She took us on a walk around the abbey as we went to her office.
"I want to thank you, your mother, and of course your…late father. They had been very nice to us in providing for the children. And you Mrs Williams, you have been too good."
"It's alright Mother, we will keep doing our best."
I noticed that she was smiling under her shawl. How uncanny it was, with only the children and the mother she was smiling so much, more than I had ever seen.
She caught my eye as we walked behind the Nun and I diverted it.
"I will extend your gratitude to my mother as well."
She smiled. "That would be good, and tell her to at least visit as she does."
Mrs Williams was not so happy when I spoke to her. It was like she didn't want me to be here, speaking with the woman.
"Is this…."
We stopped when she did looking at the baskets in front of her office.
"Yes," Mrs Williams came forward. "We brought food for the children."
"That's so nice of you." She said with hands held together in front and then she placed a sign of the cross on her forehead. "God bless."
She bowed in thanks for the blessing.
I received the same and I enunciated the Amen.
"I'm still in a daze, holy lord, you have grown so much," she examined me. "Your mother must be very proud that her naughty son has grown."
"I…l wasn't deviant that much."
"You were, more than your quiet and well-behaved brother."
She was sabotaging me in front of the housekeeper. Who knows what she would be thinking now? Of course, she would be comfortable to hear such a thing about me.
"We will be going back now Mother." She said.
We?
"Yes, Mother we should get back." I gave the last bow and we left but she walked faster in front.
At the gate, she stopped to talk with the guard and I ambled past them but I stopped at the fence and waited outside the gate.
Did she know him? They appeared a bit casual and friendly and to add that there was some kind of smile on her face.
Wasn't she worried that if anyone saw her, (the likes of Lily) they wouldn't wait to spread that she was having an affair with a guard at the convent?
It's nothing to me, I'm just being a little concerned.
When she came out and saw me she ceased her steps in surprise. She wanted to say something but instead, she continued walking as if I had never been there.
"That's a bit rude," I commented.
I decided to walk back home, she didn't want to talk. Fine.
I walked past her, my head high and in front.
After some time I heard her calling to me. I continued.
"Mr Houston!"
I stopped after some time seeing it was hard for her and in fact, she had rushed a lot of her steps to catch up to me. She was already breathing hard when she came closer.
"I wanted to say….."
I arched my brows for her to complete it.
"Thank you."
"It took you so long," I started walking. "The other night, and today. Rude."
"You wanted me to thank you?"
"Not like I'm waiting for you to, but it is only appropriate if you know what civility is."
Her brows furrowed displeased. "Are you saying I'm mindless?"
I shrugged.
"I have thanked you, for helping us(which I never asked), is it necessary to draw it in that direction?"
"Of course."
"Mr. Houston, you are acting uncouth."
I stopped. "I'm I?"
"I won't banter words with you." She made to walk past.
"Look who's talking." She stopped.
"What does that mean?"
I looked back in her deep eyes, a lot of secret emotions there but the most were resentment. But I can't help that even at that, it was still pulling me in. Like a deep black cloud or pit. Whatever that was.
"I'm still trying to decipher your character."
"And what have you found out so far?"
She was eager to hear what I would say and very ready to lash out.
"Nothing."
I answered at last after a time and she turned away leaving me standing there, but not just that, she was relieved. She was very relieved when I said nothing.
I looked to the road as she continued. She was hiding something.