Chapter 4
****
"You have to think of other people's eyes."
He wiped Audrey's tears on his clothes and gave her a wry smile.
"Come on, I know I look weird."
Her wet eyes flicked to Ryan.
"Good to know."
A smile appeared on her shining face. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and pulled Ryan's sleeve.
"Let's go. Mrs. Baker will be waiting."
"Are you done crying?"
"Yeah."
Audrey nodded, the corners of her mouth tugging up into a wide smile. She squeezed her eyes shut and fanned herself with her hands to cool off.
"Thanks you, Ryan."
With one last look at her, Ryan grabbed the doorknob.
Stepping through the open doorway, Audrey let out a small gasp. She steadied herself with an even breath.
It was not like the world had fallen apart, and she didn’t want Mr. Finley's family to worry.
Her mom and sister weren't dead, and she needed to see what was going on with them. This time, Audrey took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.
Ryan's frown deepened as he watched from behind. He felt bad that she was trying so hard to look like she was okay.
***
One by one, gas lamps began to light up the darkened streets. Audrey lowered the window shades for ventilation and locked the bookstore door.
It was quiet as she locked the door and moved among the counters and shelves. Linda was an insomniac and Lena was mute.
She had to be careful about making noise and never raise her voice. It was an old habit for petite Audrey to move cautiously through the quiet house.
With one last check of the windows and doors, she went out the back door. Just beyond the back door of the bookstore was the family home. It was where Mr. Finley's family lived, and where Audrey had been staying since the fire.
As she walked through the door, warmth emanated from the kitchen on her left. Sophia Finley was preparing dinner. The warmth chased away the chill in the air.
"Are you making fish stew?"
Audrey asked as she washed her hands. Fall vegetables and white-fleshed cod were simmering in a large pot. It bubbled. The delicious sound reminded her of her mother and sister.
Arnold Finley, the bookstore owner, was a very successful merchant. He was not of noble birth, but his family bookstore was thriving and growing.
In addition to the clandestine trade in rare books, he had expanded the range of items he carried.
Arnold Finley's goal was to build Farkai's into a large-scale top.
"I thought it would be nice to serve it warm."
It wasn't a big place, or a lot of people. There were only three maids to help Sophia with the housekeeping and a lawyer to manage the finances under Mr. Finley.
Audrey was about to bake some bread to go with the stew when a voice called out.
"Audrey. Would you mind taking this out to the parlor?"
In Sophia's hand was a tray with refreshments. A missing set of teacups and a fancy dessert made it seem as if they had a distinguished guest.
"You have a visitor?"
"He came from the capital a little while ago."
A smile crossed Sophia's face as she handed over the gleaming silver tray, a smile that somehow seemed to raise a question. Audrey cocked her head.
"So, if he’s from the capital, is he my guest?”
"Uh-huh. Yes."
Sophia replied, extending her hand. She smoothed Audrey's hair, then brushed her eyes and studied her face, a touch that sent a strange mixture of excitement and nervousness through her.
Sophia was such a kind and cheerful person. She had always loved Audrey and cared for her.
She gave Audrey the attention she never got from her mother, who had little energy. Audrey was grateful and awkward for the belated warmth she hadn't received as a child.
"You should go. Say hello."
"Yes, ma'am."
Audrey smiled faintly.
***
Entering the parlor, Audrey made her way to the sofa in the center. Mr. Finley and a man were there, but her gaze didn't linger on them. A sense of strangeness blocked her gaze.
"Audrey, you're here."
The ever-energetic Mr. Finley smiled. He had a gravelly voice, but like Sophia, he had a sweet side. He was also a man of great physicality, moving without sound.
"Mrs. Finley is busy preparing dinner, and tonight's dinner is the boss's favorite fish stew."
Audrey replied with a quiet smile.
Setting down her tray, she straightened and raised her gaze. Eye contact with the stranger came naturally. For a moment, Audrey's breath caught. She knew it wasn't polite, but she couldn't look away.
