Chapter 40
Previously:
She is cold and moist and really, how is she supposed to keep her mood steady like this?
Mariam is glad for the blanket her fiance had put over her shoulders, but it is most certainly not enough. It is January, for God’s sake!
She shouldn’t be standing at a cold beach in the middle of the night making illegal deals with Lemurians. It’s all fishy.
And yes, the pun is terrible, but at least it makes her grin a little bit. The only good thing is that with this settled, they are nearly done with this entire political disaster.
In the village, and the sooner Mariam can forget that she was ever there, and what she saw there, the better, but in the village, she was close to the water, and yes, clearly the only one who heard it, but one of the sirens must have been close. She got thanked for the rescue and asked if there was the possibility for further cooperation.
No, Mariam did not want that. But what she definitely did want was to get rid of the selkie they are still harbouring, and to have a specific date for when she doesn’t need to fear to be declared in allegiance with enemies of the crown anymore.
So yes, she was at the beach below the castle barely half an hour after they returned, with their own selkie and her planner so she can slot in a well-timed final meeting. She wishes she could have washed her hands of that this night already, but Quincy assured her that there would be no way to get the information they have to hand over out of Radu already.
What good is a voivode and supposed social mastermind when he goes flaky on you like that?
It will have to wait. She did give herself another two days to get the information and relay it to the Lemuria police, and then she’ll pretend all of this never happened.
She sneezes right as she gets back up to the castle. And of course her fiance is there, waiting on her with a hot cup of tea and another blanket, that one not wet from the night fog. Oh, it’s even preheated.
Very well, she has to confess, as far as men go, he’s a good one. Escorting her to her room but not even asking if he could come in. Yes, she likes him. Even though he got her into this household. The one time he yelled at her was to tell her she can do whatever she wants, now that’s the kind of male temper she likes.
Okay, fine, her mood is better again, will be even better once she can finally get to bed.
16 Jan 1900
Despite all the interruptions, Arthur feels reasonably well-rested when he wakes up the next morning. There’s a moment of disorientation while he figures out where he is, but the softly-snoring bulk of Art in his bed tips him off. He makes sure to be quiet as he sneaks out, though he gathers Art doesn’t wake up easily.
The first faint grey of dawn falls in through the windows as he makes his way through the silent castle to his own room. It looks ghostly, but he’s not feeling as creeped out at being alone as he was last night.
Even though he knows that technically, day light makes no difference to Gregory.
He’s not a vampire, after all.
In fact, the vampire is probably asleep, so it’d be much easier for Gregory to attack.
No, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s true nonetheless that Arthur feels perfectly fine going downstairs to get dressed. Katharina greets him with a chirp from his pillow, and he takes a moment to pet her and scratch behind her ears and apologize for leaving her all alone at night. She doesn’t seem to hold it against him, and slips out the window he opens for her.
Then he stands in front of his wardrobe and hesitates. The suit Quincy put him into yesterday felt very nice to wear, but it’s so fancy… In the end, he compromises: He wears the trousers and jacket, but asks the house for a slightly less elaborate waistcoat. The house apparently takes that to mean that it should still be fancy, shiny fabric that Arthur’s pretty sure is silk, but patterned with more conservative black and grey vertical stripes- more fancy day wear than fancy evening wear. Arthur’s still feeling very fancy as he leaves his room in search of breakfast and news.
He arrives at the same time as Mariam, dark rings under her eyes, and the newspaper in hand.
Arthur nods a greeting to her, and asks the house for his own breakfast. “Anything important?” he asks with a nod at the newspaper after a few silent minutes in which he’s taken the edge off the worst of his hunger and Mariam has nursed a cup of strong tea while leafing through the paper.
Mariam shakes her head and hides a yawn in her cup. She also didn’t bother to properly wish him a good morning- apparently it’s not a day for practising their manners.
He’s slowed down and is lingering over the second half of his breakfast, just savouring a warm room and good food, when John walks in.
~
It’s way too fucking early for this! He’s been up and down the castle already, after dragging himself out of bed, well, okay, fine, after Mariam dragged him out of bed. He’s glad one person remembered, but still, John has the faintest aftertaste of his migraine, and then he couldn’t focus on just getting through the morning and to London, no, he had to hunt room for room for his fucking bro.
Not Quincy’s room, not Arthur’s room, not even his own room. No, apparently John managed to fucking sleep right through Quincy having snuck past him. He’s not even sure if he should question what went on with Quincy sneaking Radu down to the play dungeon. He’s going to focus on, yes, there’s no windows there, Radu can sleep there, but still, fucking weird!
And really not helpful when he has to wake him up so they don’t miss their appointment with his sister.
