Zaydan was quiet for ten minutes after his last words, Marie-Fey thought he'd actually fallen asleep and she'd have to figure out how to drag him back to the house.

He hadn't fallen asleep however. He eventually revived himself and behaved like nothing had happened, springing to his feet and swinging her up into his arms like her and her heavy gown weighed nothing, laughing as he did what he said he'd do and carried her back to the house while she snapped and hissed at him.

When he finally set her down in one of the lounges, they settled in to wait for her family to return.

They did, eventually.

Marie-Fey noted that, to have arrived back when they did, they would have had to all leave the second it was socially acceptable to exit and not a moment later.

Antoinette was furious and called Lashby and her minions all manner of truly startling names, losing her composure in a way her family rarely ever saw.

Her husband, who had not attended the ball but arrived after a late running dinner, was stunned and herded her away quickly so she could rant to him in private.

No one directed any accusing looks in Zaafira's direction, and she was too hardened to show any sign of guilt or enjoyment, but Zaydan did get to her side the second they arrived home and pulled her away, bidding the rest of the family goodnight.

Maanah and Gharam made for Marie-Fey but she stopped them before they could speak, waving them away.

Gharam had fussed and worried at Marie-Fey's feet but Marie-Fey ordered her away and eventually the pair retreated to their rooms.

The rest of her siblings and in-laws hovered until she ordered them away as well, until only her father remained, taking a seat beside her.

Constantine wanted to stay but he looked tired and drawn and she bid him goodnight before he could suggest staying, so he eventually closed the door on her and their father.

They sat in silence for a long time, her father gently taking one of her hands in his as they watched the fire and listened to the manor settling as both family and staff slowly retired to bed.

Only once did her father open his mouth to speak and Marie-Fey shook her head. Not yet, she didn't want to talk about it just yet.

He squeezed her hand at that and resumed their silence until the clock struck the hour outside and they both rose as one, heading upstairs and parting ways for their rooms – though not before Izzaro hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head.

Marie-Fey bit her lip, keeping her eyes down, then bid him goodnight and went to bed where she lay in the darkness, awake and tired until dawn.

The following day, no one spoke about the night before. Not because Antoinette wasn't ready to form a game plan that would rip Lashby's reputation right out from under her, but because Marie-Fey was so silent, no one was sure if she'd break or explode if the subject was broached.

By the time the evening rolled around, everyone separated to get prepared for the assembly that evening.

Marie-Fey picked out a flowing, pale blue gown, dressed her hair in ribbons, swept down the stairs to join her family and realised she couldn't go.

She just... couldn't.

She didn't have it in her that night to face the crowd.

Of course word would have spread by now and she just... couldn't handle it that night.

And she couldn't stand herself for it.

Because she didn't know how to tell her family.

Gharam kept asking what was wrong but she brushed her off, debating on the best approach.

Then Zaydan asked her if she'd like to stay home for the night and turned everyone's attention on her and she just stood there, like a rabbit before a wolf, and slowly nodded.

The others looked mildly stunned.

She didn't blame them, because Marie-Fey did not back down from a challenge. Ever. It wasn't in the design of the Leigh Siblings, and Marie-Fey felt like she was the first one to ever do so... which only made her feel worse.

Why, when her brothers and sisters would charge headfirst into this battle, was she running the other way and hiding at home?

But before she could change her mind, Zaydan was in front of her, smile bright and arm sliding around hers as he chatted about the lovely quiet night they could have in together – how it was so important to take a break from society madness once in a while, especially when one spent so much time at the palace.

He made it so easy, and he gave up his first appearance at the society events to stay home and amuse her.

Marie-Fey just stared at him as he shooed her siblings out of the house, laughing and chatting and assuring them all would be well and that, by the time he was done, she'd be so annoyed with him she'd be flattening the doors to go find better company.

Only he didn't annoy her.

He sent her upstairs to find a more comfortable gown while he changed into clothes befitting lounging.

By the time she re-joined him in one of the smaller parlours, he'd arranged for a tray of tea and cakes to be ordered up to them, the fire lit and a range of books set on the table between them as Zaydan slouched low in his armchair, legs up on a footstool, novel open in his hands.

When she began to thank him, he shushed her, telling her he was getting to the best part.

That momentarily stalled her, until she sank into her seat and asked what was the best part?

Zaydan smiled brightly, straightening, and launched into a vivid and animated description of the story, making her smile as he all but enacted a dramatic retelling until he finally reached 'the best part' – wherein he opened the book and proceeded to read to her, both of them getting drawn into the story as he read and read until it was finished.

