"I think I see them!" Lucie yelled, practically jumping up and down, pointing at a carriage.
They were all huddled outside the Institute waiting for Cordelia Carstairs, Lucie's parabatai-to-be, and her family. The Carstairs were moving to London in order to let Cordelia train with her. Adelia had met the girl a few times, and though they were never close enough to be friends, she did think that Cordelia was immensely sweet. The complete opposite of her wreck of a brother, Alastair.
"Thank the Angel that they're here. A minute longer and Lucie'd be bursting at the seams." Lucie elbowed James at that and Adelia smiled before they all stepped closer to the carriage to greet their guests of sorts.
Tessa Herondale, James and Lucie's mother and Adelia's legal guardian. raised her hand in greeting as Mrs. Carstairs stepped out of the carriage.
"Welcome back to London. I hope your trip was not too uncomfortable."
"Not at all."
Alastair stepped off the carriage next and Adelia barely managed to stifle a laugh. His hair was a god-awful shade of bright yellow-white that contrasted heavily with his dark skin. James was slightly less lucky and was forced to hide his snort as a cough.
Cordelia was the last person out of the carriage and when her feet hit the ground, she nearly stumbled.
James moved towards her instantly, his hand on her arm, steadying her. "Daisy?" he said. "Are you all right?"
"Just clumsy." She looked around ruefully. "I was hoping for a more gracious arrival."
"Nothing to worry about." He smiled. "The pavements of South Kensington are vicious. I've been attacked by them more than once myself."
Adelia caught the look of absolute adoration on the youngest Carstairs face and hid an internal groan. Cordelia had had the biggest crush on James ever since she could remember and Adelia supposed her hopes that the girl would have grown out of it by now were too high. Even if Cordelia had seen once James walk face-first into a wall, turn around, and walk right into another one.
"I see you're here Alastair," James began, finally acknowledging the boy whose face was turning a slightly dark shade in embarrassment of being so casually ignored. "And you look-" He paused, as though trying to think of something to say that was not along the lines of utterly ridiculous. "You look well."
Adelia gave Alastair a cursory glance. Something was wrong with either her or her parabatai, because what on earth did Thomas see in him?
Mrs. Carstairs gestured toward the workmen as Lucie and Cordelia caught up. "Cordelia, it's going to be messy and noisy. Perhaps if you and Lucie would go take a turn about the neighborhood? And Alastair, you stay here and help direct the servants."
"James, Adelia? Could you go with them? Perhaps Kensington Gardens? It's a short walk and a lovely day." Tessa asked.
"Kensington Gardens does seem safe," James winked at Adelia and rolled his eyes.
"I may have to leave early. Anna's expecting me for tea." Anna Lightwood was Christopher's older sister who had an immense interest in fashion. She and Adelia were fast friends and Adelia was often used as a mannequin to try out various clothes. Anna was quite good at what she did and, as a result, Adelia always had the most stunning dresses for any occasion. There was a ball later this evening and according to Anna, none of the clothes that filled Adelia's closets in both her and Thomas' houses were good enough.
"Have I mentioned how much you've truly outdone yourself this time?"
"Only once or twice or five hundred times." Anna grinned though, her eyes shining as she looked proud of herself. "You look absolutely breathtaking."
Adelia's dress was a mix of different shades of blue and grey and brought out the same colors in her eyes. The sleeves reached just past her elbows and the bodice was detailed with intricate patterns. She had pinned her blonde hair up and her neck was adorned with a delicate silver necklace.
Anna gestured behind her to Lucie and Cordelia who were heading their way. "It appears I've been monopolizing your time for far too long."
"Do you mind if we drag Adelia to meet the other girls?" Lucie asked, pouting her lips slightly in an expression no one was able to resist.
"Of course not."
Lucie took her hand and drew her over to the refreshment table, where a group of girls in colorful dresses had gathered.
Adelia only recognized a few girls: Catherine Townsend, Rosamund Wentworth, and Ariadne Bridgestock. The Inquisitor had adopted her from India when she was just a babe.
