“I see.” I had been hoping that being transferred away from High Scape would be the end of any contact with Trader Fines and his crazy group of ash users. They’d tricked us into rubbing paste made from human ashes into our hands, the motive being that such an activity, illegal as it was, would prevent Taro and me from reporting Fines and his associates to the authorities for their criminal behavior. The thought of it still had the power to nauseate me.
“He contacted Father to share transport connections. Father had him investigated and didn’t like what he saw.”
“What did he see?”
“There are rumors that Fines is willing to go to lengths that, while not actually illegal, may be seen as unethical.” Dias frowned. “I’m not sure. He won’t tell us exactly what that entails. Which is aggravating. Anyway, Fines has been telling people throughout the merchant community that Father lacks honor and is ungrateful to those who assist him.”
“And that’s enough to do damage?”
“Reciprocation is a vital part of doing business.”
Damn it. “I had no idea that could be used against the family.”
“If Mother had been around, she would have been able to tell you what the implications of accepting help from a trader might be.”
“I suppose she might have.” And to be honest, I would have appreciated her insight. I’d had no idea how to handle Trader Fines and his cohorts. “But the family is still doing well, right? Despite this difficulty?” I didn’t know what I’d do with myself if I had done real damage to my family’s fortunes.
“Well enough.”
Not the most reassuring of responses, but better than it could have been.
The others drifted in, Taro and Tarce and Fiona, my mother and Mika. I enjoyed their chatter, all of them—except Tarce—expert conversationalists who could make each other laugh. It was like watching a play.
Then Bailey walked into the dining room and ruined it all. “My lady, there are a Trader Cars Pride and a Trader Marcus Pride here to see Shield Mallorough.”
I couldn’t help sighing. I’d been hoping my mother had been exaggerating the persistence of the Prides, as unlikely as that would be. Or that something had happened to keep the Prides from coming. Nothing dangerous, of course. Just something like changing their minds, or Marcus tripping over someone he’d rather marry.
“I’ve put them in the front room.”
My brothers, mother and I rose from the table. I looked at Taro, who had made no move. “Will you come?”
He appeared surprised. “Of course.”
“They asked to see Shield Mallorough alone,” said Bailey.
“Then they’re going to be disappointed,” said Mother.
That they would. I didn’t need my family for moral support. I could say no all by myself. It was their reaction for which I wanted witnesses. Not that I assumed the Prides would be violent or anything like it. It was just that I didn’t know them, and I would feel more comfortable with others there who could account for exactly what was said by them.
Two men were standing in the front room. The younger one was of average height, blond hair tied back, with brown eyes, slim and erect. The older man was gray, with a beard and a potbelly, taller than his son. They both faced the door as we walked in.
I didn’t bother to introduce myself. “Yes?” I asked as coolly as I could.
The older man said, “You’re Dunleavy Mallorough?”
“I am.”
“I am Cars Pride. This is—”
“I know who you are,” I interrupted.
“We requested that you come alone.”
“I know,” I answered, taking a seat. I made no effort to introduce anyone, I didn’t invite anyone to sit down, and I didn’t suggest to Bailey that he bring tea. After all, I was not the hostess of this manor.
Bailey withdrew without asking if he should bring refreshments. He was a smart man. I’d always liked him.
Taro sat beside me on the settee. He put his arm along the back of the settee, just above my shoulders. Claiming his significance to me in an unmistakable but not inappropriate manner. I appreciated the gesture.
The others, including the Prides, took chairs about the room. I think my mother had wanted the settee, as it was directly opposite the Prides, but I was angry with her. She’d done all of this. She’d colluded with these people in the past. I would have as my support the person who was closest to me, the person who meant the most to me. The person whose place Marcus Pride was trying to take.
“Speak,” I ordered. We might as well get this over with.
Cars scowled. That was the kind of reaction I expected. “As your mother is present, I have no doubt you already know our purpose for being here.”
I assumed a frown. “I have trouble believing that what she says about you is true. You couldn’t possibly expect me to marry your son. Don’t you know who I am?”
“The daughter of William and Teshia Mallorough and the subject of a contract sworn with me.”
“That contract no longer exists.”
Cars pulled a folded document out from the inside pocket of his waistcoat. “This is a copy right here.”
It occurred to me that I should have taken a look at a copy myself, assuming Mother had brought one with her. “I misspoke. The contract is voided.”
“You have an obligation to fulfill.”
“The only obligation I have is to my Source.” And he should know that. No matter what people heard about Pairs, ridiculous rumors and suspicions, what people were right about was the fact that the Pair bond was more important to Shields and Sources than any other relationship.
“This obligation,” he waved the document, “was created before you were a Shield.”
“My dear man.” I tried to drawl those words as Taro did when he wanted to appear arrogant and obnoxious. “The law is that all Sources and Shields are released from any contracts made on their behalf before they are diagnosed. There can’t be a conflict of obligations.” I smiled, hoping I looked condescending. “You don’t seem to understand how this works.”
“I will not allow Triple S sophistry deprive me of a contract I made in good faith and have relied on since. I expect you to obey your mother and meet your commitments.”
“My mother has not told me to marry your son.” Not that that would have persuaded me to do so. I wondered if my mother was aware of that.
Cars glared at my mother. “I’d assumed that was why you were here. To inform her of her responsibilities.”
My mother was not intimidated. “I told you that my daughter would not be marrying your son. I’ve said it in every letter I sent you. I said it when we met.”
“I had hoped further consideration would have revived your sense of honor. Or the desire to protect your name, if nothing else.”
“Give over, Cars. You’re in the wrong here and you know it. And I think our name can withstand a little tarnishing.”
Cars looked at me. “Maybe your family is refusing to comply with the contract because they know you won’t. Maybe it is you who has no honor.”
