Chapter Seven

Unusual

Nova

Jenna’s whirlwind enthusiasm always left me off kilter. She was relentless in her fervor. I’ve often had to be extra cautious around her since she would forget herself and bounce a little too close to me. However, despite how tiring our interaction left me, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by her request and ultimately ended up approving it.

I do wonder what he’ll look like in something proper. I thought to myself as I glanced at the clothes Jenna set aside for me on the bed. She laid out my black heeled boots, tights, and gloves with a long-sleeved burgundy dress. It was only lightly frilled at the sleeve and sweetheart neckline. He’d probably be dashing. The second the thought entered my mind, I cleared my throat, suddenly bashful.

I sighed as I realized that perhaps I’ve been a bit too indulgent with this outsider. Afterall, I really didn’t know a thing about him aside from his name, but I couldn’t deny that he intrigued me. And I haven’t taken such instant interest in something in ages. Let alone another person.

I dressed myself quickly, fixing my attire and hair before making my way to the dining room. Despite the little sleep I managed to get last night, I was rather famished. When I rounded the corner, I half-expected to see a bright-eyed red head on one end of the table, but instead, there was no one but Bailey and Jayson. They had just finished setting the table with juice, fruit, bread, bacon and scrambled eggs. Everything smelled divine.

Jenna came from the kitchen, carrying dishware and utensils. When her eyes landed on me, she smiled. Jenna truly was like a ray of sunshine. She was almost too bright to look at some days. “Good morning again, my lady. Are you ready for breakfast?”

She immediately started setting the table for two spots—one on each end of the long slab. As I approached my usual seat at the head of the table, Jenna began piling food on a plate for me. However, I didn’t sit until she took her place beside Bailey and Jayson off to the side. I had just placed a rather large bite of food in my mouth when Calian approached.

He seemed lost in thought, his emerald eyes cloudy behind his round lenses. However, that changed rather quickly as he caught the four of us in his line of sight. Calian seemed to thoroughly take in his surroundings before giving us all a smirk. “Good morning, Ms. Bailey, Miss Jenna,” he paused, hazarding a guess at my last servant, “Mr. Jayson?”

My butler appeared surprised by Calian’s correct guess of his identity. Meanwhile, Jenna looked away quite ruefully. Jayson’s brown eyes narrowed on his sister briefly before he nodded, giving Calian a curt, “Sir.”

Jayson was a full head taller than his sister with shaggy black hair that he often had to move to the side to avoid covering his eyes. He’s been with me since he was fifteen. He was twenty-four now—three years older than Jenna. Not that anyone could tell. They practically looked like twins. However, unlike his younger sibling, Jayson wasn’t much of a talker. It was one of the reasons I hired him. Interacting with people was not my strong suit. And Jayson respected that. So, when I needed a new maid, he spoke up for the first time in two years. I found the uncharacteristic act fascinating. They’ve been with me for nearly a decade now. And despite never saying so, I find their company, silent or otherwise, to be a sort of comfort. Some days, at least.

Calian turned his attention my way. His steady gaze left me a bit internally flustered, but I dared not show it. I quickly swallowed the food in my mouth while his expression softened as he said, “Good morning, Nova.”

I tried not to think too hard regarding his shift in demeanor.

“Good morning, Calian.” I felt Bailey prickle beside me at my lack of formality, but I ignored it. Instead, my attention was drawn to the much too baggy clothes he was given. I glanced over at my head maid. She stared blankly ahead of her, but I knew she sent our guest these clothes on purpose. I could now thoroughly understand Jenna’s distress from this morning. Especially considering how fashion-forward she was. “Please,” I gestured with my hand to the seat furthest across me. “Have a seat. We will serve you breakfast.”

“Here?” he cocked a brow at me as he pointed to the other place setting.

“Mhm.” I nodded, taking another bite of food.

“Oh, no, that’s much too far.” He declared before swiftly grabbing the empty cup and dragging the rest of the tableware across the counter so that he could sit directly to my left. Without a moment’s hesitation, he plopped himself down, grinning victoriously beside me. “There. That’s much better.”

I froze, gripping my fork tightly as I leered at him. “That’s too close.”

This strange man truly looked puzzled. “Isn’t this normal seating distance? It was in my household anyway.” He shrugged, serving himself some of the food that was laid out in front of us.

I glowered further. It felt like he was challenging me. Trying to make me out to be a fool. Before I could stew on it, I felt his loose pant leg brush against my dress and instinctually pulled my legs under the chair.

Whatever, I brushed off his flippant attitude as I watched Calian only barely chew his meal before swallowing. It’s your funeral.

Calian caught me staring at him and grinned. An awkward blush ran from one end of his face to the other. “Sorry,” he murmured as he swallowed what seemed like a hard lump of food down his throat. Jenna poured him a glass of orange juice. “I haven’t had a decent meal in a bit. Oh, thank you.” He beamed up at Jenna whose eyes bounced excitedly between us.

