Chapter 57: Exposing friends (1)
Rafael did not see why Annalise needed to come between him and Edgar. She could serve Edgar what he needed and then go back to where she stood before. He knew that Edgar had to be up to something, but he did not know what just yet.
Annalise did as Edgar said and left her side of the table to pour him some of the orange juice. She thought he would prefer something with alcohol, but with what she smelled as she carried the jug with orange juice, he had made the right choice.
Edgar paid attention to Rafael’s reaction to Annalise standing closer to them. "That is enough," he said, purposely touching Annalise’s hands and seeing Rafael frown. ’Another fool,’ he almost laughed.
Edgar still wasn’t certain what was happening between Rafael and his maid since it didn’t seem to be anything intimate, but there was something there. It was just amusing to see Rafael, who would normally not pay attention to women and spent more time interested in weapons, keeping watch on a maid.
"You’ve been keeping secrets from me, Rafael. I’m a bit disappointed since I considered you my best friend," Edgar said, taking up his cup now full of orange juice to give it a try. He motioned to Annalise to give Rafael a hint about what he was referring to.
Rafael didn’t look at Annalise to avoid fueling whatever Edgar was assuming. "You are wrong," he answered. He was only watching her to see if she would be in trouble again. Nothing more. She was his maid, and he was the employer. There was a line drawn between them that he would never cross with her or any other maid. It would make life complicated.
"Right," Edgar said, not believing it. It was the same way Tobias acted when he met Hazel, the now current queen of the kingdom. Always watching her without realising it. "Don’t let your mother believe it to be as I think or worse, Tobias."
"It is nothing as you think," Rafael said. He regretted not telling Edgar that he was keeping an eye on Annalise for a reason.
Annalise wished they could explain what they were talking about so everyone at the table and around it could understand what they meant. Why was the duke laughing while Rafael didn’t seem pleased? She had done her job right by pouring the juice, so it couldn’t be about her. She hoped it was not about her.