Chapter 16: Freddy's Table

The Ride family met on Friday at seven, around the same long table.

This time there were no plates.

Twenty chairs, twenty glasses of water, and a lawyer at each end.

Freddy sat at the head with a smile ready.

Felix came in last, with Casper's hand in his.

Casper wore a sea-green scarf over the bite mark.

He had a packet of crackers in his jacket pocket that he thought nobody knew about.

"You came," Freddy said. "I admire that. Sit, both of you. Let's make it quick and kind."

He stood and read the clause in a pleasant, even voice.

"A Ride who takes a mate outside the family's approval forfeits their seat, unless the table votes to keep them.

"My brother has taken a mate nobody approved. I don't say this with joy. I say it with sorrow."

He looked around at the uncles.

"I move that Felix's seat and his share of the trust pass to the head of the house."

"To you," said Felix.

"I'm the head of the house."

"Of course."

A cousin cleared his throat.

"Is there a second?"

"I second it," said one of Freddy's friends, a man with a gold watch.

"Does Felix wish to speak before the vote?"

Felix stood.

He did not look at the uncles.

He looked at his brother.

"Freddy, I have a question. Why did you want me married to Casper?"

"I didn't. That was Rowan's idea."

"Was it?"

"Everyone knows it was."

"I'd like the table to hear something," Felix said.

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