"Be good." He grabbed a banana out of the fruit bowl and walked out with Gavriel.

"I'm always good." Adelaide, Byron and Colton stared at her.

"I am." They continued to stare.

"Mostly."

"We're going to have a great time today." Adelaide beamed.

"Yay!" Meryn cheered weakly. She hated shopping!

CHAPTER EIGHT

She had been lied to. Adelaide had promised her coffee, it was now pushing past twelve o'clock and she hadn't gotten her mid-afternoon pick me up. They were now at the fourth boutique and the shop owner was giving Adelaide the same line as the other three. They didn't have anything that would suit her and had run out of fabric to commission a new piece. Adelaide's back was ramrod straight.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Maybe next year." Adelaide wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steered her out.

"Maybe I shouldn't have shit in ole Lady Bowers Wheaties." Meryn sighed. She was terrified of the prospect of going to a ball, being amongst so many strangers where she would be expected to make small talk and remember names. But she had to admit, she was looking forward to dressing up for a Halloween party in a paranormal city.

"Of all the juvenile things to do! I wish she would just let the past go." Adelaide shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun.

"Let's go get some of that caffeine you've been twitching to get." Meryn perked up immediately at Adelaide's suggestion. Arm and arm they walked to The Jitterbug. When they walked inside Meryn inhaled deeply. The only thing that would make this place smell better was if it sold books.

"There she is! Sit and spill." Sydney pointed to the two empty barstools across the counter from where he manned the register. Meryn and Adelaide took their seats. Meryn ordered the Pumpkin Apple latte she had the last time and Adelaide surprised her when she ordered the same thing. Adelaide had a sheepish expression on her face.

"I love tea, but variety is the spice of life."

"Please tell me the rumor I heard about you ignoring Lady Bowers is true? You have been the talk of the city! No one can believe you stood up to her like that." Sydney shared as he made their drinks.

"I can confirm that happened. She was just being rude to her daughter-in-law."

Sydney snorted. "You've met the cow, rude is just her nature."

"Aren't you afraid of saying bad things about her? Evidently she has already turned people against me. The shops in the city won't sell me a costume." Sydney waved a hand dismissing her concern.

"She and I had words when she said I perverted and twisted Fate's choice of mate for me. Everyone knows we have no say in our mates, that woman is just cracked." Sydney handed them their drinks.

"She must still believe I stole Byron from her. They were seeing each other when he and I met. She had grand illusions about becoming Lady McKenzie. But once you meet your mate, that's it. I had believed that she moved past that, but seeing the shopkeepers' reactions to Meryn, I can't help but wonder." Adelaide shook her head. "I'll raid my closet and piece together a new costume by hand if I have to." She said vehemently.

"Don't worry about a costume. I can always just cut some holes in a sheet and go as a ghost." Meryn sighed as she sipped on her drink. The sweet, tangy brew warmed her from the inside out.

Sydney and Adelaide exchanged looks of concern.

"Meryn you don't understand, this isn't just a costume party. It's one of the biggest social events of the year." Sydney explained.

"I say costume, but it's more like a ball gown with extraordinary accessories." Adelaide continued. Meryn looked from one to the other.

"So no bobbing for apples or reaching into a bowl of peeled grapes pretending they are eyeballs?"

"Is that what humans do? That's disgusting." Sydney shuddered.

"Sweetheart, it's a grand ball. The meetings, discussions, introductions, social ladder climbing and business arrangements made in this one night can determine the success for the major houses for the year." Adelaide's voice was kind. For Meryn the room started to spin.

"I can't go to something like that! Are you nuts? I'll humiliate Aiden!" Meryn gasped for breath. Adelaide pushed her head between her legs.

"Now you stop that. I've seen you in action during the sewing circle, you can hold your own." Adelaide rubbed her back.

"Thought I might find you here. My grandson has been chomping at the bit to talk to you about yesterday's sewing circle."

Meryn glanced up, Lady Fairfax was standing in the doorway holding a satin bag. Her grey hair was pulled up in an elegant bun and her portly figure fashionably clothed. She leaned heavily on an ebony walking cane. Though older, her eyes still sparkled with a mischievousness usually reserved for younger people.

"Grandmother, what are you doing here?"

"I heard rumors that Daphane Bowers had gone around to all the clothing shops this morning. What's interesting is that they were all the shops specializing in costume gowns. You haven't had a chance to get one yet, have you Meryn?" The older woman plopped down at the table behind where Meryn sat on the barstool. Meryn sat up straighter and turned to face her.

"No, we've been looking all morning."

"You might as well stop wasting your time, Daphane Bowers doesn't do things in half measures. Sydney can you be a dear and bring me a cup of tea?" She rested her walking cane against the table.