Page 66 of Hawthorne

“Please, call me Edgar.” He smiles kindly. “Would you show me around? I haven’t visited the property properly in years.”

“Of course,” I exclaim, finding it exciting that he wants to explore.

We both stand up, and he quickly puts a whining Primrose on the ground. Chuckling, we both start to walk through the property. My baby girl is not happy about the sudden change but keeps following us around.

Having lived here all my life, I can say I am one of the few who knows the property like the back of my hand. As each step takes us deeper into the gardens, I notice how Edgar takes in the beauty of it.

The bushes are geometrical and fully tended, giving off a clear French vibe, much inspired in the Versailles Palace.

“Is that where the forest starts?” he asks, pointing at the far back, in the opposite direction of the stables.

“No, that’s the romantic garden your grandfather ordered when he married your grandmother. She loved it, and it was his wedding gift for her, a space of her own within this big property.”

Edgar frowns. “That’s a big romantic gesture for a couple that was forced to marry.”

“That’s because they weren’t forced. At least, that is what your aunt told me. They were crazy about each other.”

“Oh…My dad never told us stories about them.” He sighs before continuing, “At least not to me. We didn’t talk much, especially about the past.”

“Oh, I’m sorry about that,” I comment.

“Don’t be, darling. He was a good father. But I guess, in our world, things are done a certain way.” He smiles. “I got a pretty good childhood, better than Vincent.”

“You had it a lot easier?”

“Of course, he is the heir, after all— if not to the throne, to the Hawthorne’s title. That’s why my brother seems to have a stickup his ass most of the time. He has high, hard expectations he needs to meet. The pressure is huge.”

“Poor man,” I mutter.

“Don’t pity him. He’d hate that. He accepted his fate long ago...” Edgar trails off thoughtfully. “At least until you showed up. Let’s see how things develop from here on out.”

“What does that mean?” I frown.

“I don’t think I know yet.” Something catches his attention to our right. “Are these the stables?”

Upon looking in the same direction, I realise we have reached just that.

“Yes.”

“I love horses.” He beams. “Show me the babies, come on!”

“I think it would be easier to ask His Grace what he doesn’t like instead,” I comment with a light laugh.

And it’s true. Edgar is such a bright and funny person. He’s very easy to be around. It’s dangerous, though. People get attached easily.

“I am yet to find something I don’t like.” He smirks.

I can’t help but roll my eyes at his sassiness, and he grins in return. He’s the opposite of his brother, and I can’t help but relax and forget that he is my superior. My boss’s brother. And a nobleman, too…

His hand finds mine, quickly pulling me with him to the inside of the stables. The walls are mostly white, except for the wooden doors that limit the spaces where the horses sleep. Everything is neat, like usual, with Karl taking care of it.

To be honest, I don’t know how he manages on his own…Maybe it’s time to convince Vincent to find him a helper.

“This one is New Moon,” I show him the first mare we encounter, the one closer to the entrance. “Her Grace, Mrs Hawthorne named her after the perfect white circle on her forehead.”

I pet her nose and let my hand travel up to the area above her eyes, pushing the hair aside and showing it to Edgar. It’s the only part of her that is white; everything else is black.

She’s gorgeous.

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