I looked at Giles, smiling sweetly at him despite not liking the judgmental tone he just used. And to think I liked him when he talked so admiringly about my grandfather. I really need to get out this property soon. My eyes are starting to get out of focus.
"Oh," I pretended to stifle a giggle, slightly covering my mouth to look demure, "That was a joke at first, then it stuck to me. Now it became a part of my identity. An enchantress..." I leaned back, sighed, and crossed my legs. I leaned to my right, my elbow supporting my weight on the couch's arm, my hands clasped together; I slightly tilted my head backwards, so it looked like I was looking down at him. "A beautiful, magical being capable of blessing or cursing someone." I continued, "Just the thought of being associated with such a powerful creature makes me blush." I let out a soft laugh before silence fell between us.
I'm already in a foul mood after my failed escape, I don't have time to deal with a prick such as this old man, who, the more I stared, the more he's starting to look like Alestair. Not that face, but more of his personality. I sense the same faint hostility that I get from the butler whenever we crossed by chance.
I don't want to deal with him, but at the same time, I want to get rid of the animal heads displayed everywhere.
"How long have you been collecting art?" I asked to change the subject. I've been dealing with this kind of treatments while growing up, so it's not new to me. Being disconnected to the rest of the kingdom made me lowered my guards and thought that only good, rational people are living in this part of the continent.—in this island.
I forgot how old-fashioned they could get here.
Should I be a villain, or should I be a considerate person and let his rudeness slide? As I picked out the right words to say, I noticed a ring-shaped dent on his ring finger, and judging by his squeaky appearance, I'd bet he's a controlling type and his wife left him because she got fed up with his discreet remarks.
Good for her if she left him.
"I've been for a while, Lady Montcroix." His eyes darted to my shelf then to my table after he said that, then to the window. "When will be the Count coming to discuss business."
"Coming to discuss business?" I tilted my head. Does he not know who he's speaking to? Did Alestair not tell him why I'm sitting here in front of him right now, and why I brought him to my own study, and have my own maids in a place where I shouldn't have? Or is he just against the thought of dealing with a woman?
What's with society and its refusal to acknowledge women that works beyond the kitchen and child-bearing?
"Yes. Well, Alestair told me that the Count wanted to auction some art pieces from the castle, so I thought he'd be here?"
"Leon is not here," I said this casually to see if he knew I'm the Count's fiancee.
"Oh... I see. Then you'll be the one I'll be dealing with?" He sounded confused which confused me even more.
Ugh, I have enough of this.
"Do you know who I am, Mister Giles?"
"Pardon?"
"Let me rephrase, do you know why I'm the one talking to you right now about this business that you're supposed to have with the Count?"
Giles smiled embarrassingly and scratched the side of his face, "Not... exactly, Lady Montcroix. I don't mean to offend or anything," he backed a little and waved his hands in front of me, "... but I thought you're here as the Count's, uh, lover or something of that sort?" he said the last few words in a whisper as he lowered his head and looked the other way, but I heard it very clearly.
Lover, huh?, I mentally nodded my head. Well, that's not far from the truth, I guess.
I sighed and massaged my temples only to realize a few seconds after that I have been here for a few days now, and I'm going to marry the Count in two days, right? Alestair and Jane knew I'm getting married. My maids knew that same thing, but does anyone aside from them, and maybe Cosmo, knew that I'm getting married in two days to their master?
Wait. Just wait. What did Jane introduce me as? I was too occupied reading the room and the people that her words just went into one ear then out the next.
'She will be staying with us as our master's partner. I expect that you to treat her with the same respect and courtesy you would with our master. Are we clear?' If my memory served me right, that was what she said. I remembered clearly thinking that Jane's little speech was more of like an order and a threat at the same time rather than painting me in a favorable light with the castle servants. Though seriously, calling me just a 'partner'? That could be a number of things!
I could be a business partner, a flirting partner, a temporary partner, a life partner, a... a sex partner—oh, I think I just described what I will be going forward as Leon's partner, but the thing here is, no one knows aside from our closest aides that there's a wedding happening in this very castle? Then what is Alestair busy preparing for? Did he lie to me again, or—I stopped all thoughts and narrowed on one possibility.
Maybe since no one knew about the wedding's happening in two days, Alestair's been tasked to prepare it by himself that's why he's been so hostile with me. I perked up at the epiphany. Maybe he's just, I don't know... stressed?
