Elara was led by the maids to the upstairs Kincaid dining room for supper.
Tamsin wasn't at the dinner table, she hadn't been, from what she'd gathered, too angry with Elara to feel like supper.
All the other Kincaid members were there. Everyone was waiting for Elara!
Caius immediately and angrily mocked Elara as she came in.
The area has such backwards people. She only come to eat after being invited many times. Does she really think she is over us all?
Elara's expression did not falter with Caius's insults. She turned her head to the side, shooting Caius a chilling look.
Her calm eyes exuded a complete frigidity.
What was in her eyes sapped the breath right out of Caius when he saw it, and that immediate sense of pure terror was what caused him to begin choking on his food. He continued coughing for a while, and soon enough, he thought he had almost coughed up his insides.
Caius was furious, his eyes were locked with Elara's from the other end of the table. He clenched his jaw shut, waiting patiently to regain composure.
He blinked and continued.
"I heard you made Tamsin so mad she wouldn't eat because your family gave money to build a library for you to go to school," Caius said playfully to Elara. "Did you do that?"
Tamsin had always been his father's favorite. Now that Tamsin was here and Elara was stupid enough to torment her, Caius knew that his father would not be pleased.
Elara looked up and threw a swift glance at Caius. "I heard you sat for the test too, and came out last in your school so as not to say your class. The school was saved from repeating by the Kou Kincaid donation of one thousand computers. Is that true?"
Caius discovered Elara knew about his failing the test, coming out last in his school. His mother had seen to this once, hadn't she?
How Elara was told?" Jareth's voice echoed a second before Caius could process through what mean of reasoning or being she has found out about this.
Jareth raised an eyebrow at that. "Come on, what's the deal, Caius? When did you ever perform poorly?" he joked.
Caius turned white at Jareth's question.
Mainly he was afraid of Jareth. His father had his duties, but still saw to it that he did his lessons in person.
Caius didn't know the answer to Jareth's question, or maybe he just didn't want to admit it.
Maris jumped in before a fight could start.
We are going to supper. Don't talk too much. The food is getting cold. Hurry up and eat!"
Maris even shot Elara a warning look after that.
Elara didn't flinch at Maris's warning. She reached out, taking hold of her fork, and started to eat.
Jareth took pity on Maris and postponed that particular discussion for another time so the rest of the family could enjoy their meal.
Jareth didn't rise from the desk after supper. So the others didn't rise either.
It was a Kincaid rule. The others wouldn't rise if the head of the house wasn't up yet.
Elara didn't care. After she was done, she put her silverware down and started to get up from the table.
Caius was about to tease Elara for getting up but then he noticed.
But Caius closed his mouth again when Maris gave him a look.
Maris hadn't been looking out for Elara.
No, she knew that Jareth was the leader of the Kincaid now that Harlan was gone. And he wouldn't tolerate anyone challenging him. Show Jareth how to deal with the wild young woman who'd landed here and caused trouble for the clan? No thanks. Not her baby.
Elara got to her feet and Jareth's expression turned to stone.
Caius knew instantly what his mother was after. He might be rubbish at everything else, but he'd had two decades of practice reading Jareth's face.
After that, all Caius had to do was relax and watch the show!
Jareth was about to blow his top but then he remembered Elara had just arrived from the country and wouldn't be used to all the rules. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm his anger.
Jareth lifted his head and called, "Wait!" to Elara.
Elara turned sharply. Her eyes dropped to Jareth.
"Sit," Jareth indicated to Elara who had just gotten out of her chair. "I wish to speak with you."
Elara took her time about getting back in her seat. She didn't say 'I'm full', she said quietly, "my lord, please don't whip him."
By that she meant she wasn't going back to her seat. Jareth didn't like children that spoke back to him.
But he held his temper and thought of what to say.
Maris had always found it strange that Jareth never once reprimanded Elara for any of her mischief. Not to say he didn't, but she sure as the night didn't get yelled at by him. Jareth definitely could check his anger if anything.
And Maris's continued status as Mrs. Kincaid over the years had been for a lot more reasons than just the fact that she'd given him four children. She could do this because she knew Jareth.
Jareth released those intentions from his mouth, naturally.
Elara, you are still considered as a youth, even if your grandfather had willed the Kincaid fortune to you. You should concentrate first on your studies. Please sign an power of attorney agreement to give me the power to take care of the Kincaid Corporation for you.''
The maids by the side passed a document over to Elara and acted like they were waiting for her to sign it.
Finally Maris and Caius came to the conclusion Jareth had wanted them to.
Elara's power over the Kincaid money would be gone the instant she put ink to paper.
If she weren't on their radar or in Caius's sight because of the meeting, she would be alone. That is if they could even consider Elara a threat to anyone.
Caius smirked and his narrowed gaze met Elara's as he looked her over confidently. It wouldn't have surprised him if she had jumped at the chance to decline once his father told her she could sign some contract that pertained to everyone else here in person.