The Kincaid hardly ever woke up at this time. Maris even had to wake Caius, who was already sleepy and slouched on the couch in the living room.
Jareth came as well. He glanced around the room, didn't see Elara and sent a maid to find her.
Daddy, we don't need her to go to Mr. Galen's party. Why would we want to take that curse with us?'
Tamsin and Caius would normally never get over their differences and their fights. But not today."
Tamsin is right, Dad. That jinx lives out in the sticks and probably isn't well-versed on rules. You said how much we need Mr. Galen, right? Well what if Elara comes with us and ruins Mr. Galen's night? We can't let that happen!
The Mr. Galen in Question had moved to Arvella with his family as a very young boy from Casier.
And now, after many years he had returned to Casier having become renowned as a technological tycoon in Arvella and it was rumored that he was an expert on the latest chip tech.
It was the era of intelligence. In this era, chip was as important as heart. Getting to know chip's technology means owning a money-making artifact.
Now everyone in Casier, including Kincaid, wanted to cooperate with Mr. Galen to let him access to the most advanced technology.
Jareth knew that Mr. Galen appreciated how well his wife's family got along, and Jareth had to round up his own family every morning because Mr. Galen thought the best foundation was a loving family.
All that being said, Jareth had to agree with his son and daughter.
You two, listen. Only at home can you talk like that to me. I beg you just control yourself when we arrive at Mr Galen's house. Is that clear?"
Jareth looked so serious at Jonathan and Tamsin they didn't try and argue with him further.
Maris stepped aside and stayed quiet. She saw things differently than her children. She knew Jareth was as upset about Elara's return as they were, but there was nothing to be done. Word that Elara had returned to the compound had been all over Casier. Why didn't she come with Kincaid to Mr. Galen's party? Maris sighed.
And how would Mr. Galen feel about them?
They could not stand to lose the forest for one tree.
Elara heard the Kincaids' discussion when she came in from the hall.
Still she stayed apart, as if the Kincaid had forgotten her. She came into the living room with a cold air around her.
Tamsin was the first to see her and scream, but it was a phony scream.
"Daddy! Watch that witch!"
The other family members turned to see what was bothering Elara thanks to Tamsin's shouting.
Elara noticed Tamsin's strange reaction too. She arched her neck slightly and shot Tamsin a knowing look.
Tamsin felt the knot in her stomach tighten again. She had briefly contemplated asking Jareth to put Elara in the car with her. But she had quickly dismissed it.
Elara are you doing this on purpose? The maid invited you to the parlor knowing we have an important gathering to attend today. Why do you look so shabby?
Upon hearing the accusation, the maid who had called Elara to the parlor hastily explained looking embarrassed and defensive.
Miss Tamsin, I already told that to Miss Elara but she wouldn't listen.'
Elara glanced at her clothes. denim pants and a white shirt. She was comfortable and relaxed.
What made them think that? She looked around and saw that everyone, even Jareth, was looking at her with loathing.
Jareth scowled, displeased with what he saw. "This kid really is a total brat," he muttered to himself.. She's not even worth my time.
Elara, you should dress up. We're never the only family that attends Mr. Galen's party, other famous and rich families in Casier will be there too. I don't want them to laugh at you and call you names.
Elara looked less like a student of Jareth's than an outside observer.
Their mouths are their own. They can laugh if they like. I don't care.
Jareth felt angry. Nobody had dared talk to him like that when he was their age, not even Harlan, who was now dead.
Elara interrupted him when he was about to get shirty with her. "If I can't wear this, I won't go to the party."
Jareth blinked at her.
Jareth said "Wait!" as Elara started to turn around.
Elara stopped and turned back to look at him with a cold expression on her face, as if he were a complete stranger.
Jareth gave her a resigned wave, his brows wrinkled. "Wear whatever you want. It doesn't affect me. We need to get moving."
Maris didn't even have the guts to say something to Jareth in response, let alone his children.
Every child in the family paid a visit to Mr. Galen's house. Half the other rich families in Casier did as well, Jareth noticed that.
Attending the celebration with their whole family, they also seemed to know how important family was to Mr. Galen.
The house where Mr. Galen was born and lived in when he returned he had redone.
An extraordinarily splendid and sumptuous mansion of the eighteenth century was her inheritance in Mr. Galen's family. In Casier they were distinguished people, and they had left a considerable acreage.
The Kincaids had certainly been the most interesting thing to hit town in ages, and now that they'd arrived at the manor house, it seemed there was reason to believe they would continue in that tradition.
With all that had gone on the Kincaid camp as of late, no doubt was shared by anyone in town procession.
Elara was completely out of her element in this group of wealthy family members, indeed she was more out of place than the servants, and it didn't take long for them all to notice her lagging behind.
The rich ladies loved to come together and talk about the other rich families, they had nothing better to do. They began talking because they were given a very good reason.
"See that?" said one woman to another. "That's the jinx back, and she's got everything the Kincaids owned 'ceptin' a dress."
"I know her!" cried the woman with whom she spoke. "I met her at a funeral. Why does she wear such old clothes? The Kincaids are crazy . She's their own blood child, why don't they buy her a decent dress? Anyway, why'd you give all your money away to her when—?"
Another woman was curled around them like a lifelong companion. She looked at him.
Ask me something, why don't you? The ship was haunted for one thing. I heard she brought death to the Kincaid. Bad luck followed that jinx everywhere, and it cost her grandmother's life. Was there anyone who would have blamed him for not wanting to share space with her? What are you doing here? he thought helplessly.
While the object of the crowd's conversation stood aloof, those around him engaged in an argument as to who loved Elara best.
Elara was pretty intuitive and heard everything they had to say about her, but as she'd told Jareth, the lips of others belonged to them and they were entitled to a little exercise in freedom of speech.
Elara didn't give a damn what people were saying because there was nothing she could do about it. Not her circus. Not her monkeys.
Elara was distracted by a sudden flurry of commotion not far off, and she stopped what she was doing to look over.
I'm going to go see, she said, and craned her neck for a better view.