Aristocrat | ✓

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

     A few weeks passed and we soon entered the fall season. The Lord went hunting a lot, and he took me with him. Even though I'd mastered holding a gun, and shooting I was still a bit afraid I would hurt myself doing so. I made that complaint to Bennett, and he had given me a bow and arrow instead. He had joked that maybe one day I would be as good as Lady Agnes.

     "Oh, be quiet Bennett," I said when the Lord has made a similar joke a few minutes ago.

     That was something else that had happened. After our heartfelt moment in Axminster castle, I had put a lot of effort into addressing the Lord the way he liked. I had to drop all formalities like 'Sir' and 'Lord', and I did my best to not default to calling him Evenus. I had been hard—like pulling teeth. A lot harder than having to pay attention when the Lord corrected my spelling and taught me to read new words. I still did all those things in my head, but it was easier to just call him Bennett when I spoke now.

     We were on a path back home now. Troy was trailing behind Lord Evenus' horse, and I was riding Bessa to the left of the Lord. It was cold, since it snowed earlier in the morning, and the ground was muddy from melted snow.

     "I was just joking," Lord Evenus said, looking away from me. A smile was still on his face. "But we really should get Lady Agnes to hunt with is one of these days."

With a nod I looked up ahead, letting my grip on the reins tighten as we made our way up a small incline. We didn't talk for a while, and the sound of nature filled the void. Tory barked, making me look down at the dog with muddy paws before looking up ahead again.

     "You know, a Saint's feast day is coming soon," Lord Evenus said, making me turn to look at him. "If you'd like to go home then, that's fine by me."

     My lips turned down in a frown. I knew the Lord kept offering me opportunities to go home because he didn't want me to feel like I was trapped in the castle and obligated to stay with him. The thing was, I didn't want to go home. My short visit the last time was enough to sustain me for the next year. I wasn't sure I wanted to deal with my father or feel like I had disappointed my mother anytime I looked at her.

     I wanted to explain all that to Evenus, but I found an excuse instead. "My parents are Protestants, they don't believe in saints," I said, and Evenus closed his eyes letting out a low sigh.

     "I don't know who believes in what anymore," he said, chuckling a bit. We were quiet again, and the sound of horse hooves throttling on bare ground was the sound that buzzed in the background.

     "I've been meaning to ask," I started, hearing my heart pound in my ears as my head raced with a thousand thoughts. I had something to ask him. No, I wanted assurance that only Evenus could give me.

     "Alright, go ahead," the Lord said, tightening his hold on his reins. He was wearing a black doublet—same as me—with thought breeches that clung to his muscular thighs.

     I took a deep breath, looking forward before I asked my question. "If your parents were alive when you fell in love with Sawyer, would you have pursued him?"

     The sound of my heart beating flooded my ears. I had thought about it a lot. I had chosen to be with the Lord even before he had told me he loved me. I wondered if I had been stupid, or if it were something reasonable that one would do out of love.

     When Lord Evenus didn't answer my question right away I looked over at him. He seemed to be deep I thought. His eyes stared at the distance in front of us as his lips pulled themselves into a straight line.

     "I can't predict what would have happened," he muttered. "But I'm sure I would have found a way to be with Sawyer. He was my world."

     I hummed, nodding my head at that. I suppose that was a good answer.