beginning to see that all his siblings shared the same haughtiness.

They all looked so refined. That same angelic air with wicked tongues and wit. Somehow I was becoming more aware of how I looked to these outsiders. I did not look like them or act like them. I was not raised to know the intricacies of their world, their customs, or the leisure their generations of wealth afforded them.

“It’s so nice to see you picked someone so unique,” Isabella commented, her hand already in my face to touch my eyebrow. “What an interesting thing you are. What is your breeding?”

Silas pushed her hand away. I spotted a tenseness in his smile. “Don’t be rude.”

“I just want to know all about her.” She looked almost offended as she turned back to me. “Your accent doesn’t sound entirely English.”

“My parents came from Poland, but I was raised in England,” I told her.

“Oh, a Slav!”

“Jesus Christ, Isabella, can you have some tact?” he scolded her.

“I can say it! I love Slavs. I married one, remember?” she snapped at him, as if he was the one to know better. “You are so lovely. I hope you feel welcome so far. I am only a telegraph away. I’ll leave my card on the tray downstairs.”

“Did you say hello to Phoebe yet?” Silas changed the subject.

“Who?” she mumbled.

“The new one,” Irene said.

“Which one is that?” Isabella scratched behind her ear.

“The strawberry-blonde in pink,” Silas said. “Aston.”

“Aston?” Irene looked perplexed. “I don’t remember father introducing any Dam named Aston.”

“In all fairness, he’s had too many,” Isabella bickered.

“The one in pink, go greet her. She is excited to meet you.” Silas shooed them. The mention of their own importance seemed to do the trick.

I was holding back a smile.

“What is it?” he grumbled.

I shook my head and lifted a shoulder.

“Say it.”

“They’re lovely.” I grinned. “That’s all.”

“I envy you,” he sighed.

“Pardon?”

“No siblings, no father.”

I smacked his arm.

“I don’t think I’ll last the day,” he groaned. “Perhaps you can poison me and the entire visit will fly by as fast as an osprey.”

“Keep it together, you are doing just fine.”

“I will, but you’ll hear about it later.”

“So be it.” I squeezed his arm as it looped in mine, watching the rooftop fill with guests.