"Beldon, why don't you show Lord Zaydan around today?"

"Certainly, right this way is the exit."

"Beldon!"

Marie-Fey eyed her younger brother and Zaydan over the newspaper she was reading at breakfast the next morning.

The pair had taken it up a notch since the night before and now actually were hissing at each other like cats.

Marie-Fey put it down to them being too similar in attitude.

Both were used to being the centre of attention.

Both were used to being the best looking.

Both were used to not having to tolerate anyone else stepping on their toes.

As a result.

They figuratively blew up.

Izzaro shot a panicked gesture in Luka's direction and Luka promptly steered Beldon away to the other side of the huge dining table, forcing him into a seat and shoving a cup of tea in his hand when he made to rise.

"Maybe Rosalia can do that instead," Antoinette said, glaring at her youngest brother.

"I can do it!" Beldon howled from down the table.

"Well then you must take Luka with you to see that you're supervised," Antoinette snapped.

"Oh, how much damage could I do?" Beldon said, snidely.

"I'll supervise them," Luka said, fixing his own tea and returning to the table. "I assume you won't mind the company," he said, glancing at Zaydan with his cool emerald eyes.

"No, I don't mind," Zaydan said, "Though I meant to ask... how are you related to the family again?"

A shiver of tension ran through the room, everyone looking up. Zaydan, Zaafira, Maanah and Gharam almost glanced at each other when Braydon calmly spoke up.

"He's my younger brother."

And all eyes drew to him.

"You remember, of course, I'm Rosalia's husband. Luka is my younger brother but also Beldon's closest friend."

"He's very much part of the family, practically a brother," Izzaro said.

"Practically something alright," Beldon muttered into his teacup, his cheek on his knuckles and Luka surreptitiously stood on his foot.

Izzaro glanced at Luka, who gave him a dismissive gesture, then turned back to Zaydan, giving him an easy smile. "We realise it's hard with such distance, but we hope you can be as close with our family one day."

Zaydan nodded, shooting a look at Marie-Fey. "Certainly, I can try," he said and Marie-Fey rolled her eyes. He turned his gaze back to the family. "But you're more than welcome to focus your attention on the ladies. I know my way around just fine. I'm sure the city hasn't changed so much since I attended university."

That got everyone's attention.

"You studied here?" Valentine said, surprise evident in his voice as the others looked at Zaydan as if he wasn't quite such an exotic creature.

"I did."

Zaydan gestured towards Beldon, making him straighten.

"I studied at the same university as him, a few years apart and different disciplines."

"Wait, does that mean you knew Master Gordy?" Beldon said, spinning towards Zaydan.

"Is that monster still alive?" Zaydan asked.

"I don't think he'll ever die," Beldon replied and they both groaned in unison – only to show matching looks of horror that they might have a common enemy.

"Oh good, you'll have something to talk about while out and about," Antoinette said, giving Beldon a pointed look.

Beldon looked like he was about to reply but caught Luka's eye.

Luka raised an eyebrow at him and Beldon subsided.

"And what shall you be doing today, girls?" Izzaro asked.

"I'm going to have our guests fitted with new dresses for the upcoming gala," Antoinette replied.

Gharam looked up. "New dresses?" she asked.

"Yes, I do not want such interesting guests appearing in hand-me-downs for their first event," Antoinette said.

"But such an expense?" Maanah said and Antoinette waved it off.

"No expense, my husband will be paying," Marie-Fey said coolly as she retuned her gaze to the newspaper.

Zaafira raised an eyebrow at her then looked across to Zaydan.

Zaydan just smiled at her and didn't offer any resistance to the idea.

"Marie-Fey, will you be joining your ladies today?" Rosalia asked.

"No," Marie-Fey said, closing the newspaper and flipping it in half with a snap, passing it across to Braydon, "I intend to call in on some friends, including Sophia. I think she's been worried I wouldn't make it back in time for the wedding so I'll call on her, see how the preparations are coming along. I want to see the dress as well."

With the day's activities sorted, breakfast was finished and the groups split up. Antoinette and Rosalia took the ladies aside to give them more appropriate clothing for being seen in town.

Luka herded Beldon and Zaydan out, Beldon grumbling about being home so rarely and having to babysit – Zaydan responding that it was Beldon, not he, who was behaving like a toddler. Luka ignored them both as Valentine joined him.

Marie-Fey rose and swept out, gathering up her outdoor gear and calling for one of the carriages.

Pausing by one of the hall mirrors, she positions her hat just-so, carefully tilting it until it was at the correct angle before registering someone's eyes on her.

She glanced around to see Gharam watching her from the bottom of the stairs.

"Yes?" she asked coolly.

Gharam was quiet for a moment, then smiled slightly. "You seem so very much at home here," she observed quietly.

Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow at that. "Naturally, this is my home."

Gharam shook her head. "But the palace is your home, not here. Not anymore."

Marie-Fey turned back to the mirror, adjusting the hat one last time before collecting her lace gloves. "The palace isn't home," she said simply, "merely a place I reside."

She turned to Gharam, smoothing the lace along her elegant fingers.

"Home is a place you are happy."

Gharam blinked at her.

"If one is not happy, one is not home."

"Miss, the carriage is ready," said one of the footmen, coming to join her.

"Have a fun today, find yourself some nice dresses," Marie-Fey said with a dismissing wave as she turned and glided out of the house, sweeping down the steps and into the carriage.

She settled in and just before the doors closed, the carriage rocked and Constantine swung in, dropping down beside her, flinging his top hat onto her lap and resting his feet on the seat cushions opposite.

