Chapter Three #3
“No, I’ll figure it out on my own,” he replied as he opened the door and looked back, as though he thought he might have forgotten something.
Satisfied, he walked through the door. He had an eidetic memory and finding his way to the drawing room was easy.
He never got lost, no matter where he was.
The gift, as Frazier referred to it, had saved them on more than one occasion.
A good thing, too, because some of the areas they went to were not all that savory.
Portraits of previous dukes and their families lined the walls along with hunting scenes and garden paintings.
Nothing seemed to have a purpose as to why it was placed where it was.
It was an eclectic mishmash of art. Some of it not very good either.
The older portraits needed to be taken down and cleaned by an artist specializing in such things.
A lot of people didn’t know of such matters, therefore, their portraits seemed to fade with age when actually it was a buildup of smoke, air, and age.
Something to mention to his brother and his Lady Daphne.
Finding the drawing room wasn’t hard. A nearby table with cut flowers sitting in a crystal vase with a footman next to the door gave it away. There again was no reason for the table to be that close to the door. He nodded to the young man who then opened the door to the drawing room.
“Ah, Charles. I take it you had no problem finding me,” Lady Daphne said as she came across the room to greet him. A rather large iron cage stood not too far from the fireplace. Atop the cage sat a huge brightly colored parrot. This must be the one she had been speaking of earlier.
“No, no problems at all.” He eyed the bird, then Daphne. “How did you come to have a parrot?”
“My father. His name is Sam, and he talks a lot for a parrot. I will warn you not all his language is nice. He knows how to curse like a sailor when he wants to.”
“He’s being quiet. Why is that?”
“Perhaps because you are a mirror image to Arthur and he hasn’t figured that out yet.”
“In other words, he may think I’m Arthur?”
Daphne arched a brow and thought for a moment. “That’s entirely possible.”
“Fascinating,” Charles replied.
“Come, tea arrived just before you, and I’ve set it up in front of the hearth. It’s still a little too cool for tea on the terrace.”
Charles nodded. “That sounds delightful.” He diverted his gaze to Sam for a second. The bird was still watching him with great interest.
“If you’re not comfortable with Sam being here, I can have one of the footmen remove him.”
“No, that isn’t necessary,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “I’d actually like to hear him talk.”
“Very well.” She led the way to where the tea service and treats had been placed on a low table next to the chairs they were about to sit in.
Charles looked in amazement at the tiny sandwiches, cake, and sweets set before them. Tea usually consisted of a cup of tea and a large piece of cake or pie. Those were usually left over from Denton’s tea and given to him. Over the years, he’d taught himself to bake pies and cakes.
He accepted the cup of tea from his sister-in-law and placed it on a table next to him. Picking up a plate, he filled it with cake and sandwiches, without realizing how hungry he was.
“I’m sure this all came as a huge shock,” Daphne said, picking up her teacup and observing Charles closely.
He shook his head. “Not at all. I’ve always known I had siblings. I just assumed my parents were punishing me for being different. I’m very smart, you see.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard,” she replied. “But wasn’t meeting Arthur a shock to your system? Seeing someone who looks just like you?”
He picked up his plate holding a piece of marmalade cake. Taking a bite, he put his fork back on the plate. “Yes. Not as shocked as I thought I’d be, but then they say everyone has at least one person in the world who looks like them.”
“That’s scary,” Daphne said. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sam climb down from his cage and begin to walk towards them. Charles had seen Sam’s actions but seemed to be content watching the parrot.
“Your bird is walking across the floor,” he finally said uncomfortably.
“He does that often. He likes to follow me around the house when he can. Sam also does it for attention.”
Glancing at Daphne and then the bird, Charles didn’t appear too happy with the idea. “You allow him near food we eat?”
“It’s not like he gets on the table and begins eating.”
“That may be, but he still has an opportunity should he decide that’s what he wants,” Charles insisted.
Daphne smiled and put down her teacup. “I can assure you that won’t happen, but if it’ll make you more comfortable, I can put him in his cage.”
“If you don’t mind,” he replied.
“Of course not.”
He watched as his sister-in-law stood and walked a couple of steps before bending and putting her arm out to the parrot.
The bird jumped on without a word. That all changed the minute Daphne put him at the door of his cage and closed the door behind him.
Sam began screeching and trying to flap his wings from the cramped interior of the cage.
“I didn’t know he’d be so upset,” Charles said, watching the bird continue his tantrum.
“He associates his cage as a place to go if we’re not here or it’s time to go to bed. Putting him in during the middle of the day can cause him some confusion.”
“I don’t wish to cause him discomfort,” Charles said.
“He’ll settle down. I promise. He thinks the attention will get sympathy from someone and he’ll get out.”
“Smart.”
“They are that.”
“Has anyone studied them as far as their abilities? It would be fascinating to know where and how he learned to talk.”
