Henrietta

Interviews

~Chapter Four~

The hand whittled delicate clock behind the brunette maiden, marked eleven in the morning; nearly dine time. More than a dozen of Theodosia's beautiful young virgins had attended. It did not surprise Calvin that many would come to his summoning. Theodosia recognized his prosperity well. He was more than certain each miss purely had his riches in mind.

For a moment, he dared to avert his gaze from the young brown-haired woman. The middling size tea room was a spherical architecture. Its ceiling an oval tainted glass of brew. When the sun was at its peak, it would shine down upon it, bringing a soothing auburn glow to the room. There was no use for candlelight during the day. In the center of the room laid the tabletop, a murky oak complexion.

The chairs glisten with a color made to match the tabletop. The warmth in the atmosphere and the soothing touch of the sun in rays of russet over his skin soon began to take its toll. Clearing his throat, he reached forward to take a sip of his chamomile tea.

Blasted woman, why did she not serve coffee instead, he argued within himself.

His eyelids then began to grow weighty with laziness and it was more than he could endure as he shifted his rigid posture. When the young maiden pressed her lips into a smile, he intervened before she could open her mouth to speak again.

"All of your responses make a very good justification, but I express regret for the trouble. You are not the maiden I seek," Calvin said.

Her smile faltered and she blinked several times before pressing her lips into a thin line. When her round grey eyes began to water, Calvin stood almost coiling. His hands fisted and his gut knotted with anger. What good would it do her to cry?

"I see," the girl managed to say after a few moments.

Rising as well, she extended a gloved hand toward him and faintly shook his. When she was out of sight, he let out the breath he was holding. He despised watching woman weep, such sentiments made his skin crawl.

"That was rather rude of you father, there might have been a nicer way of telling her," Henry said. He had nearly forgotten that his son had sat by his side the entire time. In truth, he had completely neglected him. Calvin's heart gave a lurch of guilt as he turned to look down at him.

"I fail to understand where I was rude, I was merely being truthful," he replied.

Henry cleared his throat and stood, giving a small jump before his lathered boots thumped unto the floor. "Miss Rowell, in light of this situation I would like to express my gratitude in you coming today. You are a bright young woman and could have any man you wish, but that man is not me. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I am a rather sour man and have little room for weeping women," Henry teased.

Calvin chuckled as he took a seat next to his son. "So the lady's name was Miss Rowell?" he asked.

"Honestly father, were you paying any attention at all?" Henry said. He chortled, his rosy pink smile reaching his eyes. How could his son be so forgiving in such little time? If he recalled correctly it had been only a day or two since he had been a brute with him, and yet here he was acting as if nothing had happened. He could fathom that Henry's gentle and noble side came from his mother, for Calvin had never recalled being so pleasant. Not wanting to think of the woman he had lost six long years ago Calvin took his seat again. The child slipped in next to him as a yawn escaped him.

"How much further must we endure these horrid consultations?" he asked.

"Until we find the right woman," he replied.

"So any woman is allowed to step in here?" Henry questioned.

"I know where this conversation is leading to young man and I have already given you my answer. Why must you insist on this?" Calvin quietly replied.