Chapter 67
Resolving to have a conversation with the boy about his unhealthy habit of nicking whatever caught his eye, Alistar put aside such thoughts and did his best to explain what he knew about the paintings to the girls. At one point Emely pointed out the painting that his mother had made just before she had been sent off to marry his father, the dual image of a healthy, daytime field and its barren, midnight counterpart.
"I like this one the best!" she said, though only Alistar was close enough to hear her.
Chest swelling with pride, he was about to tell her that the artist was his mother when Patricia rounded a nearby corner and came into view.
"Alistar, it’s time for breakfast. Come along and bring your friends."
Today was the first time that he had seen her out of uniform, the young woman drabbed by a simple white dress that brought out all of her dark-haired beauty.
"Okay," he said, before running off to round everyone up. Surprisingly, he wasn’t nearly as nervous as he had been earlier in the morning.
"What’s all that you’ve got there?" asked the house servant, indicating at the abundance of things that filled his arms.
"They’re gifts," he said, smiling wide as the two of them headed the group on their way to the dining hall. "From my friends."
Patricia’s smile was warm and sincere as she stared down at him with a gentle, sable gaze. "Isn’t that nice?" She patted him on the head in an affectionate manner. "Why don’t you let me take those to your room for you?"