Chapter 840: Lady Of The Home
The next morning, breakfast was arranged in the dining room of the mansion. It was due to Aaron that it was arranged in the common dining room, or he was sure Nathaniel wouldn’t invite Arthur and his new bride, Evie, for the meal.
The butler had arranged everything and invited everyone. Thankfully, Nathaniel obeyed when Aaron told him to have breakfast together.
Nathaniel settled in his chair at one end of the table, the chair for the head of the family. The chair on his right was left empty for his wife, while Aaron and Arthur sat to his left side.
Evie arrived, dressed in a beautiful dress. She looked calm, composed, gentle, befitting a noble lady. There was no unhappiness in her eyes, as if her life was just fine like before.
She greeted them all. "Good morning, Lord Mortem, Lord Wynters."
Nathaniel didn’t look at her but offered a light nod, while Aaron greeted her back. "Good morning, Lady Mortem."
It was his attempt to remind his friend that this woman who arrived here was his wife, and she deserved better.
Unbothered by anything, Evie calmly turned to her brother, who offered her a smile. "Morning, Evie."
She offered a light smile. "Morning, brother."
The butler pulled out the empty chair at Nathaniel’s right, the chair meant for the lady of this house, for her to sit.
But Evie didn’t walk ahead. Instead, she turned to sit in the chair at the other end of the table, opposite Nathaniel and farthest from him.
Nathaniel didn’t care where she sat, while the others didn’t know what to say.
In others’ eyes, it could be an act of rebellion against Nathaniel, but she knew well. She was just respecting Nathaniel’s wishes, where he had already told her during their first meeting that he would never acknowledge her as his wife, that he didn’t wish to have one.
And she didn’t want to be a bother to him, just as he had wished for. She won’t ever force him to acknowledge her.
Arthur looked at his sister.
She looked so calm and composed, as if nothing could shake that calmness out of her, that nothing could ever bother her. And it was hard to even guess what was in her mind, or if there was nothing at all.
Arthur moved and sat by his sister’s side.
The servants served the meal, and they began in silence. The lord of this house uttered no word at all, focused simply on eating.
Aaron finally broke that silence. "Arthur, I heard you got a summons from the western border to be present there."
Arthur nodded. "There’s some trouble going on in the territory under my charge."
"When are you planning to leave?" he asked. "Asking so, before leaving, I want you to invite you to my home."
"I plan to leave once I make sure my sister is settled here," he looked at her. "So you wouldn’t feel lonely in the new place."
"I am fine, brother," she said. "You shouldn’t neglect your duties. Don’t worry about me. This is my home. I am not at a stranger’s place."
At her words, Nathaniel looked at her. Whether the words "it’s her home" or "he wasn’t a stranger to her" struck him, or both had the effect.
Evie didn’t look at him, as if she was unaware of his presence there, and simply talked to her brother. "Whether you stay a day more or a month more won’t make any difference. You shouldn’t worry about me. I can take care of myself."
Arthur understood she didn’t want him to stay there for no reason at all. "I will leave tomorrow then. Today I will visit Wynters and Rainiers."
"Aunt Gwen had sent an invitation for you all," Aaron said. "After breakfast we can leave," and looked at Nathaniel. "You are coming as well."
Nathaniel offered him an annoyed glare, only to hear Aaron say again, "That wasn’t a request."
Nathaniel frowned and kept quiet. For Aaron, it was his approval.
----
After a while, they set off to leave for the Wynters–Rainier estate. The three men rode horses along with their knights, while Evie travelled in the carriage.
After an hour, they reached. They stopped at the Rainier residence, as the Rainier family was ready to welcome them.
Everyone dismounted the horses. Aaron narrowed his eyes at Nathaniel, only to have him move and turn to Evie’s carriage. The servant opened the door and arranged the steps for her, while Nathaniel offered her his hand.
She stepped out of the carriage. "Thank you."
The moment Erin saw her, she hurried to her friend. "Welcome to our home, Lady Mortem," she said playfully.
"Thank you, Lady Rainier," Evie responded with a light smile.
Lucian and his parents welcomed them as well, along with Rina.
As they settled in the dining room, the servants brought them refreshments.
Aaria was awake, and a nanny brought her downstairs.
"My little girl is awake to welcome her aunt," Erin said as she got the cute little Aaria from the nanny and brought her to Evie. "That’s your aunt Evie," Erin said as she added, "wife of your favourite uncle Nathan. Isn’t she pretty? A perfect match for your handsome uncle, isn’t it?"
Aaria let out a sweet little sound, as if approving of what her mother said.
"Aww! My baby agrees as well?" Smiling, Erin looked at her cousin, Nathaniel, who offered her a displeased gaze, holding a warning at the same time not to go overboard.
But Erin rolled her eyes at him and paid attention back to Evie. "Like I have you as my companion, it’s your responsibility to have a companion for my daughter. Alright?"
Evie didn’t expect Erin to say it. She was married just a day before, and this friend of hers was talking about having kids. She probably wasn’t aware they were married just in name.
"Now Aaria is a year old, you should plan to give her another sibling," Evie said politely. "I can’t wait to play with a few more of my nieces and nephews."
"Trying to shrug off your responsibility?" Erin let out a playful frown. "We are not in a hurry. Unlike Lucian and me, you two do not know each other well. Take your time."
Evie didn’t comment. More she talked, more Erin would say something unexpected.