"What a pretty dress," Ariadne said to Cordelia, her voice warm. Her own gown was of flattering wine-colored silk. "I believe that's the shade they call 'ashes of roses.' Very popular in Paris."
"Oh, yes," Cordelia said eagerly. "I did get this dress in Paris, as a matter of fact. On Rue de la Paix. Jeanne Paquin made it herself."
Rosamund's lips tightened. "How fortunate you are," she said coolly. "Most of us here in the poky little London Enclave rarely get to travel abroad. You must think us so dull."
Adelia restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Rosamund got jealous easily and when she did she often lashed out to save herself from any embarrassment.
"Oh," said Cordelia, hurriedly. "No, not at all—"
"My mother has always said Shadowhunters aren't meant to have much of an interest in fashion," said Catherine. "She says it's mundane."
Catherine's mother spent hours during the last ball talking about the new wardrobe she had bought for the new season.
"Since you've spoken of Matthew's clothes admiringly so often," said Ariadne tartly, "should we assume that rule is only for girls?"
"Ariadne, really—" Rosamund began, and broke off with a laugh. "Speak of the devils," she said. "Look who's just come in."
Matthew and James had just walked in.
"They are so handsome," said Catherine, sounding almost pained. "Don't you think so, Ariadne?"
"Oh—yes," She said hastily. "I suppose."
"She only has eyes for Charles," said Rosamund. Ariadne turned red, and the girls went off into gales of laughter. All but Adelia and Lucie, both of whom rolled their eyes.
"They're just boys," Lucie said.
"James is your brother," said Catherine. "You cannot be objective, Lucie! He is gorgeous."
"Matthew isn't bad-looking either," said Rosamund. "But so scandalous."
"Indeed," Catherine added, eyes sparkling. "You must be careful of him, Miss Carstairs. He has a reputation."
Adelia's face flushed and she was about to reply rather unkindly but Lucie grabbed her hand and shook her head.
"We should guess who James will ask to dance first," said a dark-haired girl in a pink dress. "Surely you, Rosamund; you are looking so lovely tonight. Who could resist you?"
"Ah, yes, who will be graced by my brother's attentions?" drawled Lucie. "When he was six, he threw up in his own shoe."
Adelia laughed at that but the other girls pointedly ignored Lucie. Someone who appeared to be Rosamund's brother came to claim Catherine for a dance; Charles came across the room to take Ariadne's hand and whisk her onto the floor. Will and Tessa were in each other's arms, as were both sets of Lucie's aunts and uncles.
A moment later Matthew Fairchild approached the table. He took Adelia's hand and kissed it, bowing slightly. "Might I have this dance?"
Adelia nodded and as Matthew lead her to the dance floor she could hear Rosamund's next words about a supposed incredibly inappropriate relationship she had with him, Christopher, and James which involved her sleeping in a different bed each night.
Adelia flinched and her skin burned as she turned to face Rosamund, but Cordelia had already started speaking, her voice small but firm and fiery.
"Just because you can't find any boys to tolerate even a second of your presence, let alone court you, does not mean that you should resort to such blatant lies. Honestly, Rosamund, I'd assume your father would have raised you better but considering that he's been gone from your life for the better part of a decade, I suppose your attitude stems from that absence."
Matthew tugged on Adelia's hand and she looked at him, blinking away the sharp burning in her eyes. "Ignore her, love. She's not worth your thoughts."
She nodded at him and he jerked his head to where Alastair was standing. "What's up with the turnip? I know blondes have more fun," he gestured to their blonde hair, "but with that skin tone, he looks positively ghastly."
Adelia let out a surprised laugh and they twirled across the floor. He looked at her, his face suddenly serious.
"You look beautiful, Del." Adelia smiled and brushed back the lock of hair dangling on his forehead. She might have mistaken it for something more if she couldn't smell the alcohol on his breath.
"As do you, Matty."
