Chapter 13 #2
Curiosity has me tilting my head.
What kind of things could they have discussed? Would it only be related to the type of books they’re reading? Or could it be about Starry Hill? Surely it won’t be about what transpired between us?
Not that I’m against telling others what happened, though I’m afraid that if we do that they would have a set of expectations for us that would be impossible to meet. I’m simply helping Audrey make the most of her brief stay in Starry Hill, while she reminds me what it’s like to be alive again.
Before I find the courage to enquire more about what topics were discussed, Ren turns to me and asks, “How’s Audrey adjusting to life in the castle?”
I scrub a hand over my shorn hair while I fight the heat rising to my cheeks. “She seems to be getting on well enough.”
“Would you finally like the extra generator we’ve been suggesting you get? Audrey seems like someone who enjoys modern appliances,” Shinsu says.
Despite Shinsu, Bodin, and Ren encouraging me to welcome technology into my home, it has never felt right to me, no matter how well-meaning the suggestion is.
My castle was built to replicate the one I grew up in, the one where I served my clan as their laird. If our castle was good enough for them back then, why would I not be satisfied with it now? To alter my current home would feel like an affront to my former clan.
The biggest change I allowed was when Shinsu helped me set up indoor plumbing throughout the castle. That was a luxury I battled my conscience with for a long time, but now I’ve come to accept it gratefully.
Changing my home to include electric lights, buzzing refrigerators, or other noisy appliances is not something I’m interested in. No matter if it is Audrey’s preference. Soon she’ll be gone and I’ll remain behind with things I have no use for, staring at me as a constant reminder of what once was.
Swallowing, I square my shoulders. “It came up in conversation once, but Audrey said she likes the castle’s charms.” Needing to prove my point, I elaborate.
“She’s taken it upon herself to light the sconces in the foyer, the parlor, and along each of our wings each evening before we gather in the parlor to play with Anita. ”
“That’s lovely,” Nori says. “Have you given Audrey a full tour yet? I’m sure she’d love to learn more about the castle’s history and discover its secrets.”
“Do you really think she’d like that?” I ask, addressing the question to everyone.
“Yes,” Bodin answers with an emphatic nod. “Make sure you show her the view from the tallest turret. It’s pretty romantic. I mean spectacular.”
I’m sure the first word was a simple slip of the tongue, and not that Bodin is trying to play matchmaker. However, I have to consider that it might be true also.
The view is pretty breathtaking from the turret’s vantage point. The stars look infinite when you’re that high up, and the dark ocean majestic as it stretches south as far as the eye can see until its velvet expanse blends seamlessly into the silky night sky.
It might be a good idea to show her this sooner rather than later, before Audrey goes back to the city. Perhaps tomorrow night I will suggest a tour and have the turret be its grand finale.
Feeling emboldened, I venture to ask, “Any other ideas on things Audrey might like? Or something that would make her more comfortable in the castle? I’ve never had anyone stay this long with me.”
“Never?” Ren asks gently when the table grows quiet.
I don’t confirm verbally, but understanding settles around the table like a heavy blanket. I hope it’s not pity I’m experiencing from them, because I’ve never wanted anyone to live with me.
Until now.
Probably sensing the turn in mood, Nori taps the table twice and draws attention back to her. “I can think of something. How well is your kitchen equipped? Do you have anywhere to keep food there? Something to help Audrey with if her blood sugar is low?”
“What?” I’ve never seen Audrey eat at the castle. I always thought she preferred going out and having her meals with others who consume the same type of food that she does. In the many conversations we’ve had she’s never even mentioned having any kind of special requirements for anything.
“Audrey is diabetic and needs daily insulin to survive,” Nori explains. “She has to monitor her levels constantly and time her meals and injections or else she can get sick from her blood sugar being either too high or too low.”
“That seems… inconvenient,” Shinsu remarks.
“Burdensome,” Ren echoes.
Is this why Audrey’s blood smells different at times? I’ve detected shifts in her rosy scent at various times of the day, but never attributed it to anything specifically. Could it all be related to her health and her blood sugar levels?
Like a veil has been lifted from my eyes, I’m seeing a whole new side of Audrey. She’s someone who puts others first, prioritizes their well-being, and doesn’t expect the same in return.
While Audrey can sometimes act cavalier, it pains me that she didn’t even mention her daily struggles to me. How can I help her if I don’t know pertinent information that will keep her healthy? How can I provide her with a safe home when I don’t even have the tools to provide for her basic needs?
Leaning forward in my seat, I ask, “What else should I know?”
Bodin lays a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Ask her. Audrey isn’t someone who’d like others to talk about her, she likes to be talked to.”
Nori suggests, “It could help if you knew what to look out for if she was ever in danger with either her blood sugar levels being too high or too low.”
“True,” Bodin agrees before he goes on to warn me. “Audrey doesn’t like being defined by her ‘broken pancreas’ as she calls it, so tread carefully.”
I scoff at the thought. “Audrey can’t be defined by one thing if she tried. She’s too wonderfully complex.”
Wide-eyed silence follows my statement before there’s a change in topic and we finally begin playing Knights & Castles.