“The deceased was married to our father’s sister,” Isther explained. “So I was told. We are Aurelie’s only remaining family, and so she will grieve with us until she is suited for marriage.”

“Our father does not have siblings,” Oeric said in disbelief. “I have never heard him mention one.”

“Father is a private man, Oeric. You know this as well as I. Now stop quarreling and eat your breakfast.”

How odd to see a younger sister chide her elder brother. Oeric lifted his silver fork and dabbed a bit of lamb into his mouth, chewing while he stared at me across the table.

“You’re gawking,” Poppy said, cajoling him with pursed lips.

But Oeric was not done with me. “Did your father have wealth to his name? I know little of Southern society. You will have to inform me.”

I squeezed my hands even tighter, my fingernails biting into my knuckles.

“Will you not answer me?” Oeric asked, frowning deeply, still mulling on his lamb.

By now, Southern high society would have let me be. But these people were obstinate—offensive even. They stared without shame and they spoke without care for feelings. It would be so much more difficult to hide myself among the Renningtons.

I wondered again why Isther did not explain to her siblings the information she already had in her possession. That I could not—would not—speak and that these questions were only torturous for all involved. But she did not clarify, nor offer any helpful information. Only slipped bits of boiled egg past shapely lips.

Finally, Braun Royce, with his dark hair and sharp jaw, set his fork down with a clatter. “Perhaps she is not ignoring you, brother. I think…she cannot give you an answer.”

Oeric shook his head, flabbergasted. “Well, why ever not?”

A slow, subtle smile crept over Royce’s visage as he eyed me. “Our new cousin does not possess the ability. She has no words.”

Alabaster chortled at this, rocking back in her chair.

Poppy’s hoisted breasts reddened as deeply as her neck. “Heavens, how can that be? Is she slow in the head? Must she also be fed? Perhaps this is why she has not taken a bite of food!”

Oeric scoffed. “Nonsense. You can indeed feed yourself, can you not girl? You must at least speak, naturally?”

I stared at him, acutely aware of how unaware I was of my physical body at that moment. I might have been anywhere at all, doing anything, and I would not have known where or what. That is how uncomfortable I felt, and how far from my frozen forests I found myself.

Isther did not seem pleased but she did not seem dismayed. I glanced at her, trying to understand why she did not come to my aid. What did such a woman gain from this display? Why allow me to struggle? Why allow her siblings their confusion?