Champagne and Brushstrokes
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“Then, do you remember Matthew falling into the fountain out the front of the university?” Daisy gets out through her chuckling. Her garnet eyes glimmering with amusement as they all sit in the parlour of the Carter manor.
Daisy insisted on Kora and Clarence attending the intimate event this evening. Kora was uncertain, since she doesn’t know the Carter’s as well as the others, but Kora agreed to join along with her brother.
They all sit around the roaring fireplace. Kora sits beside Matthew in her off-white dress covered in dainty blue flowers threaded through the lightweight material. The bodice is tight and low, showing off half of her smaller chest.
Daisy situated herself between Clarence and Levi Pinecress on the larger sofa. Her peach toned dress striking against her darker skin. Brunette curls dancing around her shoulders as she laughs.
Valarie, Lewis and Melody are sitting opposite them. Valarie looks gorgeous in a long purple dress covered in gleaming beads. She welcomed Kora and Clarence by bringing them both a glass of champagne and gushing over Kora’s outfit. She certainly has an interest in fashion.
Kora’s gaze flickers over to Jordan, who sits in a light blue armchair on his own. One leg tucked onto his knee, sporting dark trousers, a black shirt with the sleeves rolled casually up to his elbows and golden hair neatly fluffed. Looking like he’s dressed in shadows; Kora feels her nerves sparking to life again. A grin pulls into his lips, deepening the dimples in his cheeks, which brings heat to Kora’s insides.
“That wasn’t my fault,” Matthew protests loudly, pointing a finger at Lewis accusingly. “He can’t throw a ball properly.”
Lewis’ mouth opens as he sits forward on the lounge. “I can throw a ball. I just wasn’t concentrating on you.” Arguing back at him.
“Oh, we know who you were concentrating on.” Daisy’s bubbly giggle sounding the room once again.
They all look to see Valarie blushing beside Lewis, who grinds his jaw together. “I was looking at a bird.” He blanches.
“Is that what we are calling girls now?” Levi chimes in.
Clarence and Jordan both snort a laugh.
“It was a goldfinch. One of my favourites.” Lewis affirms all of his friends.
Matthew shakes his head at him. “I can’t believe you were studying a bird when you could have been staring at the lovely Miss Carter here.” His hand lifting to Valarie, who leans back into the lounge, hoping to be swallowed up by the cushions.
“Ugh, you’re all insufferable.” Grumbles Lewis.
He gets up, taking his empty glass and going over to the small bar cart in the corner of the room. Clarence and Levi join him, refilling their drinks and talking away from the rest of the group.
Kora takes a sip of her drink.
“Daisy, did you ever end up finishing that book I lent you?” Valarie asks, changing the topic.
The two of them dive into a discussion of Valarie’s favourite book. It’s intense, and Kora gets up from her chair to refill her glass when Jordan stops her. “Would you like some more?”
He stands from his armchair, an empty glass in his hand as well.
“Yes, that would be great.” Kora’s lips slightly parted as she takes in the closeness of his handsome features .
He nods his head towards the door. “Come with me then. I’ll get us the good stuff.” Lowering his tone for only her to hear.
She follows him out of the parlour and into the dining room of the Carter manor. It’s a large room with a long, dark wooden table set for eight people. A setting is placed at each seat, adorning crystal glasses, expensive china plates, and cloth napkins. A large oil painting of a landscape hangs on the wall between two oil lamps, burning brightly. Kora can’t stop herself from gazing at it.
The small brushstrokes blending together harmoniously to create a warm dawning sky overlooking a striking established city with large Gothic buildings, giving it a studious feel. Autumnal foliage and golden streetlamps surround the stone structures, with hills blurring into the background.
She can sense Jordan hovering behind her before he speaks up. “That’s Oxford University. It’s right near the Ascendancy building. My father adores this picture. I think that’s why he wanted it hung, here so he can stare at it each time he eats now that we no longer live there.”
Her eyes continue to take in every detail of the artwork before she turns her attention onto him. His nearness makes her skin shiver all over. Handing her a full flute of champagne, she takes it, their fingers grazing gently.
“Thank you,” her voice is quieter than normal, “and the painting is beautiful, so I can see why it’s a favourite.”
She’s not usually this nervous around anyone, but there’s something about Jordan that makes her anxious. Not in a bad way, it’s more of a curious, unfamiliar way, as if he takes the breath from her lungs with just one glance in her direction.
His face softens as the corners of his mouth curl upwards, “You’re welcome.” He almost whispers in response.
Kora feels her cheeks colour as her stomach burns once again. The sparking sensation invigorating her senses.
“I can show you some others if you’d like?”
She can’t fight the smile forming on her lips. “I would love that. ”
He leads her into the drawing room where a slightly smaller painting of an Oxford market hangs. This one is brighter and livelier. Stalls selling fruits, breads, fabrics, homewares and jewels fill the canvas. People dressed in fine threads purchasing goods or laughing together. Oil lamps hang on strings across the middle walkway, illuminating the space teeming with merchants.
Jordan stands inches away from her, their shoulders almost touching. She can feel his energy vibrating against her own, their closeness making her pulse quicken and blood warm.
“So, what do you think of this one?” he asks without looking over at her.
“It’s charming. It reminds me of the Marked Market here.”
“The Marked Market?” he asks questioningly.
