“You married the Viscount’s son?”
Clara said this in a hushed though no less incredulous voice so as to not be overheard by said Viscount’s son. In front of her, Calixtus seemed to shrink back from his mother with a panicked look on his face. Clearly, he wasn’t yet prepared to explain that particular detail to her. It was a real shame, as Clara had no intention of letting her son get away before she was provided with some proper answers.
“I really don’t think this is the time to discuss this,” Calixtus started, glancing back at his husband.
The dark haired young man was currently very preoccupied with some of the biscuits Clara had brought back with her. She was glad he seemed distracted for the moment as she dragged her son further away from view of the sitting room. She cornered him down the hall, though still kept her voice low.
“Just, please, tell me there’s a good reason as to why you rushed into marriage like this. And what possessed you to propose to the Viscount’s son?” Clara really couldn’t emphasize that point enough.
“What makes you think I was the one to propose?” Calixtus asked, brow raised.
Clara could simply stare at her son, surprised. She supposed it made a little more sense. Not much, but it was an improvement.
“Whatever the case was, just tell me what’s going on?”
Calixtus let out a sigh at that, long and sounding absolutely exhausted. “Is it really that hard to believe that I might have found someone who makes me happy?”
The problem with that was that however much Clara wanted to believe her son—and she dearly wished to—she had a very hard time doing so. Calixtus had always been smart in a grounded sort of way. Her son was nothing if not practical. And now here he stood, going against what Clara believed to be his nature.
“You know I would be very happy to hear that, but it just seems very unlike you,” she said, deciding honesty was the best key to getting the truth. “And Aster seems lovely, but he’s also a bit…” she trailed off, not quite knowing how to describe the too-thin young man who looked to have never before stepped out of the Magic Tower.
“Eccentric?” Calixtus asked, mouth quirking up into a little half smile. Clara was surprised to find a true sort of fondness in that small gesture. “He’s a mage and a noble, I’m well aware of his unusual ways, but he has his fair share of virtues.”
If nothing else, Calixtus seemed to be telling the truth. Clara had raised her three children herself, lacking the means for most of her life to hire any sort of servants to take on the role of caretaker for them. During that time, she had come to know them well. At that moment, Calixtus was telling her the truth. She could see it in the way his eyes sparkled and his voice softened in a way that might have been missed by most.
“Just get to know him, mother. I think you’ll like him.”
She sighed as she looked at the pleading look on her son’s face. At last, she nodded, figuring she really had no other choice but to agree. Even if she still didn’t quite believe everything was as it seemed. Still, Clara had time to find the truth, whatever it may be.
Just as soon as she managed to get her son’s husband on his own.
As it turned out, this proved to be a lot easier than Clara had initially expected. She had only to wait for the next morning, when she ran into Aster on the way downstairs. He looked perfectly put together, in spite of the early hour—Clara always being an early riser herself. Even so, there was a tired look in his eyes and he looked as pale and frail as if he’d not gotten any rest at all. He still smiled brightly at her.
“Good morning, Madame Ducasse,” Aster greeted, with all the grace and manners of a young man of his status.
“Good morning, dear. And really, there’s no need for all the formality. Clara will do just fine. Now, what are you doing up so early? I thought you came to this town to rest.”
“Oh, I think I’ve gotten more rest here than I could have hoped for,” Aster said with a calm sort of cheer. “I’ve always been an early riser. I suppose it became a habit while in the Magic Tower. There was so much work to do, waking early gave me at least a moment of peace before the day’s start.”
“Sounds like a busy life,” Clara commented.
“It was, but I enjoyed it.” She could see he meant that and wondered once more why he would leave a life he was content with.
“I’m afraid it might be too early for breakfast,” she said. “Would you care to go for a walk in the garden with me?”
“I’d be honored to keep you company,” Aster agreed with a smile.
