"You know... At first I thought the servant Boy might be in love with Safa..." Penelope said.
"You mean Wolfgang...?" Colin asked.
"Yes, wolf...but now I am sure they're simply friends... Close friends."
"What makes you think so, Pen?"
"Well... it's not my place to be speaking of these things especially behind Safa's back, but since The two have openly spoken in front of me, they mentioned something about how Clara may have seemingly helped Wolfgang find love...I thought that was strange..." Penelope replied.
"You mean matchmake? I didn't think of Clara as the matchmaking type, so Wolf already has his lady." Colin questioned.
"Oh Clara is a woman who is very romantic apparently! from what I gathered when spoke with her during the party, she believes wholeheartedly in love, she seemed Rather supportive of Fabian and Safa to a certain degree..." Penelope replied.
"Now that i think about it, when James forced us all to explain our scheme to Safa, Clara was the only one among the group who followed Fabian as he headed to leave the mansion, Fabian seems to have a good impression of her since that day." Colin said.
"Wolfgang and Clara are very intriguing...I mean I feel like I've come to understand James and Safa more...But the other two are almost a mystery to me...I could swear that I never heard of the Teatons having a daughter named Clara... perhaps they simply didn't announce it...some families don't put much effort once they figure out the newborn is a girl." Penelope said with a pang of sadness.
"Well she and Wolf Care a lot for Safa! I wonder how they became so close?" Colin asked.
"Well Wolfgang is a servant who was mostly the only person by Safa's side since she lost her family, he held on no matter how hard she tried to push him away, and James works with her... I suppose Clara was just the sister that came along, entertaining Safa."
Sighing, Colin Glanced at his surroundings with a look of gratitude, "You and I grew up not knowing what's it like to own nothing...or what's it like to be lonely and surrounded by Fear, pain and hunger... When Wolfgang spoke with Fabian at the party, it appears that he had similar rough upbringing to Fabian...a child in dirty clothes with a stomach that goes unfed for days at a time." He said, Penelope nodding with a hint of guilt and sadness, "We were more fortunate than most..." she said.
Then she wondered, "How strange...remember how James was unusually surprised when he heard Wolfgang's age at the party...but they knew each other for 3 years, how come he never knew before?" Penelope asked.
"I can't shake that their relationship, the four of them is rather strange and unusual especially for our time but who are we to judge them...at the end of the day, my relationship with you was unusual, my friendship with Fabian is unusual as well, I don't think we're any less intriguing than those four." He replied chuckling lightly.
Penelope smiled at her husband's words, "I suppose you're right, I do not wish to judge them, it is mere curiosity...for example Safa is obviously noble...but Clara, it's almost as if it's her first time wearing a dress."
"Ah, you still on about Clara, Penelope."
"Oh Colin don't turn me into a villain...You noticed it too, she was so uncomfortable with the entire nobility thing, and when Gertrude kept asking her questions about her life growing up, each time James would save her by answering himself."
"To be quite honest I have never heard of Clara before, but if James says he is her brother, I do believe him because, he's very protective of her...in a way similar to Wolfgang and Safa, or me and Eloise."
"I didn't wish to say it earlier...but I'm afraid there is an explanation for such arrangement however, I feel horrible just talking about this behind their backs...it is not none of our business after all...but could it be that she's illegitimate?" Penelope asked.
"Pen...my love...Some things are better left alone." He said going to her, he held her hand in his as he gazed at her with concern yet love.
"You mean unknown..."
"I mean both..."
...Nextday...
"Goodness young master!" Gertrude was surprised at the sight in front of her.
"Ughhh...good... morning Gertie..." Fabian groggily replied.
When Gertrude went to find Fabian in the morning, she passed by the carpentry room out of curiosity, only to be horrified to find that the man she left there yesterday, was still there half asleep on a chair, with his body slumped over the workshop table.
"Oh for God's sake, I did tell you to put in the effort to charm her, not to sacrifice your sleep and health with it!" She nearly yelled.
"I read fiction books, some find lack of sleep quite romantic." He joked.
"Goodness what do I do with you... look slightly better than dead!" She scolded him.
"Thank you, that will help my already plummeting self esteem." He joked again.
"Oh shush boy..."
"Sorry Gertie...I could not sleep without finishing my project, I wanted to finish it as soon as I can so I can apologize and fix things with Safa...I really miss her believe me...I would love her to scream at me again just to ease this hole in my heart."
"Poor young master... So what have you made?"
"Oh yes!...I made a little scratching corner from wood for the cat to use, he can just sit and scratch at it all day."
"Doesn't sound complicated, but I'm sure it's very useful and east to grasp." Gertie said examine the weird unfamiliar invention.
"Oh that is the point behind it, I don't have the money nor the time to make something extravagant, just enough to show my true and kind intentions, and since she does not like complicated matters, I thought straightforward is the way." Fabian said beaming with pride.
