Chapter 17 Victory's Spoils

• *Kieran*
• “Oh, my. That is a bright shade of pink.” My mother blinks her eyes a few times before sipping her wine again. She’s commented on Nessa’s dress at least five times since dinner started only a few moments ago. Every time she does, Nessa giggles and squeezes my hand beneath the table, as if it’s a compliment.
• It’s not one. My mother doesn’t give a lot of compliments, but when she does, one can tell she is pleased. At the moment, she looks as if she’d rather down the rest of the bottle of wine sitting at the end of the table than look at Nessa again.