"Where are you off to?" Marie-Fey asked as Constantine waved their driver on.

"Where? Off with you, of course," Constantine said, grinning brightly, taking her arm and wrapping it through his before slouching in his seat like some uncouth rake – which was half true.

"Oh yes? If you go chasing after Sophia mere days before her wedding, I'm afraid I'll have to tip you into the ocean inside a barrel with the lid nailed on," Marie-Fey replied and he grinned at her.

"Would I ever, sister dearest?"

"Yes. There lies the problem, brother dearest."

"Fine, ruin all my scurrilous fun," he said with a mock sneer before squeezing her arm. "I guess I'll just be terribly boring and ask after my long-lost sister's wellbeing."

"Long lost? I was only gone a few months."

"Well it feels long when all I get are letters that only tell me two things?"

"Two things?"

"Two things. One, that you're still not happy. Two, that you're not being honest with me when you write."

"Must you be so observant? You're so much more tolerable when you're frivolous and stupid like everyone believes you to be," Marie-Fey sighed and he grinned at her.

"Keep them off their game and they'll let you get away with anything," he said and she rolled her eyes. He shook her slightly. "So, pray tell. We still have no husband. But you come with the brother this time?"

"Yes, somehow I find myself attached," Marie-Fey said, frowning, "Not sure quite when he stitched himself to my gowns but he always seems to be around these days."

"He's hilarious," Constantine laughed, "I like any man who can wind Beldon up. Good to knock him down a peg."

"Can he be knocked down?"

"Lord no, but he's flustered and that's good enough. Now, tell me about Lord Zaydan. What's all this nonsense about him being your husband."

"A ridiculous game to save me my pride."

"Oh?"

Marie-Fey explained, from the beginning, Zaydan's appearance and the role he'd played in her life over the past few months – mostly annoying her but being a somewhat useful support from time to time.

She still didn't mention the poisoning.

She did tell him about the scorpion but played it off as nothing but a lost creature that had wandered into her rooms and not the potential betrayal of a personal servant.

That took up most of the ride to Sophia's.

Constantine was delighted to hear she'd shot Zaydan – and tickled pink that Zaydan had shot back, claiming he'd never heard of a more fearless man than one who would risk shooting at Marie-Fey and stand his ground when he could be shot in the head in retaliation.

"We must have him compete for us here," he said, laughing as he helped her step down from the carriage.

"Compete? Against Beldon? I'm not sure who would win," Marie-Fey said.

Constantine laughed. "What does he have to do with this? No! I mean you and Zaydan. It'll be a great lark. I'll talk to Val about it."

"Con," Marie-Fey said, frowning at him but the doors opened then, and the family butler greeted them, permitting them into the entrance hall before walking away to inform the family of visitors.

They were soon enough shown into one of the large sitting rooms which was strewn with gowns and Sophia's mother gasped at the slight of Constantine, rushing to apologise for him being dragged in to see such dull practices.

Constantine waved it off with a smile and bow before spotting Sophia's younger sister, Ivy, and walking over to her, sitting down beside the mannequin she was working at, teasing her about the colour of the gown as she sneered at him, aiming a kick at his leg which earned her a reprimand from her mother.

Sophia, upon seeing Marie-Fey, dropped her veil and launched across the room, throwing her arms around her.

"Thank goodness! I didn't think you'd make it!" she cried.

"I did promise," Marie-Fey said, smiling as she hugged her back.

"And you're just in time, you can help decide the final accessories," Sophia said, pulling her across to one of the long sideboards that was drowning in various bits and pieces of white and shine. "And tell me everything! What has been happening since we last saw you? Everything!"

So Marie-Fey told her everything – within reason and with a lot of embellishment – and Sophia filled her in on all the gossip of the last few months, in rigorous detail to ensure she was up to date by the time she faced the ladies of society at the next event.

"And you are coming to all the events while you're here, aren't you?" Sophia asked as Marie-Fey took the veil from her and carefully stitching a length of pearls into it, letting them drape down in loops. Sophia had many talents, needlework had never been one of them – too rushed.

"Yes, but when will you be departing on your honeymoon?" Marie-Fey asked as she worked.

"Oh, not for a time. We decided to hold off for a little while to finish the events. There are simply too many beautiful ballets and gallery exhibits being held this year. Not to mention all the dances – I should like to attend those as a wife opposed to a fiancée or a husband hunter."

Marie-Fey snorted at the term seeing as Sophia and her soon-to-be-husband had promised to marry when they were children and had been faithful to each other even after they'd outgrown such a childish promise.

"And there's the circus, you'll come to that, won't you? I'm sure your family have tickets already," Sophia continued.

"A circus?" Marie-Fey said, "Trust me, Sophia, I already live in a zoo with all the drama I'm subjected to each day."

"Hah, no. The Midnight Troop is coming to town."

"Oh yes? It's been a long time since they were last in the country," Marie-Fey said, looking up.

"Too long and who knows when they'll nest return. Constantine," Sophia called, looking over to where he was currently being used as a hat stand by Ivy as she debated on how to trim her newest bonnet. "Have your family received tickets to one of the Midnight Troops performances?"

"Yes but we'll have to put in a request for several more as we had some unexpected guests," Constantine said, appearing quite at home in his bonnet, "Hopefully we can get them."

"You have guests?" Sophia said, smiling at Marie-Fey.

"The ladies I told you about, they're with me."

"Oh wonderful. When do we meet them?"

"Probably at the next dance."

"Oh now that will be fun," Sophia said as they grinned at each other.