"Well I'm sure the kitten is going to appreciate it, Safa as well will appreciate you thinking of her cat. Hurry up now! we must prepare you to go to her. you have to do this today, so take the gift with you and make sure to make amends without ruffling more feathers.
let's hope to God that whatever happened that day, is all going to be left behind." Gertrude replied.
Suddenly a familiar voice spoke-up "I suggest you listen to her, because I may have some good news about your pretty Devil with a cane."
"Colin! Good morning." Fabian hurried to greet him.
"Good morning Miss Gertrude, good morning Fabian, ready for today?" Colin greeted them back with a big comfortable smile.
...Few Hours later...
"Thank you for making the time to come to my Estate, Miss Mary." Mary, the humble teacher and Joey's beloved fiance, settled in the plush sofa across from Safa.
"The pleasure is all mine Lady Vega...I believe that things have returned to normal ever since that day..." She said eyeing Safa who eyed her back with mutual curiosity.
"On the contrary things Are slightly even better, all is well in house Teaton...Anyhow How are you fairing up Miss Mary... I heard James's shenanigans have even reached your doorstep." Safa asked.
Chuckling once, "To be fair no harm has reached me directly, it was the pain that Joey felt that hurt me...but then again it only lasted a moment...It wasn't like Joey took the job James offered him and then found out about everything later. Luckily my man escaped such trap." She said earning a giggle from Safa.
"Ah Yes, Joey seems to be a very kind and honest man, you must be thrilled to marry a man with such Noble qualities even though his background is humble." Safa replied.
"My background is humble as well, slightly less humble than his as I am originally from Wales, and my father's family is nor poor nor rich, yet I cannot think of another man that would make such a good husband other than my Joseph. My family disapproval of him will not stop me as Joey is loving, supportive and very much enamored with me, my grandma always said marry him if he's poor but generous with his heart and don't marry a rich man who's frugal with his love." Marry said sipping her tea.
"So you're the famous Mary." Clara who joined the girls, said with a look of envy covered by a polite smile.
Mary eyed her carefully, "Clara I assume? You know Joseph seems to care for you still... not as romantic as he used to do but he always wondered about you and where you were, if I didn't know him better, I'd be jealous of you." she replied.
"Jealous of me? I'm not as pretty nor as smart as you...Besides it's clear I missed my chance." Clara said, settling into the sofa beside Safa.
"So you did love him." Mary questioned.
"I did..."
"Well you'll be able to marry higher now."
Safa scoffed at Mary's words, "She should Study, marriage can wait, she's a young girl still."
"I suppose that's the look of an educated woman such as yourself lady Vega, As an educated woman myself, we do have a different outlook of the world..." Mary replied.
"Education is power." Safa said making Mary smile, But her smile quickly faded as she added, "Education Alone is nothing, in this world especially for a woman."
"All of that can change, Change is inevitable. The world will evolve eventually to better more fair times, at least it'll be a time where little girls will value reading books more than playing house." Safa replied.
Curious, "I sense a distain of motherhood from you." Mary inquired.
"Motherhood is a burden. Men aren't raised to be fathers." Safa replied.
"True, and it's unfair but mothers are one of the strongest humans to ever exist." Mary said.
"I'm of Safa's opinion, I understand the beauty of motherhood, but a baby could make a woman forget all her dreams and aspirations in life, if she's even allowed any... How many times have you felt as if people saw you as nothing but a womb." Clara interjected.
"Perhaps one too many but I do want to be a mother and I see it as the most important thing I can do as a woman." Mary replied.
Sighing softly, "We are wasting time...I suppose arguing with a woman who is about to get married is rather not a smart move on my side miss Mary, so let us close this unnecessary discussion." Safa spoke-up.
Realizing what she's done, Mary blushed slightly and stammered out an apology," My apologies I didn't mean to show disdain towards your point of view, both of you. you are after all free to your beliefs as I am to mine."
"You're right, i must also apologize, it's necessary to respect each others opinions...especially when we disagree." Clara said making Mary sigh in relief.
"Correct... That is the right thing to do. Anyhow let us talk chaperoning?" Safa suggested.
"Yes, Joey mentioned you'd be courted mainly in the afternoons, that will work for me." Mary said, "That is if I'm still needed." she added.
Laughing, "haha! Oh dear girl if you think a small argument will make me kick you so soon, you must have thought me unreasonable." Said replied earning another sigh of relief from Mary.
"I'm glad you seem willing to have conversation like the one we did..." she said.
"i do not mind people disagree with me, I mind those who make a big scene or try to force their opinion and would not accept that I am not convinced." safa replied.
"Hmm... Slightly ironic...Safa dear." Clara mumbled sheepishly to herself.