Even Mother and Aunt Jovana had been receiving guests, the wives and daughters of exclusive families, confirming that they were behind us, and helping those who should have gone home by now provide valid excuses to the staff for needing more time in their rooms.

I didn’t know these people, and while I wasn’t unwelcome, I didn’t feel comfortable adding to the conversation. I wouldn’t feel at ease until Etan was back, until it was all settled and done. Before then, anything could happen.

As I was perched at the window, watching the horizon as the sun went down, I whispered my worries to Scarlet as she came to settle beside me.

“He’s not hurt, is he?” I asked.

“No, he’s not hurt,” Scarlet assured me.

I swallowed, sweeping my eyes across the field again. I heard someone snoring. Uncle Reid was deep in prayer, but I thought Mother had fallen asleep in a chair. I didn’t look back to check on Aunt Jovana. “No one’s accused him of being a traitor and murdered him somewhere in the countryside and left him in an unmarked grave, right?”

Scarlet narrowed her eyes and turned to me. “That’s very specific, Hollis.”

“It’s the image that keeps coming to me. That he tries and tries to explain the truth, but no one believes him. And he’s one man against many. I’m terrified he’s dead somewhere, and we have no way of knowing.”

“Have some faith, Hollis.” I tore my eyes from the horizon to look at my sister, and she placed a hand on my shoulder as she went on. “Etan . . . he’s strong. Maybe too strong. And he’s fighting for something good; he won’t be taken down. Besides . . .”

She closed her lips tight like maybe she was saying too much. But she glanced around at the otherwise engaged members of our family and lowered her voice to a whisper all the same.

“Besides, he’s definitely coming back for you.”

“Shhhh!” I insisted, checking that no one was listening. “We’ve been over this.”

“Yes, and you clearly weren’t listening to me.”

“I told you. He doesn’t care for me like you think he does.” I sat up straighter. “He asked if we could finally call ourselves friends. Friends, Scarlet. No declaration of undying love, no request for me to wait while he avenges his family, no anything of the sort. Friends.”

She let her chin settle into her arms as they rested on the stone sill of the widow. “And why do you think he made such a request, dear sister?”

Because it was the only way to save face after making the massive mistake of kissing me, I thought.

“Because, at the very least, he doesn’t hate me anymore, and he wanted to let me know that before we inevitably part ways,” I said.

She smiled at me like I was the simplest creature she’d ever met.

“Because he thinks you’d reject him if he dared to ask for more.”