I know I'm stressing right now just thinking about it. Not only is my wedding strictly no family allowed, now it's being kept a secret too? The audacity.
When that man gets home, I will definitely, definitely, ask him about it and I won't fall for any muscle flexes or the smiley eyes or the... very fact that a person with his looks, with his body, and his oozing manliness and charisma will be mine to do whatever I want in a few days.
No, Isa! You're at it again, you're practically drooling!
"Lady Montcroix?"
"Huh?" I flinched before I turned to look at my guest. "I apologize Mister Giles. It seemed I have a few things on my mind."
"Is it?"
I took a deep breath and smiled. "I'm so far away from Vlona that I can't help but get worried about my different responsibilities. A businessman such as yourself would know how it can be challenging to leave your business to other people, I assume?" I reasoned.
"It can be worrisome, I know."
"Yes, yes," I nodded, rubbing my palms together in a nervous, sort of impatient manner, "I think we got here on the wrong foot; don't you think? Alestair's not very fond of me, you see?" I faked a nervous laugh, "Something about taking away his precious master and probably leading him astray as an enchantress? I don't blame him though. Leon's only been home for three months after a ten-year long ordeal after all and now all of a sudden, he's getting married to a woman he haven't seen. Alestair must be dying inside." Now that I've laid that out flat in the open, I slightly understood the butler. That must be the exact thing he's feeling.
"He's like a father to him... and a mother, all in one," he chuckled and took his monocle off his face, placing it in his breast pocket. "I think... I have to apologize for judging you prematurely too. I shouldn't have taken Alestair's stories at heart."
Aha! So, the butler really is talking behind my back. I mentally caressed my chin like some fictionalized investigator with a grin. Thank you for taking the bait, Mister Giles.
Quinn once told me that in order to get someone talking, it's important to build rapport. To build rapport is to have find a common ground and walk around that until you hit the spot. With Giles, our common ground is Alestair, and since he was talking oh-so nicely with Alestair earlier by the castle entrance, I assumed that they've known each other for a while, I just need to know for how long.
I played my I-understand-his-position card, and it proved to be successful. I would do a happy dance right now if not for Giles here who's seen me in a new light, smiling, than what that butler pictured me out to be.
"Oh, don't be, Mister Giles," I shifted on my seat and rested my hands on the arms of my chair. "How long have you known Alestair?"
"I'm friends with the Count's uncle, the current Baron Astor. But I've known Alestair from our academy days." I only nodded my head then proceeded to ask what he thought of the artworks that he passed by on his way here.
"The animal heads creep me out especially at night. The others are a little... out of place? Though I do love the marble statue of a woman by the entrance, so I'd let that stay."
"I was surprised to hear it when Alestair told me that the artworks are being auctioned. I haven't even told the Baron yet."
"The Baron?" Why does he have a say at whatever happens in this castle? He didn't have a say when Leon was sent to die in the north, what gives him the right now?
"The baron's maternal side of the family owned this island before they were stripped of their title decades ago after a scandal got them falling out of favor with the royal family. Many vied to have this island but none alive was successful."
"Jane told me about the island's cursed."
Giles laughed and his eyes squinted when he did, "There was talk in Ozryn that the curse has been lifted now that someone from the Astor family got the island back. The ports bustling with business more than ever since Count Leon arrived before he left for war." Does he know why Leon's here? Should I ask him? More important than that, doesn't it mean that this castle—this whole island, even—is the legacy of Leon's family? Do I even have the right to have to sell them?
"Where do you think the auctioned ones are going?" Of course, I knew that the highest bidder gets to take the pieces home. What I want to know is how far can Giles reach.
"I know people who'd loves to collect animal heads, for one. There are rare ones from hunting festivals that are hard to come by. The Astor family's' known for their hunting expertise." Giles cleared his throat. "There are plenty of foreign merchants who would a hefty price on some of the paintings as well." I only managed to stare at the old man.
That means, he's got a lot of connections and knows how to conduct these sorts of business.
I sighed. Knowing that these are precious family heirlooms, as the nobility call it, and as someone who gives importance to connections with people especially with one's family, I don't think I can go ahead and have someone far away take away Leon's family's treasure. But the animal heads... I shrugged. They seriously creep me out.
I brought my hand closer to my mouth and bit my finger, thinking. Contemplating. Calculating.
What if I buy some... most of the artworks, if not all, and have a small museum-like structure built somewhere to house them? Then maybe—of course, I can't pass out on this opportunity being the businesswoman that I am—I can open it for viewing!