“I’ve been instructed to bring the bride to the car,” he says. “Shall we?”
“Yes!” Angelique skips to his side. She’s so excited and happy and I wonder if they didn’t include her in this bringing of the bride because they know I won’t put up a fight with her here. I wouldn’t put it past Jericho or his mother. I don’t know Ezekiel, but I doubt he’d be on my side in any of this. So, I follow Angelique out and she chats to me and her uncle all the way to the car.
She’s easy with him, I see. And he’s easy with her as they talk about a world of make believe while Leontine and I watch. It’s good to see her like this. The way little girls should be. Not afraid or cautious of everything. Carefree.
I find myself smiling as we ride along, so when Ezekiel sees that smile, he winks at me, and I blink myself back to reality. I fix my features just as the Rolls Royce turns into the IVI compound and our door is opened. Ezekiel exits first, then Angelique. He helps his mother out and reaches a hand in for me to take. I am considering if I can hijack the car when he dips his head inside.
“My brother enjoys a chase,” he says casually enough that if Angelique is listening, she won’t understand. “But he definitely doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
He extends his hand to me again. I wonder if he wants to give the impression that this is somehow my choice. It doesn’t matter though. There’s only one way this is going to go.
I slip my hand into it and let him help me out. When he tucks my arm into his, I glance up at him, surprised, but don’t pull away. He only pauses for a moment to lift Angelique up on his other arm and we make our way across the courtyard and toward that small chapel where Jericho had me on my knees last night.
The courtyard is lit by what seems to be a hundred candles. Fires burn in various pits. Only men are gathered, I notice, and all of them formally dressed in their cloaks, hoods up, masked, drinking drinks.
I glimpse Angelique as she sees them and watch how she hugs her arms around her uncle’s neck.
“They’re just playing dress up,” Ezekiel tells her.
“I don’t like their dress up.”
Neither do I.
“Then don’t look, silly. Look at how pretty Isabelle looks instead,” he says with a glance toward me that I can’t quite read.
Once we’re past the men Angelique wriggles free of her uncle and comes to my side. She takes my hand and in the same moment, I hear a familiar voice behind me.
“Well, there’s the blushing bride.” It’s Carlton.
I stiffen at the sound of his voice. I don’t know why. He’s my brother, half-brother, whatever. It’s not like I’m afraid of him. And between him and the St. James family, I should know which side I’m safer on.
Leontine casts a wary glance in his direction, but Ezekiel’s look is dark. I turn to find Carlton is wearing his cloak and thankfully his mask is pushed to the top of his head.
Angelique stares at him wide-eyed and not without fear.
“Take Angelique inside,” Zeke tells his mother in a tone much like his brother’s.
“Come, Angelique, we’ll wait inside, and Uncle Zeke can walk Isabelle in,” says Leontine.
But the little girl shakes her head, drags her gaze from my brother and looks up at me. She tugs at my hand.
“Go on,” her uncle tells her. “You have to toss rose petals at the bride’s feet. Don’t you remember?” he asks but this time I hear the strain in his tone.
“Oh,” she says, gaze warily landing on my brother. “I forgot.” She looks up at me again.
“Will you come home afterwards? To live with us?” she asks me.
“Home?” Carlton asks and I see him watching with some amusement.
“Of course, she will,” Leontine answers, stepping in to take her hand and lead her away, but again, the child tugs to remain in place.
“Promise?” she asks. “You and daddy will come home? I’m not allowed to stay after the wedding.”
“I’m sure it won’t take that long,” I say, thinking her bedtime is eight o’clock. It’s only a little after six now.
Leontine gives me a disapproving look but Ezekiel steps in. “There’s a second ceremony. Then they’ll both be home,” he says, that second part spoken in Angelique’s direction.
“Come on now,” Leontine says to Angelique.
“Promise?” she asks me again. There’s something earnest in her tone and I remember what Leontine said. How she’s been living like a fugitive. I wonder what that does to someone’s trust, especially someone so young. And I think about how they think Carlton had a hand in her mother’s murder. But it makes no sense. Why would they allow him here, near her, if that’s true?
“I promise. I’ll kiss you goodnight when I’m home…when I’m back,” I add, just catching myself, thinking of what her father is doing. Of how it could hurt his daughter when it’s over. When I’m gone.
The image of the well followed by the one of Nellie Bishop’s grave seem to call up a sudden chilly breeze.
When I’m gone.
A gong sounds then and I’m so grateful for the intrusion.
“You’ll kiss her goodnight?” my brother asks as we watch Leontine lead Angelique away.
Once Angelique is safely inside the chapel, Ezekiel steps up to Carlton. Like right up to him, his chest butting up against my brother’s.
“You’re not welcome, Bishop,” he says. Extending his arm to me, he nudges me away from Carlton and behind him.
“No, I suppose I’m not. But she is my sister. And I wanted to wish her happiness and a long life and all that crap.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Ezekiel deadpans. “You come that close to my niece one more time and I’ll break both your legs, you understand?”
“What are you? Your brother’s bloodhound?”
“No, I’m my own. Disappear, Bishop, before I make you disappear.”
“It’s what the St. James’s are good at, isn’t it? Nellie and who knows how many others?”
Others?
Carlton glances at me. “I just hope you don’t plan on adding my sister to that list of disappeared Bishop girls.”
Before Ezekiel can answer the chapel door bursts opens and Jericho is in the courtyard, face ablaze, eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them. He stalks toward us, taking a look at me, half-pausing when he does before resuming his progress toward my brother.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jericho asks, taking Carlton by the collar and shoving him backward into the wall. I hope Carlton is smart enough to realize he is no match for this man in size and brute strength, much less in rage.
Carlton holds up his hands in mock surrender. “I came to see my sister wed but I see I’m not welcome.”
Councilor Hildebrand approaches, two guards following, and it takes one lift of his finger for those guards to pick up their pace and take Jericho’s arms. They can’t budge him though.
“Go wait by the chapel door,” Ezekiel tells me, never taking his eyes off the scene.
“Call your dogs off!” Jericho tells Hildebrand in a voice that’s almost unrecognizable without ever taking his eyes off my brother.