To Have & To Hold

Chapter 10: Taking Stock

Once breakfast had been well and truly served Jaiden remembered Stella's request. Glancing over while taking a bite of his toast he noted that two pills laid beside her glass; an oblong yellow one with speckles and a round white one with a glossy coat. There was something written on the white one but the other seemed anonymous.

"Alright, I've seen them. The pills, I mean." He informed her as he picked up his water bowl to take a sip.

"One of them has something written on it but I can't tell what it says from here."

Stella nodded, put down her knife and picked up the glass and pills as though intent on taking them. She opened her hand with the pills and held them up for him to see. Jaiden turned his head to read at an angle.

"Neurofin, it says."

Stella made a brief noise of contempt.

"Painkiller," She stated plainly.

"That one's supposed to help my nerves develop. The other one's allegedly to counteract any side effects but I already know it's only a multivitamin. The taste is different."

Putting the pills in her mouth she took a swig of water and washed them down. Placing the glass back on the table she resumed her breakfast with a slight smile.

"Well," She stated as she picked some bacon off a platter, "At least now we know she's not poisoning me. Yet."

A wry smile forced it's way on to Jaiden's face as he snatched an egg off the breakfast tray and cracked it on the table's surface.

"Multivitamins are good for you. Just goes to show what a caring mother she is."

Mouth too full to talk Stella gave him a quick shove which took him by surprise; she was stronger than she looked. He turned to see her smirking and frowning at the same time.

"Shut up." She told him.

"Yes, Ma'am." He obeyed with a smile.

They ate in silence for a while. Jaiden took the time to study the room. He had only glanced it the night before as the main chamber where the party was held was just beyond a set of double doors to the right.

The dining room was well lit by a series of large windows on one side of the room. The table was a long, well polished affair flanked by ten elegant chairs; four on each side and one at both ends. A large floral rug covered the floor beneath both table and chairs. The floor underneath  consisted of lacquered wooden planks, same color as the table.

The walls were a creamy white and had paneled sections every few feet. Small tables stood in the center of each one of said panels, carrying vases which sported elaborate floral displays. This was not the type of room for a casual dinner in comfortable clothing. The room itself forbade it.

The house in general seemed to dissuade anyone from putting on running shoes and a sweater. Each room, though, had its own way of relaying this message. The main chamber he had been in yesterday told its occupants that one would not want to be caught dead here in a pair of sneakers. The hall they had walked through upstairs had the feel of a strict custodian, turning up its nose at anyone chewing gum. Even Stella's bedroom seemed to say 'only neat and tidy girls are allowed in here'.

The dining room's message hinted at rules on which utensil to use at which course. If one was at a loss in this department then God have mercy on your soul and reputation. Mostly the latter which was ultimately, according to the portraits staring down at them, the most important of the two.

Jaiden wondered how Moira could bare having all of these affairs he'd heard Stella referring to earlier without buckling under the pressure of the house's disapproval of such things. Then he supposed they probably had a different room for that sort of thing.