Sounds of Fire

13

Lady Grace woke her up in the morning. She showered and dressed, Derek waiting in her room, then trooped downstairs with him. She ate breakfast with Lady Grace and her brother, everyone silent. Only the sounds of chewing and silverware clanking filled the dining room.

Did you talk to her? Derek asked at the same moment that Lady Grace said, Is something wrong?

Anatolia groaned as they both continued to talk, the clashing tones making her brain hurt. "Can you stop? One at a time, please." The voices were one thing, but two corporeal beings trying to get her attention made the backs of her eyes ache.

Derek and Lady Grace glanced at each other.

Holding her head in her hand, Anatolia pointed at her brother. "You first. Go." He asked his question again. "No." She pointed to Lady Grace. "Your turn." She listened to Lady Grace's question. "No."

"Can we have our conversations out loud please?" Lady Grace asked. It was irksome for her to not be able to hear everyone.

Anatolia slumped back in her seat. "You two were the ones that wanted to talk to me without the other hearing. That's not my fault."

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Are you done? We should probably head into the office soon."

Lady Grace didn't think everything was fine, Anatolia was clearly in a mood, but she nodded and got up from the table. Derek and Anatolia followed her out of the dining room and out of the house to the car, already idling and waiting.

Anatolia was happy for the ride, especially since the only noise in her head now was the voices' chatter, and that was surprisingly soft for so early in the morning. Accepting the peace, Anatolia watched the world float by as she wondered when she should have a talk with Lady Grace. She wanted, maybe, to reveal their relationship to a select few people. Perhaps only the staff, for starters. Especially since one person on the staff already knew. The reveal would also be a great trust activity. If their relationship somehow became known to someone outside of the household, then there was someone on the staff with loose lips and couldn't be trusted. If the secret didn't get out, then Anatolia could feel that much safer.

By the time the firm was in sight, Anatolia felt lighter. She didn't think she'd mind the staff knowing about her and Lady Grace's relationship. They were a relatively small group, not the whole world. Baby steps mattered. And besides, Anatolia liked the thought of no longer having to find secret places just to kiss Lady Grace, just to hold Lady Grace's hand. She didn't want to be afraid anymore of someone catching her smiling the wrong way.

"Morning," Chief said cheerily as Lady Grace and her group came inside. He nodded to Derek, Anatolia, then Lady Grace.

There were a few people sitting in the waiting room but none of them looked up at Lady Grace's entrance. Some snuck glances just for the sake of it.

"No one here for you yet, Lady," Chief informed her. "Everyone else has appointments but you're free for now. Do you want something to drink?"

Lady Grace started towards her office. "No, but can you make copies of something for me?" She handed over two sheets of paper stapled together. "Make three copies, and I need you to keep a copy in your desk. Somewhere hidden, please. Give the rest to me." When Chief was already gone to do as asked and she reached her office, Lady Grace got started for the day. She did some paperwork she had put on the backburner and made a few phone calls before her first client of the day arrived.

It was a routine and relatively normal meeting. Just someone who wanted to make sure their magical assets were taken care of properly. They could have gone to a human firm, but humans weren't as thorough when it came to things otherworldly. Lady Grace helped her client, but told him that the next time he had to come in, someone else, someone more knowledgeable, would have his case. He agreed and gave his thanks, leaving with the bare bones of a contract as starters.