“Most parents,” Jace replied before he thought. The quiet conversation, the man’s easy manner had reduced his guard.
“Ah.”
Again quiet graced the room. Fasic simply looked at him with compassion in his eyes. “Your mother?”
Jace hesitated, but the serenity of the man drew words from him. “She killed my father. Drained him of energy and Flair to save her life and walked away from us.”
T’Licorice’s eyes fired, his face set in lines that promised retribution. He leaned forward. “Where is this female?”
“Dead.”
“But not before she sorely hurt you.” The man scanned Jace. “I understand trusting will be difficult.”
The door simply opened and Glyssa stood there. “Mama wants to speak with you,” she said to her father. All three of them knew it was a lie.
Jace said, “If you’ll excuse me, I am weary.” He stood, letting his tiredness show, though he was close to lying also. He’d gotten his second wind.
Fasic rose and stared at him. “If you insist.”
Glyssa took her father’s arm. “
Inclining his head to Jace, Fasic said, “Sometimes it’s best not to push, to let the bird come to your hand.” His full smile was endearing. “And I hope your BirdFam is enjoying himself.”
“I’m sure he is. I left a window open,” Jace said. “He can come and go as he pleases.”
“And I hope you feel you can do the same,” Fasic said. Glyssa smiled at Jace, and he felt the warmth of it heat all the blood in his veins, before she took her father away to another Family gathering Jace didn’t need to attend. Thank the Lady and Lord.
“What do you wish to do, young man?” asked the Residence, voice coming from a speaker Jace couldn’t see. House was probably riddled with them.
Jace jumped, cleared his throat. “Call me Jace.”
“Do you wish to explore my halls and rooms? Go to the PublicLibrary through the tunnel? Wander our grounds? Leave the estate for sociability with other humans?”
“Do you have a workroom for physical tasks?” he asked.
“To use your creative Flair?” The Residence sounded approving.
“Yes.”
“I will give you instructions to the basement workroom.”
A few minutes later, Jace entered that chamber. The workroom had walls of small cubes stuffed with materials and tools, neatly organized and clean . . . but idle. He
“The former T’Licorice made books,” the Residence said, turning on bespelled lights along the long walls. “My current Family uses their own suites for their creative Flair, but T’Licorice liked this space.”
“It’s great,” Jace said, and it held very few echoes or vibrations of the Licorices. “I am a leatherworker.”
Lights flashed over a table against one of the short walls. “Leathers and tools for such work are here.” The Residence’s voice warmed. “The former T’Licorice, Red Rhiz, occasionally used leather to bind his books, though he preferred cloth.”
Jace crossed to the table, found the finest tools. He swallowed. “I use gold gilding.”
“I know. I have often seen the wallet of yours that Glyssa has.”
Jace blinked. He didn’t recall her mentioning such a thing.
The Residence said, “We have plenty of gilding for you.” A small wooden drawer protruded holding a stack of fine gold sheets. Jace stared, gently took one and laid it on the table. His head swam. No, he wasn’t used to the offhand wealth these people commanded
“Rhiza and Enata like long, thin envelope pursenals. Glyssa always carries your wallet, and Fasic likes a trifold.”
“Thank you. I’ll make such for them.” Something to do with his days rather than exploring Druida. “And you, Residence? Would you like a gilded leather panel somewhere?”
A creak came as if in surprise, then a hum. “You could make a rectangular panel fifty by seventy-five centimeters in a dark maroon with gilding for me.”
“Sounds good. We can talk about what kind of pattern you prefer later,” Jace said absently as he reached for a piece of leather that was red, nearly black, that should suit D’Licorice.
Sometime later, he heard the door open, and even later after that, the Residence dimmed the lights. “You should retire now.”
Jace nodded. He hadn’t quite come to a stopping place, but stupid to argue with an intelligent House. Stretching the kinks from his muscles, he turned to see Glyssa sitting in a bar chair, watching him. She blushed. “Your work is beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She slipped from the chair, came and took his hand. “Come, let’s go to bed.”
His work was forgotten, he put nothing away, just walked fast with her out the door.
And made sure that he had sex with her slowly, tenderly, thoroughly.
Jace had thought he’d gained his balance. Until it was time for the midmorning appointment at the Hawthorns.
As soon as they exited from the glider, the Fams took off to hunt on a FirstFamily estate. For some reason they thought the game would be richer here, though Glyssa had told them she didn’t think the Hawthorn mice and skirls were fatter than anywhere else in Druida.
Camellia D’Hawthorn opened the door with a warm smile.
“I brought the unfinished manuscript of Netra Sunaya Hoku’s story for you to listen to,” Glyssa said.
“Listen to?” Camellia asked. “Now? Yay!” She gestured them in and Jace entered the castlelike residence. The grandhall showed two stories of wooden paneling.
“With goodies,” Glyssa said firmly. As if food and a more casual manner might make Jace less nervous. Didn’t work.
“That’s right, goodies,” Laev said smoothly. He picked up Camellia’s fingers and kissed them as he led them to a hallway off the entrance. “I have been told by a cook that eating food at the right time is important.”
Camellia grinned. “Yes, you’re—and I’m—right about that, though I don’t cook much here.” She rolled her shoulders. “I usually get enough of that at the teashops.”
“Which are doing well?” Glyssa asked.
“Extremely well,” Laev said with a smug smile.
Jace couldn’t help himself. He kept craning his head at the luxury surrounding him, the antiques, even the rich smells . . . and his breathing came faster and shallower. He strove to follow the easy conversation.
“The novelty of me, the owner of the tearooms, becoming a FirstFamily GreatLady hasn’t worn off yet,” Camellia grumbled.
“I think it has,” Laev contradicted.
“But there aren’t many places where Commoners might catch a glimpse of a FirstFamily GreatLady on a daily basis,” Glyssa said.
“I’ve told my staff that I have no influence with my husband in what he might care to invest in, if people approach them to talk to me,” Camellia said.
Laev bent in laughter and his HeartMate cuffed him.
“Great emotions also affect the taste buds. Stop laughing,” Glyssa said.
A housekeeper appeared and opened the door to the small sitting room facing the back gardens that led to the ocean. “The goodies are ready.”
The sun cast black shadows of midmorning, dappling bushes still heavy with summer flowers, and the perfectly cut lawn of a green that epitomized lush abundant growth.
Glyssa took Jace’s hand and drew him to the twoseat and sat next to him. They all nibbled on small cakes
