“Okay,” Sybil said, trying to get the rest of the information.
“Would you like to regale us of your night, Sage?”
The entire table turned to look at me. I hated that. It felt like my skin was flayed and laid out for everyone to examine closely, like one of those dead dried bugs people pinned to frames.
“I… yeah I was at the ball, so what?”
“Do you remember what you did there?”
I tried to recall the night. It was all a bit… hazy. “I danced with Paige,” I said. Made out with some guy. “Had a few drinks and chatted.” Hooked up with someone else in their carriage. “I think they served fish at dinner.”
My mother’s jaw was so tight I was sure she would crack a tooth. “And you don’t recall a makeout session with Colin Brieshire?”
“Nope.” I ran my fork through the mashed potatoes on my plate absently.
“No? Or following Alexander Brieshire back to his carriage?”
Oh.
“I can’t recall,” I said carefully.
The table slamming on the end made me jump and actually look at Mother.
“Yvee,” Mama tried, using her nickname to soothe her.
“No,” she said. “You can’t keep doing this, Sage. We’re supposed to be in alliance talks with them this week, and instead, I needed to get pulled into a meeting with them to discuss a potential marital alliance instead.”
That caught my attention. “Marriage?”
“You think pursuing two counts we’re actively trying to form a treaty with wouldn’t make them assume we’re trying to form a different kind of alliance?”
“I didn’t know who they were!” I insisted. “I don’t want to marry either of them.”
“I figured as much,” she said. “But now the idea has been planted in their head, they’re very insistent in trying to give you an opportunity to court.”
I scrunched my nose. “Tell them I’m not interested.”
“That’s not how it works,” Sybil jumped in. “You planted the idea in their heads.”
“If anything, I’m the victim here,” I said. “Horrible kissing must run in the family.”
“Is this funny to you?” Mother asked.
“No, but what do you want me to do?”
“I’ve already decided what you’re going to do,” she said.
A pit dropped in my stomach.
“I told them that you had a previously scheduled trip, so you wouldn’t be available for any meetings this week.”
My mouth dropped open. “I’m being sent away?”
“For a week,” she clarified. “You can go back with Sorcha tonight, and return once they’ve left.”
My eyes turned to Sorcha, as if she planned this betrayal, but it was clear she was being thrown under the carriage right now too.
“I uh… that’s probably fine. Right Zarios?”
