Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack (Siren Publishing Classic) by Siobhan Muir Read Free Book Online Page B

smile back. “Thank you, Lindsey.” The serving woman nodded and left. “I’m so glad you’re here! I haven’t seen you in ages, and you looked so sad and lost at the funeral. My heart nearly bled for you.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I’m glad Jeff invited you tonight. It’s such a special occasion, and it wouldn’t be right to do it without you, even if you haven’t been in town long.”
    Julianna just stared at Tawny, unease sliding through her. Special occasion?
    “Now,” the youngest Lightfoot went on without noticing Julianna’s confusion, “you look beautiful. Did anyone tell you? Like a princess already, and you haven’t even gone through the ceremony. You’ll wow them all, sure enough.”
    Ceremony? There’s going to be a ceremony?
    “There!” Tawny put the finishing touches on the last vase and brushed her hands of pollen. “Let’s get these flowers deposited on each table and then you can come in and have a bracing cup of tea with the family before the festivities start.”
    Julianna took the small vases of gold and white flowers that Tawny thrust into her hands and followed her around to the remaining tables without centerpieces. Tawny chattered on about all the people who’d be there tonight and all the families hoping to get in bed with the Lightfoots because of the succession . She remarked how most of the candidates were as snotty as rich society princesses who thought themselves above all the rest of the pack but were nothing but a bunch of weak puppies if you asked her. Julianna said nothing, figuring it was wiser to stay silent than look the fool. It sounded like a betrothal party for some sort of European royalty, but they were in the middle of Bum Fuck Nowhere, Nevada, and there was no such thing as royalty out there. Succession, society princesses? What is she talking about?
    Tawny stopped talking long enough to survey her handiwork. The tables gleamed beautifully in the soft lights of the tents. The flowers offered gentle spots of color in an otherwise gauzy white world.
    “All done. Come on, Miss Morris, let’s go inside and relax before the rest of the pack gets here. I’m sure we could use just a little down time before we have to play this game tonight.”
    Julianna paused and cleared her throat. “I think I’m a little confused. Jeff didn’t say anything about a ceremony. I thought it was going to be a casual party.”
    At Tawny’s frown, she added hastily, “I’m just asking because I’m worried that I’m under-dressed.”
    Tawny’s expression cleared immediately, and she shook her head. “No, no, you look fine. Great, in fact. That shade of green looks fabulous on you, and your hair is perfect. The tendrils next to your face are pure genius.”
    Julianna gave a half-shrug, but her stomach still clenched in worry. “Thanks. My mom helped me do it.”
    “You look lovely. Come on, let’s not keep Dad waiting.”
    Julianna nodded, trying to keep her disquiet off her face. Dear God, there’s going to be some sort of ceremony. I hope I won’t be part of it. I’ll just try to stay out of everyone’s way until after dinner and then slip out the first chance I get. It’ll be okay. It’ll be fine.
    But it didn’t feel fine. She’d missed something important in Jeff’s invitation. Her Sister agreed, and Julianna felt her stir with anticipation. Clamping her jaws together tightly, Julianna followed Tawny through the house and hoped she could keep up her cool façade.
    Tawny led her to a sitting room at the back of the large house overlooking the tents. The décor had a western motif. Wallpaper with vertical gold stripes on a deep rosy pink covered the top half of the room and the bottom half was painted a solid lighter rose. A crenulated oak board polished to a high shine separated the colors. The furniture looked like it’d come from a late nineteenth century Old West hotel, and the lampshades sported fringe. Any paintings or photographs in the room wore ornate wooden