Broken Soldier ~ Assassin's Creed 4

Chapter Forty Three

It was quite awkward over dinner. Evelyn was in her seat, sitting on top of her high chair with a bowl of orange slices in front of her. Her mother, Delia, sat beside her. She tried to eat her own food by herself, but when your child wants attention, you cannot simply ignore her. Julien was to the other side of Evelyn, attempting to completely leave everything to his wife. However, both of our families had been brought up to believe that was the right thing to do, even if it really wasn't.

Caroline and Joseph sat with their hands clasped together as they ate. Even my mother and Daniel were showing affection towards one another - something they rarely did. Helena and her fiance, Anthony, were as far away from the rest of us as possible, flirting casually. I, however, picked at tiny bits of my food, feeling quite alone and not talking to anyone.

That was, until, Evelyn started crying.

She threw her bowl onto the floor, kicked her feet about, and even had to be held in her seat. Delia was looking quite stressed while trying to clean up and look after he child.

"Let me take her for you, Delia." I smiled. "I will take her out for some fresh air. I'm sure that is all she needs." Delia accepted without hesitation, probably feeling quite embarrassed about it all. I picked Evelyn up from her seat with a smile. The front door practically called to me when I had a screaming baby in my arms.

Outside, the air was crisp. It wasn't very cold, but it also wasn't warm either. And, with Evelyn being a brat, I couldn't have cared less about the weather. I gently patted her back in an attempt to calm her, but she wasn't having any of it. She wriggled and squirmed, trying desperately to get free from my grasp.

"Can you please be good for your aunt Elisa? This is all I ask. That, and, you need to be good for your mother and father." I placed a light kiss to the side of her head. "They are very proud of you, just as a parent should be, and you need to make them feel even prouder by showing them how good you are. Some people aren't as lucky as they are to have a baby, so you need to be their pride and joy. Be nice to them, and they shall be nice back. At the moment, I will bet that they are feeling as if their love is very one-sided." She giggled, clearly not knowing what I was saying, but that was to be expected from a small child. "I am not sure why I am telling you this. But, remember it, little one."

~~

Back at the house, I decided to spend the rest of the night in my room. I used the excuse that I was simply feeling bloated and was going to go to sleep. However, that wasn't completely true. I wanted to write a letter to Edward. I pulled out my tall stack of parchment and a pot of ink. I sat at my desk, fully ready to begin writing, when I heard a loud knock at my door.

"Yes? Come in." I called back. Holden peeled open the door, clutching to a parcel which was wrapped in thin, brown paper. He smiled shyly.

"I got something for you, Miss Ward." My eyes widened as I stood up again. "You seemed rather upset, so I wanted to do something nice for you while you were all eating dinner. I used my wages to buy it."

"Holden... You shouldn't have..." I took the parcel from him. "Please tell me you didn't spend very much. I will feel awful if you spent lots of money on me."

"No, Miss, not much at all." His hands snaked around his back and he clapped them together. "Go ahead. Open it."

I untied the white string from top and then picked back the paper. Inside of the paper was a small box, used to house newly bought jewellery. I took the lid from the box and, inside, were three rows of delicate, white beads. The rows joint together at the back with a little hook and the middle row in the front housed a large piece of tourmaline. Under the bracelet was a small broach with a little flower design etched into it. I gasped at the two pieces of jewellery in my hands. 

"Holden, these are beautiful."

"Have they cheered you up?" He asked with a wide grin. I nodded, laughing.

"Of course they have." I ran forwards and bundled him in a tight hug. "Thank you so much for these. I don't know what I have done to deserve them." I placed a soft kiss to his cheek. "Really, they are so very beautiful."

"Just a little present for a good friend." He smiled. I then began to put the broach and bracelet on. When I was onto the last hook on the bracelet, Holden spoke again. "You look after them, now. I'm not sure I will ever be able to repurchase them again."

"You said they didn't cost very much!"

"I knew you were too modest and wouldn't accept them if I told you that they cost a pretty penny." He chuckled deviously. I gave a slow breath out.

"I will accept them. Thank you very much. They are lovely." He nodded and exited my room, shutting the door quietly behind himself.

I pulled myself back to the desk and tucked the chair in. No one else would disturb me for the rest of the night, so I set a novel down beside me, just in case I wanted to do a spot of reading. Now, all I had to do was to figure out exactly what I wanted - no, needed - to tell my dear friend, Edward. Finally, once I gathered my thoughts, I put ink to the paper.

~~~~

(A/N) This is the last finished chapter that I have ready. If I don't have one next week, I will update Rookery on a Friday as well so that you still have something to read on your Friday. I know it's disappointing, but the realities of writers block are a bitch... Sorry guys :/