him.
She stiffened when she saw the woman standing behind him, and Erisa pushed him away. “You brought a visitor?” His mother began unconsciously combing her fingers through her hair.
Will stepped aside so they could see each other. “Mom, this is Isa—”
Erisa was already studying Isabel carefully, then she interrupted him, her face showing recognition. “Lady Selene?”
“Madame Cartwright,” said Isabel, tilting her chin down almost imperceptibly. “I am surprised you remember me.”
Erisa smiled. “You were only here—what? A year ago? You’ve grown! Please come in.” The two women went inside, leaving Will standing bemused on the porch.
Chapter 55
Will followed them in and glanced around, looking for his uncle and Sammy. Neither appeared to be present. His mother had already begun to busy herself putting a kettle on the stove for tea.
“So, tell me—Selene—if that really is your name,” began Will, “You’ve met my mother before?”
Erisa glanced up. “Don’t be rude, William. She came with Lord Nerrow and his daughter last year. Don’t you remember?”
Everything came together in his mind, and Will’s mouth dropped open. He stared at Selene with new eyes. He had met her twice before. Once, when his father had come to try and get him to go to Wurthaven, and once before, when he had nearly died from the emerald viper bite. He pointed at Selene. “You!”
Selene raised a hand to cover her smile. “Me.” Erisa watched them from one side, unsure of what was transpiring between them.
Will turned to his mother. “Mom, do you know who this woman is?”
Erisa scowled, then crossed the room to cuff the back of his head. “Mind your manners, William. Lady Selene is our guest.”
He refused to give up. “But do you know who she is?”
His mother flushed with embarrassment. “Please forgive him, Lady Selene. My son has always been thick headed.”
Selene smirked. “I am well aware, Madame Cartwright.”
“Please, call me Erisa, Lady Selene,” said Will’s mother.
“Only if you’ll agree to call me Selene,” said Will’s companion in a tone so utterly charming that he wondered if she was the same woman he had recently fought with.
Erisa bowed her head politely. “You do me too much honor.”
“Mom!” said Will, nearly shouting. “Who is she?”
His mother fixed him with a stare that threatened to peel the flesh from his bones. “She came as a lady-in-waiting with Lord Nerrow’s daughter Laina. I don’t know her pedigree, and it would be rude to ask, but you can be sure she’s well above our station. Now, if you’d like dinner, you should sit down over there and shut your mouth before I sew it shut.”
Selene tittered, and Will’s eyes narrowed. Isabel didn’t titter. She laughed, just like other people. “Stop it,” he told her. “Don’t try putting on airs with me.”
Selene leaned across and whispered in his ear, “You’re upsetting your mother, William. Remember, I am well above your station.”
The door banged open, slamming into the wall as Sammy rushed into the room. “Is Will home? I saw a bag on the—” Her eyes lit on Will and she charged into him, knocking him off his stool. “Will! You’re alive! Is the war over? Did we win? Is Eric all right? Were you injured?” She paused to take a breath, then put her hands on either side of his head. “More importantly, are you cooking tonight?”
Will struggled to disentangle himself, but Sammy was like a spider, clinging to him with a multitude of arms and legs. From the corner of his eye he saw Selene enjoying the scene with some amusement. “Eric is fine,” he answered.
“Have you seen him?” asked Sammy anxiously.
“He’s in a different company, but I know he wasn’t wounded. The war is still on, though.”
“Samantha,” said Erisa coolly. “We have a visitor.”
Sammy looked over, finally registering the presence of a stranger in the room. She looked Selene up and down critically, like a dog sizing up a rival that had entered its territory. “Who’re you?” she asked finally.
“Samantha!” snapped Erisa. “This is Lady Selene. Introduce yourself properly before demanding someone’s name.”
Sammy held out her hand. “I’m Samantha.” Selene took it and Sammy pumped it up and down, then she asked, “Why are you here?”
Selene laughed. “I’m here to help Will do something to drive the Patriarch’s army away.”
“Are you his girlfriend?”
Selene’s cheeks colored immediately, and Will began coughing. Erisa was the first to speak, “Samantha Cartwright, do you need something unpleasant to occupy your attention?”
Sammy glared at her aunt. “But we have a guest. I haven’t had anyone to talk to in ever