“I don’t really expect you to understand, but my only means of achieving honor is to Shield my Source. My most important duty is to my Source. I could never get married. I must be able to move as my Source does, and the demands on my time preclude marriage.” That wasn’t strictly true. I could marry someone who was willing to move according to the demands of the Triple S. It would just be complicated and inconvenient.
Cars snorted in derision. “What can a Shield know of demands? You flit about from place to place, everything handed to you without your working for it”—I felt Taro stiffen beside me: he hated that particular accusation—“expending a bit of effort here and there controlling natural disasters that only you say exist in the first place. You don’t have to work from dawn to dusk, day after day, like everyone else does. So maybe that explains why you can’t understand the importance of meeting your commitments. But your mother doesn’t have the same excuse.”
“How about we stop wasting time?” I suggested. “The answer is no. The answer will always be no. Go home.”
There was a short silence before Cars turned to my mother. “You didn’t tell me your daughter was so ill-mannered.”
I was delighted he thought so. “There are those to whom manners should be shown, and those to whom one needn’t bother.” Hey, that was a good one. Really obnoxious.
Marcus scowled. It was good to finally see some kind of reaction from him.
“You’re just a slip server like the rest of us, girl,” said Cars. “Being a Shield only makes you a freak. It certainly doesn’t make you better than us.”
A freak? Surprise knocked my head back. He thought Shields were freaks? I hadn’t come across that opinion before. I would have to think about that later. Right now it was working in my favor. “If you so misunderstand my qualities, surely you don’t want your son to marry me.”
“I don’t want you for yourself,” Cars sneered. “You are merely the connection to your family. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t let my son near you. Everyone knows you’re a whore.”
Huh. Well, it wasn’t the first time I’d heard that. Unfortunately.
To my shock, Taro leapt up, pulled the larger man to his feet, and punched him in the mouth. I could only stare at him. That really wasn’t like him. And it was totally unnecessary. What did we care what a stranger thought of me?
Then it got even more ridiculous. Marcus got up to shove Taro away. Dias shoved Marcus, Marcus shoved back. Dias fell against a small table, sending the porcelain figurine flying. It shattered against the wall.
Well, this was humiliating.
“Isn’t this charming?” a loud voice said, piercing the ruckus. It was enough to get everyone’s attention.
Daris entered the room from the stairs, with her ever present aroma of alcohol. “Really, Dunleavy, your family has brought such an air of gentility to our home.”
Wonderful. Our childish antics had been witnessed. And by Daris, a drunkard. But what she said was true. It was terrible that everyone’s behavior had disintegrated so thoroughly.
“If you don’t mind,” said my mother. “This is family business.”
She shrugged. “This is my home.”
She had a point, damn her. Anyone could wander in and we had no right to stop them.
“Perhaps we can go to your private quarters,” Cars said to me.
That was not happening. I was not letting these people into our personal space. I wasn’t sure guests were supposed to go up there. And, of course, once they were there, it would be difficult to get them out without causing a horrific scene.
“There’s no need,” said my mother. “There’s nothing more to be said. I’m not going to have my daughter slandered in that way.”
Cars drew breath to say something that was no doubt offensive.
“I apologize for what my father said,” said Marcus, looking directly at me. “It was unforgivable.”
Well, that was interesting.
“Don’t you dare apologize for me,” Cars snapped.
“How could you expect them to invite us into their family when we demonstrate that we don’t know how to conduct ourselves?”
It seemed that Marcus had a spine after all.
“None of you know how to behave.” Daris seemed to be looking around for something.
“You are the very mirror of deportment,” said Taro to her.
“I’ve never needed physical restraint.”
“No, you merely inspire the need in others.”
“We are veering from the point,” Cars complained. “You, girl.” Was that how he talked to people? No wonder his family was failing. “Will you do the honorable thing and marry my son?”
“I will not marry your son.”
“Then your family will face the consequences.”
What did that mean?
“Your wife would not like what you’re doing, Cars,” my mother said gently.
That seemed to infuriate Cars. “Don’t you dare speak of Lendi!”
“She was a good woman, and very sensible.”
“It’s disgusting that you are attempting to use her as a reason to evade your duty.”
“I know her death has hit you hard and has made business more difficult for you, but—”
“Stop talking about my wife!” Cars roared.
Was that what this was about? I was aware that the loss of a spouse could have a devastating impact on a family’s business. Had the death of this woman caused the financial difficulties the Prides were experiencing? Or was her loss merely making Cars irrational?
Marcus had lost a parent. His family were losing their prosperity, his livelihood. I felt sorry for him. That changed nothing. “I will not marry you.”
Cars clenched his fists. “You honestly think you can say no and that will be the end of it?”
“That should be all that I need to do.”
“If you refuse to honor your parents’ agreement, everyone shall know that the word of a Mallorough means nothing.”
“That is unfortunate, but not enough to convince me to marry.” Besides, surely no one would hold a voided contract against a family who had lost the relevant family member to the Triple S. It was just a threat.
But the expression I was seeing on my mother’s face made me wonder whether I was underestimating the validity of the threat. She was frowning, concerned, but not, I thought, about me.
I would hate it if my actions caused serious hardship to my family, but I was not going to let that force me into marriage. The very idea of it was preposterous. “It’s unfortunate that you came all this way for nothing,” I said to Cars, “but if you had written to me I would have given you the same answer and saved you the trouble. Nothing you say can change my mind. Now, if you will excuse me.” I stood and crossed the room to the door.
“We are not finished here,” said Cars.
“I am.” I opened the door. Cars strode over to me. “Do not follow me.”
“This isn’t finished,” he insisted.
“Do I have to call for some footmen to help you leave?” Taro demanded. “Because I will.”