Chapter 35: Breaking Away

“Am I allowed to ask about the plans? Or is that pack exclusive knowledge? I have been looking forward to my baby sister’s wedding for a long time.” Isaac asked, trying to keep his tone joking.

“You’ll be joining that pack soon enough, Isaac,” said Mr. Brogan. “But typically we let the women prepare on their own. You’ll be helping Marco and me with his side of affairs. ”

Lavinia glanced at Isaac out of the corner of her eye, uncomfortable with Mr. Brogan’s separation. Simply based on how Sonia and Arabella held back in the conversation she could sense that there was a clear power dynamic at work. Mr. Brogan and Marco held something over the two girls and they expected Lavinia and Isaac to fall in line.

Isaac smiled flatly. “I’m sure I can make myself useful.”

“Then I can take your maidservant!” Said Sonia. “Arabella will only give me so much gossip. You can fill in the gaps for me.”

“There’s not a lot to tell,” Lavinia started, trying to shift Sonia off the subject.

“Now I know that’s not true,” Sonia said. “I’ve heard about his reputation. I’m interested in him for a reason, you know.” She reached up and tousled Isaac’s hair. Instinctively he shot his hand up to grab her wrist.

“Please, dear. I do take a great deal of care in styling that,” he said lightly, his voice at odds with the intensity of his grip. He pushed her hand back into her lap.

Lavinia looked between them. She could see a hungry look in Sonia’s eyes. Isaac’s hand on her arm had changed something in their dynamic. She no longer looked like a silly little sister pining after an attractive family friend. Lavinia could see her now as a viable option, an eager partner. She knew the same desire was not returned by Isaac, but her jealousy did not fade.

“Did you ever find a bride, Isaac?” Mr. Brogan asked. “Or did you follow your classic pattern of looking at the menu and never ordering?”

Marco laughed quietly, glancing very pointedly at Lavinia. “Isaac orders off-menu, father. Didn’t you know?”

“Now, don’t tease your sister like that,” Mr. Brogan said. “She hasn’t lost yet. There’s still a chance Isaac will come to his senses.”

“I appreciate the interest but-” Isaac was cut off by Arabella jumping to her feet.

“Arabella?” Marco asked. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes,” she said, a little breathlessly. “I’m feeling a little sick. I’ll just step outside of a minute.”

“I’ll come with you,” Sonia offered.

“No,” said Arabella quickly. “Vini, could you lend me a hand?”

Lavinia smiled sheepishly. “Of course.”

As they started to leave, they could hear Marco ask mockingly “Are the Astors in the habit of sharing servants?”

Isaac started to retort, but Arabella pulled Lavinia out of earshot. She pulled her up the stairs quickly, glancing over her shoulder as they went.

The upper hall was empty, almost surprisingly so compared with the din of the table below. Arabella pulled them to a stop. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

“Just tell me what we need to do.”

“We have four days until the ceremony. After that… There’s nothing we can do after that.”

“What happens then?”

“Then I get bound to Marco and his pack. And there will be no way out.”

“So we need to get you out of here before that,” Lavinia said. “Why don’t we just go? What don’t we go now? While we’re out of sight.”

Arabella shook her head. “Too dangerous. They have eyes everywhere. And now that you and Isaac are here… I can’t put you guys at risk.”

“And he won’t be with us getting ready. There’s no chance that Sonia would-”

“I doubt it. Her pack loyalty is too strong. It will have to be abrupt so they do not have time to react. Probably at the ceremony itself when everyone is focused and not on high alert.”

“Isaac and I will make a plan and get you out of here. Just be ready.”

From behind them, they could hear the heavy footfalls on the steps. As the sound got closer, Lavinia could tell that there were two people coming up the steps. Arabella ducked her head, leaning against Lavinia as if using her for support.

Lavinia gently stroked her back, asking “You’re ok, would sitting down help?” as the door at the top of the stairs opened. Marco and Isaac stepped out, elbowing each other to be the first into the hall. Isaac looked at the two of them, forgetting for a second that Arabella’s distress was a pretense. As he stepped forward to help her, Marco threw him back, pushing forward. He snatched Arabella away from Lavinia, holding her himself.

“What happened?” He tried to turn her face to look at him. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Marco. Really.”

Lavinia backed toward Isaac, taking his hand. She pressed her thumb hard against his palm. He squeezed back, watching Arabella twist away from Marco’s attention, trying to maintain both affection towards him and her ruse of sickness. Isaac pulled Lavinia close to himself, trying to shield her from the scene before them.