What was this all about?
Taking the card from her, cautiously I asked, “Are you talking about the trouble Lucien is in?”
Magdalene’s head tilted slightly to the side but her face gave away nothing. “Trouble?”
Uh-oh. Maybe she didn’t know Lucien was hauled away in the middle of the night by The Council. She might look like his sister but she was his Mom and that probably wouldn’t be stellar news.
“Uh…” I mumbled to cover. It was lame but I didn’t know where else to go.
“Do you know of Father’s troubles with The Council?” Isobel asked, clearly knowing herself and not afraid to mention it in front of Magdalene which meant she knew too so I relaxed.
“Not, um… exactly. I know he had an, uh… visit from them but he hasn’t shared more,” I answered.
“Actually,” Magdalene cut in, “that card is for you to use whenever you feel you need it, my dear. Whatever concerns you have. Whatever you wish to discuss. My son endures an interest amongst our people that can be trying. Not only for him but for those with whom he shares his time. We just wished you to know, regardless of how Cressida and Etienne behaved at lunch, that you have his family’s support, a listening ear, whatever you need.”
Wow. That was super nice.
“Thank you,” I replied quietly.
“Whatever you need,” Magdalene repeated, getting slightly closer to me in a way I found contradictorily both reassuring and a little scary.
Great, now Lucien’s mother was causing me to have bizarre, conflicting emotions.
“Okay,” I was still talking quietly, “thank you.”
Her hand came up and she again gave my arm another squeeze.
I smiled then looked to the path and then back to the women.
“I really should get back to Lucien,” I told them. “As you know, he’s not a big fan of his father, Cressida worked his nerves at lunch and he can sometimes have a temper. I don’t know you all very well but I’m thinking Julian working on his own can’t keep the beast at bay. And anyway, Lucien would much rather spend time with you so maybe we should return.”
“I see you have grown to know my son well,” Magdalene noted in her soft voice.
“He’s an immensely knowable guy,” I replied and heard Isobel chuckle. “I mean, he’s a guy you’d want to know, uh… immensely,” I clarified stupidly.
“A guy,” Isobel murmured, amusement vibrating in her voice.
“It’s refreshing, my dear,” Magdalene started and my attention went to her, “to see my son with someone, anyone, who enjoys his company, his company, without veneration.”
Well, I worshipped her son but not in a way I’d share with her.
“I’m pleased you find that refreshing,” I told her and she moved into me again, this time to slide an arm around my waist and turn me back to the path.
“Let’s get to know each other better, you and I,” she stated as she started us on our way, Isobel following. “Use that card to call on me just to chat.”
“Me too,” Isobel called from behind us.
Wow, totally nice. They completely made up for Cressida being a bitch and Etienne being super-creepy.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“And perhaps we’ll return. Take you to lunch, just girls. Maybe shopping,” Magdalene went on.
I would love that.
I didn’t share that. I just said, “That’d be great. Maybe we can invite Stephanie.”
“Excellent idea,” Magdalene stated on a waist squeeze.