The Dream That Freed Us Both

"Caroline, have you lost your mind?

"We've been at each other's throats our whole lives. Today was finally going to settle it. What are you playing at?"

That face used to grate on me past all endurance. Now it just made my chest ache.

I knew that whichever of us won today, we'd both end up in the same grave.

I let out a quiet sigh. "Vivian, that mistress your father kept. Did she have a daughter? Celeste?"

Vivian went rigid.

"My family buried that. How could you possibly know?"

It's embarrassing to admit.

Vivian and I had fought over Dorian for years, and I'd sunk more people and money than I care to count into digging up anything that might bring her down.

None of it ever touched her. What it did do, entirely by accident, was turn up Dorian's biggest secret.

I told her about the dream, every word of it.

Her brows pulled into a knot and her lip curled. "It was a dream. And you believe it?"

I couldn't blame her.

I'd thought it was ridiculous myself at first.

I took out the handkerchief and held it out. "Then take a look at this.

"I lifted it off Dorian about ten minutes ago."

Vivian turned it over, studying it, and every bit of color went out of her face.

Before she could decide anything, Dorian walked up.

"Caroline. Vivian. How is it I haven't heard the two of you fighting today?

"Did hell freeze over?"

You couldn't really blame him for saying it.

Vivian and I had been oil and water since we were children. We couldn't be in a room together without going for each other.

And today of all days, when it was finally supposed to be decided.

To keep him from getting suspicious, and to get us both out of there, I clapped both hands over my stomach and howled.

"Ow — Vivian, you absolute monster, what did you kick me for?

"Your Highness, my stomach — it's bad. I need a doctor, now.

"I'm afraid I'll have to miss the reception."

I staggered backward, laying it on thick.

When I got close enough to Vivian, I dropped my voice. "Come up with something. Fast.

"Or we're both done for.

"I can't stand you, but I don't want you dead.

"I'd have nobody left to argue with."

There was still something wistful in the way Vivian looked at him, and it made me frantic.

"Vivian, I know my word alone isn't enough.

"Give me one chance. Let me show you.

"After that, choose however you want. I won't stand in your way."

Vivian finally made up her mind.

She's every bit the drama queen I am. She tipped sideways and went straight into the ornamental pond.

They fished her out, and she stood there with her lips shaking. "Your Highness, you saw it yourself. Caroline pushed me on purpose.

"I'm soaked to the skin. I can't stand in front of the court like this.

"Could the selection wait a few days?"

I could hear it. She still didn't believe me.

She was leaving herself a way back.

Luckily, Royal Consort Sabine had already ruled that Dorian's wife had to come from House Beaumont or House Whitaker.

That meant Vivian and I were the only two candidates in the building.

Dorian had no choice. He agreed to push the reception back three days.

To keep anyone from wondering, we left the estate separately and went home.

We didn't meet again until the moon was high, when the two of us crept into a narrow lane behind the old market.

"All right, Caroline. How are you going to prove it?

"And I'll say this up front. If your dream turns out to be nothing, you back off and stop competing with me for him."

I looked at her with open disgust. "God, you're pathetic.

"Over a man? Really?"

Vivian was so angry she laughed.

"You have some nerve lecturing me.

"I'm not the one who slit her wrist over him and threatened to die."

For the first time in my life, I didn't fire back.

I just laughed at the girl I used to be. "I didn't know any better.

"After that dream, though, something finally clicked.

"Some people just aren't worth it.

"Come on. I'm going to show you, and then you can tell me if you still want to marry him."