“Either of you have any bright ideas how I get past a voivode guard rat to wake Quincy up without getting mind-blasted?”
~
That’s… a good question, Arthur thinks. Though… He checks his watch. It’s rather before Quincy’s usual time to get up, and they’ve had a long night. But when he says as much, John reminds him that they have the appointment with Lucy Jr today, and, right- that had totally slipped Arthur’s mind.
“Uh… Dream-walk around the guard rat?” Arthur offers. That should work, right? Since John said blood bonds don’t work there and they didn’t make enough use of the dreamscape the last time they should have… “Or could he mind blast you in the dreamscape?”
~
“Probably not. Okay, check on me in Darcy’s room, down the secret staircase behind the mirror, if I’m not back in ten.”
While Mariam watches John turn around and march off, as much as he clearly doesn’t want to this early, she lifts an eyebrow. Now that puts a whole new level to her personal game of ‘what is going on between people in this household’. Not that she doesn’t think she needs to add another few theories with the way Quincy has been looking at Radu yesterday.
“I don’t know Darcy that well, but it strikes me as very her to have one of those.”
Arthur blinks as well. “…It is very… storybook to have a secret staircase and room, isn’t it?” he ventures.
“Behind her mirror, no less. Fairy-tale princess, well, or evil queen, same aesthetic, different kind of femininity.”
Sipping her tea, Mariam chuckles and doesn’t think she’s giving too much of anything away. She might be open with Quincy, molly solidarity, but she has no interest in being socially transparent with Arthur. He read over her engagement contract a little bit too closely for her wanting to give him any ideas to find ways to oust her. “I should get one of those.”
“…A fairy-tale princess? Or a mirror with secret staircase?” Arthur asks. “And, uh… how’s that the same aesthetic? Isn’t that, like… opposites? Oh, do you mean because it’s both a fairy tale thing?”
Luckily, while Arthur is smart, he is adorably oblivious, so Mariam allows herself to smirk. He won’t notice that she is absolutely not telling everything here.
“Maybe both. And both the princess and the queen would have the magical staircase, just that one would lead to a magical forest with talking animals, the other to a secret lair.”
“…You know, having a secret lair in a magical forest with talking animals sounds very Darcy,” Arthur muses. “Well, not that she’d need the animals to be human-talking, she can talk to them anyway…”
“One could argue this is her secret lair, magical castle and evergreen gardens included.”
That thought has Mariam chuckle, and she might just be sleep deprived to be this openly joking with anybody but her molly ally here. But then, her intention is to make sure somebody gets out to the appointment and then she’s very tempted to crawl back into bed. Last night was too long and too turbulent.
“I got myself into a very strange family, it seems. I am not used to being the least noticeable person in the group.”
~
“I suppose it is… and she even has an evil queen dress,” Arthur remembers. It feels like a long time ago- that was when Quincy just arrived. Which… It was already December then, which makes it really only a matter of weeks ago…
He groans, and drops his head to the table.
“Very strange family, and too many things happen too quickly…”
~
Mariam can’t help it; she didn’t get enough sleep, clearly confirmed here with that much lack of decorum and socially questionable jokes. The snicker comes out, even though she tries to hide it into her tea cup.
“One could think you were the noble and wanted everything to move at royal, slow pace.”
“…If that means I get two weeks of quiet, with everyone happy and no crises brewing, I’ll take it,” Arthur mutters.
“I have barely been here for two weeks and even I think that’s unlikely.” Putting her tea cup down with a frown she adds, and only because John said that Radu is otherwise occupied so probably isn’t listening in on every last little thought in the house: “Especially with us now housing an insane vampire, lovely.”
Arthur lifts his head and sits up. “Actually, I’d call him jumpy more than insane. So… he actually dropped in urgency on the ‘ongoing crisis’ list…”
Pressing two fingers between her eyes, Mariam sighs. Since when is she this petty? Oh yes, since her priorities suddenly include life or death!
“That should make me feel better, I suppose, but I cannot say I cherish the thought of him in the house, lower priority danger or not.”
“What has you worried?” Arthur asks. “I mean, he’s not exactly safe, but Quincy seems to have a pretty good handle on him.”
“Excuse me if I don’t feel very reassured that our other emotionally volatile person is seeing to the person who is one emotional freak-out away from accidentally scrambling our minds before he notices he’s not only screaming.”
With closed eyes, because the lack of sleep is not helping her mood, she adds: “Maybe to you this is normal, but I come from a world where my aberration was a huge deal, where it was the family curse, and suddenly I feel like it is the easiest-to-calculate thing. My future depends on this household not falling apart, and everything here is turbulent and in constant crisis.”
That makes Arthur sigh and nod, at least he seems to be empathetic to her upset.
