When his work was done, the man looked incredibly pleased with the result of his labor. Brenya just felt ridiculous.
A string of glittering stones was set about her throat. When it did not elicit a response, Jacques frowned. “These were my mother’s. Before that, my grandmothers. And so on.”
She had not asked for them, or for the dress, or the paint on her lips, or the butterflies in her stomach. “I have never worn jewelry before.”
He stroked her cheek. “Only Bernard women wear this necklace.”
Whatever significance that moment held for him was lost on her, Brenya aware she was doing something wrong. Hand patting the shape of the tangling web, she looked down to see a spangle of light across her breasts. Where the gown was cut low they sat like a beacon, made all the brighter next to her tan skin.
They were pretty. Far too pretty for her.
“I don’t fully understand the concept of motherhood or Centrists’ focus on lineage. Annette took such joy in holding and feeding her son. Your mother must have been the same way. I don’t even know the name of the female who birthed me.”
He ran a finger down her jaw, smirking at her statement. “Would you like to know it?”
“No. That knowledge has no value to me. It does not define who I am.”
“Some days, I envy you that, mon chou.” He took the fingers still pressed to his family bauble and drew them to his mouth for a kiss. “There is plenty of time for me to teach you all you need to know. Someday, you too will take joy in holding and feeding our child, but there is no need to rush such things. Under my mother’s early advice, I have been taking contraceptives since… adolescence made use of them wise. When you are ready, I’ll stop. Until then, we’ll enjoy one another.”
It was such a strange topic to insert into conversation that Brenya scowled, unsure what to make of it. She had not imagined herself in Annette’s position for even a moment, had not considered that someday Jacques might expect her to procreate.
Years ago she had been notified she was not fit for the breeding banks. She had accepted it, relieved, in fact, that nothing would interfere with her duties. In Beta sector, once an idea was set, it was constant. In Central, things did not work that way. Everything shifted, impermanent and enigmatic.
“What troubles you? The thought of children or the thought of no children?”
Neither and both. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate that I wear your mother’s necklace. I am not your mate.”
Jade eyes grew dark, Jacques’ tone lowering significantly. “You will be.”
On that point, she felt there was nothing to add. Smoothing her hands over the flowing skirt he’d chosen for her, Brenya asked, “Is there significance in the color of the dress?”
“You look beautiful in white.”
Annette’s advice teased her memory, leading Brenya to offer a compliment in return. “I’ve never seen you wear your hair loose outside of…”
Smirking like the devil, he finished her sentence, “When we play?”
She could feel a blush creep over her chest and cheeks and could not fathom the why of it. “It looks nice.”He had explained to her in detail what to expect. A State dinner was a weekly event, this one particularly important as Bernard Dome had let in its first foreigners since the entry hatch was sealed over a century ago. Ambassador Jules Havel was the guest of honor.
She was not required to talk to him.
Brenya was not required to perform in any way. Annette would see to her entertainment while the Alphas conversed. All she need do was sit by his side and enjoy herself.
Simple enough.
Except Brenya had come to learn that nothing was simple, or straightforward, or honest in this place.
After a walk through halls and rooms Brenya had not ventured through before, the couple in white arrived at a set of double doors. Behind those gilded panels a long table waited, set with linen and more silverware, plates, and crystal glasses than necessary for the amount of guests in attendance.
Alpha males of all adult ages, dressed just as absurdly as the Commodore, talked amongst themselves.
There were no females in attendance… except Annette, who smiled, and, careful of her tender body, made her way over to kiss Brenya on the cheek. “I’m thrilled to be included. I can’t tell you how good it is to be allowed out of bed!”
Brenya could not help but agree, her innocent comment drawing the titters of many neighboring men, including a rich laugh from the Alpha at her side.
Instantly embarrassed, she colored.
Jacques pressed his smiling lips to her ear. “Come. You sit here beside me. Drink some wine, it will help you relax.”
Everyone followed the Commodore’s cue, the rustle of chairs and the economic movement of bodies taking their assigned places short-lived. Annette smiled, nearly across from her, but there were two chairs left unclaimed directly before the Commodore and his ‘mate’s’ position.