Page 49 of The Red Woman on Mars

“Look who’s here,” a voice murmured beside her, and Vivian glanced up into Silas’s vibrant green eyes. She looked behind him for his companion, but there was no one in sight. “I heard you had the displeasure of dining with Xavier Dorsey at Secretary Yarrow’s home.”

“Word travels fast.” Without giving him the satisfaction of a smile, she continued, “I think Xavier improves the more one gets to know him.”

“Really?” Silas looked dismayed. “Has he learned some manners? For I doubt he has improved in character.”

“Oh, no!” Vivian ducked her head. “In character, I think he’s unchanged.” Now, she knew Xavier to be passionate in his ideals, unyielding in his convictions, and loyal to his friends. To Silas, she simply said, “I only mean that I understand him better, now that I’ve spent more time with him.”

Silas curled his lip. “You, who so well know my feelings toward X, will understand how happy I am to hear that he is wise enough to assume even the appearance of what is right. I only fear that he was only behaving himself in front of his aunt, whose good opinion and judgment he values highly.”

Vivian thought of Xavier’s grin as he sat across from her in the greenhouse, allowing her to mock him with good humor, and answered Silas only by a slight inclination of the head. Now that she understood his true nature, she was in no mood to engage with him. This man caused a fifteen-year-old to nearly die from a dangerous pregnancy. For him to act as if he was the wronged party made her ill.

Delilah returned to her side. “Silas, great to see you again.”

Silas turned his full charismatic attention on her sister. “The pleasure is all mine. Congratulations on your good fortune. Mitzi King is a lucky woman indeed.”

“Please make sure you tell her the next time you see her.” Delilah gave Silas a coy smile. “Mitzi could use a reminder.”

Vivian frowned at her sister. What was going on with Delilah?

“You deserve to have all the affection in the world showered upon you,” Silas murmured. He took Delilah’s hand in his and kissed her palm.

He’d used a similar move on her, Vivian realized. And she’d been foolish enough to fall for it.

Delilah cocked her head. “I do, don’t I?” She pulled her sketchbook out of a skirt pocket. “Would you let me draw you, Mr. Gatlin? You have such an interesting face.”

Silas bowed to her, his eyes glinting. “It would be my honor.”

Delilah kept her gaze on Silas as she said, “Viv, I’ve heard the largest law library is just up the road. Silas, did you know my sister is practically a law student?”

“Oh, excellent. Vivian, you must view the original version of the Charter of the Planet Mars.” He pulled Delilah’s free hand through his arm.

Vivian caught herself. “The original version?”

“Turn left at the headquarters,” Silas said helpfully. “You can’t miss it.”

Vivian followed his gesture with interest.

“Go on,” Delilah urged, her gaze returning to Silas. “I’ll join you when I’ve finished my sketch. I don’t have many opportunities to draw the male form these days.”

Vivian hesitated. “I don’t know, Delilah. We should stay together.” Xavier’s letter had clearly been intended for Vivian’s eyes only, but perhaps she could at least give Delilah a warning not to trust Silas.

“I’m fine,” Delilah snapped.

Vivian looked at the street that led to the library and back at her sister. How much trouble could Delilah get into with Silas if Vivian left her for a few minutes? Especially if she was just practicing her drawing. Delilah had chosen a partner. And she was already pregnant.

“Viv, stop mothering me and go.”

Vivian knew there was no arguing with her baby sister when she used that tone. “Fine.”

Lifting her skirts, she followed the directions and soon came to a three-story building. She stopped short when she saw the nameDorsey Law Libraryembossed above the door. Xavier had promised he’d keep away from her, but everywhere she turned were reminders of his presence.

Vivian pushed the door open and entered a hushed, low-ceilinged room. Martians sat in study, turning the pages of paper books with gloved hands or hunched over consoles typing furiously.

“May I help you?” an older Martian woman asked her from her seat behind a reference desk.

“I …” Vivian looked around. She was the only Earther in sight. “I was hoping I could view the original Charter of the Planet Mars.”

The woman’s stern face broke out into a friendly smile. “Come on then.” She led the way up two flights of stairs to a room packed with artifacts encased in glass. “Here is the Phillip Dorsey Museum of Martian Law. We don’t get a lot of interest in these dusty old relics, but House Dorsey believes in the importance of preserving our history. The current Counselor Dorsey is especially passionate about upholding the values Mars was founded upon.”