Stir

Like A Bird // Nelly Furtado

We arrive at Mrs. Naimer's house after a brisk walk there and rap on the door to the main entrance. Her home is set away from town, far enough to have a long path from the road to her door. Trees line the path and continue around the home to provide shade. The door is large, with iron hinges and knockers. Mrs. Naimer fancies herself a queen and this her castle. It is fitting that the door looks like a gate surrounding a moat. Her bite would be worse than a crocodile, after all.

The door swings open revealing one of her many servants standing on the other side. "Madame is awaiting your arrival in the grand hall." The servant steps to the side so we can make our way across the threshold.

"Thank you, James. We know the way." Ellete is confident with the servant. I'm not sure what she meant by 'we' since I've never set foot into Mrs. Naimer's lair.

I follow Ellete as she walks through a room and a hallway and yet another room. She comes to a large double door, so tall I can hardly see where it ends. Two quick knocks and Ellete opens the doors—not waiting for a servant to bid her entrance which must be a privilege she's been given—and sashays right into the hall.

"Oh, you've arrived!" Mrs. Naimer practically squeals with delight. "I have been so excited all day. It's not every day that I plan a coming of age celebration." Mrs. Naimer never had any children. It is probably why she is such a nosy gossip.

"Ellete, you are just glowing with happiness. Is that to do with a certain Lord?" Her question sets my blood on fire, and I'm not even sure why.

I look to Ellete, who has her simpering heart eyes again. Dear heavens.

"Nothing to speak of yet, no. But perhaps once he escorts me to the party, it will be."

A modest answer.

"I must have a chat with our Lord Nicandros and set him straight. We shan't have a woman as lovely as yourself wait forever, now can we."

My eyes practically roll back into my head as I stand and listen to this talk.

"Oh, and poor Daralis, have you no one to escort you, again?" She says again as though I'm diseased. "I'm sure by next year someone will come along who fancies you."

What a condescending witch. But I already knew that. "I should only hope to be so lucky." My voice is dry and level as I reply.

"Yes, well let us have some lunch and make plans to celebrate. My chef has prepared some delightful options for you." Most of Mrs. Naimer's words are directed to Ellete, as if she is the only guest of honor. I shouldn't care. I hate these parties. But it still lights me up inside at her gall.

We make it to the far end of her extensive dinning table, already set with formal dishes and fine silver on one end. There are silver goblets set at all four places...wait, four? There are three of us standing here. Suddenly I feel sick. It couldn't be. She wouldn't...

"What a lovely group of ladies I have the privilege to dine with."

I should have known. The voice of Lord Nicandros drips with an emotion I can't quite place. Irritation? Or boredom. Whatever it is, I don't like it. I don't like him and I'm not pleased to be dining with him.

"Ah, you've arrived right on time! Our food is being prepared as we speak. Come, let us sit." Mrs. Naimer makes it to the table first. Nicandros pulls her chair out for her, causing a deep red blush to form on her face as she sits. He does the same for Ellete, but ignores me completely and takes the seat next to Ellete for himself. I'm left with the seat beside Mrs. Naimer. I release a deep breath, preparing myself for the afternoon to come.

The first course arrives. There are two different soups to taste; one a light broth with vegetables, and the other a heavy stew. We taste each and nod. I prefer the stew, but keep my opinion to myself.

"What do you think, dear Ellete?" Mrs. Naimer leans toward her in anticipation.

"I just can't decide." She looks from one bowl to the other. It's the cake fiasco all over again.

I sense eyes on me and look up to find Nicandros staring hard right at my face, almost glaring. "You've already decided, have you not?" he asks directly. He seems angry with me. Two can play at this game.

"Perhaps I have. What business is it of yours? This party is not for you."

"You are correct, it is not for me. I do believe it is for both of you, and yet you force your sister into all of the decisions."

Well, that's a harsh way to spin this situation. As if he has any idea about our family dynamics whatsoever. Rather than respond to him, I hold his glare while I raise the silver water goblet to my lips. Something flashes across his eyes, some new emotion. He is no longer indifferent or bored. Before I can decipher the look he has given me, Nicandros looks away.

Mrs. Naimer has been eyeing our exchange with a narrowed gaze, clearly not pleased with me, or him. I'm actually not sure which. She opens her mouth to say something just as Ellete makes her decision.

"The stew is the best choice for a fall celebration. And Daralis will bake my favorite baguettes to accompany the first course." Ellete looks pleased with herself, and I admit she's made a good choice.

"Ah, yes. You are the family baker. So talented." Nicandros drawls from across the table, his words full of the condescension I've become used to from so many that deem baking to be beneath them.

"Any fool can bake a loaf of bread." I say instead. I watch with a grin as Nicandros reacts to my words. He's surprised I would say such a thing. "It takes passion, love, from the first sift of flour to the last brush of egg wash to create a warm, crusty loaf of bread that will make mouths water and seek out more."

How's that for an answer?

Nicandros' smirk tells me that he's already planned his response. "It would appear that your passion outshines all others." There is something veiled in his words. I feel it. But I don't know what it is.

"Well, your mother had a passion, that goes without question. It seems that her traits have been passed on to you, my dear. Let's just hope it was only the good ones that you've taken on." Mrs. Naimer's voice cuts through the staring contest Nicandros and I have been engaged in. Ellete seems oblivious to everything passing between us.

It takes a moment, but suddenly her words sink in and my ire is up. More insults, more rumors about Mother that I won't tolerate. My sister should have known something like this would happen. It was only a matter of time before this horrible woman opened her mouth only for daggers to fly out.

I stand up, gently placing my napkin on the table. Long ago I learned that a calm reply laced with venom goes a longer way than angry shouts. I lean toward her, placing both palms flat on the table before me. I keep my voice steady and even, the volume almost a whisper.

"Whose traits have you inherited, Mrs. Naimer? It is fortunate that no one shall inherit them from you." I stand back up and assess the damage I'm about to leave in my wake. Ellete is horrified, Mrs. Naimer looks furious but it is Nicandros that catches me off guard. His face, his eyes specifically, hold a glimmer of wicked delight.

Being the cause for the look in his eyes is the only thing I regret.

This is one of my top five scenes in the book. A new part drops tomorrow!

AND Not Another Princess debuts for Friday Feels tomorrow as well!!

Blurb:

She's a hellcat and a handful, in that order. Guarding Emily Montano, Hollywood royalty and a huge pain in my ass, has to be the worst assignment I've ever had. She's demanding, exasperating and an instigator.

I'm biding my time until the next assignment, keeping her safe after her enormous ego put her in hot water.

It isn't until her mom shows up, degrading her with every word out of her mouth, that I see her in a new light. And I finally admit to myself that Emily isn't so bad.

In fact, she's not another princess of Hollywood. And getting to know the real woman is more than I bargained for.

Thanks so much for reading!