Page 91 of Dark Angel

Tobias looks up at Jordan. “Remind me to never play with Lewis then.” A grin spreading across his face. Tobias jumps to his feet, strolling over to the two of them. “Kora Hamilton, what a pleasure it is to see you again. Will you be joining us for dinner?”

“Actually, she’s staying here for the night as well.” Jordan answers for her.

Tobias’ grin brightens, “Ah, wonderful. Rosa has prepared us a stew this evening, which I am dying to dig into. Do you like stew, Kora?”

She nods her head slowly in agreement, “It can defiantly be delicious.”

“That it can,” Tobias chuckles and walks out into the hallway. “Rosa! Is the stew ready yet?”

Kora spins to look at Jordan with a raised auburn eyebrow. “Your father is…”

“Lively?”

“Yes, that’s one way to explain him.” A giggle escaping her throat.

Jordan snorts a laugh. “He’s energetic for sure. It keeps life interesting. Come on, I’ll show you to the dining room.”

Various plates of deliciously decadent dishes are steaming in the centre of the polished table. There’s silver platters of pies and pastries filled with meats, cheese and sauces, a hearty stew stuffed with vegetables, rice and chicken, and warm breads freshly baked with salty garlic spreads and a tray of sweets for afterwards.

Jordan pulls out a chair for Kora to sit in before lowering himself into the one beside her. Valarie is on her other side as Tobias and Josephine sit opposite them.

Kora finds it rather comforting that nobody sits at the heads of the table. Most families have their parents taking these positions, but the Carter’s don’t seem like a typical family. They’re lively and worldly.

“Thank you for joining us this evening, Kora. We adore having guests over to dine with, although I believe this is the first time Jordan has ever invited someone.”

Kora looks sideways at him. Jordan stares blankly at his father, who’s smiling obliviously. “Well, enough of that. Please, serve yourself and dig in.”

They all begin taking bits and pieces from the dishes set up between them. Kora takes a piece of beef pie, some stew, and bread before dousing the lot in thick plum sauce.

Light-hearted conversations are struck up. Kora finds out about Josephine’s love for needle point and her china collection, as well asTobias’ fondness for sweets and pianoforte. He demonstrates on the table, and Kora can tell by the nimbleness of his fingers and the concentration covering his face that he plays incredibly well.

He finishes with a slap on the table and looks up, as if waiting for all of them to break out in applause.

Josephine just covers his hand with hers, giving him a comforting look. “I’m sure it sounded lovely, dear.”

Jordan snickers with a laugh.

They continue eating in silence. It’s not an awkward silence at all, if anything, it’s peaceful and relaxing. “I can’t believe about Mabel.” Josephine says after the lull. “Seems like Robert has his hands full trying to sort those murders out.”

Tobias coughs on his wine, scrunching up his face at his wife. “Jose, do we need to speak about death while we’re eating?”

She gives Kora a small apologetic smile. “Sorry dear. I am just surprised, that’s all.”

“It was unfortunate.” Kora agrees.

Tobias leans his elbows on the table. “So, Kora. I have a lot of memories from when you were a child. But what about now? How are you and Clarence dealing with… everything?”

She drops her fork and looks at him, “Clarence and I have helped each other since our parents,” she pauses and her gaze flickers onto Jordan’s beside her before she continues, “actually, I came here tonight to learn more about my parents.”

“Oh. Well, your father was probably the funniest man I knew,” Tobias begins, his fork piercing the skin of a potato as he talks to the table. “We became best friends when we were two years old. We would get up to all sorts of mischief. The number of times he snuck out of his room at night was uncountable. It was always to see your mother.”

“I had no idea he would be like that!” Kora says with a chuckle.

Jordan watches her, forgetting how he was feeling a half hour ago with her in his arms in her quarters. He can’t help but think to himselfhow beautiful she is when she’s smiling or laughing. The light that’s been missing in his life, breaking through the gloom that has always hung there like a pressing dark cloud.

“Those two were always sneaking about. I could hardly keep track of where Tessa was,” Josephine chimes into the conversation. “She was always a bookworm. The brightest in our training group, and she could fight like no other. I swear on the Angel’s there was something different about her. The way she would beat every man in Ascendancy training. She was a true warrior. Born to fight and protect.”

Kora’s smile drops a little. She clears her throat, picking at the peas dancing around her plate, not wanting to be eaten.

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