"Aah, I forgot to mention, your sister will be coming tomorrow," Marjorie said when Connor entered back inside.
"Melinda?" Connor asked.
"Do you have any other sister, Connor? Don't act stupid because that doesn't suit you," Marjorie shot back.
They were standing in the main hall. A golden chandelier hung above burning with fuelless flames. White marble glazed the floor reflecting the light. A red carpet with a golden floral pattern is laid in the centre. Tapestries embroidered with Detruass and Edith were hung on the two sides of the entrance. Near the tapestries, four windows opened letting the sunlight in. Red curtains fluttered to the wind that was let in. Two doors opened to the left and right beyond the windows, to the long halls. Two winding staircases went above on either side of the room.
Melinda was married to the Summers family and rarely came to the Ward estate. He knew that she would now come without a reason.
"Why is she coming now?" Connor asked.
"Her triplets have reached their eight-name day and she wants them to study here," Marjorie replied. Connor found the answer and he didn't like it. Taking care of the kid of one sibling was enough for him.
"Why not do it in their place?" Connor asked not wanting to deal with more children.
"Because you are here," Marjorie replied. "And she had always admired you and now she wants her children to be like you," she continued.
Connor already had to lead the army against the Destitute and he didn't want any more work to be pushed on him.
"I will only give some instructions and hire someone else in overseeing them. I am already busy as it is," Connor said.
"You can say that to Melinda yourself," Marjorie replied.
Marjorie went above to her study. She was old and she spent her time reading and meeting occasionally with her friends. She sat in her chair and closed her eyes. She thought about Osmond. The child was a stain on her family. Yet he was what her son protected dying. The boy still was her son's blood.
Back in the side house, Osmond met with Audrey.
"This way," Audrey said politely. He didn't call Osmond a sir or master.
The bedroom was painted white with a double bed in the centre. Over it, a mattress covered with fire-patterned drapes was spread. A red blanket covered the leg side. Two pillows, yellow were there.
Above the bed, hung a tapestry sporting the burning salamander. From the two sides of the bed, open windows let sunlight in. Two fire lamps were fitted on the room symmetrically to the left and right.
On the left, there was a table and chair, both wooden and luxurious. On the table, on a white plate laid a layer of pancakes drizzled with honey. A knife and a fork were placed on either side.
"The master had told me to serve the food here," Audrey said politely. "I will be leaving now."
Osmond sat at the table and looked at the food.
"Alone," He thought.
Back in Everville, dining was a time when there was talking and smiling. Even when he was travelling with Connor, he was not alone. But now he was— and from now on he will be. He needed to overcome this but he was a boy of seven so he cried.
"Men cry only when they were alone, and now— I am alone," he thought.
He took the food silently and went to wash. He wanted to go outside but knew anything or anybody. So he lay in bed. His body went down to the softness of the bed and he fell into a sleep.
He woke up to the sound and found that lunch was being laid down.
Audrey was arranging the table for lunch.
"Master has ordered you to meet him after lunch." He said.
For lunch, there was chicken roasted in butter, boiled beans, mashed potatoes and bread. It was delicious, but for Osmond, he couldn't enjoy it being alone.
"There are changes of clothes arranged for your size in the wardrobe," Audrey said pointing showing to the wardrobe.
Osmond ate his lunch and changed into a white shirt with black blazers and grey pants.
Connor was waiting outside the mansion.
"How long are you going to sit idle? Tomorrow my sister is coming, be in a presentable way. Letters asking for a tutor have been sent, so be ready for studying. There are books in the side house that you can start on," Connor said, his hands folded.
"Also Audrey, teach him in the ways of service. I need to start making him pay for the slaves that he had brought here," Connor told Audrey.
Audrey's eyes widened, and then he bowed.
Osmond had forgotten about Kira and Kivela. He met Connor's eyes.
"What is it, boy?" He asked sternly.
"Will I be able to see them?"
"We will see."
Come morning, a wagon arrived in front of the mansion. It was drawn by two white horses, their hair combed and trimmed. They snickered and snorted as they came to a stop. The wagon was painted violet with golden borders along the door. The blue curtains closed what was inside. The spikes in the wheel were also golden.
The coachman, a young man wearing a suit and a top hat came and opened the door.
From it came a woman with fiery red hair. It was tied to a bun behind, and in front two locks of hair swayed symmetrically. The sun was graced onto her hair ornament. On her blue dress, stars and the moon were embroidered. She wore a pair of blue gloves and blue shoes to match the dress.
"Welcome back lady Melinda," said Audrey crossing one hand in front and bowing.
"I have returned," Melinda closed her Ruby eyes and smiled.
"Madam is waiting inside," Audrey said.
"Thank you, Audrey," She replied.
Behind the wagon, the coachman unloaded the baggage and went to Melinda tipping his hat.
"Take the baggage to their rooms," Audrey called out to the servants.
"Come outside children," Melinda said, looking inside the wagon.
Three children came outside their hair auburn. The first was a boy that was tall and lean, the second was a pudgy boy and the third was a pretty girl.
"Come children, let's go meet your grandmother."
Melinda saw Osmond standing by the door through the side of her eyes as they entered the mansion.
Inside she saw Marjorie wearing a pink dress with a rose embroidered pattern. We went and hugged her.
"It has been so long mother, I missed you." She said.
"I missed you too," Marjorie said hugging her back.
"You remember your grandmother. Don't you Cooper, Christopher and Marigold," Melinda asked her children and the children nodded smiling.
"You must be tired. We can talk later. Audrey, show them to their rooms," Marjorie commanded Audrey.
"Let the children go, I need to see my brother first," Melinda said.
"As you wish my lady." And Audrey took the children to their rooms.
"Was the boy outside.....?" Melinda asked frowning her brows.
"Yes."
"Why is he here?" Melinda's face showed displeasure.
"He is to study here," Marjorie's face showed she didn't like it.
"With who, my children? I will not allow it." She shouted.
"I have no word in it. Talk to your brother if you don't like it." Marjorie said nodding away.
"I plan to." And with it, Melinda climbed the stairs to her brother's study.
"I have come, brother." She said.
"Welcome back," Connor said not looking away from the pages.
Two bookshelves loomed on either side of the study. A large window lets in light from behind Connor. His table was made of oak, above books and papers of different sizes riddled.
"Is it true that you plan to teach my children with THAT boy," Melinda shouted.
"Yes."
"I will not allow it."
"You did not ask my permission to teach your children here," Connor said looking up.
"But I am your sister and that boy is a stain to our family."
"But I promised to train him first and Centurians do not break promises," Connor said his final word.
Melinda decided to use her last trick.
She started crying.
Connor saw this and let out a sigh. "Married and mother to three children, and you still think that is going to work. The most I can do is change the schedule so that your children and the boy will not meet each other," he said.
"Thank you, brother," Melinda said wiping her tears with a red striped kerchief.
When Melinda left, a hawk came, sat on the desk and dropped a letter in front of him.
He broke the seal, took the letter out, unfolded and read it.
Connor clicked his tongue.
"Yet another annoying one is coming."