The man was young. His silver hair seemed to absorb the moonlight, giving him a strange aura. Grace Gray. His hair was elegant, and his blue eyes were deep blue.
The blue was deep and clear, like the depths of the ocean. Her heart pounded with a blue she had never seen before. Silver hair, deep and dark eyes. When Audrey looked at him, her mind flashed to the winter sea.
The winter sea....
She had never seen a river or lake in her life, let alone an ocean. She'd only heard of them from Mr. Finley, who traveled from country to country and city to retrieve rare books. She saw the winter sea in the man as if she'd seen it herself.
The man's gaze also fixed on her. From head to toe. She was uncomfortable with the censorious, scanning gaze, but strangely, she didn't feel bad.
The way his eyes roamed over her, as if checking for something, was impassive. It was a clean stare, devoid of emotion.
"Audrey. Greet His Highness Grand Duke Cliffrid."
The breath she'd been holding stopped again. Her eyes widened slightly as she sucked in a breath at the words.
She couldn't believe the man in front of her.
"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Audrey Eckbon."
She felt awkward as she clasped her hands together and bent her knees in greeting.
Was this right?
She had never met a nobleman before, let alone royalty. It was like reading a philosophy book before she could even spell the words. How to treat a nobleman? Audrey was at a loss.
She didn't expect her face to rise as she bowed.
"Miss Eckbon. Lift your head."
The man’s voice was moderately deep. A soothing voice. Audrey thought.
"I heard from Mr. Finley that you like to read."
Audrey did as she was told, lifting her face to meet his gaze. The red lips on the white face were moving. Audrey's mouth opened slightly at the sight of the delicious strawberry moving.
"Yes."
The answer she managed to get out was short. She didn't want to be disrespectful, but there was nothing more to say. Audrey's head was spinning in a difficult situation.
She owed her love of reading and writing to her studies with Ryan, and sometimes Mr. Finley would watch them study together.
She was grateful to them for taking care of her in place of her family. They filled her empty heart with warmth. Arnold Finley with Sophia and Ryan.
They showed Audrey what family was really like.
"You have beautiful eyes."
"Thank you .........."
It was the first time she'd heard that. She had never been looked at so favorably before. On the plus side, she was the only one in town with amber eyes. The curious stares were accompanied by unfamiliar mockery, not good feelings.
"She's a straight-willed girl, and she doesn't mind a little hardship."
Audrey's little face turned red.
"Her smile is prettier than her eyes. Oh, she's a lady now. She's the same age as Ryan, but she's still a child in my eyes."
She was embarrassed by the compliments that came out one after another.
"I, I'd better get out of here, I have to help the madam.”
She faltered, and then said goodbye. She hurried out of the parlor, leaving the smiling Mr. Finley and the scary guest behind.
BANG.
In her haste, she slammed the door behind her. What if His Highness got angry? She was afraid the arrow would go to Mr. Finley instead of her, but she didn't have long to worry.
She remembered the man's deep blue eyes. The water-colored transparency gently soaked the space between her thumping chest.
***
"Did you say she’s twenty?"
"Not yet, but she'll be twenty soon. Christmas is her birthday."
Arnold Finley's voice sounded bitter. To be honest, he wasn't sure what to think. He wasn't sure whether she was old enough or young enough.
"About... right."
Listan just stared at him as the unnatural answer came out.
Arnold Finley. He was Listan's comrade, one of the Empire's many hopes. A brilliant intelligence gatherer and a fiercely patriotic man, he swore allegiance to Listan.
But that patriotism, Listan thought, was a contradiction in terms. Arnold Finley, a seemingly nice man, had a tendency to be overly obsessive about his goals.
The danger was that, unbeknownst to him, that obsession sometimes led him to make the wrong choices.
"Are you sure she’s all alone?"
Listan's eyes narrowed at Arnold in suspicion.
***
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