The Mate He Needs

Unfair Accusations

"That poor child." Darcy said. She sat down at the table with her husband. She felt an anger. That girl was severely abused mentally. She couldn't even look at a person straight on.

"I know, but she is not our child and there isn't much we can do."

"Rubbish, how can you say that?"

"What would you like to do?" Jeremiah asked. "She'd probably feel worse if someone took her from her family. She'd look at it like she really wasn't good enough for them." As much as you'd want to do something. Sometimes you caused more harm than good.

"Oh I hate people. And Aaryn is going to take her sister for Malachi? He could find one much better, like that girl." Jeremiah laughed.

"Please, that child would die of fright in his presence. Malachi alone would probably make her catatonic with his sharp words. You think she could handle such a domineering personality?" Darcy laughed this time too.

"You know what I meant." Jeremiah gave a sigh and touched his chest. After Ariel ran out he'd told Darcy what he thought he felt. What the girl had done. She was gifted, one of the rare few. Maybe the Standish were more like the Ventos than they first thought.

"That's quite a talent to have. She was fast and efficient about it too. For one so young, it's amazing." Darcy nodded her agreement. If they were right she had healed him with a touch. What a miracle of a gift.

"To be gifted that way. So rare, and most would shun it." They both looked up as the door opened. Lord Vento was standing there. He moved into the room.

"Who was that girl just now? I saw her running down the stairs a moment ago."

"That would be Ariel Standish." Jeremiah said putting his hands on the table. "It would seem that her parents are not very fond of her and keep her hidden. They told her to wait in the servant area." Lord Vento frowned. Why had they not said anything?

"They have two daughters?" He said looking suddenly wary. He glanced back at the door. He didn't like being lied too. However he turned back to the couple, he'd come to see them first. He was concerned about Jeremiah and that he wasn't seeing to his health.

"It would seem so." Darcy said.

"I'll talk with them later. But I came to see you and your health problem. That you refuse to have checked." Jeremiah and his family were more like family to him and his son than not. Since losing Malachi's mother there was just a void that he never felt was filled. These two however made it feel less. They were extended family. Malachi was very fond of them too.

"There is no health problem." Jeremiah said darkly. "Why can't anyone listen. Shouldn't you be sitting in your study being dark and depressing?" This brought a rare smile to Vento's face.

"Dark and depressing? I highly doubt I'm depressing. That seems to be Malachi's detail as of late. Teenage brooding." There was a bit of laughter.

"Oh yes you are." Darcy however corrected. "And Malachi, moping about all the time. It's gotten worse over the last few years." She said with a tight lip. Normally other's criticizing him he would tell off. With them it was different, they were like family to him.

"Moping? Do you not train your woman Jeremiah, she should learn respect." Malachi stated appearing in the door way. Jeremiah laughed and smiled.

"Young man you should learn to hold your tongue when talking to a lady." Vento warned to his son. Though he knew that Malachi was just joking with them. Darcy wasn't offended.

"Trust me, she is untrainable." Jeremiah commented. Darcy gave a rather loud puff of air, but stood up. She rolled her eyes ignoring them.

"Are either of you hungry."