THE NIGHT THE ROSEBRIGHTS DISAPPEARED (Continued)

Adelaide, my father, and I entered after the Rosebrights had been subdued. The problem was that the lamp was gone. And Sophia’s father refused to tell us what happened to it. We ... uh, hit him a few times. Threatened the others.

It did no good.

I think it had been about ten minutes since we’d entered the basement. The Rosebrights were tied up. Everyone but Sophia’s father was gagged.

They disappeared.

Just popped out of existence.

We didn’t know what to do.

We searched the house and gardens ... nothing. They were gone.

The lamp was nowhere to be found, either.

That left us with three-year-old Sophia. It was my father who suggested we give her to the Pagemoores to raise. And he was also the one who set up the marriage between Sophia and Jace.

She was mine first, said Nathan. The Rosebrights and Stoneharts had a marriage contract before yours.

Of course we didn’t know that. How could we? It’s not something we ever discussed with the Rosebrights when they spent time with us.

Why did the Pagemoores dislike the Rosebrights? asked Sophia. Why did they treat my so coldly?

They didn’t love you. I know that’s cruel to say, but it’s true. The reason they agreed to raise you as their daughter is because we gave them benefits. We had more societal cache than they did. We got them into rooms they would never see in their lifetimes as mere scholars. They made connections, they got more power, and they got wealthier.

And what did you get? asked Nathan.

A chance that the lamp would return to Sophia. But of course we couldn’t wait for that. It had been a choice made out of desperation for our son’s health. So we continued to seek a cure even though we’d been doing that for months without any success.

He recovered on his own, said Sophia. Like me.

Not quite. We found a shaman from the Western Realm who brewed medicine with rare and expensive herbs. With that and acupuncture on Jace for eight days straight, our boy finally came out the other side.

But you still wanted the lamp, said Nathan. Greedy, aren’t you?

Very. At least then. I’m older now. Wiser, too. And my son is dead. My only child. Gone. What else is there to live for? Our family will have no descendents for the main branch of the Willowmarches.

You should’ve raised a better son, said Nathan. It was a cold statement, but also true. He had no loyalty, no empathy, no gratitude. He died because he was seeking revenge on his mistress.

She deserved what she got, said Mrs. Willowmarch. Tears gleamed in her eyes. But it doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing matters.

You didn’t answer my question about the Pagemoores, said Sophia. Why did they hate my family?

I only know it was a long-standing fight between the families. The Pagemoores carried a grudge through generations of family members. I don’t think the Rosebrights had the same level of hatred for the Pagemoores.

If you want to know the truth about that, you’ll have to ask them.

***|***|***

SOPHIA

We left the Willowmarch home. I felt like we ended up with more questions than answers. As we piled into the carriage, Tilda said, "You’re not going to let them just move away without paying the price for what they did, right?"

"Whether or not the Rosebrights disappeared is irrelevant. The Willowmarches forced the situation when they try to steal the artifact," said Nathan. "The Emperor should know that they were involved with his sister’s disappearance."

"That whole family is trash," said Tilda. "Not a single good person among them. And that Mrs. Willowmarch is the worst. What a witch."

"You have no idea," I murmured as I thought about all the ways she had made me miserable in my first life. The only person she had ever shown kindness to was Jace, and even that had been limited. What a bitter soul she had.

"Drop us at my house," said Nathan. "Sophia needs to take her medicien and rest. I’m afraid flying in that cold wind might give her another fever."

"I’m okay," I said.

"You still need to rest."

***|***|***

SOPHIA

Scanderoon’s carriage stopped in front of Nathan’s house, and we said good-bye to our friends.

Nathan insisted on princess-carrying me inside. He carried me upstairs and into the bedroom. "You should shower before bed," he said. "Get clean, into a new nightgown, and get tucked into bed. I’ll go brew your tonic. And you’ll need to take your antibiotic, too."

I nodded. He kissed my forehead, and left the room.

I got cleaned up and into a new cotton nightgown that was candy pink. I sat on the bed brushing my hair when Nathan arrived with two maids. He was carrying the bowl with the bitter tonic in it. The first maid was carrying a tray with snacks, and the second maid carried a basin of steaming water. A white towel was draped over her arm.

Nathan arranged all these things and then dismissed the maids.

"Take your pills first."

He gave them to me, and I downed them with a glass of warm water from the bedside pitcher. Next, I had to drink the tonic. Nathan handed me the bowl. As the acrid smell hit my nostrils, I grimaced. "It’s so yucky," I said.

"Drink it anyway, butterfly."

It was awful, but I downed the whole thing. Nathan took the bowl and then popped a sugared fruit piece into my mouth.

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded happily.

The basin he put on the floor. He knelt and put my feet into the hot water. It felt nice. He washed my feet, his fingers kneading my calves, and then he carefully dried my legs.

He called for the maids, and they returned to take out the dishes and the basin.

"I’m going to get cleaned up," he said. "Here, let me tuck you in."

I slid between the cool sheets, and settled my head onto the fluffy pillow. I was already yawning as Nathan pulled the blanket up to my chin.

"Sleep," he whispered right before he brushed a kiss across my mouth. I felt electrified by the slight meeting our lips.

Then he went off to take his shower.

I was smiling when I feel asleep.