Page 40 of The Chaosweaver's Daughter
He hadsometasks to see to, so he spent two hours, between lunch and lesson time, ensconced in his study. When he emerged, his day’s work was complete. He was free. Not bothering to don his jacket and cravat, Kas made his way out to the glade where he’d seen the trio disappear a few moments before.
They sat around a campfire, fanning themselves to stave off the unnecessary heat while Nesrina waved her arms around as she spoke.
“Greetings,” he called loudly, waltzing right into the glade. “Why do you have a fire?”
He earned himself a narrow-eyed look from Miss Kiappa when the twins rushed over, abandoning their disgruntled instructor.
Oops. Off to a great start already.He scolded himself for not waiting for a natural pause in their lesson. “I’ll only stay for a moment,” he offered apologetically to the woman perched atop a stump.
She nodded, terser than he would have preferred.
“I was hoping to speak with you all,” he explained, dragging one child on each foot back to the circle of stumps and producing a cool breeze to chase away the heat of the fire.
Miss Kiappa stopped fanning herself with her hands and spread her arms wide, welcoming his magic with a soft smile.
He nearly forgot what he’d come to say. “Dinner,” he blurted, earning alookfrom the tutor. “I’d like to invite you to join me in the formal dining chamber for dinner tonight, tomorrow, and so on.”
The twins shrieked with excitement, Della clapped with joy and Ataht bounced right off his stump.
Still seated, Nesrina seemed unconvinced, pointing at her chest. “Why...?” she asked, but he got the feeling she meant, “Me?”
Why was he requesting her presence?Because I must see more of you,he thought. Instead, he said, “Their magic,” and forced out a chuckle that sounded much calmer than he felt as he gestured to his niece and nephew, who didn’t seem one bit concerned that Kas was using them as an excuse.
“I’d like to spend more time with them and have no interest in dealing with any wayward magic alone during dinner. I don’t understand it enough. For example, why do you have a campfire out here in the summer heat? Is that connected to your magic? Is it for ambiance?”
Her lips quivered. “It’s for the lesson, yes. And their control has vastly improved these past few weeks, Lord Kahoth. I’m not sure my presence is necessary?”
He wasn’t about to let her wriggle out of this one. “An abundance of caution.” He waved off her lack of concern. “I insist.”
She blinked at him before nodding. “Splendid.” A smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth, and he knew what she was going to say before the words were out: “I can ensure you eat.”
He couldn’t help the grin that split his face in response. With that settled, Kas stood from his stump and said goodbye to the group. He had to get back to the house where he’d enlisted one doting housekeeper to give him a much-needed haircut.
thirteen
Nesrina changes her tune, kind of.
Nesrinasatatthedressing table in her private washroom, tugging at her unwieldy locks after trying several hairstyles, none of which seemed to want to stay put.
“Miss Kiappa.” Aylin stood in the closet doorway with one of Nesrina’s new gowns in hand—the blue and copper one.
“Oh, thank the gods you’re here. I didn’t even hear you come in.” She dropped her tangle of wayward waves. “Do you have time to help me manage this?”
“Of course, my dear, I have nothing but time for you.” With a smile that bunched her rosy cheeks, Aylin hung the gown behind the door and joined her before the mirror.
She was a miracle worker, and Nes’s hair came out styled in an intricate updo, accented with a bronze ribbon wrapped thrice around her head. She’d never seen her curls so frizzless. “How?” she whispered, blinking stupidly at her own appearance.
“Years of practice, my dear.” Aylin smiled. “I was Lady—sorry, Queen Hevva’s lady’s maid for many years.”
Nes returned the smile, but her heart pinched. This was what Papa’d been talking about. She was getting swept up in the glitz, the glamor of an aristocratic lifestyle. He said it was one of the most idiotic things he’d ever done and warned her away from it. Still, Nes was excessively grateful forAylin’s assistance, even though she had no idea why a former lady’s maid was working as a chambermaid in the duke’s home. A question for later, she supposed.
“I think I prefer casual dinners with the tutors over formal affairs with tempestuous dukes,” Nes grumbled as Aylin helped her into the lovely, but too-exquisite-to-relax-in ensemble. She would wear one of her old dresses on principle, but she knew the children were dressing up and didn’t want to stand out.
The maid’s mouth curved up as she buttoned up the back and tugged the ribbon into a tight bow. “I won’t even begin to respond tothat,” she quipped, and Nesrina laughed.
Whenshewalkedintothe formal dining room, she nearly did a double-take at the sight of the Duke of Stormhill. He was dressed in the same green jacket he’d worn when she first saw him at the palace. That didn’t surprise her. What did was that he’d finally cut his wild hair. Gone was the untamed riot that once fluffed off his noggin; in its place, his perfect coif was short on the sides and long on top, allowing his waves to whorl elegantly over his forehead, clear of his pale eyes. He sat midway down the table looking, for all intents and purposes, like he should be her husband.
That intrusive thought nearly had her spinning on her heel and marching out of the room.
