Bonds That Tie Us

Twenty-One

~Eric~

I had given Adam a bag or two to fill with his belongings. Which weren't much, considering he only had the clothes I'd bought for him.

I'd caught him crying in the night, sobbing for his father. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to enter the room and comfort him.

I wasn't good with comfort. And besides- he'd probably be embarrassed if he knew I'd heard him. He deserved to mourn in peace.

So the next morning, I broke the news that we were taking a trip to the countryside.

He was excited and already grabbing his clothes when I headed outside to check on the driver and our carriage, and I was caught by surprise, with who I saw on the street.

"Lady Celia." I called, waving her over.

She looked up, barley dodging a passing carriage as she noticed me.

She scowled and marched over anyway.

"You," she frowned. "What have you done with my best friend?"

Not the greeting I'd been expecting. The two of us got on well, usually.

"I haven't done anything with her," I narrow my eyes suspiciously now. "Why? What did she say?"

I think back to last night. It all seemed like a blur of blood and fire. But whenever I pictured her in my shirt and trousers after her bath, everything seemed vividly clear.

The idea of her being in my bath tub, using my soap-

"Nothing," Celia snaps, and I jolt out of my thoughts. "She told me nothing and that, is the issue."

I try to drag my thoughts away from Liana, and the way she'd talked and smiled last night too.

"Well, I wouldn't be too hard on her." I slowly say as Celia raises a brow. "She's keeping my secrets you know."

Celia thinks over this, but sighs, before pinching the bridge of her nose and nodding.

"I just want to make sure she's alright." She admits, before looking back at me again.

"She is," I assure her. "If it helps, she will probably tell you all about it, once it's over."

Celia smiles softly, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

"I suppose that does help." She nods in agreement. "But I'm still cross with her. She doesn't get off that easily with me."

"Of course not." I nod, and she seems satisfied.

"Do you still have that child in your care?" She asks curiosly, peeking over my shoulder, at the Manor.

"He's packing." I explain, following her gaze.

Her brows raise, "Packing?"

"We're headed into the arms of Mother nature." I sigh, not looking forward to it.

I can almost see the clog works moving in her mind.

"What a coincidence, everyone is heading north today it seems." She eyes me warily, her tone teasing.

I grin, "A coincidence indeed, Lady Celia. Perhaps we shall see you there too."

She laughs, "Unlikely. Do enjoy yourself though, my Lord. And take care of Liana." She shoots me a knowing look.

"Why would I?" I call out to her as she walks away, waving a dismissive hand at me.

"I'm sure you know." She calls back before she's gone.