Page 89 of The Curse of Indy Moore
“No, that’s alright. I can sit wherever,” I said.
“Nonsense, you should be able to sit by your partner,” Renli countered, wearing a teasing grin.
“We are not together,” Mr. Hawthorne said swiftly.
My throat ran dry, and I swallowed hard.
“Well, you needn’t say that so adamantly. Indy here is a lovely girl, so if anyone should be insulted by the prospect, it’s her,” Renli continued teasingly. She waved her hand, signaling for Jenai to come over, and she did. That left one seat for me that I fell into without meeting Mr. Hawthorne’s gaze.
“I do not mean it disrespectfully,” he countered.
His words hurt nonetheless. Once more, my heart yearned for destruction.
Renli waved a hand toward me. “You should be saying that to her.”
“Miss Moore understands. She is a lovely girl, as you said, but we are colleagues.”
“And if you weren’t colleagues?”
I made the mistake of taking a drink and nearly spat it out.
“Renli,” Thea warned, though she couldn’t cease smiling over the rim of her tea cup.
“It’s a simple question. What about you, Indy?” Renli settled her elbows on the table and perched her chin on her folded hands. “If you weren’t colleagues, would you be interested in my sniveling little brother-in-law?”
Mr. Hawthorne and I caught each other’s eye. My voice nearly betrayed me. He settled his attention on the cup in his hand, and I caught myself prior to a potential catastrophe.
“I can’t imagine him as anything other than a colleague, especially after what we’ve been through, and he’s not really my type,” I answered while risking another drink that did nothing to soothe my nerves.
“Her type being brawny men from the countryside,” he said. I refused to accept that he sounded annoyed. “Cease this inappropriate questioning. After all, Miss Moore has a partner waiting for her in Westshire.”
At the reminder of Baxter, my stomach clenched. “I wouldn’t say partner. It’s complicated, and he’s not that brawny. You’re taller than him and practically the same size.”
Mr. Hawthorne smiled far too much at that. “Implying that I am your type?”
“Do you want to be her type?” Renli winced after a thumping sound that I think was Mr. Hawthorne kicking her under the table.
“Have I mentioned lately how much I dislike you?” he snapped.
Renli sipped her tea. “You haven’t. Tell me more about your disdain.”
“Colt, your wife is the most vile creature the world has ever conceived.”
“I prefer my women vile and vicious,” Colt replied proudly. He and his wife toasted their tea and finished their cups in a gulp.
“Mama,” chided Mei. “You’re being mean again.”
“Your father was, too. Go after him,” Renli argued.
“I’m glad you’re visiting, Uncle Rooke, even if Mama and Papa are being mean,” said Jenai.
“Thank you. I am happy to have someone on my side,” Mr. Hawthorne said. “You have earned yourself a new dress. Next time you go into town, get whatever you like.”
“She does that already,” Virgil said around a booming laugh that shook me to the core.
I could have spent hours at Hawthorne Manor, listening to their stories. Jenai enthusiastically shared her love for ballet and how she would be taking her first lesson next week. Mr. Hawthorne gave his assurances to attend every recital. Mei shared her interest in bugs, which I didn’t expect from any child, let alone one dolled up so beautifully. Apparently, Renli and Colt struggled to keep her indoors and clean. Virgil had been a cook, and though they had a chef at the estate, he continuously fumbled around in the kitchen. Renli was a world-renowned cello player. That was how she and Colt met, after a performance, and he has since taken up playing the violin. Thea was more shy to admit her interest in painting, claiming she couldn’t possibly show anyone her work—although Virgil eagerly complimented her left and right until she was so flustered, she had to raise her voice to get him to stop.
Every moment spent with them was wonderful in the most agonizing of ways. They reminded me of home, of Mom, of being around the girls and listening to them explain every detail of their days while Aunt Agnes laughed over breakfast. At some point, I had to excuse myself to the bathroom, where I cried. I hadn’t been so determined to beat Carline than at that moment, hearing the Hawthornes laugh and bicker. This was what I wanted more than anything, more time with my loved ones, to feel like I belonged at their side. Carline offered luxury, and I couldn’t deny my desire for that, too, but it would never live up to this.