He made a face at that, "I hate that nickname. And I do not look beautiful. Ruggedly handsome and panty-droppingly gorgeous are the only acceptable adjectives."
She laughed again and allowed him to spin her a few times. Dancing always made her feel better. And doing it with him definitely didn't hurt.
The song changed to a slower waltz but they kept dancing, their movements syncing up to the beat.
Adelia smiled when she saw James and Cordelia dancing.
Matthew spun her again, and she faced the entrance of the Institute as a tall woman, thin as a scarecrow in the black of mundane mourning, with gray-streaked hair dressed in the style of decades ago. Tessa was hurrying toward her, a concerned look on her face. Will was following.
As Tessa reached her, the woman stepped aside, revealing the girl who had been standing behind her. A girl dressed all in ivory, with a soft waterfall of white-gold curls gathered back from her face. The girl moved forward gracefully to greet Tessa and Will.
James strode across the room toward the newcomers and Adelia's hand whipped over to Cordelia who stood in the middle of the room, frozen in confusion, as James bent to kiss the hand of the girl who had just walked in.
"Matty." He hummed, his focus solely on her. "Matthew."
"What?"
She gestured to Cordelia and his jaw tightened as his eyes darted between her and his parabatai. "Go. Take his place."
"I can't leave you here."
"Thomas is walking over. Go. Quick, before someone sees." Adelia waved Thomas over.
Matthew pressed a light kiss to her cheek and slipped away, pulling Cordelia into his arms as Thomas replaced him.
"What on earth is going on with James?"
"I have no idea. He's been acting rather strange since we slayed the demon."
Adelia nodded, and just as she was going to ask Thomas to get her a drink, someone screamed.
"For pity's sake!" someone called. It was a man's voice, low and baritone. "Someone come help her!"
Adelia glanced about the room: everyone seemed to be looking surprised and chattering with each other. In the distance, she could see a loose circle of people standing around whatever was going on.
She and Thomas began to push through the crowd to see Barbara, Thomas' older sister on the floor, with her suitor, Oliver Hayward, holding her.
Anna was leaning over her with a dagger and cut Barbara's corset, assuming she fainted due to a dizzy spell.
As it sagged free of Barbara's body, Adelia gestured to Ariadne.
"Ariadne- your wrapper-"
Ariadne Bridgestock swiftly drew her silk wrapper from her shoulders and handed it to Adelia, who knelt down and swaddled Barbara in it to keep her decent. Barbara was already beginning to look better, color returning to her cheeks and her breathing more regular.
Thomas gave his sister a handkerchief and Barbara used it to dab at her lip. It came away stained with blood.
"I fell. I fell and bit my lip." Barbara said hastily. Adelia drew a healing rune on Barbara's arm and Thomas helped her stand up.
"I forgot to eat today," she said to her mother, as Sophie put her arm around her. "That's all it is."
"Nevertheless, we had better get you home," Sophie said, glancing around. "Will - can you have the carriage brought around?"
Adelia let go of Barbara and walked over to Tessa. "Do you think I could spend the night at Thomas' house? I want to make sure that Barbara is all right. I'll come home after the picnic tomorrow with James and Lucie."
Tessa nodded, "Of course, you can. You have everything you need in your room there, right?"
"Yes, I do. Do say goodbye to the others for me." Adelia picked up her skirts and raced after the Lightwoods.
"Where's Gideon?" She asked when she was settled in the carriage. Thomas' father was nowhere to be found which was rather out of character for him.
"There was a Shax demon attack in Seven Dials," His wife, Sophie, answered, her arm still around Barbara.
"Two demon attacks in one week?" Adelia couldn't help but feel that something was so very wrong.
"Where's Gideon?" She asked when she was settled in the carriage. Thomas' father was nowhere to be found which was rather out of character for him.
"There was a Shax demon attack in Seven Dials," His wife, Sophie, answered, her arm still around Barbara.
"Two demon attacks in one week?" Adelia couldn't help but feel that something was so very wrong.