He finally looks at me. “Different.”
What does he know that he's not saying? Maybe he doesn't know anything. Maybe he's just wishing aloud. I've wished it enough myself. Yet, there has to be more. I want there to be a reason behind the thought. How can things be different?
Chapter Twenty-Six
A couple weeks later, I debate whether or not to include Waverly in on an idea I have. She would be the perfect person to consult, but something about how close she and Zade are stops me.
“Anything else?” she asks.
“No, thank you.” I'll ask Cynthia to assist. Bethany may help mother with the parties, but Cynthia helps mother with the furniture. And I won't have to spend extra time around Waverly wondering what's between her and Zade.
I head for Cynthia's room and knock on her door.
“Morning,” she says. “Come in. One of the servants wanted to fix my hair, but she couldn't get it the way Waverly has been doing yours. I was going to attempt it myself, but if I can't figure it out either, I was going to give Waverly a ring. What do you think?”
“Let me help.” I settle myself behind her.
While I do her hair, I worry over asking her. Maybe I shouldn't. Women don't make decisions like this. We always wait for the men to tell us to do them. But I really want to do something to help Zade. Forget what others think I should be doing, I will do this. “When we're done here, would you help me with something.”
“With what?
“The Chancellor isn't comfortable in any of the furniture we have. We should get him items that are bigger.”
“That's easy enough to fix. Did he have anything specific in mind?”
“Not really. At least one bigger chair.” It seems silly not to correct her, but it's strange for me to do this without being asked. And he would be more comfortable in things his size. Besides it's a way I can return the favor for everything he's done. “And I haven't seen his bed chamber, but perhaps a bigger bed. A better chair in the dining room, as well. Things for his study?”
She nods. “Perhaps we should look around the house and see if anything would work. It would be faster than waiting to order it.”
“I didn't think of that. It's a splendid idea.”
“It may help give us a better idea of what he needs if we see what he has currently. Is he in today?”
“No, there's a council meeting.”
“I wonder what they talk about so much.” A faraway look enters her eyes.
“Me, too.” Like, what that tarnished law Councilman Barkley in the park was talking about. What is it all about? Will it affect Katherine?
“In any case, it will give us a chance to look around without bothering him. Father always hated it when mother and I tried to figure out what furniture he needed while he was getting work done.”
Sounds like him. But I don't want to think of him. “Let's go then.”
We cross along the length of the house. It feels strange not taking any stairs to get where we are going. I twist my hands together. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I stare at his door. “Are you sure we should check now?”
She nods vigorously. “You remember the time Father hexed you mute for a week?”
“After I said you'd done it because I said you had to.” The memory is at the back of my mind with all the others I keep pushed back. “I never knew what you were doing for that one.”
“I was going through his study taking inventory of what he'd broken and needed replaced. While working I made the mistake of singing and he came in and caught me at it.”
“That explains the muteness. I never did get the chance to ask. By the time I got my voice back, mother had another baby.”
She plays with her fingernails. “Thanks for always doing that for me. I never told you, but it meant a lot to me.”
“Oh, Cynthia.” Remembering how it made me feel when Katherine wrapped her arms around me and I hugged her back, I can't help but try likewise with my sister. At first, she's tense under my embrace, but soon she relaxes into tears. I pat her back. “It's all right, Cynthia.”
“It's not,” she says between sobs. “You were punished so many times for me.”
“And I'd do it many more.”
“I don't deserve you for a sister.”
“You're planning my ball, I'll call that good enough.”
“It's not enough, but I'm trying my best.” She sniffs a few times before pulling away. “We should investigate his room before I end up crying all day and night and he comes home to us blocking his room.”
I grin at her. “I don't think he'd hex us mute because of it.”
She grins back.
A cool breeze rushes past as I open the door and enter. “That was odd.”
“What was?”
“Didn't you feel that cold air?”
“No.”