CHAPTER 460: PHRASING

"Did you find anything at all after we parted ways at the picnic?" Arabella had asked in a meek voice with very little hope at getting a positive answer.

In reply, Silas merely shook his head, "That was really kind. What you did for my mother earlier, I mean," he added.

"I simply listened," she murmured.

"Sometimes that is enough,"

Arabella’s eyebrows furrowed all of the sudden, "There is a question I meant to ask you," the words came with reluctance, "We’ve brushed the topic a few times, but I never got to hear your full thoughts on the matter,"

"Ask away," he nodded.

"Would you... I was wondering if you’d mind your mother moving on with someone other than your father... Like say, Edgar for example?" she half asked, very sheepishly.

Silas’ eyes widened at the suggestion, taking in more of the moonlight than it already did. The time he took to answer tied a tight knot around her chest, prompting her to blurt the first thing that came to mind.

"I don’t mean to upset you or overstep. It is simply that from what she has told me, she sees something in Edgar and-"

"Arabella!" he stopped her. When the silence between them fell, he continued, "Breathe,"

She took the advice and a deep breath in as well.

"Of course, I would never mind for my mother to move on and be happy but," he paused momentarily, "I do fear that it may be complicated if it is with Edgar. Even though at first, I saw no issue with it,"

"Why? Is it because he is human?" she asked.

"Yes, but not for the reasons you might think," Silas tightened his hold around his wife.

"She does not take loss with grace,"she whispered to the night, "These are her own words,"

They needn’t say more than that. The gist was clear. Edgar only had decades to live. Losing him would be like reliving the death of her husband all over again and unlike him, she had centuries to think about and wallow in it.

"I also meant to ask about yesterday," he brought her attention onto himself again, "How are you holding up after...,"

"Well," she started nodding, "One of the repercussions is that now whenever I look at someone I focus on their ears for a bit longer than I would usually do,"

"That’s understandable,"

"I am trying not to let it overwhelm me. Two months ago it would have broken me entirely, but now, tonight... I know it wasn’t truly my fault. It was all his doing," after a few seconds of peace, a little chuckle escaped her, "I am glad you decided to change your outfit for tonight. Aside from being monstrous, Cedric seems to also be very petty,"

"I doubt there are any lows he won’t reach to grab what he wants,"

A mild breeze blew past them, playing with their soft hair as well as the fabric wrapping their bodies.

The sound of music came very weak though the balcony doors, lulling their senses into a deeper level of serenity.

"Do you feel cold?" he asked.

"Not really,"

Silas took a breath as if bracing himself to speak but instead, pushed a sigh before saying, "Someone is coming our way,"

Indeed, the peace did not last. A few seconds after his words, the balcony door clicked open for Lord Dragomir to join them.

"I hope I am not interrupting anything," he looked them in the eyes but something in his gaze was missing.

"You are not," Arabella shook her head, "In fact, we were getting ready to go back inside,"

His voice and passive aggressive tone were one of the last things the couple needed to hear.

As they were about to walk past him, Dragomir built up the courage to speak, clearing his throat first, "Has there really been no news at all about the entertainer?"

Silas considered the matter for a second before replying, "Allegra," his glare darkened, "But not the slightest trace, I am afraid. And thank you for the help you’ve sent our way,"

"Naturally,"

Something in the way his eyes drifted away pushed Arabella to ask, "Were you especially close to Allegra?"

"You could say that. Yes,"

"It is such a tragedy," she murmured.

"Are you sure you’ve received no news about her at all?" there was more urgency in his tone as though some of the barriers he’d put up had already crumbled.

"Like I said," Silas gritted his teeth together, "Not a single trace," he put a gentle hand on Arabella’s back, "And now if you excuse us,"

But Arabella was not budging from her place, eyes stuck on the man...

"Why would you ask such a question?" her eyebrows remained furrowed.

That took both vampires by surprise. Silas stopped trying to guide her away and Dragomir merely stared back at her.

"Well, again, I cared for Allegra very deeply. I had to ask,"

"That I understand," she said, "But you’ve asked once already and why would you phrase it like that?" by then, her eyes barely blinked, "Did you... Receive any news from or about Allegra?"

Very subtly, Dragomir’s head tilted to the side as his features pushed a try-hard smile that never reached his eyes.

"I am afraid not," the Lord’s feet moved forward, leading him towards the balcony railing, "You are reading too much into it. I simply held out hope. That is all,"

Dragomir knew something, but what? That was the question that raced from ear to ear inside her head.

Or perhaps was it the fact that they already suspected his involvement that swayed her judgement?

No. Something was amiss about him that night in particular.

In any case, he stood with his back to them and refused to face the couple.

A few seconds went by and Silas started gently pressing his hand against her back again.

"Let us go back inside, my love. Now is not the time for this,"

Arabella did not protest but put a pin on that thought for later. For that time being, the music swelled once more, announcing the end of the auctions.