Kora nods in response. “Down by the docks. It’s a market only us Marked kinds can enter and trade.”
“I guess most markets look similar, though.”
She can hear the grin in his voice. “Most cities are alike. But not London. London is special.”
Now he looks down at her, intrigued. “And why do you say that?”
“London is unique. It vibrates with life, music, and excitement. The streets are always busy here. The taverns are filled to the brim every night of the week. Children are always playing in the streets and parks. I just think there’s something about this place that people love and thrive off of.”
“That is true. It’s the first thing I noticed when we arrived. This city seems more vivacious than any other I’ve travelled to.”
“Do you miss living in Oxford?” Kora rotates to face him.
“I don’t think I ever enjoyed it enough to miss it properly. I miss our estate, and all the memories there. But the city itself, I never felt at home while being there.”
“And do you feel at home in London? ”
His jaw tightens as he thinks over her words for a moment. She watches his throat work, light stubble sparking like glass underneath the oil lamp shine. Turquoise eyes bright even in the dimness.
He’s taller than her. Not towering, but tall enough to make her lift her chin to look up at him. Shoulders broad and built from his hours of training. Even through his clothing, she can see the definition of his muscles.
“I do.” He answers finally.
Kora smiles before lifting her flute to her lips and sipping.
“I have another one I think you’ll like.”
Taking her up the staircase, they come to the small hallway leading down to their quarters. Kora hasn’t been this close to any male’s quarters before, besides Clarence’s.
Jordan stops in front of a landscape of a beach. Not just any beach, but Southampton Beach. She’d recognise it in any painting. The colour of the water, the light sand and sun-drenched plants surrounding the water’s edge. “I love Southampton.” She blurts out while observing its beauty.
“My mother grew up there. This one is her favourite,” he pauses to the add, “and mine.”
“Why this one?”
“Just reminds me of a simpler life. While I enjoy living here in the city because it’s fast-paced and lively, I do also enjoy the quiet and unbothered life people have down south.”
Kora smiles, biting her bottom lip with her teeth. “Thank you for showing me these, Jordan. I adore them all.”
“My pleasure. You seem like someone who appreciates fine art.” his brows wriggle as he sips his drink. “I did also want to apologise to you in private for the other night at the soiree. I didn’t mean to walk into you like that. Believe me, I would have preferred introducing myself in a better way to you.”
Her lips purse together as she fights a giggle. “It’s perfectly fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going either, so it was my fault as well. ”
He takes a sip of his drink, turning his attention back onto the painting he has glanced at many times, yet none of those moments have been as delightful as this one with her beside him. His body itches to be closer to hers, to know her more. It’s a foreign feeling for him. He’s never felt this connected to any girl before, but he wants nothing more than to make her smile.
“You don’t need to apologise,” Jordan admits, his throat working before he adds, “a beautiful girl should never have to apologise.”
* ? * ? *
“Enjoying yourself?” Clarence sidles against Daisy as she downs the last of her drink.
Giggling cheerfully, she turns to face him. He’s dressed dashingly this evening in a suave grey vest and trousers and a plain white undershirt. Even though he looks handsome in his ball attire, Daisy adores his informal outfits more. They feel more personal and real. She wants to run her fingers under his shirt, feeling his body against her skin.
“I am, Master Hamilton.” She says teasingly, the two drinks messing with her mind already.
He cracks a smirk, his hand coming to hold the small of her back as she lazily smiles at him. Daisy’s tall for a girl, her gaze almost matching his in height, so she doesn’t need to bend her neck to look up at him.
“I told you not to call me that.” His smirk deepening.
Laughter spills from her lungs as her fingertip gently touches one of his shirt buttons playfully, “I am just being proper.”
“Well stop,” his smile unfaltering, “it feels too formal for us.”
“You don’t like being called Master Hamilton? ”
His eyes flicker down to the bow of her lips and then back up to her intoxicated gaze. “Never by you, Daisy.”
Her name coming from him makes a tingle run down her hot insides. “It’s Miss Edevane, actually.” She continues, giggling some more, as the champagne creeps further into senses, loosening them completely.
Clarence’s eyes roll and he takes the empty glass from her hand before she drops it accidentally. “You’ve clearly had enough tonight.”
“Are you taking care of me?” her head tilting to one side as she looks at him tenderly.
A faint line appears between his brows as his mouth straightens. “I’ll always take care of you, Daisy.”
Heat rushes over her skin in a wave of exhilaration. “Matthew knows.” She blurts out without realising.
“Knows what?”
“About us.” She whispers, but it’s not that quiet.
Clarence just shakes his head at her, cracking a grin. “Matthew is very perceptive, so I’m not surprised.”
Glancing around, Clarence’s gaze locks onto Matthew, who’s standing with Levi and Lewis. He wriggles his brows back and Clarence’s jaw clenches. Fingers hold on to his chin, dragging his eyes back onto the gorgeous girl in front of him. Her garnet eyes are longing for his attention.
“I think you look very handsome tonight.” Daisy breathes out. The lingering smell of champagne on her tongue.
“And I think you are beautiful this evening, like every chance I see you.” His voice amused.
Stars dazzle in her garnet eyes as he nods his head towards the door of the parlour. “Come on, I think I should be getting you home before you do something ridiculous, or something slips out of that tipsy mouth of yours.”
Another round of giggles escape her mouth and Clarence can’t believe how beautiful she is.