Jeemo sighed deeply. She pushed the door open, and quietly closed it behind her. The soft click confirmed the door was closed. She walked along the hallway and passed her mother’s room. A candle in the room flickered, casting rays of light into the hallway under the door.

“Who is the first guest?” she heard Kai ask. Jeemo stopped mid-stride and pressed her ear against the door.

“Albert said he contacted a traveling noble who he said was very handsome,” Irawella replied.

“Have you seen him?”

“No, I haven’t,” Irrawella said. “Not that one—let’s try the green dress. It’s more comfortable.”

Jeemo stepped away from the wooden door with a sigh, moved past the door and on to her bedroom where she set her bag on the bed. She lifted her shirt and tossed it onto the bed.

Hearing a gentle tap, Jeemo whirled to see Kai standing at the doorway.

“Welcome back, Miss,” Kai said, bobbing her knees in a curtsey. “Do you need me to help you dress?”

“If you can just get the dress mother wants me to wear,” Jeemo instructed. “I can handle it.”

“As you wish,” Jeemo said, coming into the room, opening the dresser and pulling out a white lace dress.

Jeemo shimmied out of her work clothes—a black, knee-length skirt and white linen blouse—and placed them on the bed. Kai placed a gown on the bed, picking up Jeemo’s work clothes. Jeemo sat on the bed and sighed.

“Is there a problem, Miss?” Kai asked, placing a hand on Jeemo’s shoulders.

“Nothing I can do about it. I just don’t want to get married,” Jeemo said. “I am quite happy with the way things are.”

“You are a beautiful woman. Any man would be happy to have you,” Kai placated.

Jeemo smiled at Kai, picked up the dress, and pulled it over her head. She stood and pulled it down.

“Turn around, Miss,” Kai said. “I will get the fastenings.”

Jeemo turned and Kai began to fasten the buttons and tie off the strings. “This is a lovely piece of body art you have,” Kai said, running her hands over Jeemo’s bare back, tracing an old scar line that formed a soft filigree pattern on her left shoulder blade.

“That is not body art,” Jeemo said. “I was born with it.”

“I see,” Kai said, closing the fastenings.

“It’s the reason I don’t wear backless dresses or go naked like you and mother do.”

“Your mother doesn’t go naked all the time,” Kai said sweetly. “Just when she is in her rooms.”

“I don’t know how you can do it,” Jeemo said.

“It is the way I have always been. I don’t know how you all can wear so many clothes.”

“My little body art,” Jeemo said. “I am forced to cover it up.”

“It is not as bad as you seem to think,” Kai said. “I thought it was beautiful. If you tell people, it’s art, then most will think it’s beautiful. Even without the art, people will still think you are beautiful.”

“I wish I could be as strong as you are,” Jeemo said, hanging her head.

“You are. You just don’t see it.”

“How?” Jeemo said.

“Well, you are constantly fighting with your mother. You win more often than you think,” Kai explained. “It is why you could pick some of your friends to come participate in these dinners. Your mother told me she had to give you some control, otherwise, you would just not come at all. She respects you greatly.”

“Pffft, I don’t believe that,” Jeemo scoffed.

“Try it. Bring a man home to meet her and see what happens,” Kai said. “There. All done.”

Jeemo turned to face Kai, causing the skirt to billow up, and smiled. “It is a fun dress.” She smiled.

Kai returned the smile. “It is, Mistress.”

A knock, and both women turned to see Albert at the door. “Your mother is waiting for you in the foyer.” Albert looked at the wall above Jeemo’s head affecting a bored tone. Jeemo smiled.

“I am coming, Albert,” Jeemo said. As she proceeded to walk out of the room, Albert swiftly stepped aside and Jeemo marched up the hallway back towards the main foyer. Her mother was waiting in a backless green silk gown that clung to her thin frame.

“Mother, how did you know I was home?” Jeemo asked, planting her feet wide and her fists on her hips.

“My dear,” Irrawella said. “It was all Kai. She said she heard something at the door.”

“It’s true, Miss,” Kai said, padding up the hallway on Albert’s arm. “I heard you sighing at the door.”

Jeemo opened her mouth to reply, but a knock on the door cut her off.

Albert dropped Kai’s arm, strode to the door, and opened it to a man and an older lady. The man was dressed in a black suit, paired with a blue shirt, the top button undone. He was tall, wiry, with red hair and pale fair skin. The man was handsome in the traditional sense of the word—neat and clean, using what noble features he did have to great effect. The old lady was dressed in a grey dress that ballooned out from the hips; her face was covered in a white powder, making her look even whiter than the young man.

