Part 10 (1/2)

She'd been separated from him for less than a minute, and she missed his touch. His glance reminded her of the kiss they'd shared-something she was sure he intended. Heat spread through her lower body, but she refrained from s.h.i.+fting. Her mind, her will, denied him. Her body wanted more.

T'Ash walked past the lord's wingchair to sit beside his wife on a plush twoseat and asked for tea. Danith and T'Ash ordered tea, Straif and Mitch.e.l.la ordered caff. A moment later a server entered, pus.h.i.+ng a large hover-tray that contained two china pots and several cups. As she studied the design, Mitch.e.l.la smiled. She'd done good work, there, helping T'Ash and Danith devise a pattern for the Family china. It was colorful with delicate touches, something that reflected and pleased them both. Good work.

Smiling, Danith said, ”Mitch.e.l.la chose the china, and planned the interiors of this room and the dining room.”

Mitch.e.l.la sipped her caff. It was hot and dark and bold. She looked at Straif. ”Tomorrow morning I'll bring you holos of my other work, and you tell me what you find acceptable.”

The deep bong of the door scry echoed through the room. An instant later the butler hurried into the room, bowed to T'Ash while looking at Straif.

”GreatLord T'Holly is here, wis.h.i.+ng to converse with T'Blackthorn.”

”Let him in,” T'Ash said. He looked under heavy brows at Straif. ”T'Holly and I have a three-generation alliance, but I'll be glad to loan you a private room to talk.”

Straif's jaw had set, and his eyes darkened to deep blue. ”Trouble.” He studied Danith, T'Ash. ”We've already spun a thread of honor between us. I needn't be private.” He laughed shortly. ”I certainly don't want to have such a meeting at T'Blackthorn Residence.”

Mitch.e.l.la stood. ”I'll leave.”

Before she even finished her sentence, Straif leaned forward and bracletted her wrist with his strong fingers, looked up at her. ”Stay.”

Heat rose to her face. Though he sat and she stood, power radiated from him. ”You can't want me knowing your private affairs.”

”If T'Holly has left his Residence at this time of night and tracked me down, I have a feeling that my private affairs will not be too very private by the morning.”

Reluctantly, Mitch.e.l.la returned to her chair, and when Straif slid his fingers down to hold her hand, she didn't have the heart to withdraw her own fingers. Instead she squeezed his hand and smiled briefly.

He returned her smile, but a worry line formed between his eyes.

T'Holly was ushered into the sitting room. Mitch.e.l.la stiffened. Everyone in this room but her was powerful in status and Flair-even her best friend, Danith, who'd risen to GrandLady status before she'd married T'Ash. And T'Holly was the most powerful man of them all, captain of the FirstFamilies Council.

His glance swept the room. He studied and judged her in seconds, an appreciative smile lightened his face as he bowed.

Danith gestured to Mitch.e.l.la. ”T'Holly, my friend Mitch.e.l.la Clover.”

Hesitantly, Mitch.e.l.la put out her free hand. He took her fingers and Mitch.e.l.la trembled at his touch. Great Flair, but more, weariness-a darkness hovered over him. This is what a curse would feel like. Everyone knew that he and his HeartMate had broken vows of honor to their son Holm. It showed-in his appearance, his voice, his Flair. Mitch.e.l.la stopped a s.h.i.+ver. Straif's fingers tightened on her other hand.

T'Holly brushed his lips across her hand and let it go. ”The Clovers are a byword on Celta.” For their fertility. Though she knew he meant it as a compliment, her lips pressed together. ”I've heard of your work.” Now he scanned the room, examining the furnis.h.i.+ngs and design. His face set into deep lines, and sadness haunted his eyes. ”A very pleasing chamber.” His smile was lopsided. ”Not much like T'Holly Residence.”

Danith had told Mitch.e.l.la that no one cared for the way T'Holly Residence was furnished except the GreatLord. It had caused dissension between himself and the rest of his Family.

He glanced to Straif and back to her. ”Since you are working with Straif, this involves you, too.”