“Hence my wishes for two weeks of holiday from the crises, basically… Um, is there anything I or we can do to help?”
“Parameters, leverage, anything that gives me a chance to plan better. I mean, who do you think woke John up because I remembered the appointment? Give me things I can influence, can prepare for, can make plans for all of us so that I don’t just have to accept the world.”
Wrinkling her nose, she scoffs. “Quincy is not the only one who knows that the world needs to be fought.”
Arthur nods slowly. “Well… maybe you could plan a family walk for today? I’m sure it’d do us all good, and I expect we’ll find many more things that need to be planned and managed… Is that the kind of thing that would help?”
He gives her a conspiratorial look and, right, she hasn’t actually heard everything, just John’s report after he went to the Court, and that had some obvious holes, for obvious reasons.
“Yes, it would. Especially also because I suspect the fact that my parents still haven’t visited is less because they are intimidated by Lord Godalming’s presence, and more because they hope for a scandal. He has a reputation after all.”
That makes her chuckle again, relaxing, because that feels much more like the kind of crisis she knows how to handle.
“Scandal? Art?” It so obviously takes Arthur a few moments to get the implication that Mariam is already chuckling before he starts stumbling through his words. “Uh… what, like, you and, uh, him?” He blushes and looks rather shocked.
“Should I feel insulted that you don’t think I’m woman enough to lead him to sin?” She tries to sound scandalised, but she can’t keep it up, his blush and shock is so sincere, oh, she needed that laugh, so she lets herself but pats his arm, there, she can be scandalous on her own.
“But, he’s, like… old! As in, father-figure old,” Arthur protests.
“Even better in my parents’ view. All I need to do is to make sure he acknowledges any children he fathers so that I can force him to marry me, and then he’ll be dead sooner than John will be. More time for me to run the place.”
Still chuckling, she smiles, then winks, still relying on Arthur not catching on whatsoever, it’s a bit liberating to be this daring. “And really, in my eyes, John and Art are the exact same amount of not attractive.”
“…Gross,” is Arthur’s opinion of her parents’ position. “Also, the more I hear about your parents, the less I like them.” He huffs. “I hope you find someone you really love- even if you have to marry someone else, because appearances and politics and all.”
He scowls a little at all of those.
Putting her elbows on the table to rest her head in her hands, and it really was too short a night and she shouldn’t say this out loud, but she’s too far in with these people as is to pull back. What does it even matter? So she half-whispers: “Well, if Quincy actually can…”
That makes Arthur give her a puzzled look, because oh yes, his famous obliviousness at work. That’s for the best, it really is. It might be a thrill, but it’s playing with fire, and she’s too tactical to indulge in that for too long. But then again, just a little bit more.
“Oh please, I know you are smart, put the hints together, sugar.” Chuckling, Mariam gives Arthur an amused smile, because really, she suspects there are two puzzles he should be able to figure out here.
~
Arthur frowns as he tries to think it through- she could mean ‘if Quincy actually can find me someone to be in love with’, but the more immediate conversation would suggest ‘if Quincy actually can find love’- which… would be something new. And there’s kind of only one big new thing in the last day or so. And also there’s the matter of that blood bond. But…
“You don’t mean… Quincy and Radu…?”
It’s only been a day, after all. But then… they did their drac thing.
~
“Only partially, but yes, I do suspect I’ll have some very interesting girl time with him the next time we have our little meeting. If I can pull those two apart, and even if I can manage that, my fiancé might go jealous of Radu again and try to keep Quincy to himself.”
Leaning back in the chair, she keeps getting more relaxed, it’s much easier for her to deal with the social drama in this household, especially when it gives her riddles to solve on who is actually sleeping with whom.
“Um… but love? They haven’t really known each other for long… And also… I thought they were both in love with Darcy…?”
Arthur looks so confused Mariam is tempted to pat his arm again. Coddled runt of the group, she stands by that assessment.
“Never heard of love at first sight? And Radu seems more than a bit animalistic, and if I understand this right, so are dhampirs. So it’s probably rampant animal attraction. But the way those two are around each other, the only other person I saw him behave similarly with was Darcy. So well, he might have exchanged one family member for another, that’s also something dhampirs do, right?”
To Mariam there’s nothing to be confused about here, intrigued and weirded out maybe, but confused, no.
“Heard of it, yes, that doesn’t mean I believe it’s actually a thing that really happens…” Arthur says dubiously. “And, uh, right… family attraction is a thing. I guess Quincy would have that, too… Not Radu, though, if I remember right.”
“Well, I’m not willing to bet too much on them, yet, but five pounds definitely say there’s something going on. Also, I believe we should… never mind.” Mariam was about to get up to check on John as he requested, but then he walks back in.
