Chapter Eleven

Moment

 Jenna

Lady Nova was in a fluster this morning as I picked out her clothes for the day. While she didn’t particularly say anything as she watched me go through her wardrobe and pull out a pair of tan trousers, a white blouse, reddish-brown vest, and a red ribbon that my lady could use as a bow. She was strangely fidgety. She kept pacing about her quarters, always on the opposite side of wherever I was. Her thumb grazed her bottom lip and her silver locks thrashed side-to-side, unkempt and luxuriously long. Lady Nova always looked like a doll. I adored being able to dress her, even though she was constantly pushing us all away, but I wish I could fix up her hair just once. However, I recognize that doing so would be perilous for my health. So, I’ve managed to resist thus far.

“Something the matter, my lady?” I pondered, watching as she stiffened.

When she gazed up at me, Lady Nova was back to her usual self. Cold. Distant. “I’m fine, Jenna.” Her eyes scanned the clothes I laid on the bed.

When she didn’t object, I practically did a jig. “I was thinking you’d look lovely in trousers. So, I made you some. I hope you don’t mind! Let me know if you like it, Lady Nova.” I grinned.

She slid the pants over, tilting her head as she examined them. “Well, let’s see then.” Lady Nova began to dress herself, and as she did, I appreciated her all the more.

The thing is, Lady Nova has never once outright rejected anything I’ve ever made her. That’s one of the reasons I know she’s kind at heart. Despite all the times she’s walked away from us in silence rather than addressing us or grimaced as we neared, we all feel she’s not as cold as she appears. Yes, she has a terrible curse, but that doesn’t make her less than. At least, not in my eyes. Although, she’s still a fierce woman. Having watched her practice her sword skills… I wouldn’t want to be the person at the end of her blade.

“Well,” Lady Nova’s tone sounded pleasantly surprised. “I daresay, Jenna, it’s a fetching outfit. Although, I’m certain Bailey will chastise you.”

“As long as you like it, my lady, I will take a full day of scoldings!” I bounced with my hands clasped in front of my chest. I was just so pleased at the way Lady Nova swished about as she looked at herself in the mirror. “Oh, I already began making Mr. Calian’s attire as well. Once I’m done with my morning duties, I will have his first outfit finished.”

At the mention of Mr. Calian, Lady Nova swiftly glanced in my direction. She didn’t say a thing, but that only lasted a moment. “I… see.” She spoke slowly.

I was about to go on my way but paused. It seemed like she had more to say, but when she didn’t say anything else, I curtsied and took my leave.

***** 

My duties were about as typical as ever. Wash the floors, hang the laundry, assist in cleaning the rooms, and so forth. As I went about, I barely caught another glimpse of my lady, but that was probably by design.

Cheerily, I wrapped up my last assignment. It was a little past one o’clock. I was so excited to continue working on Mr. Calian’s clothes. I truly am a lucky woman. I’ve talked to other maids in other households while in Amber Hills many a time, and they all talked about how they were worked to the bone. None of them had any time for any real activities. So, I count my blessings that Lady Nova encourages—well, as much as Lady Nova can encourage, that is—my joy for fashion.

I practically skipped through the kitchen but noticed that Bazil and Calian were looking at something by the oven. I tried to peek over the men, but there was just too much of either to see what they were doing.

“This will work?” Bazil asked curiously.

“It should, but that’s why we’re going to test one first. I’ve never had the opportunity to use an oven like this, so I don’t want to ruin the whole batch.” Mr. Calian replied.

“Ruin what exactly?” I questioned.

The men looked at me. They seemed shocked by my presence. I guess they didn’t hear me coming.

“Jenna!” Bazil spoke good-naturedly. “Well…” His kind blue eyes glanced over at Mr. Calian. “Some things are best when patient.”

“Hmm... You’ve made me very curious, but—” I sighed playfully. “—I will wait then.”

Mr. Calian grinned. It was quite charming. “Are you done with your duties for today?”

“Oh, yes.” I bounced on my toes. “I’m actually getting ready to finish your first outfit! So, please be ready to try it on first thing.”

Mr. Calian chuckled. “I can’t wait to see it. I’ve never had an outfit custom made for me.”

I tilted my head, frowning lightly. “Then how did you get your clothes beforehand if someone didn’t make them for you?”

His lighthearted laugh turned awkward. “Where I come from people can just purchase clothes in their general size. It doesn’t have to be tailored. Like what you do, that is.”