“I, Miake Kaori—” the man said.

“Don’t forget to introduce me, son,” the woman screeched.

Miake sighed visibly and noisily. “Yes, mother … and my mother Ingirid, come to present ourselves to the maiden Jeemo Rosethorn.”

Ingirid smiled a smile that chilled Jeemo.

“I don’t like her,” Kai whispered in Jeemo’s ear. “I am going to disappear.” She quietly padded down the hallway. Jeemo moved and took her mother’s arm, arranging a welcoming smile on her face. She knew how to deal with people like this.

“Welcome to our humble home,” Irrawella said, an evidently fake smile appearing on her face. “The dinner table is this way.” She pointed to the main dining hall.

“Albert, be a dear and tell the chef we will start eating immediately,” Jeemo said pleasantly.

Albert bowed and then headed off to the kitchen. A look of pity and remorse flashed on his face as he passed Jeemo.

Jeemo and Irrawella led Miake and Ingirid to the dining room and took up adjoining seats along the ten-seater table. Two other places had been set, so that the gathering could be small and intimate. Miake took his position next to Jeemo and smiled hesitantly. Ingirid took the place opposite Jeemo and next to Irrawella.

As soon as they sat down, the chef came out with his two serving girls who placed a loaded plate in front of each of them.

“Tonight, I have prepared a hearty meal of roast beef and an assortment of legumes for the main course. For the entree, we have chilli oysters and a light green wine to soothe the palate.”

The serving girls removed the cover from the plates and six oysters sat with red sauce; a light black drizzling covered the plate. The girls retreated, then one returned and poured a sparkling green wine into their crystal glasses. A warm smell of grilled meat and the familiar salty tang of the ocean wafted over them. When Jeemo took a sip of the sparkling green wine, the pungent taste of a fruity apple flavour burst on her tongue, giving her a warm glow as she swallowed.

“Thank you, Chef,” Irrawella crooned. “Your simple meals are always so filling.” She smiled at the chef. He nodded and bowed a retreat. Jeemo took a sip of her glass and hid her smile. She was grateful to mother for cutting this one short. She would not have to act so badly tonight to discourage their return invitation.

Miake placed a hand on her arm and leant into ear. “I know my mother can be a little shrill, but she is very rarely with me.” Jeemo turned to look at Miake. She opened her mouth to speak. “She can be very shrill, but she was so excited to receive an invitation to meet the famous Rosethorns that she just had to come,” he said.

“I see,” Jeemo whispered.

“She was a young woman when she heard of your father going up to the top of Mount Wealth and coming down with a fortune.”

“Father is dead,” Jeemo said. “He has been for several years.”

“I know. My father told me that she wept for a week and was inconsolable when he heard the news,” Miake said.

“Has your family always lived in Peace Landing?” Jeemo asked, looking at Ingirid. She picked up an oyster and ate it cleanly.

“I moved here about thirty years ago, and I met my husband here,” Ingirid said sweetly.

“Why did you move here?” Irrawella asked.

“I was looking for my own way,” Ingirid said.

“Is that so?” Irrawella said, raising an eyebrow.

***

After dinner, Jeemo and Irrawella waved farewell to their guests from the foyer and watched them leave the grounds. Chef appeared beside them. “Thank you for stopping the meal so early. How did you know they wouldn’t want to stay awfully long?” he said.

“It was a feeling I got,” Jeemo said. “Miake is nice but his mother is too much to bear in long periods.”

“Will I accept their reciprocal invitation?” Albert asked as he closed the door.

“If it comes from Miake, then yes. If the invitation comes from her, find any excuse to decline,” Jeemo said.

“Do we move Miake to the possible men that could be a suitor?” Irrawella asked.

“No, Mother. His mother would make any marriage with him unbearable. He is pleasant but he doesn’t stir the heart,” Jeemo said.

“Very well. Do you have any bachelors you want added to the invitation list?” Irrawella said.

Jeemo sighed. “I have one man; he has been a friend for a while, so book him in.”

“What’s his name?” Albert asked.

“Rolando Vera.”

Albert raised an eyebrow. “He is a wealthy merchant; I am surprised that he is still a bachelor.”

Jeemo smiled. “I am the reason he is still single.”