Free Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel Page B

man of his quality. No doubt Kate will settle down afterward. A woman can’t carry on like this once she’s married, eh?”
    I said nothing.
    Mr. de Vries leaned in still closer, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “We’ve indulged our daughter terribly, of course,” he said in a confidential tone, “letting her study abroad. We’ve let her have a long holiday from the real world. But this is her world, right here, in Lionsgate City, and she’ll come to realize that before too long.”
    I wasn’t sure Mr. de Vries knew his daughter terribly well. The mansion and gardens were all very nice, but I couldn’t see Kate settling for the view when she had the whole world to choose from.
    “Next year,” Mr. de Vries continued, “she’ll be back home for good, and she’ll likely receive several proposals of marriage. I have no doubt she’ll make an excellent match.”
    When he said this, he looked directly at me, and his eyes had a sudden piercing clarity that made me uneasy. Did he know how I felt about Kate after all? His words seemed meant to warn me off.
    “Hello, you two,” Kate said, strolling over.
    “Ah, Kate, I was just talking with Mr. Cruse,” her father said. “A capital young fellow. He’ll go very far indeed. Splendid, splendid. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He hailed a gentleman across the lawn and walked off.
    Kate grinned at me. “So what did you and Daddy talk about?”
    “You, mostly. Apparently you’ll be married off by next year.”
    She chuckled. “Gosh, I had no idea. I should talk to my father more often.”
    “Rumor has it James Sanderson is the lucky man.”
    “The heir to the Sanderson fortune?” she said, eyes wide with mock amazement.
    “The same.”
    “My father didn’t tell you that, did he?”
    I shook my head. “Miss Simpkins.”
    Kate waved her hand impatiently. “She’s just making trouble. Don’t give Mr. Sanderson a second’s thought.”
    “That’s a shame. I’ve already thought of three ways to kill him.”
    Her eyes glowed. “Really?”
    “Two of them were quite good. The third would’ve been messy. It involved chopsticks. So you haven’t heard of this plan?”
    “Oh, my parents may have mentioned it once or twice.”
    I looked at her. “This might be funny to you, but it’s really”—I didn’t know how best to finish my sentence—“very painful for me.”
    “I’m sorry, Matt. Can you really see me marrying someone for their fortune?”
    “No.”
    “Then that’s all you need to know.” She gave me her warmest smile. “Your mother and sisters are delightful. You never told me your mother was so beautiful. I hope she liked me.”
    “How could she not?” I said, happy that it mattered so much to her.
    “Did she say anything about me?”
    “I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet.”
    “No, of course not.”
    “I think your father’s going to let you go on the voyage,” I said.
    She nodded, beaming. “I have no doubts at all. But I should move on now,” she said abruptly. “We’ve talked long enough. I can see my mother staring at us.”
    “When—” I had been going to ask her when we could see each other again, but she was already gone, floating away across the manicured lawn in her white summer dress.
     

    I was on my way to find my mother when I spotted my sister Sylvia talking to none other than James Sanderson. He was standing too close to her for my liking, talking and smiling, and once touching her on the forearm. Sylvia’s cheeks were very bright, and she kept laughing gaily. I hurried over.
    “Oh, hello, Matt,” she said, not looking altogether thrilled to see me. “This is James Sanderson.”
    “Pleased to meet you,” I lied.
    He was not quite as handsome as he’d appeared from a distance. And I was happy to see I was slightly taller than him, even though he must have been three or four years older. He had rather pronounced shadows under his eyes; no doubt he stayed up late, carousing.
    “So