“How very strange. What part of—”

“Is that Nova?” Calian suddenly asked, looking towards the window.

I turned in the direction he gestured to. It was, in fact, Lady Nova. She appeared positively splendid in those trousers! “It is.” I smiled. “Seems she’s out for a walk along the grounds.”

There was a glint in Mr. Calian’s eyes, or maybe it was just the way the sun hit his emerald orbs. Either way, he seemed very enthused. “Maybe I’ll just join her for a bit.” He was about to walk out the kitchen door but then swiveled over to Bazil. “Is it ok if you watch my little project for a bit?”

Bazil smirked, nodding in response before Calian zipped through the door. We watched as he headed to Lady Nova. She glowered at him, but he approached her closely anyway. She said something to him, and he put a hand through his red hair. Finally, he said something back, and Lady Nova touched her trousers, widening them out a bit. She placed some hair behind her ear, and then she smiled. And despite the great distance, I was utterly shocked by even that miniscule expression! The pair then proceeded to walk side-by-side. Mr. Calian was grinning as he said something, and Lady Nova went back to being aloof, but this time, there wasn’t the same frosty expression she had from this morning. It was just the tiniest bit warmer.

“My word!” I grinned at Bazil, still in awe.

“It seems that boy is quite taken with our lady.” The chef replied.

“More importantly, she doesn’t seem to mind!”

I wanted to watch them interact more. Every time Mr. Calian is around Lady Nova I’ve seen a new side to her. Anger. Impatience. Stunned. Ok, well, admittedly, they’ve been negative-like emotions, but that’s got to be better than apathy, no?

A mischievous thought ran through me, and I couldn’t help my smirk.

“Oh, I know that look.” Bazil eyed me with wary and humor. “What are you going to be up to now, lass?”

I shrugged. “Oh, nothing much.” Then, I went about my way.

Nova

“Yes. That’s right, Mr. Calian. Just this way now.” Jenna’s voice carried from down the hall as I sat in my green velvet armchair. Novel in hand.

It wasn’t particularly interesting, but Bailey insisted that courtly women must know how to lounge with grace and dignity. And that should a guest ever be received (the likelihood of which was abysmal), I needed to show my good breeding lest it get back to my parents. (Which, again, was abysmal.) To which I replied, “If they cared so much about my good character, they should have raised me themselves.”

Bailey scolded me for a minute straight. I could have reminded Bailey that I was a twenty-seven-year-old woman, and didn’t need to be treated like a child, but honestly, it would be a moot point.

“Jenna, is it really necessary to take such a long walk around to make sure your outfit works?” Calian asked, clearly skeptical. “It fits perfectly. I think you’re being a little extra.”

“Extra?” she asked, confused as they came into sight.

“Oh, um…” he paused, collecting himself. “A little over the top.”

“Noooo.” Jenna feigned disbelief, winking at me before turning back to Calian. “Not at all! Now, if you could just walk across the sitting room and back, that should suffice.”

I bit my tongue as he gave her a dubious leer, but shockingly, he did not complain more than that. He did what was asked and I was able to see him in a pair of black pants with a white shirt and tan suspenders. The new clothes fit him so amazingly well that my mouth dropped. Thankfully, I was able to cover it with my open book.

I cleared my throat, fixing my face before I put the book down on the table. “Finally, adequate attire.”

I wanted to laugh as Calian gave myself and Jenna a teasing scowl. “Why do I feel like a plaything all of a sudden?”

I giggled, but only for a moment before schooling myself.

Jenna grinned, her eyes squinting merrily. “Whatever, do you mean, Mr. Calian?”

***** 

“You know,” Calian started with nary a knock on my door this very late evening. “You make a magnificent mapmaker.”

He waved a scroll in the air in front of him as he leaned against my office door frame.

“I see we’re making this a routine.” I rolled my eyes but didn’t stop him from entering.

In fact, I didn’t even have my hand around my dagger. His footsteps were quite distinguishable now that I knew what to listen for. They were not heavy like Bazil’s nor as light as Jenna’s. They were somewhere in the middle, and I nearly scowled as I realized I was waiting to hear them.

“Really, Calian, did you not have enough of me on our afternoon jaunt?” I wondered, harshly.

He approached the desk. His expression was soft, but I didn’t understand it all. It made me suspicious. I narrowed my eyes as he placed the map with the rest of the papers I had scattered about the wooden surface.

