It was nearly 2:00 p.m. Liam was resting at a round table set for two, between the square and bay window. He was reading a novel about a love affair that he found in the table drawer. It must have been kept there for so long that no one dared to touch such valuable things. 

Flipping the pages as he read along, he was waiting for Anton to come back after deciding to take a look at the Hawthornes' Library on the third floor. It was a beautiful sunny day, and he thought of strolling around the garden and orchard tomorrow if permitted by his aunt. 

Anton went to look for the butler, who was attending Mrs. Bennet in her office on the first floor. Piles of paperwork she needed to sign, including sending emails to Mr. Hawthorne, who was currently on a business trip with his youngest son. 

The servants of the mansion moved by the clock as if they existed only to clean and follow orders. This was what Anton was seeing when he went to the first floor. They do greet, and that was it. Looking at it, he had thought they were instructed never to mingle with any guests at the Hawthornes' Estate, except for one girl, no older than sixteen, carrying folded serviettes, who caught his eye, glancing at him, then she walked away in haste. 

He just continued to stroll to a door that was slightly ajar. He knocked. 

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Bennet,” Anton said calmly, waiting outside the door. “Sir Liam would like to go to the library. Is Sir Ronald available to usher us?” He added as he nervously gulped in silence. The hallway was too quiet, filled with nothing but the hush of air. 

Rosie was scribbling her signature on a document when her eyes glanced at the door slightly open. She was with Ronald, the butler, who was waiting for her to finish signing. 

“Ronald, lead them to the library, and you can come back with the document afterwards,” Rosie said nonchalantly, writing a short note under her signature. “Just tell them to leave before six and meet me at the dining table by 7:00 p.m.,” her tone sounded composed. 

“As you wish, Mrs. Bennet,” Ronald said politely, leaving Rosie behind. When he got out of the door, his eyes glanced strictly at Anton. His brows flinched, feeling estranged with that piercing stare. 

But he did not let it bother him much. He said, “Sir Liam is in his room at the moment. I’ll go get him.” his tone sounded polite. Ronald cleared his throat. “Very well, please tell Sir Liam that I’ll wait outside the library.” He gave a slight bow before taking his leave. Anton dipped his head. His expression remained composed, though a hint of curiosity lingered in his eyes. 

He strolled back to the second floor, thinking maybe the butler was wary of them. He knew little of the Hawthorne family’s history. His parents had been farmers, and that was the only life he understood. But when he was a child, playing around with the other farmers' kids, he used to hear strange stories. Reminiscing, he stepped onto the staircase, his left hand resting on the rail. A steady tap echoed, low and hollow, through the stillness. 

He believed it was a story he had heard of the old Hawthornes’ Family―that the youngest son was locked up in the west wing for committing indecent acts with a fellow farmer. He was a kid back then, so he never knew what it was. Now that he remembered it, he recalled hearing it from his parents: the youngest had been found dead in a locked room. 

Pondering, he didn’t realize he was facing Liam’s door. He deeply sighed. I’m thinking too much since I got here. He knocked three times on Liam’s room. “It’s me, Liam,” he said softly. Inside the room, Liam glanced at the door. “Sir Ronald will be waiting for us on the third floor, outside the library,” Anton spoke calmly, waiting outside the door. The curtain blew inward from the gust of wind. 

Liam set the book down on the round table, the tea tray beside it already emptied. He stood, saying, “I’ll be right out in a minute.” his tone was polite. Receiving no reply from Anton, he walked to the wardrobe and took his cream knitted jumper, slipping it on. It was soft against the cold air inside the mansion. 

Liam realized that it was getting colder at night, and the servants only set the fireplace when he was out for dinner. Perhaps, only assigned servants were allowed to come once before 6:00 p.m., once at 9:00 a.m., and once around noon. It was the same for Anton’s room. But it was not his place to ask his great-aunt, who seemed to be a reserved person. 

He stepped out of the door to find Anton waiting. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long, Anton,” he said with a smile. The square window was left open, letting in a cooler wind. 

“No, you’re not,” Anton grinned back. He was no longer wearing a black suit every time he went to see Liam. Stillness wrapped around them for a moment, and Liam looked quietly pleased with how casually Anton had dressed. 

“Now that I looked at you closely, you looked younger than your age, Anton,” Liam spoke warmly, hands in his pocket, as he stepped his right foot forward. 

Anton’s eyes grew wide as his heart pounded. There is this feeling again, he thought quietly. He didn’t blush. He looked natural, meeting Liam’s eyes. He had to say something, he told himself. 

“Is that a compliment?” Anton said, scratching the back of his head. He felt awkward with that sudden silence between them.