Page 29 of The Red Woman on Mars

“We’ve had no luck finding a topic so far,” Vivian shot back. “I can’t imagine what we are going to talk about next.”

“What do you think of books?” he asked, smiling slightly.

“Books—” To conceal her delight at being asked such a question, Vivian said. “I’m sure we don’t read the same things.” He read dry Council briefings. She wasn’t about to discuss her favorite crumbling paperback romances from the camps. And she doubted he would be a lover of Earther nineteenth-century women’s literature.

“I am sorry you think so, but if that’s the case we can compare our different opinions.”

She cringed at the memory of Max Rinaldi mocking her reading choice, and said, “No, I can’t talk about books while thinking about dancing.” She cast around for a change of subject. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Didn’t Caspian tell you that you could skip the dance and go to bed?”

Xavier scowled. “I did not expect to be here, either. My opinion of this whole affair is unchanged.”

“Then why did you come?”

“I find, Miss Bowen, that I am quite unable to stay away from you.” He gripped her hand tighter.

Vivian flushed and said nothing.

When the dance ended, Xavier bowed to her and parted in silence. Vivian stared after him in confusion. He seemed so cold to her one moment and drawn to her the next. Why botherattending the ball if he had no intention of marrying a Red Mother? And why dance with her and then barely speak to her?

Wim again claimed a dance with her. He held her stiffly in his arms with clammy fingers, and the way his artificial eye roamed in all directions made her shudder. “I am so pleased the Intelligence has brought us together.”

“Yes.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xavier bow to Caspian and Delilah. He took Delilah’s hand and led her onto the dance floor.

“The other Red Mothers admire you, Miss Bowen. It would hearten everyone to see you be the first settled with an optimized match.”

They’d certainly admired her unauthorized trip to the soldier’s barracks. Is that what Wim meant? Did the Intelligence not approve of the taste of freedom she’d found or that she’d told the other women about it?

“What’s it like to speak directly to the Intelligence?” she asked.

Wim jerked his head back, as if surprised by the question. “An honor.”

“Is it really the exact same AI that was created nearly two hundred years ago by the tech billionaires that founded Mars?”

“It has improved itself with time, but, yes, it is an immortal being.”

“Wouldn’t it get, I don’t know, a little stale? Outdated? Why don’t you upgrade to a newer model?”

“Upgrade! My dear Miss Bowen, the Intelligence is a nearly perfect creation.”

Vivian couldn’t think of what to say to this ridiculous statement, so she remained quiet.

When the dance finished, Wim offered to take her for another. When Vivian declined, he stayed stuck to her side, his sweaty hands stroking a silver augmentation embedded in his bald skull as he spoke to her in a never-ending monotone. Vivian watchedXavier escort Delilah back to Caspian. Delilah sparkled at all the attention, and Vivian felt a pang watching her sister turn her full charm onto Xavier.

A pang of what?Vivian shoved the concern away.

Wim, meanwhile, chattered away about how pleased the Intelligence would be at the success of the ball. Vivian listened with half an ear, making the occasional noise of interest.

“Vivian, darling,” Ivey’s voice interrupted Wim’s speech. “I am so pleased you could return to my humble home.” She turned her cynical smile upon Wim. “I hope you don’t mind me stealing away our Vivian, Reverend.”

Wim frowned at her. “Miss Bowen has no interest in a female partner, Miss Hayes.”

“I know. Such a tragedy for me.” She turned to Vivian and gestured lazily with one hand. “Vivian, have you seen the art on loan to the Hayes Estate for this occasion?”

Vivian allowed Ivey to lead her away out of the ballroom and down the quiet hall.

“You seemed in dire need of rescue,” Ivey murmured to her. “And I do think you’ll appreciate the gallery.”

In the wide hall of Hayes House, a series of paintings were mounted on easels. Couples strolled down the gallery, and Vivian caught the eye of Camille arm-in-arm with a handsome Martian with ebony skin and a deep purple cravat.