Page 56 of The Red Woman on Mars

A discreet Earther servant arrived, bearing a tray of tea, scones, and a platter of fruit. With careless elegance, Zuri poured her a cup of tea. “Is it true you told X he was the last person on Mars you could ever love?”

“He told you that?” Vivian felt her face flush.

“There are no secrets between my brother and me. Not anymore.”

Vivian took a sip of tea. “I was angry with him.”

Zuri let out another peal of laughter that rang on the high ceilings. “It does sound like he earned your anger.” Her face sobered. “I don’t think he’s allowed himself to be in love since—well, he told me he divulged to you the mess from when I was fifteen.”

Vivian frowned. What did the story of Silas’s inheritance and affair with Zuri have to do with Xavier swearing off love? “I hope you don’t mind that he shared your personal business. I promise I won’t tell anyone else.”

“I know. You are a woman of impeccable honor, according to my brother.”

Vivian picked up a scone and turned it over in her hand. “Can I—can I ask you something?”

Zuri made a welcoming gesture with her teacup.

“Why did Silas want a child with you?”

Zuri blew out a breath. “That’s quite a question. My brother warned me you were direct.” She took a sip of her tea. “He wanted to upend the system. He believed, at the time, that the risks of a Martian woman carrying a pregnancy to term were exaggerated, used as a tool to enforce the class hierarchy. When I was a rebellious fifteen-year-old, I found his argument compelling. But Silas was wrong not to trust the experiences of our foremothers.”

“Do you think he still wants to topple the Arcadian oligarchy?”

Zuri shrugged. “I’ve no idea. I haven’t seen him in nearly five years.” Her gaze sharpened. “Stay away from Silas Gatlin,Vivian. Behind his handsome, charming facade is a cold, ruthless sociopath.”

“Indeed,” came a deep voice from the doorway.

Vivian spun around to meet Xavier’s eyes. She could read a mixture of concern and gladness in his expression. “Hi,” she whispered.

“You’ve put me in quite a dilemma,” he said lightly as he swiped a scone from the tray. “How can I stand by my promise to keep my distance when you show up unannounced at my doorstep?”

“I find, Mr. Dorsey, that I am quite unable to stay away from you.”

He grinned. “Is that right?”

She couldn’t help smiling back at him. “Yes … I mean, no. Is there somewhere we can speak privately? With no one or nothinglistening.”

Xavier raised his eyebrows. “My office. Zuri, if you will excuse us.”

Zuri looked curiously between the two of them. “Of course.”

Without touching her, Xavier gestured her down the corridor to a nearby office on the same floor. He pressed a switch to lower the shades on the wide windows and turned on a side lamp that reflected on the dark gray walls. Vivian hesitated at the door, her knees trembling under her. He took her hand and led her inside.

Vivian stared down at his large hand enclosing hers. He ran one calloused thumb over her knuckles before releasing her. She watched his fingers flex as if involuntarily as he turned away. She sat, shakily, on a side chair.

Xavier poured her a glass of water and placed it down in front of her. “I can see you’re distressed. Tell me what’s the matter.”

His gentleness quite undid her. Vivian felt tears threaten, and she blinked rapidly. “Are you sure the Intelligence can’t hear us in this room?”

“Counselors’ offices are not monitored. Despite my aunt’s ill-conceived dependency on the Intelligence, the Council is anindependent body, and we are entitled to a higher degree of privacy than other Arcadians.”

Another time, Vivian might have asked more questions. She’d read about the court case limiting the power of the Intelligence in her law textbook and was curious about how it worked in practice. But now, all Vivian could think about was her sister.

In halting words, she related what had occurred. “Delilah left me a letter.” She handed it to Xavier, who swore under his breath after he finished. “She’s always been impulsive. Especially when faced with something hard. She runs away from problems, rather than facing them.” She rubbed a hand over her face. “I wish I’d told her what I learned about Silas. She would never have left with him if she’d known what he was capable of.”

Xavier spread his hands. “You didn’t tell her because I’d asked for your discretion. If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”

“If she doesn’t participate in the wedding ceremony on Presentation Day, she will have broken her contract.” Vivian twisted her hands on her lap and didn’t mention her parents and their new trailer. The dog. “I hoped that we could find them in the Catena dome and undo this before it’s too late. I know it’s a lot to ask. But I—I didn’t know who else I could trust.”