Free The Mask of Omegon (Gwen Farris Book 6) by P.S. Power Page A

time.
    In this case it could also have
been about something else. Like the fact that he’d figured that Gwen was
playing make believe when they met. He had been, apparently. Doing a
better job of it than she would have figured at the same time. After all, he
had calling cards made up with a different name on them. Also a man to pretend
to be him on the telestator. That took real planning and skill.
    She glanced at him and shrugged.
    “Ah. I see. I think that Ferdinand
was setting us up then. At least to meet, if not for a bit of mystery. Anyway,
Tomas and I…” She stopped then, and waited for the name to be corrected. Still
holding his hand.
    Rather than act goofy the guy smiled
and squeezed her hand gently.
    His words were even and calm then.
    “Miss Farris and I are seeing each
other? I rather hadn’t told her who I was yet. Just Tomas the legal clerk and
artist. She did say that she’d read my books however, so that makes at least
one person! They aren’t really for children however…” He seemed a bit
embarrassed about that part, but was interrupted when Ethyl Vernor walked up
and hugged Gwen.
    “This is wonderful! I’ve been a bit
worried about you, to be honest, Gwen. It’s good to see that you have a
friend.” She looked at him and nodded, a bit forcefully.
    Robert stuck his hand out at the
guy, smiling.
    “Robert Vernor. This is my wife
Ethyl. Gwen’s parents, more or less. Just so you get the situation?” He seemed
happy enough about it however and Duke Morten slapped the Baron on the arm.
    “Don’t worry, Tom. They’re good
people. Better than you might have heard, to be honest. We should sit. Talk and
catch up. Mainly with Gwen, since she’s far more interesting than the rest of
us.”
    She blew a raspberry at the man.
Oddly, that translated well enough to get a laugh from him. Along with slightly
scandalized look from Ethyl, though it wasn’t unkind.
    “Interesting is another word for odd ,
right? I’ve worked out your crafty alien codes, you know.” She paused, then
shrugged. “I guess I’m the alien here? Anyway, I mainly came so that Tomas would
get that I’m actually me and not just roleplaying at being Gwen Farris. I know
that sounds insane but…” She was willing to go on, but Groundling nodded at
her.
    “Too true. I can see that one.
She’s the real deal however, Tom. Different than you’d heard as well, I bet.
For instance, I wasn’t kidding or joking about having her on as a
loader. It’s part of why I’m here tonight. That and the company, of course.” He
bowed, sitting already, toward Ethyl and then Robert. “Your parents were
worried that people would think you were being forced into hard labor. Again.
Missing the part where you plan to take over the shipping concern someday.
Really, if you get the chance, you should start doing some duties that way. I’d
suggest the military as well, but Special Service has to count for that part.
Then we just need to find some nice young man for you to marry.”
    Gwen glared a bit then, though
Tomas managed to not react to the words in the slightest.
    “Way to ruin my date, Groundling.
Just keep this in mind when it’s your turn to be needled. Just so you get
what’s going to be happening then.” Not that she knew it would ever happen, but
it made a better threat than storming out would. Besides, she wasn’t entirely
certain that doing that kind of teasing wasn’t just the norm there. Or if it
was teasing at all. It could well have been a simple attempt to bring
the subject up.
    It was a bit early for that. Tom
seemed like a nice enough guy. Also like he could be slightly unbalanced
mentally. Sure that wasn’t a deal breaker for her, but just being Gwen Farris
meant that she couldn’t blame the man if his goal was to get lucky a few times
and then dump her. That might be happening even sooner now that she’d shown
herself to be who she was.
    A badly broken, totally tainted,
bit of flotsam cast off from another