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I walked down the dimly lit hallways of my family’s castle, almost as if I were here for the first time. I took a close look at every painting that hung on the walls, with their gilded frames and the usually stern faces of my ancestors. The women occasionally smiled in those portraits, and I remember as a girl, wondering why on earth wouldn’t they want to smile, when this would be a memory of them for posterity. Wasn’t it better to smile and be remembered like that?
I smiled at those memories. Being a child was so precious, that state of innocence and awe at the world. That was why it worried me so much that Cass was starting to see a difference in Adrian’s behavior and it was affecting her negatively. She absolutely adored him, and in turn, he adored her. With him pulling away from us both like this, it was obvious that Cass would be affected as well.
I hastened my steps, reaching the door to my father’s study. I hesitated for a few moments, wondering if I should just keep this to myself. I decided that since I was here anyway, I would go on with my intended plan. I rolled my fingers into a fist and knocked on the door. A moment later, I was called in.
“Am I interrupting you, Father?” I asked, still lingering in the doorway.
He sat bent over a pile of papers, and I noticed that a silver tray with his breakfast still stood on the far end of his desk, not a single thing on it touched or tasted.
“Of course not,” he smiled, lifting his gaze to meet mine. Only then did he seem to realize that he hadn’t had breakfast yet. “Come, sit down.”
I did as he bid, closing the door behind me. I inhaled deeply, savoring the scent. As little girls, we would come here only when Father was around, and it had always been a very special place for us. It seemed that with the passage of time, the relevance of this room had only increased. It was a room that bore the weight of years of wisdom and contemplation, with the scent of aged leather-bound books mingled with the faint aroma of rich mahogany wood.
The walls were adorned with shelves upon shelves of meticulously arranged books. Father had always been very orderly. Volumes of various sizes and colors stood shoulder to shoulder, ranging from ancient tomes to modern works. Each book seemed to have its own story, its own history, and collectively, they formed a tapestry of knowledge that Father had been collecting for years, as well as his father before him.
A large, ornate wooden desk, polished to a high sheen, occupied the center of the room. It was a place where decisions were made, letters were penned, and ideas were given birth. Papers and scrolls were neatly arranged upon it, bearing the mark of intellectual pursuits. This was where I took my seat, opposite Father.
I glanced to the far end corner of the study, where a plush leather armchair beckoned with its comfort, inviting contemplation and reflection. There was a small table next to it, which held a crystal decanter filled with what I knew was aged whiskey, although I had never tasted it.
I turned my gaze back to my father. “Is there something you needed?” he asked me, with that knowing look.
“Yes,” I nodded, a little nervously. “There is something I wanted to discuss with you. Actually, to hear your perspective on it.”
“On what?” he wondered, once again forgetting about the breakfast he had not taken yet.
I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “It’s about Adrian.” I paused, immediately noticing a change in his expression. I couldn’t tell whether it was a good or a bad change. So, I continued. “Recently, he’s been… distant. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“Has anything happened?” he wondered.
“No,” I shook my head. “I mean, I don’t think so. We haven’t argued. Well…” I stopped again, getting lost in my own thoughts. It was difficult to make any sense of it inside my mind, let alone explaining it to someone else in words. “We did argue. He said I was smothering him, that he needed some time to himself. And Cass has noticed it as well. I honestly don’t know what to make of it.”
My father listened attentively, his gaze thoughtful. He had always been a source of wisdom and guidance, and I hoped he could offer insight into the matter.
“I’ve noticed him being… different,” he said pensively. “Distant. Not paying attention when we would speak.”
“Me, too,” I was quick to add. “Maybe the upcoming Moorlands visit is making him nervous?”
“Maybe,” my father replied, as his brows knitted. “But I wouldn’t know why. We have everything settled. I don’t think there should be a single issue regarding it.”
“I was afraid of that,” I sighed heavily.
“Relationships have their ups and downs, my dear,” he reminded me softly. “You’ve been in your honeymoon phase all this time. I would say that it lasted longer than for most people. If he says he needs some time to himself, all you can do is give him what he needs, but at the same time, assure that he knows you are there.” He stopped, then chuckled. “That didn’t make that much sense, but you know what I mean.”
“I do,” I smiled back.
“In any problem, the crucial element is communication,” he added. “Open and honest dialogue is the key. Speak with him, share your thoughts and be receptive to what he says.”
I inhaled deeply. ”I feel like I’ve already done this, and it led us to even more arguments.”
He thought about it for a moment, then he continued. “Then, don’t talk. Show him that you love him. Remind him of this. Sometimes, words mean very little, if they are not followed by decisive action.”
“I think I know what you mean,” I replied, filled with newfound hope. “I will work towards resolving this.”
“I have every confidence in you, my dear,” he assured me. Then, he turned his attention to the tray. “Now, how about you keep me company while I have my forgotten breakfast?”
With his words of support resonating in my heart, I stayed with my father for the following hour. Somehow, our thoughts always flowed back to my sister, and although painful, talking about her always seemed to bring us closer. As if we would lose each other sometimes, but only to find each other again, reminding ourselves that there was nothing more important in this life than family and those you love.
Chapter Nine
