Chapter 41: Most interesting things
Much to Arabella's relief, it was a tall young man that'd stepped through that door and not a witch, but by then, her eyes had already latched onto him. It'd become too noticeable.
"Ladies," the man offered a slight bow, his dark and velvety hair falling a little in front of him.
Both Katherine and Arabella curtsied, returning the politeness. Although Arabella immediately averted her gaze away from him, towards the floor.
"Evening, Lauden," Mr Kallum greeted the man by his first name which suggested it wasn't his first visit to the shop, "You must be here to pick up the Lady's order," the shopkeeper half asked.
"Good evening to you too, sir," the so called Lauden nodded once, "And that I am, indeed,"
His slender build and humanoid features could have fooled Arabella, but the lack of a visible brooch on his chest indicated he may not have been human.
"I'll have it here in a second," Mr Kallum smiled, "Pardon me, Ladies. I'll be right back to see you off," the old man then turned around and disappeared into the back of the shop.
Left alone with the women, the stranger's eyes landed on Arabella once more, lingering on the Eleazar's crest first then on her features second.
"Forgive my impudence," he smiled, "But do the two of you come from the Eleazar manor?" his question was addressed to both of them; however, his attention was solely on Arabella who refused to make eye contact.
"Indeed, we do," a firm answer came from Katherine.
Unlike Arabella, she looked him right in the eyes, in expectancy for the rest of his words.