Magdalene’s head tilted slightly to the side but her face gave away nothing. “Trouble?”
Uh-oh. Maybe she didn’t know Lucien was hauled away in the middle of the night by The Council. She might look like his sister but she was his Mom and that probably wouldn’t be stellar news.
“Uh…” I mumbled to cover. It was lame but I didn’t know where else to go.
“Do you know of Father’s troubles with The Council?” Isobel asked, clearly knowing herself and not afraid to mention it in front of Magdalene which meant she knew too so I relaxed.
“Not, um… exactly. I know he had an, uh… visit from them but he hasn’t shared more,” I answered.
“Actually,” Magdalene cut in, “that card is for you to use whenever you feel you need it, my dear. Whatever concerns you have. Whatever you wish to discuss. My son endures an interest amongst our people that can be trying. Not only for him but for those with whom he shares his time. We just wished you to know, regardless of how Cressida and Etienne behaved at lunch, that you have his family’s support, a listening ear, whatever you need.”
Wow. That was super nice.
“Thank you,” I replied quietly.
“Whatever you need,” Magdalene repeated, getting slightly closer to me in a way I found contradictorily both reassuring and a little scary.
Great, now Lucien’s mother was causing me to have bizarre, conflicting emotions.
“Okay,” I was still talking quietly, “thank you.”
Her hand came up and she again gave my arm another squeeze.
I smiled then looked to the path and then back to the women.
“I really should get back to Lucien,” I told them. “As you know, he’s not a big fan of his father, Cressida worked his nerves at lunch and he can sometimes have a temper. I don’t know you all very well but I’m thinking Julian working on his own can’t keep the beast at bay. And anyway, Lucien would much rather spend time with you so maybe we should return.”
“I see you have grown to know my son well,” Magdalene noted in her soft voice.
“He’s an immensely knowable guy,” I replied and heard Isobel chuckle. “I mean, he’s a guy you’d want to know, uh… immensely,” I clarified stupidly.
“A guy,” Isobel murmured, amusement vibrating in her voice.
“It’s refreshing, my dear,” Magdalene started and my attention went to her, “to see my son with someone, anyone, who enjoys his company, his company, without veneration.”
Well, I worshipped her son but not in a way I’d share with her.
“I’m pleased you find that refreshing,” I told her and she moved into me again, this time to slide an arm around my waist and turn me back to the path.
“Let’s get to know each other better, you and I,” she stated as she started us on our way, Isobel following. “Use that card to call on me just to chat.”
“Me too,” Isobel called from behind us.
Wow, totally nice. They completely made up for Cressida being a bitch and Etienne being super-creepy.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“And perhaps we’ll return. Take you to lunch, just girls. Maybe shopping,” Magdalene went on.
I would love that.
I didn’t share that. I just said, “That’d be great. Maybe we can invite Stephanie.”
“Excellent idea,” Magdalene stated on a waist squeeze.
We were on the path, woods surrounding us when it hit me and I found my feet suddenly stopping. Thus I stopped Magdalene with me and Isobel was forced to halt behind us.
I turned to them, moving out of the curve of Magdalene’s arm and that was when I found my mouth moving.
“I… Lucien… he’s shared with me a variety of things and I… well, being me, being mortal, I mean, it’s very hard to wrap my mind around them. But at lunch, I was worried… um, I mean to say…” Damn! I was screwing this up! I took in a deep breath and forged on, “What I mean is, he’s very strong but still, I sense he’s suffered. That will happen to everyone at times in their lives, I know. It would just suck if it happened to you and you didn’t have good people, family, friends, at your back. At lunch I worried that he didn’t.” My eyes took them both in and I finished quietly, “I’m glad to know that he does.”
Magdalene’s normally soft, friendly face got softer and friendlier. Isobel, who played her cards closer to her vest, smiled a genuine, heartfelt smile.
I kept talking.
“Lucien would never thank you and it isn’t my place to do it but I’m going to do it anyway. So, uh… thank you.”
Magdalene looked at Isobel, Isobel looked at Magdalene then Magdalene again moved into me and wrapped her hand around my elbow.
She turned us and moved us forward but she did this walking close and saying softly, “And thank you, my dear. It’s lovely to know my son spends his time with a woman who cares.”
“I do,” I said softly back and, actually (shocker) I did.
Her fingers gave my elbow a squeeze.
“Good,” she murmured and I looked to the side to see her facing forward, her expression thoughtful but content.
Then I threw a look behind me and caught Lucien’s beautiful daughter’s smile.
Totally weird. Either one of them could be his sister.
Still, I smiled back.
Then I concentrated on walking close to Lucien’s mother as we made our way back to her son.
* * * * *
Wearing a raspberry satin nightie with a deep edge of black lace at the bottom, I wandered out of the dressing room, through the bathroom and into the bedroom.
Although Magdalene and Isobel had been true to their promise to conclude the visit from Lucien’s family shortly after we returned, five minutes after they left, my family descended.
This did not make Lucien happy and his frustration was apparent. He only put a clamp on it when Aunt Kate explained their plane left early the next morning and that evening was the last opportunity they had to visit with me. Therefore, they stayed for dinner and beyond, leaving only fifteen minutes ago.
However, during their visit they were all watchful of Lucien and me. I didn’t get the opportunity to ask them to explain though it felt weirdly like they were taking our pulse after the visit from Lucien’s family.
The second we walked back from me giving them hugs and kisses at their rental car and Lucien closed the front door of the house, he turned, looked down at me and growled, “Bed.”