Shortly after, they walked out into the still chilly morning, arm in arm. Aster kept pace with Clara, in spite of his longer strides, and seemed to enjoy the sight of the well-kept garden and the sounds of birdsong as the first rays of the sun washed over the property. Clara shared in his enjoyment, relishing in the peace and quiet. It was something she’d missed while she’d been gone.
She wondered just how much more enticing it might be for someone like Aster—someone who had left a place as chaotic as the capital city. In that moment, she could understand why one such as Aster would choose to visit such a small town. What she couldn’t quite grasp was whether that was the true reason for Aster’s visit.
No matter what both Aster and her son claimed, Clara found it all hard to believe. Now though, she had a chance to glean a bit of the truth for herself.
“You know, I was quite surprised,” she started as they walked down the path that cut through flower beds that would be filled with color come spring. “It doesn’t seem like Calixtus to make such a drastic decision. Especially without so much as mentioning it to anyone else.”
“I suppose that’s true. To be honest, I don’t blame anyone for being surprised,” Aster agreed easily before glancing down at her with a knowing look. “Neither am I surprised at how many question our relationship. People seem awfully surprised to see us together. I suppose we do make an unlikely pair.”
Clara thought that was an understatement. Still, she could almost see why Calixtus might be drawn to Aster. There was certainly something to the young man that stood out—something in his dark eyes that so often sparkled with a sort of cleverness Clara found herself feeling wary of. Aster Vespertine was far too astute to make such a choice as marriage from such simple a reason as love at first sight. Of that much, Clara was certain.
“Calixtus does seem very fond of you,” she admitted. At least, fonder than he was towards most. “I just worry the two of you might have rushed into things far too early.”
“A fair concern. But I assure you, I mean to spend the rest of my life next to my dear husband.”
Aster looked down at Clara, dark eyes meeting her own and never once hinting at any sort of lie. Clara was startled to find it difficult to find any shred of dishonesty.
“And how did your family take the news?” she asked, wondering if maybe it was his family that Aster meant to get away from.
She’d never associated much with any of the noble families, having kept to herself—especially after her husband’s passing. From what little Clara knew, it wasn’t unlikely that someone like Aster would want to get away from overbearing parents and their high expectations. Aster, however, simply gave a little laugh.
“I expect they were similarly startled, but they’ve since sent their congratulations. My mother was devastated to not have had the chance to plan my wedding, but she’s quite excited to meet my husband.”
Well, there went that theory. Clara was still struggling to think of any other reason for the sudden presence of the young man in her son’s life.
“And when do you plan to meet with them?” she asked, mostly to buy herself some time.
“I’m not sure. I’ve declined their invitation, as I wanted to rest a while longer, but I’m afraid I’ll have to return at some point. My work can only be put aside for so long,” he said with a resigned sigh. “But I suppose it will be nice to see my family again.”
“I hope they won’t take issue with the circumstances of your marriage,” Clara said. They both knew what she meant by that. Aster, after all, was not meant for someone like Calixtus. However unfair that might seem, Clara wasn’t going to deny the truth of the world—of society.
They paused in their walk, Aster turning to look at Clara, expression honest and open. Perhaps more so than it had ever been since they’d met. She looked back and waited to hear what her new son-in-law had to say.
“I’d like to think my family will be glad to see me happy, but I’m not naive enough to think there won’t be some in the capital who will talk. But I assure you, talk has never stopped me.” And here, he smiled, a small thing that was both sly and filled with a sort of glee that reached his eyes and made them sparkle like the star speckled night sky. “You should have heard the rumors when I decided to go to the Magic Tower. Half the city must have thought it true that my father had banished me.”
In spite of herself, Clara found herself laughing. Aster joined her, his quiet chuckling brightening his face. At that moment, she thought she could see why Calixtus was drawn to Aster.
“In truth, I know what people must say,” Aster went on. “And though I’m not bothered by it, I understand your concerns. Just know that it’s never been my intention to cause trouble for your son, and I’ll do what I can to help him lead a peaceful life.”
Clara looked into Aster’s eyes and hoped he was telling the truth. Hope was, after all, the only thing she had.
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