Chapter 132 - Hundred And Thirty Two
The carriage wheels rumbled over the familiar cobblestones of the city as Delia looked out the window. Beside her on the plush velvet seat were several wooden boxes filled with the precious materials she had spent the entire day sourcing. The sky was a deep, dark blue, and a sliver of a moon was already high among the stars.
"I spent a lot of time at the marketplace today," she said to herself, a tired but satisfied smile on her face as she began to pull off her gloves, her palms sweaty. "But it was worth it." She had found the rare minerals, some pigments and dried flowers she needed for her next, most ambitious dye formula. "At least I also got to see how Owen has been faring these past few days." She had visited him briefly, bringing him a warm meal and the latest payment for another of his invaluable information, a small moment of friendship in a long day of hard work.
She let out a soft sigh. "Now I will need to start calculating the corresponding ratios for this new dye." Her mind was already at work, thinking of formulas and chemical reactions.
Before she knew it, the carriage was pulling into the quiet, familiar courtyard of Eric’s private residence. Their home.
As the carriage stopped in front of the entrance door, Mr. Rye helped her down, his movements as respectful and gentle as always. "Thank you, Mr. Rye, for your time today," Delia said, giving him a warm, grateful smile. " I truly appreciate it."
The old man bowed deeply. "It is always an honor to serve you, Your Grace."
Just as he spoke, a light was ignited in the window of Eric’s bedroom on the second floor. A warm, golden glow suddenly appeared in the darkness. Delia’s face lit up with a pure contagious joy. He was back.
Mr. Rye, noticing the light and the immediate change in her expression, smiled himself. "It seems His Grace is back from his trip, Your Grace."
"Yes," Delia said, her own smile widening. " it seems so."
She turned to him, her voice full of a new, happy energy. "Mr. Rye, could you please be so kind as to take these materials to the small laboratory at the back of the house?"