Mitch.e.l.la had always heard the FirstFamilies knew everything as soon as it happened, now she knew it. Or maybe it was just that the gossip ring in the FirstFamilies was as quick and accurate as that of the Clovers.

Everyone tensed. Mitch.e.l.la didn't want to stay, but there was nothing to do but fade back into her chair and hope that she could go unnoticed.

His gaze pinned her to her chair. ”What I'm telling you,” he stared at each one of them in turn, ”is in deepest confidence, not to go beyond this room.”

Her mouth dried. She looked for the caff tray. It was out of easy reach.

Face tight, Danith poured Mitch.e.l.la another cup of caff and tea for herself. T'Ash surged from his chair and went to the bottles of liquor on the sideboard.

Potent Flair swirled throughout the room, and Mitch.e.l.la realized T'Holly's words had been a binding spell. From under her lashes, she studied the others. They all appeared highly offended at the rudeness, but no one said anything. They probably sensed something more in T'Holly's Flair.

He sat in the commanding, oversized lord's chair.

Clinking gla.s.s against gla.s.s drew her attention to T'Ash, and she wondered if she'd have to commission more crystal. Perhaps it was too delicate for this sort of use.

T'Ash poured brithe brandy for T'Holly and whiskey for himself and Straif, handed them the drinks, then sat with Danith. Un.o.btrusively, Mitch.e.l.la cradled the cup warming her hands.

”What is it?” asked Straif.

T'Holly looked at T'Ash. ”You're allies with T'Blackthorn?” he asked formally.

”Yes,” T'Ash said.

Straif's surprise flowed to her. His face showed nothing. She offered her hand, and he took it, sharing his satisfaction.

Drina sat up straight and mewed. Mitch.e.l.la could almost hear her telepathic words. Gloomily she reasoned that if she spent time with that cat, she'd be able to hear her someday. As if Drina's att.i.tude and vocalizations weren't enough.

”Of course you're allies with T'Ash, too,” T'Holly said to Drina. He gazed at Danith. ”Any word on an available kitten or cat for my HeartMate, D'Holly?”

Danith's spine stiffened, she reached for T'Ash and twined her fingers in his as if for support, then met T'Holly's gaze. ”I can't, in good conscience, place a Fam in a Household that is under the shadow of broken vows of honor.”

T'Holly's face went completely expressionless. Mitch.e.l.la shrank back into her chair. Straif rubbed his thumb in the palm of her hand. The comfort was incredible-for both of them.

”That is too bad,” T'Holly said. He sipped the brandy. When he looked up, his penetrating gaze fixed on Straif.

”The FirstFamilies Council received a notice from AllCla.s.s Council that a claim has been filed by another Blackthorn for the T'Blackthorn estate and Residence. The claimant states you have ignored your duties to your ancestral lands, to the Councils, and to Celta itself in not partic.i.p.ating in GreatRituals.”

Mitch.e.l.la caught her breath in sheer surprise. Straif's fingers nearly crushed hers. He opened his mouth, but nothing emerged. His eyes appeared unseeing. Finally he croaked, ”There are no other Blackthorns.”

T'Holly smiled humorlessly, sipped his brandy, then answered. ”The claimant provided genetic testing from a FirstLevel Healer. Not T'Heather, or I would have had the name out of him. Not”-he hesitated-”the former Lark Collinson,” the HeartMate of T'Holly's disowned son. ”or I'm sure you would have heard from your cuz.”

Danith said, ”That leaves only T'Heather's heir.”

Another ironic smile from T'Holly. ”Yes, and she is a very upright woman. I hesitate to pressure her.”

”She's a generation younger than you, sir; a generation older than us. I don't think she'd speak to us.” Danith looked at T'Ash. ”Do you know of her alliances?”

”No,” T'Ash said.

”Another Blackthorn,” Straif breathed. ”Who? How did-he or she-” He shot a glance at T'Holly.

”There are some things I'm not willing to divulge,” the older man said. ”I am dancing along the edges of my own vow of silence.” He grimaced. ”I will not break another oath.”

”Of course not,” Mitch.e.l.la felt compelled to say into the heavy silence. Everyone seemed as stunned as she. T'Holly flashed her a smile that made him look years younger.