“I enjoyed walking with you.” He smiled, but it was almost like he was doing so to himself rather than to me. “I’d like to do it again, if possible.”

“I suppose you weren’t the worst company.” I agreed.

There was a silence that fell between us, and it wasn’t terribly unpleasant. I marveled at it, actually. Had the quiet ever been as comfortable an experience as it was in this moment?

“I was wondering,” Calian began, his finger gently prodding the map as he rolled it on the desk. “You drew everything in the map so meticulously, have you been to those places before?”

My brows pulled together tightly. “No. Never.”

I dared to glance up at Calian. There was another strange look upon his face. It was almost as if my response saddened him. “Maybe you should.” He spoke softly. It was almost not a suggestion but a wish. “I bet you could get even more detailed with your maps then.”

“Perhaps, but a reference will be good enough for now.”

“For now?” he placed his palms flat on the table and leaned towards me. There was still a bit of distance between us, but the room suddenly felt a little smaller. The hopeful look in his eyes practically smothered me.

“A turn of phrase, Calian.” I placed my chin in my hand as I glanced out towards the night sky. “Honestly, how would I ever get around? Should I just walk over the corpses that lay before my feet?”

He seemed about to argue when suddenly, my stomach growled ferociously. Instantly, I closed my eyes, shame made my entire body hot.

Calian chuckled. It was warm and deep. “Maybe a shorter trip is in order. To the kitchen?”

“If you insist.” I replied, revealing a modest smile.

We sneaked our way to the kitchen. We didn’t turn a light on as not to wake the others, but I made sure to keep extra distance from Calian as we went about in the dark.

When we finally reached the kitchen, I pressed the switch, and the lights came on swiftly. Calian went straight for the icebox. He mumbled something mostly incoherent. The only words I could make out were ‘if only’ and ‘-wave.’ Admittedly, I didn’t understand how a wave had any bearings on a past midnight treat, but Calian was an unusual man.

“How ‘bout some strawberries?” he asked, jiggling a bowl of fruit at me.

“Sure.” I answered, not at all amused by such a little gesture.

He took out a handful, rinsing them in the sink before placing them on a plate he took from the cabinet. I expected him to place them on the table, but instead, he put them on the counter and then sat right beside them. His legs kicked lightly above the floor as he took a strawberry and raised it before me. He waved it side to side, his gem eyes teasing. “Come and get it.”

I scoff-laughed. I couldn’t help it. The whole sight was completely ridiculous, but… it was nice, pretending I was normal today. Thanks to him, I was able to walk the grounds and talk like comrades without the business of titles demanding such rigidity. I was able to forget. Just for a moment. However, as I approached, fingers ready to snag the red fruit from his hand, something within me popped. The moment was over.

I hesitated before dropping my hand and rummaging through the drawers for a fork.

Calian watched me silently. An eyebrow raised in question.

I made sure to avoid his ever-moving feet as I went to the other side of the plate and stabbed the fork into a strawberry.

His legs slowed, and he placed the fruit in his hand to his lips. “How very dignified of you.” He mumbled with a mouthful of berry.

“I must be.” I whispered, pushing one of the strawberries on the plate with my fork away from the others. Then, I touched said strawberry and it turned to decay within seconds. “Thank goodness this retched curse doesn’t do that in my mouth.” I joked. “Could you imagine the rot I would ingest otherwise?”

When I finally had the courage to look up at my companion, my entire face fell. There was no longer a trace of any humor on his pleasant features. Instead, he stared, not in horror, but in pity, and I found myself no longer hungry.

Ah, My thoughts turned melancholic. So there is something worse than being called a beast. Something worse than being reviled. And all I had to do to recoil was see this look on Calian’s face. It brought with it so many emotions I thought to have buried ages ago, and yet, just one expression from him recovered them all.

This wouldn’t do at all.

I placed the fork upside down on the plate, but before I could go, there was the jingle of silverware. My head instantly snapped in Calian’s direction. His gaze examined the fork as if it was the mightiest tool in the land.

“You know,” his grin was lopsided, and the light was back in his eyes. “Maybe I should learn to be a little more dignified too.” He leaned over and patted the countertop behind me. “But only if you sit and help me finish these.”

I swallowed hard. What kind of person are you?

“There’s a perfectly good table just few feet away.” I smiled.

“Yeah, but…” Calian lifted a strawberry up with his fork and angled it so that it was next to my lips. “Isn’t this much more fun?”