CHAPTER 416: SLIPPERY

Arabella did not listen but did not argue with him either. She merely settled and curled up on the lounge chair near his desk.

Silas made no comment about it and turned back to his carving.

The next morning when sunlight seeped through the window, it found her exactly there, still curled, although bundled up in fairly warm sheets.

Those hadn’t yet wrapped her body when slumber claimed her mind and so she assumed it was her husband’s doing.

Her husband who was nowhere in the room with her...

The second noticeable thing was the fact that her shoes, which she hadn’t forgotten to remove the night before, were no longer on her feet. He’d taken them off for her as well.

The whole thing left a mix of flavors at the back of her throat; bitter when memories of their last conversation surfaced and sweet upon thinking of the kind gestures he still performed for her comfort.

In the end, the only thing left to focus on was the fact that he was hurt, by no one else’s fault but her own. It ached her even more to note that argument hung with no end.

Was he already giving up? Or did he simply need some time to process?

That same sinking feeling in her chest from the previous night returned. Much stronger than before.

No matter how many times Arabella tossed and turned the topic in her mind, the same conclusion persisted.

Her theory about Allegra was nothing more than that... Speculation.

Though he still had a point. Did she not trust him to keep calm?

Seeing the way he took his anger out on Remus sort of enabled that fear and sentiment at her core.

Nevertheless, after putting some fresh water on her skin and getting into cleaner clothes, Arabella left the room to join the girls in the ballroom.

She put a lot of effort forward into appearing as dandy and excited as it was possible to.

"Well, you look just... Miserable!"

It didn’t work... Not on Ada, it seemed.

"What? Why would you say that?" Arabella shifted in her spot.

"Some people are just easier books to read while others have no hard cover at all," Ada grimaced a smile, "No offense, but you fall into the latter category,"

"None taken," she sighed, "But, yes. I do feel a bit tense around the shoulders. I fell asleep on the lounge chair while Silas was carving and I got too comfortable, so he chose not to move me,"

"I see," Ada nodded slowly.

Much to Arabella’s relief, she gave up on asking questions. The lounge chair was some good quick thinking on her part and she’d have patted herself on the back had it not been for the many eyes around her.

Indeed, the ballroom buzzed with the multitude of sounds filling its bounds. Footsteps, calling, laughter, furniture shifting, instructions being listed and much more echoed, reaching all the way out to the hallways.

"Will the fairies arrive soon?" Ada practically stood on her toes, "I can’t wait to see them in action!" she chirped.

"It should take them a bit to arrive. It’s still a tad too early," Arabella’s eyes flickered around only to end on Edgar’s busy figure, stacking up the flower bundles before Liriel and her girls arrived to enchant them.

When their eyes locked for the shortest of moments, the gardener gave her a quick bow and a warm smile before turning back to his work.

"Have you... Seen Silas at all since this morning?" Arabella gathered enough courage to ask, at the risk of appearing nervous.

To her surprise, Ada’s entire face fell for a second, the colors draining from it before an obviously strained smile pushed through her features.

"Oh... I believe I’ve seen him briefly from afar, but we haven’t even exchanged pleasantries, really,"

Why so shifty? Why so... Scared?

"Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something extraordinary of that sort," Arabella’s head tilted.

"Yes!" Ada squeaked, "Of course! So will the prince still be arriving the day after tomorrow?"

That made Arabella’s lips clamp up for a moment. It was as though a slap had collided with her face right then and there.

"Yes, their first letter said the royal party would be arriving two days before the ceremony," she whispered as if it was hard to keep even air in her lungs.

"And how are you feeling about it?"

Arabella’s mouth opened then closed. Her eyes narrowed then opened again, "I was feeling just fine until you reminded me of the fact,"

"I am really sorry," still a tad pale, Ada gave her an apologetic look, "I didn’t mean to upset you. The question popped in my mind and I thought I should ask it before my confidence evaporated,"

"It’s alright. I-"

"My Lady," Carlton stood behind them and bowed, "The Fata fairies have arrived and...," he cleared his throat, "Found their way straight to the gardens,"

"No surprises there," Arabella chuckled, "Thank you Mr. Carlton. I will head out to welcome them in a few but do tell, have you seen Silas at all this morning?"

The tension that had overtaken Ada’s body by her side was almost palpable. As if that wasn’t enough, the quick glances Carlton and her friend sneaked among each other right in front of her sealed her conviction that something stood odd.

"Please, my Lady, you may drop the honorific with me and...," he took another peek at Ada, "I have seen the Lord, yes. He... Told me he was leaving the property to handle a business affair that apparently leaped at him out of the blue,"

A business affair? That was highly probable but what in the world was happening with those two? Acting all slippery at the mere mention of Silas’ name.

"Did he let you know when he would be coming back?" she asked.

"Well, no. As you know since it wasn’t planned, there was no way to tell when he’d be back more precisely,"