“The only thing I know for sure is he learned a lot of naughty words on the ship that brought him to us.”
“Don’t you wonder if he understands his actions?”
“Not particularly,” Daphne replied.
Charles rose from his chair and walked across the room where he stood to observe Sam. “I wonder if the fact he’s upset might have something to do with the fact I look like Arthur, but do not act like him.”
Daphne’s hand flew to her mouth for a moment, clearly shocked by his statement. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that. It’s entirely possible he’s confused.”
“The theory can be tested once Arthur arrives.”
“You mean the two of you approach Sam to see his reaction?”
Charles nodded. He was still standing in the same position near the cage, watching Sam watch him. “Precisely.”
“Arthur should be here shortly so we can test your theory.”
He said nothing but turned away from the cage and walked back to his chair where Daphne was refreshing his tea. He picked up his empty plate and chose two sandwiches and a raspberry tart.
“Are you anxious about your move from Wight and what lies ahead?” Daphne asked.
“I haven’t given it much thought because I don’t understand why I was abandoned and put there by my father. No good answer has ever been given to me.”
“But you have been informed.”
“If you want to call it that. I’ve learned more from Arthur than anyone else.”
“How do you spend your days?” Daphne asked quietly.
Charles seemed to be deep in thought on how to answer her. He scrubbed his beard with his hands before picking up his teacup once again. “I take a lot of walks. I find it keeps my mind clear.”
“Arthur does that as well. He also rides his horse for the same reason,” she replied.
“Arthur likes to do what?” a familiar voice said from the doorway.
“Lady Daphne was inquiring into how I spend my time.”
Arthur came across the room in three steps and sat down next to his wife. “Was she? Well, you and I have an appointment with the solicitor tomorrow.”
“No one’s ever included me on such meetings,” Charles said.
“Now you have,” Arthur said, accepting a cup of tea from Daphne. “I thought we might stop by Parliament afterwards and see if anything is going on.”
“How long will we be in London?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know better when I see what Parliament is doing. We’re to have a break for a fortnight but it still depends on bills, and the like.”
“We have an experiment to do. Sam seems to be confused. He knows I look like you, but he knows I’m not you. I thought it might be a good idea to show him there are two of us.”
Whenever Charles didn’t feel comfortable with a subject of conversation or he didn’t want to be bothered with details, he changed the subject. It had always worked for him before. But then he’d never kept much company except Frazier. This was something new he was going to have to get used to.
“Yes, that seems like the logical thing to do. I keep telling her the bird is too smart.”
“He is,” Charles replied.
Shortly, Daphne crossed the room to Sam’s cage, opened the door and let the bird hop onto her forearm. She walked back to where the men were and stopped. Sam looked at both Charles and Arthur before letting his voice be heard.
“Bloody hell!”
“That’s not nice, Sam. Charles will be living with us, so you better be on your best behavior,” Daphne scolded him.
“Sam good.”
“Yes, you are for the most part,” she replied.
Sam continued to sit on Daphne’s arm. She fed him a piece of apple she had brought from his cage top.
He greedily took it from her hand and ate it as he continued to look from one man to the other.
Another apple slice appeared in Charles’s hand.
Charles extended his hand, palm up, to see what the parrot might do.
Once again, greed for his treat overtook any suspicions Sam might have about Charles. Treats won out every time.
“More!” Sam demanded.
Charles pulled his hand away as soon as the macaw seemed as though he was going to jump on his arm. “I have no more,” he replied.
He heard his brother snicker beside him. “Do you find yourself questioning why you’re talking to a bird?”
“No, why would I? It is obvious Sam has some intelligence, though how much he really understands is questionable.”
“Would you care to take Sam back to his perch?” Daphne asked, holding her parrot-ridden arm in his direction.
“No, another time perhaps?” he said, adding, “Would you mind if I got a book from the library? I thought I might read before dinner.”
“Yes, of course. Don’t feel as though you have to ask,” Arthur said.
“He’s right, and dinner is at seven-thirty. We gather in the drawing room around seven,” Daphne said as she walked back to the parrot’s perch and cage.
Charles nodded and rose from his chair. “I shall see you then.” He turned and walked toward the closed door.
It had been the only excuse he could come up with to get away.
Even conversation with his newly found family found him withdrawing to his safe spot.
He would have to overcome this. But not now.
He’d bought himself some time to relax on his terms. He would try it again at dinner.
Inside the library, he found two walls lined with books.
A grand piano sat in the center of the room with the furniture placed so everyone could enjoy music.
Perhaps another time. Playing would just invite people to come and listen, and he didn’t care for the idea.
His music had always been something very personal to him.
He quickly found a book on the War of the Roses he hadn’t read.
Shutting the door behind him, he once again walked back to his rooms. He found himself alone, Frazier probably downstairs taking care of something on his behalf.