30. VERENA GRAVENHURST
THIRTY
VERENA GRAVENHURST
My fingers drum impatiently against the marble countertop, my stomach growling with such ferocity, you would think I haven’t eaten in weeks.
I watch Edgar, the manor’s cook, pull a pan of freshly baked blueberry muffins from the oven.
He removes them one by one, placing them on a cooling rack, a mere two feet away from me.
I look to him, and then back to the muffins, waiting for the perfect opportunity to snag one and be on my way, but I have no such luck.
Edgar eyes me, like he knows what I’m up to and shakes his head.
“Patience, Miss Gravenhurst. Wouldn’t want a nasty burn now, would we?” He gives me a kind smile.
I nod, returning his smile and stand from my stool to peer out the kitchen window. If only some knew how badly I’ve already been burned.
The adjacent doors swing open, and Archie strolls through, dressed in his usual butler attire, ready to face the day ahead.
“Good morning, Miss Ren. Are you giving Edgar a hard time so early in the day?”
My tongue flies out of my mouth before I realize what I am doing. Archie’s eyes widen, shocked at my crude outburst, but I can see the slight grin he’s attempting to stifle.
“Me?” My hand flies to my chest, feigning innocence. “I would never.”
Archie clicks his tongue and opens his mouth to say something, but then thinks better of it and moves around the kitchen to the other side of the island.
Edgar flashes us a knowing expression and heads out of the room to put ingredients away in the pantry.
Archie pours himself a cup of coffee. He sits at a bar stool at the island, closes his eyes and takes a whiff of the bold, rich smell.
As I watch him enjoy his cup of joe, I can’t help but wonder if this is his routine every morning.
His eyes flicker to mine, catching me staring, and he straightens his posture, like I’ve caught him in the middle of something entirely personal. It makes me smile.
My attention drifts back to the window, and I scour the manor grounds, looking for an unruly head of black hair in the garden, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
“Hey, Archie?” My voice is thunderous in the quiet hours of the still rising sun.
“Yes, Miss, Ren?” He places his mug down on the counter, giving me his full attention.
“How well do you know everyone who lives at the manor?” He ponders my question for a moment.
“I like to think I know everyone quite well, Miss Ren. When you spend enough time with people over the span of several years, they begin to feel like your chosen family. Why do you ask?”
With another growl of my stomach, I saunter over to the counter and pluck a blueberry muffin from the tray, not caring for a second if it’s still too hot to eat.
“I was wondering if you could tell me Loxen’s story? He’s so tight-lipped about his life, it makes it hard to get to know him.”
Archie begins to cough and sputter his coffee all over the counter. My eyebrows furrow.
“My apologies, Miss Ren. You caught me off guard just now.” He grabs a napkin from the counter and dabs at his mouth, then proceeds to clean up his mess.
Turning to face me, his lips are tight, nearly white from pressing them together. He exhales and shakes his head,
“What do you know about Loxen Gray?” His eyes search mine. They’re wilder than I’ve ever seen, a horror flashing across his features that I had not expected.
“I—” A loud crash sounds in the pantry, startling us and interrupting our conversation.
“I should go lend Edgar a hand.” He stands abruptly and heads out of the kitchen. “Have a nice day, Miss Ren.”
The dining hall is quiet. Students are scattered about, eating, studying and enjoying their free time between lectures.
Across the room, I spot Mauve sitting at a table by herself with her nose deep in a book.
She sips on a cup of coffee, a staple I seldom see her without.
Things have been off between us lately, and it’s been hard to find time to spend together when life outside the manor consists of the society, meetings, and lectures.
Making my way over to the table, she senses my approach and places her book down, greeting me with a warm smile.
“Hi.” My voice comes out weak and timid.
“Hi,” she replies.
“Can I sit?” I ask, feeling awkward and unsure how to move.
“Of course.” She stifles an awkward laugh and puts her book back in her bag.
“How have you been? I feel like we don’t get to spend much time together anymore.” Sadness lingers in her eyes, and a pang of guilt washes over me.
“I know, there’s been so much going on. I’d love to catch up now, if you have time?” I ask, offering her a warm smile. Mauve nods. I may not be able to tell her the whole truth, but I’m eager to tell her everything in between.
I open my mouth, trying to find the words that would explain my absence and apologize, but they don’t come.
Mauve’s gaze flickers behind me, and her expression drops.
Without looking, I know that Reed is approaching.
He kisses me on the top of the head and sits on the bench next to me.
We haven’t spoken since the night at the cliff.
He called the manor once after that, which I ignored.
I used to admire the way Reed demanded attention when he walked into a room, but it’s starting to feel like he’s sucking the air right out of it.
“Mauve.” He nods in her direction. She ignores him, flashing me a weak smile.
“I’m actually going to be late for my next lecture. I’ll catch you later, Ren.” I give her a forced smile and wave.
“So…There’s a meeting tonight. Should I pick you up on the way? It’s important that you find that folder sooner rather than later. When the society gives you a task, Gravenhurst, it must be followed through to completion.”
Reed rambles in my ear, but I don’t hear him as I watch Mauve disappear into a crowd of people. Sadness blankets my heart for our friendship, feeling as if it’s deteriorating before my very eyes.
“Did you hear what I said?”
I scoff. “Yeah. Loud and clear.”
I stand up to leave, without looking back at him, but he grabs hold of my hips and slides me closer to him on the bench.
My back presses against his chest, and he cuddles into my neck, snaking his arms around me.
Students flutter past, entering and exiting the cafeteria freely, and I begin to feel trapped within his arms. He inhales a lungful of my perfume, and when I attempt to pull away, he whispers in my ear.
“I’m sorry, Gravenhurst.”
I freeze, not expecting those words from him. His voice is soft and careful. I slowly raise my head, peering over my shoulder at him. He looks earnest enough, and my heart twists when he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“What’s gotten into you lately?” I ask, my voice low so only he can hear.
“There’s just been a lot going on.” He runs a hand over the back of his neck, and my brows pinch together.
“Like what?”
Reed’s eyes dart around the crowded room, then land back on me. “Just some shit with my dad. I can’t tell you here.”
Great. Another secret. He must see the annoyance written all over my face when I look away, because he speaks again quickly.
“How about this—you find the folder before our meeting tonight, and we can meet up after and talk. You can ask me anything you’d like, no more secrets.”
I look back at him, considering his offer. He smirks, and fuck, my indignation wavers.
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart, and hope to die.”