Page 41 of The Red Woman on Mars

“I have Catena handled. Securing the Yarrow bloodline”—she pointed a finger at Xavier—“and the Dorsey bloodline are of the utmost importance. Above all else.” Secretary Yarrow turned to Vivian, asking her, “And have you made any progress in selecting a spouse, Vivian Bowen?”

Vivian glanced at Xavier and suppressed a note of hysterical laughter. “I haven’t found a man who holds my interest.”

“You do give your opinion very decidedly, don’t you, Miss Bowen?”

Xavier pressed his lips together in what Vivian could only surmise was disapproval.

“Madam, your final guest has arrived,” the butler announced from the doorway. “Chancellor River,” he declared with a bow.

Constance rose at last and moved slowly to the arched doorway with her carved wooden cane in time to greet a handsome youngMartian with bronze skin and sharply cut cheekbones wearing a high-necked, floor-length black tunic with silver buttons down the front.

Beside her, Vivian heard Xavier mutter, “She invited themhere. Whatever for?”

August replied in an undertone, “And with no warning.” His hands at his sides clenched into fists.

“Chancellor, I trust you are acquainted with my nephews and the reverend? Let me introduce you to two of our Red Mothers, Miss Luz Flores and Miss Vivian Bowen. Ladies, this is Chancellor River Hawk, newly elected leader of the Catena dome.”

Luz and Vivian exchanged a curious glance and gave their best Martian curtsies.

River smiled. “A pleasure. Constance graciously invited me to dinner when she learned how much I wished to speak with the Red Mothers.”

Constance barked a short laugh. “After you begged and bullied me, you mean to say.” To Luz and Vivian, she said, “I have learned in our short time together that River can be most persuasive when they set their mind to it.”

River tilted their head, and their short curly hair flopped on their forehead. “I hope I can always count on you, Constance, to speak the unvarnished truth as you see it.”

“Shall we dine?” August asked diplomatically and offered his arm to Vivian.

River swept into the room unescorted, their tunic flaring at the waist to reveal slim black pants. When everyone was seated on the brocade dining chairs, River looked between Luz and Vivian. “What do you think of Arcadia so far?”

“It’s quite pleasant, thank you,” Luz murmured.

Vivian had spent so much time seated at dull meals with potential partners, making polite, restrained conversation. She found she had no taste for it this evening. Batting her eyes at River, shecooed, “Martian society is the height of fashion. I can hardly keep up with the social schedule and the style of dress.”

River gave her a toothy grin. “I think you’ll find, Vivian, if you ever have the chance to visit the Catena dome, that Martian society comes in many forms. Not all of us believe in spending our limited resources on frivolity.”

“I thought your people wanted as little to do with Earthers as possible,” Xavier objected.

“We wish to limit our dealings withEarth. Earthers are always welcome in Catena if they share our vision of Mars’s future. And the addition of two Red Mothers would be a great asset to our cause.”

“None of that.” From her seat at the head of the table, Constance pointed a long finger at River. “Play nice, Chancellor.” She looked between Luz and Vivian. “You would find Catena dirty and poorly run after spending time in the greatest dome on Mars.”

River’s eyes glinted, but they didn’t respond to the jab.

August leaned forward from his position at the right hand of his aunt and poured Vivian a glass of dark red wine. “Are you interested in fashion, then, Miss Bowen?” he asked in a clear attempt to change the subject.

Vivian was perfectly willing to go along with him. What did she care for political posturing on topics she barely understood? “Oh yes.” She winked at Luz, seated across the table. “We ladies are obsessed with Martian hat couture.”

Seated next to her on her right, Xavier murmured, “I have not known you long, Miss Bowen, but I believe I am correct in saying that you sometimes enjoy professing opinions that are in fact not your own. I would venture to say you care nothing for hats.”

Vivian let out an involuntary snort of laughter. “Careful. If you tell my secrets, I may tell yours.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” he said with a smile. It was a genuine smile, so unlike his usual smirk. Vivian found she could not look away. An Earther servant moved between them, setting a salad down in front of her with young greens, radishes, and dill fronds.

Across the table, Luz watched her with an unreadable expression, looking between Vivian and Xavier with two fingers pressed to her lips.

“How did your first appearance before the Arcadian Council go today, Chancellor?” August asked.

“Nothing can match the thrill of speaking as a democratically elected leader with the full support of my people behind me. You should try it.”