Chapter Seven #2
“A little over two years ago, my father died and my brother was murdered shortly thereafter,” she said.
“That did something to my mother. What she does, she does to forget. Or mayhap she simply wishes to join them. I really don’t know because she will not speak to me of it at all.
My mother and I are not close these days because she locks herself away with my aunt and they do all they can to intoxicate themselves.
That leaves me to make sure Felkington survives. ”
He nodded in understanding. “I see,” he said. “I’m glad you told me. I know a little something about having great responsibility thrust upon you. It can be… heavy.”
Off to their left, Addington let out a yelp as she tripped over something in the vineyard.
She and Ashton had strolled down to the neat rows of grapes and had been picking them straight off the vine, at least those that hadn’t already been harvested.
When Addington tripped, Ashton was there to catch her and they giggled together.
Lista found herself watching the pair.
“She likes him a great deal,” she said softly.
Julian was watching, as well. “That has been going on between them for a few years now,” he said.
“He will not commit and she will not let him catch her, so on it goes. She’s rather old to still be a maiden, so I hope she stops running from him soon.
It is time for Addie to have a family and grow up. ”
Lista turned to him, watching his expression as he observed Addington and Ashton in the distance. “Are all of your siblings married?” she asked.
He nodded. “Cole, Allaston, and Effington are,” he said. “Addington is not and it is time for her, so I can stop worrying about her. Let her be Ashton’s problem from now on.”
Lista smiled faintly. “You do not mean that.”
“Of course I do,” he said, looking at her. “With all of my sisters married, I will not have to worry any longer.”
Lista frowned. “Why is it your worry?” she said. “What does your mother say? She should be the one to worry.”
He turned for the vineyard, reaching out to take her hand as he went. “After my father’s death, I have more or less assumed his mantle,” he said. “My mother is strong, but it is my duty to help her any way I can.”
Lista was starting to feel giddy again as he held her hand. “What about your brother?” she said. “He is the eldest, is he not?”
“He is,” Julian said. “But Cole has Berwick and his own family to worry about. He has five small children, a wife, and a very strategic castle. He manages Berwick and I manage Pelinom, our family home.”
“Is that what you meant by understanding great responsibility thrust upon you?”
He glanced at her. “You were listening, were you?”
She grinned as they came to a halt because they were at the vineyard now, which was tiered because of the slope of the hill.
Julian let go of her hand and reached out, grasping her around the waist and lifting her down to the next tier.
Once he set her on her feet, he didn’t let her go.
Lista found herself gazing up at him, feeling warmth and interest radiating from his eyes.
There was no mistake.
“I have listened to every word you have spoken since we first met,” she said sincerely.
“Even when I was angry with you, I still listened to you because I think you are a man with a good deal to say, Julian. I would always like to listen to you if you will let me, so in answer to your question, I heard you. You spoke those words as if there were something more behind them, but I will not ask. If you want me to know, you will tell me.”
He looked at her, a smile playing on his lips, digesting every word. “You are much different from any woman I have ever known,” he finally said. “At least, any young women. You seem much wiser than your years.”
Lista cocked an eyebrow. “Is that a bad thing?”
He shook his head. “Not at all,” he said. “In fact, I rather like it. May I be perfectly honest with you?”
“Of course. As my friend, I would expect you to be.”
His smile broke through. “I admire you a great deal,” he said. “You have shouldered a difficult situation with your mother and aunt but you’ve not let it crush you. That is something to be applauded.”
“Thank you.”
“May I say something else?”
“You may.”
“You need to learn to laugh.”
She looked at him, surprised. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I’ve not seen you truly laugh out loud since I’ve known you.”
That was probably true. Lista paused to think about his statement.
“I suppose I am so focused on what needs to be done to keep Felkington running smoothly and my mother placated that I’ve not found the time to laugh,” she said.
“Unrestrained laughter is for people who do not have too much on their minds.”
Julian fought off a grin as they both heard Addington squealing with laughter when Ashton stole something from her and she ran after him.
“Addie will teach you how to laugh freely and often,” he said. “Spend time with her. Learn from her. She may not have your responsibilities, but she’s not as foolish as she seems.”
Lista cocked her head. “You will not teach me to laugh?”
He chuckled softly. “I am in need of lessons myself.”
“Can we not learn together?”
He looked at her, his dual-colored eyes glimmering. “I would like nothing better.”
Lista grinned at him. Then she reached up and pushed the hair away from his eyes again.
“I think we can learn to do it,” she said quietly.
“Because over the past day, you have learned to look me in the eyes. When I first met you, you would not do it. Therefore, if you have learned to look me in the eyes, I know you can learn to laugh, too.”
He was still smiling, but it was difficult. The mention of his eyes had him faltering. In fact, he immediately lowered his gaze but she grasped him by the chin and forced his head up.
“Look at me,” she said softly but firmly. He did, but it was guarded, and she smiled openly. “That’s better. You have the most beautiful eyes, Julian. I know you do not think so, but I do. The colors are magnificent.”
He sighed, a long and drawn-out sound. “You should know that it is not something I speak of,” he said. “No one does.”
“Why not?”
He searched for an answer. “Because we do not,” he said simply. “I do not. All of my siblings have unusual eye color, just like my father did. We do not speak of the obvious.”
Lista leaned forward, getting closer to his face and looking at him dead-on in the eyes.
“If you expect me to learn to laugh, then I expect you to learn to look me in the eyes, always,” she said.
“If you do not wish to speak of it, then I will not, but know my expectations. And know I think your eyes are as beautiful as the rest of you, so you do not have to hide them from me. I will be disappointed if you do.”
With that, she dropped her hand and turned away, heading off into the vineyard and leaving Julian standing there with his heart in his throat. Thump, thump… thump, thump. He could hardly breathe because of her words.
Didn’t she realize how freakish he looked?
Didn’t she realize how odd he was?
Clearly, she didn’t care but he couldn’t figure out why a woman as magnificent as she was didn’t care. He was trying to think of an underlying motive, but he couldn’t. That only led him to the next conclusion.
That she was being truthful.
After all of these years, and the disappointments he had suffered, he could hardly believe it. With a smile on his lips, he followed her into the vineyard where Addington and Ashton had ended up throwing grapes at one another and having a marvelous time.
But Julian only had eyes for Lista.