She seemed to be devouring the sight of our interaction even more ferociously than Calian was the meal. I gave her an irritated look before she stepped back and cleared her throat. “Well, my lady, if you do not need any further assistance, Jayson and I will clean up and get ready for our outing into town.”

I dismissed them with a wave. Jayson gave his sister a silent scolding while Jenna ignored her brother as she nearly skipped off to the kitchen. The only one left was Bailey. She watched us quietly, and while she tried not to show it, I could see the confusion and anxiety in her eyes as Calian shifted about in the seat beside mine.

“So, no money to eat where you’re from?” I inquired in an attempt to find out more about him. I was, after all, housing a stranger.

Calian took a sip of juice. Clearing his throat, he looked down at his plate. “No, it’s not that. I—” he frowned briefly before a familiar sense of stoicism came over his face. However, he couldn’t hide the emotions from his gaze. The eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses pierced me with their sorrow. I gripped my fork tighter. “I lost my mother recently. She was the only family I ever had. She… She loved when we ate together like this…” his voice drifted away. His gaze was cloudy again. However, he quickly snapped out of it and revealed a sheepish smile my way. “Apologies. I’m sure you don’t want to hear my sob story. Let’s leave it to say, I’ve had a hard time lately. So, your hospitality has been most appreciated.”

I blinked, unsure what to say. I didn’t understand this familial love he had for his mother. My own mother only ever shunned me. In fact, she hated me outright. She cursed the day she pushed me from her loins. Saying she loathed me wouldn’t be a strong enough word, and declaring any affection for a woman so cruel was not something I was capable of. His sadness, while understandable was lost on me.

I glanced up at Bailey, she had a pained look in her eyes. She must be thinking of Tessa.

Tessa Lenore was Bailey’s younger sister. From what I’ve gathered, she was also a maid in this house, but she died before I was born, and Bailey generally refuses to speak about her. While I could make her as lady of the house, I valued her right to her privacy. Besides, what could I do for a long dead girl?

At my prolonged silence, Calian popped a grape in his mouth before glancing towards the windows. “Winter doesn’t stay for long here, it seems.”

My brows pulled together at his words. “It’s not winter.” I declared. “This was a chance snowstorm.”

“It’s as my lady says, Mr. Calian. It’s springtime. That’s why the snow is melting so rapidly despite yesterday’s conditions.” Bailey added from the side.

Calian looked back and forth between us, nodding as he peered at the windows, thoughtful. “Ah, I see. That makes sense.”

Hmm, I examined my guest further. He didn’t seem perturbed at all by this unforeseen revelation. Where exactly did you come from that you don’t know what season it is?

Before I could ponder this aloud, the man spoke again. “Hey, by any chance is there a nearby lake or pool of water?”

The sudden change in subject was jarring. Still, I managed to come up with an answer as I reached for a piece of melon with my fork. Calian reached for one in the same instant and while I wanted to jerk my hand away, I kept my decorum, but my heart dropped to my stomach when he nearly grazed my hand. I tried not to stammer. Or stab him with my fork. “Yes, there’s one just outside the grounds in the woods over that way. There’s a trail that leads to it.” I pointed to the right of the estate behind me. “Feeling like a dip, are you?”

Calian’s grin quickly returned, his gaze teasing. “Why, Lady Nova, is that an invitation?”

I bit the inside of my cheek as an image of Calian pushing his wet veridian hair out of his face struck me. I pushed some of my silver locks behind my left ear. I was suddenly quite warm. “Of course not. Whyever would I desire to swim with you?”

My tone came out harsh, even to myself, but Calian didn’t even flinch. Instead, he inched over ever-so-slightly. With just that tiny movement, I caught a whiff of bergamot off his skin. He smelled citrusy and sweet. He smelled like my soap, and something about that pleased me.

“Well, since you won’t send an invitation to me, how about I send one to you?” I raised an eyebrow while he expanded further. “Jenna mentioned going into town later. I was hoping to tag along. How about you join us?”

I was nearly aghast at the suggestion. “No.”

Calian appeared momentarily disappointed but didn’t seem to be offended by my lack of elaboration. “Well, maybe another day then.” He got up to leave but then stopped and leaned over me. His arm propped him up against the table. He edged as close as he dared to without touching me. Which, personally, two inches away was courting death. Quite literally. “By the way,” his voice was low, husky. “You look lovely today.”

I gulped, unsure how to take such a compliment. Jenna was the only one who dared to offer any sort of gushing critique, and yet, somehow, it didn’t sound the same coming from Calian.

When I said nothing, he added, “Thanks for breakfast.” And then ambled back towards the stairs.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him until he went up the first few steps. “Bailey,” I called, finding that she was looking at me with a strange expression.

“Yes, my lady?”

“Make sure to give a cloak to Calian. It’s still cold outside from the storm.”

“Of course.” The elder maid agreed, but rather than taking off right away like she would normally do, she hesitated.

“Something to say, Bailey?” I asked, drily.

At my prompting, she revealed, “He’s quite strange, this Mr. Calian.”

I picked up my napkin, unfolded the white cloth and raised it to my lips to hide my smile. “Yes. He seems very unusual.”