Treasured

12)

Wren's P. O. V.

Trix Anders swept into the drawing room with a haughty air and a clever smile on her face. Like Cedar, she was tall and had a beautiful, slender body. Her hair was a rich brown, and her eyes were a shade darker than Cedar's, but everything about her seemed to be condescending to those in her vicinity.

"Greetings, brother," she said, addressing her brother with a formal curtsey.

I frowned since the formal greeting was unnecessary. Her brother wasn't a stranger nor an acquaintance, so the proper thing was to be informal. Then again, she was a bit stuck up and probably thought she was better than everyone else in the country.

"Good day, sister," Cedar returned, bowing slightly.

"I assume my rooms are ready?" Trix flipped open her fan. "Perhaps your little serving boy can show me to my chambers?"

I looked around, wondering who she was referring to. Everyone had dressed in their more formal attire to receive Ms. Anderson so it would be hard to take them for a servant.

"Come, boy," Trix crooked a finger toward me.

Immediately, I felt both humiliated and amused. The Anderson's were wealthy, but my Uncle was more powerful than them by far. Still, it was insulting that she thought I was beneath her.

Truth be told, I appreciated the servants and admired them. They were honest, hardworking people who went through humiliation and degradation on a daily basis to provide for their families. Most wealthy homes took them for granted and thought of them as less than human, disregarding their emotions and intellect as lesser than their own.

"Trix!" Cedar gasped in mortification. "Wren isn't a serving boy!"

"Who is he then? From a genteel family? Perhaps a merchant?" Trix viciously retorted.

"This is Master Wren Daily, nephew of Lord Beckham," Mr. Price's calm, but dominate voice answered, immediately taking control of the room. "Ms. Anderson, I know that a lady of your position is used to certain privileges, but while you are in my home, I would thank you greatly for giving my wards respect and courtesy."

Trix seemed nonplussed for the space of two minutes before bouncing back with a dark look, "Perhaps if people like Master Daily would offer me the courtesy of introducing himself these misunderstandings could be avoided!"

"Wren doesn't speak," Cedar glared at his sister.

Trix glanced at me, a sly smile flirting with the edges of her mouth.

"Ah, I believe I have heard rumors about Master Daily. It is so sad that one could be disfigured enough to throw oneself off of a balcony," Trix said, affecting a serious and sympathetic look.

The room felt like all the air had been suctioned from it, leaving my head to spin and my body to freeze from the unexpected words that filtered from the lady's mouth. I could feel the color draining from my face, and my left leg felt ready to give out at any moment. I stumbled, reaching unsteadily for Cedar's arm, but he had moved forward at his sister a verbal attack, so there was nothing to catch me but air. At the last moment, a warm hand gripped my elbow, yanking me backwards into a strong chest that smelled of lemon and fresh grass.

"You know nothing!" Cedar was furiously shouting at his sister, inches from her face. "You are a cruel, spiteful beast! You accuse others of being impolite when you are nothing but disgusting and repelling yourself! Propriety demands that you have tact and discretion when it comes to these things. You have neither!"

Trix opened her mouth to respond, but Cedar stormed out of the room, probably to find solace in a canvas and his brushes. I was still clinging to Mr. Price's arms since my left leg was buckling at the slightest degree of pressure. I was trembling as well as unwelcomed memories surged through my crumbling defenses and made my reality confused and hazy as past and present collided before me.