“Either of you know how to make a pocket sun-safe? Seems Radu isn’t letting go of Quincy and it’s sleepy rat time.”
“Uh,” Arthur says, “Can’t say that I do… Really dense fabric?”
“Finally! An easy problem!”
Mariam jumps to the task, orders a set of clothing for Quincy from the house with very specific fabric requests, double lined pocket, silk and heavy wool, and inspects the delivered goods before nodding, satisfied. Yes, that was easy, and she likes showing off that she can solve things in no time flat if she just has a chance, rather than everything being supernatural.
“Here, take those to him.”
~
Arthur checks the time. “And don’t let him fuss in the bathroom for ages or you’ll be late…”
It’s already getting quite close, since they’ll still have to get from the house to the law firm.
“I know his morning routine. Not letting him. One layer of face will need to suffice.” John sounds grumbly but also fond as he puts the clothes over his arm and walks off quickly.
Chuckling as she looks after him, Mariam lifts an eyebrow.
“Uh huh, both of you know his morning routine, this household is utterly scandalous.”
Arthur has a moment of wondering if John’s comment was meant in an annoyed ‘don’t tell me what I already know’ way, but then remembers how Quincy said that… well, it was actually okay for him to annoy people, and decides if it was… so what? He doesn’t need to mind.
“I suppose it is,” he agrees with Mariam. “So do you enjoy being part of such an utterly scandalous household?”
“As long as I can keep you people from driving us all to ruin. Why not? Might increase my own chances at happiness.” Chuckling once more, she adds: “Clearly, grumpiness is no mood indicator on my fiancé so I’ll see what my indicator will be.”
Arthur smiles a little at her. “Well, that’s what we have you for- keeping us from running headlong into ruin. Which… is going to be a big job. And require a lot of planning, no doubt.”
“Good for all of you that I’m just as brilliant as you are, simply in a different department.” With a grin, Mariam gets up. “Let’s send the emotional disaster crew off, and then I think I deserve a long nap until they are back.”
Arthur nods in agreement. “You definitely do.” And he’ll… maybe just take the chance for some relaxing by himself.
~
John and Quincy are a study in contrasts, because, of course, it was unacceptable that Quincy forgoes his makeup completely. Mariam chuckles at his priorities but has to admit, yes, even with barely any sleep he looks perfect and fancy in the clothes she made for him.
Meanwhile, her fiance just about managed to brush his hair down and put his clothes on the right way. Is that normal for manly men? She’s sure he only looks presentable at all because Quincy is fussing over him.
Also, manners, at least Quincy remembers to thank her for the outfit and for remembering that he needs to be awake. Not that she doesn’t know he’s flattering her when he tells her she’s doing this ‘mistress of the house’ business well in Darcy’s absence.
Doesn’t mean she disagrees. And really, they can take their time, most of the rest of the house is going to fall back into bed now that they’re off. The way he grumbles, she’s pretty sure John would prefer to do that, too, but he’s diligent, good characteristic that, and drags Quincy through the London door by the elbow.
With that solved, Mariam stretches and makes good on her promise to keep her bed company for a few more hours. She can’t run a barony and make plans for their other pursuits on a brain that doesn’t function.
~
Rain is softly spattering against the library windows, and Arthur curls up on the sill of one with cushions and a blanket and Katharina on his lap to read. And not research, for once.
He’s only a little bit concerned about Gregory, what with all the people who can detect and effectively fight him out of the house. But he has Katharina, who woke him once before, so he just hopes that means she can smell him or something, and he hopes for the best with the people sleeping.
He sees John and Quincy for a moment when they come back, but Quincy only tells him: “Tell you later, honey,” and they also head off for a late morning nap. Art’s steps sound on the stairs at some point, but Arthur’s in the middle of a good book and decides to finish it. It’s half past eleven by the time he does, and he stretches, yawns, and feels much better for a few hours peace and quiet. He lifts Katharina to his shoulder, climbs down from the window sill, and goes check to see what’s going on in the rest of the house.
Still not much, it turns out. The only one he can find is Art, in the study, everyone else still asleep. He was looking after some of the barony’s endless paperwork, but seeing that Arthur is up and around, suggests they go on their usual ride.
Arthur is only too happy to do that- get the rest of the cobwebs out of his head, and it’s stopped raining for the moment. There’s even the odd bit of pale winter sunlight when the wind blows a hole into the clouds.
Mariam joins them for lunch when they get back, and then her and Art head back to the study and the barony work, and Arthur curls up on one of the library couches to do some actual work and review his existing fae research- possibly, hopefully, they’ll now soon be in a position to actually go look for Darcy, after all!
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