Chapter 5
I returned to the conservatory with the photograph in my pocket.
The eight laughers remained.
Cordelia and Percival too.
I placed six blank cards on the cake table.
No names.
No accusation.
Then I asked:
“Why did you laugh?”
The first guest, Daniel Vale, answered immediately.
“Nerves.”
Possible.
The second said Cordelia always made cruel jokes and everyone followed.
Cowardly.
Possible.
The third, Marcus Cole, said:
“Because she’s a child. I didn’t think it mattered.”
Worse.
But not conspiracy by itself.
Then Anthony Bram refused to answer.
Interesting.
I placed one wax impression in front of him.
His family crest.
His face changed.
There.
One.
I continued.
Six seals.
Six people.
Four were in the room.
Two were absent.
Interesting again.
The Second Table had changed membership since Amelia’s photograph.
I asked Anthony:
“What did you think tonight was?”
His eyes shifted toward Percival.
Good.
“A demonstration.”
“Of what?”
He swallowed.
“That Beatrix controls you.”
Silence.
There it was.
“How?”
“If Cordelia upset her and you abandoned the reception…”
I almost smiled.
“I did.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Anthony looked ashamed.
“Percival said that would prove family business always comes second now.”
Family business.
Not criminal empire.
Not money.
Control over priority.
I asked:
“And if I stayed?”
He hesitated.
“Then Cordelia said Beatrix would learn she wasn’t untouchable.”
That sentence made my hands tighten.
There was no outcome where my daughter won.
Either father leaves politics for child and looks compromised.
Or father ignores child and child learns fear.
A perfect adult game played through a three-year-old.
I looked at Cordelia.
She finally spoke.
“You’re making this bigger than it was.”
No.
That phrase again.
Cruel people love shrinking what happened once they lose control of the room.
I placed Amelia’s photograph on the table.
Cordelia stopped breathing.
“Amelia found you.”
Percival’s face hardened.
Good.
He had not known.
Then I said:
May you like
“She also knew exactly how you would test people.”
That frightened Cordelia more than my threat ever had.