Then they sat back in their seats.

And Marie-Fey didn't feel quite so awful anymore.

~~~~

"I think it's official, Ann is going to kill Lashby."

Marie-Fey glanced up from her breakfast the following morning as Rosalia walked in, followed by Braydon.

"I'm not going to kill her," Antoinette replied with a derisive upturn of the nose. "I'm merely going to make sure she can never set foot in polite society again without everyone whispering about the scandal that shames her family until it becomes so unbearable, she has to move away to the continent."

"What scandal?" Beldon asked, frowning as he looked up from his breakfast.

"I haven't decided yet," Antoinette replied, "I'll think of something."

"Ann," their father said, raising an eyebrow at her.

"What?" Antoinette asked, haughtily innocent before taking a sip of her tea.

"Now you're speaking my language," Constantine growled with a wicked grin.

"Children, please!" Izzaro said.

"Leave it me, I'll ruin her by the end of the week," Constantine said.

His father sent him a withering look and the doors opened as Zaydan and Zaafira walked in, silencing conversation as all Marie-Fey's siblings fixed their gaze on her.

Her nerve was admirably solid as she glided to her seat and sat down.

Zaydan bypassed his usual place and took the seat beside Marie-Fey, nudging her elbow and accepting the newspaper when she passed it to him.

"Will you attend tonight's ball, Fey?" Constantine asked, turning to her.

She glanced at him, then down at her food.

"Will you be?" Zaafira asked.

She looked up but Zaafira was watching Zaydan.

He glanced at her over the top of the paper. "I will if Marie-Fey does," he said simply with a shrug, "If she doesn't, I'll stay home."

"Why?" Marie-Fey asked, frowning at him, "You already missed last night."

"I prefer present company," Zaydan replied and Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'll... I'll see," Marie-Fey muttered, looking away.

His gaze met Zaafira's, who was eyeing her like something was puzzling her and that puzzle was annoying her.

"What?" she snapped.

Zaafira's eyes narrowed. "I'm re-evaluated things," Zaafira replied and looked away.

"What things?"

"I'll tell you when I've re-evaluated them," Zaafira said and closed down the conversation.

Marie-Fey glanced at Zaydan but his focus was on the paper. She looked at Constantine and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"I have extra tickets to The Midnight Troop, by the way," their father said, dragging their attention away from that evening as everyone looked at him. "We can all attend on the same night."

"I thought it was sold out," Braydon said, surprised.

"Apparently the Rose-Leigh name carries even more weight than we first realised," Izzaro replied.

"Did you scare them into offering extra tickets?" Beldon asked Luka with a grin and Luka pointedly ignored him.

"We're attending a few days after Miss Sophia's wedding," Izzaro continued.

"We're attending the same show as Sophia, correct?" Marie-Fey asked.

"I believe we're sitting with them," her father said, and Constantine's head snapped up.

"We're sitting with Ivy?" he asked.

Everyone glanced at him.

"Con, is this going to become a problem?" Valentine asked, his voice low.

Constantine was quiet and everyone stared at her face slowly drained of colour, his light mood shattering in an instant as he stumbled to his feet.

"No, no problem," he said.

"Constantine," Antionette hissed, "You have until Sophia's wedding to get a hold of yourself. Ivy will be there with her fiancé, don't forget that."

"It's not a problem," Constantine said, almost tripping over his chair as he backed away from the table, heading for the doors, "No problem. I'll, um, I'm going to get ready for the day."

"Do you have a plan for the day?" Beldon asked, his tone light as he watched Constantine out of the corner of his eye.

Constantine paused at the door and everyone watched him.

"I'm going to see—"

"If Marie-Fey attends tonight, she'll need you focused," Rosalia cut in and Constantine's shoulders tensed.

He slowly looked back over his shoulder, looking at Marie-Fey as she watched him back.

"I'll... spend the day in the library... I think," he muttered and slipped out.

"Do you think he'd benefit staying home with us tonight?" Zaydan asked, neatly folding the paper and setting it aside.

"No," Marie-Fey said, "He'll do better out front in public, all eyes on him. He'll need the spotlight to ensure he doesn't sink into himself."

Zaydan looked at her, then she felt his leg bump against her skirts.

She shot him a glare and he grinned at her.

"Whatever you decide to do tonight," he said softly, "Just let me know."

Marie-Fey stared at him for a moment, then pursed her lips and look away, turning her attention back to her breakfast.

But she was going to attend that night.

She knew she was.

With or without Zaydan, she was going.

She just had to admit that, some small part of her, was glad it would be with him.

Not that she had any intention of admitting that out loud.