Five months after the coronation, Charles heard the click-clack of horse hooves outside his door. He froze at the brief look out his window, even as the servants began whispering to themselves excitedly.
He watched as the familiar carriage came to a stop before his home. With a preternatural calm, he laid down his book, made his way down the stairs to the parlor and stepped out of his manor.
He stood still and watched as the driver opened the door and the elegantly dressed man inside climbed out, familiar tricorn hat in his hand and clothed in his usual navy cloak and a heavy coat.
Haytham Kenway had finally called upon him.
“Master Kenway.”
“Charles.”
Former mentor and student stood looking at each other, faces unreadable. Neither spoke, both content to take the measure of the other in silence.
Then, “it is good to see you again, Charles.”
And Charles smiled and waved him in.
-----
“How goes Connor’s pregnancy?”
It was a question Charles had been expecting.
“Doctor White assures me that Connor is doing well.”
But that did not mean he was not still worried, especially as his wife still lay in his state.
Master Kenway nodded, relieved and unsurprised. Charles briefly wondered if the man’s spies had already uncovered this information.
“And Connor himself?
Charles frowned.
“Still asleep.”
Master Kenway stopped, looking regretful. “It has been near a year since he has been lost, hasn’t it?”
Charles nodded.
“11 months now. The child is nearly born, but he does not yet wake. I begin to wonder if he ever will.”
Haytham looked somber at this, as well as he might.
Would Connor remain like Talia in Basile’s tale? Removed from the world until his child was born and the poisoned flax removed from his finger?
But then hadn’t Charles removed himself from his body?
“And you, my friend. How are you doing?”
Whereas once, Charles would have raged and begged to know how Master Kenway would stay away, he simply smiled at this.
He had learned a measure of patience from his days of keeping himself from his wife. From watching him sleep and feeling the child, but never touching him as he yearned to, never embracing him as a husband does a wife.
“I am King. The Order is strong. If fates are willing, I will have an heir. What else do I need?”
Master Kenway looked up the stairs, to a room where a man just beginning to become dear to Charles’s heart lay.
“What indeed.”
They climbed the staircase in silence.
-----
Master Kenway looked curiously at the painting in Charles’s office, paying special attention to where a small blot of ink had stained into the canvas.
“I don’t recall this being in this particular shape, Charles.”
Charles colored upon seeing the stain, remembering a rage-filled morning where he lamented his mentor’s seeming desertion.
“An accident, I believe.”
The man raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
“Is that so?”
But he spoke no more about it.
“Charles, I am stepping down.”
It took Charles a moment to comprehend what he had heard, though his reaction upon doing so was not what the other man had been expecting.
“I do not think that is a good idea just yet, sir.”
The man started, clearly surprised by the reply.
“I am likely to be a new father soon, sir. Although I will perform my duties, both to the Order and to the nation, to the best of my abilities, I will not shirk my responsibilities as a father. I will not abandon my child for my duties.”
As someone else once did, went unsaid.
Master Kenway shifted.
“Do you mean to give the position to another? You know the rest of the Inner Circle is too new and untried for such an important standing.”
Oh yes, he knew. Even James, who he admired for the temperance of his temper and his natural charisma was relatively untried in Templar affairs, having only obtained his high seat a little over a year and a half ago.
“I mean, Master Kenway, that you should hold the position for another couple of years.”
The man shook his head solemnly.
“I am getting old, Charles. It is time to hand the title and responsibilities over to my successor.”
“You have years in you yet, sir. And you have given so much to the Order, sacrificed everything for it.” Including his son. “You should lead us to the end.”
Master Kenway did not look as if he agreed, but before he could try different arguments, Mary broke into the room.
“M-master Lee,” she panted. “Mister K-kenway. Forgive me for interrupting, but,” she heaved a few times, desperately trying to catch her breath. “Mister Lee is back!”
-----
The two men raced to Connor’s room, heart pounding, thoughts whirling.
How? Why? Is he well? Now?
They passed a startled Ronald on their way and burst through the door to Connor’s chambers to find...
Connor.
With a soft smile on his lips and hugging Clipper. Soothing the other Omega who was sobbing at his chest.
Connor.
Who was pale and wan and thin still, but up and about and awake for far, far too long.
Connor.
Whose smile faded upon catching sight of Charles and of his father and whispered something to Clipper that encouraged the other Omega to leave.
Although it seemed to take a few tries as his friend obviously did not want to leave him, newly awakened and weakened as he undoubtedly was.
Connor.
Who sat on the bed still, one hand gently cradling the child growing within his body. Who watched them both with eagle eyes and neither smiled nor frowned nor attacked them. Who seemed utterly unlike the rash and naïve boy he had been before he had been captured and fettered.
Connor.
Whose first words in over a year was, “hello husband, father. I believe we have a few things to discuss.”
Master of the House - part 27
Chapter 24 - Awakening
Five months after the coronation, Charles heard the click-clack of horse hooves outside his door. He froze at the brief look out his window, even as the servants began whispering to themselves excitedly.
He watched as the familiar carriage came to a stop before his home. With a preternatural calm, he laid down his book, made his way down the stairs to the parlor and stepped out of his manor.
He stood still and watched as the driver opened the door and the elegantly dressed man inside climbed out, familiar tricorn hat in his hand and clothed in his usual navy cloak and a heavy coat.
Haytham Kenway had finally called upon him.
“Master Kenway.”
“Charles.”
Former mentor and student stood looking at each other, faces unreadable. Neither spoke, both content to take the measure of the other in silence.
Then, “it is good to see you again, Charles.”
And Charles smiled and waved him in.
-----
“How goes Connor’s pregnancy?”
It was a question Charles had been expecting.
“Doctor White assures me that Connor is doing well.”
But that did not mean he was not still worried, especially as his wife still lay in his state.
Master Kenway nodded, relieved and unsurprised. Charles briefly wondered if the man’s spies had already uncovered this information.
“And Connor himself?
Charles frowned.
“Still asleep.”
Master Kenway stopped, looking regretful. “It has been near a year since he has been lost, hasn’t it?”
Charles nodded.
“11 months now. The child is nearly born, but he does not yet wake. I begin to wonder if he ever will.”
Haytham looked somber at this, as well as he might.
Would Connor remain like Talia in Basile’s tale? Removed from the world until his child was born and the poisoned flax removed from his finger?
But then hadn’t Charles removed himself from his body?
“And you, my friend. How are you doing?”
Whereas once, Charles would have raged and begged to know how Master Kenway would stay away, he simply smiled at this.
He had learned a measure of patience from his days of keeping himself from his wife. From watching him sleep and feeling the child, but never touching him as he yearned to, never embracing him as a husband does a wife.
“I am King. The Order is strong. If fates are willing, I will have an heir. What else do I need?”
Master Kenway looked up the stairs, to a room where a man just beginning to become dear to Charles’s heart lay.
“What indeed.”
They climbed the staircase in silence.
-----
Master Kenway looked curiously at the painting in Charles’s office, paying special attention to where a small blot of ink had stained into the canvas.
“I don’t recall this being in this particular shape, Charles.”
Charles colored upon seeing the stain, remembering a rage-filled morning where he lamented his mentor’s seeming desertion.
“An accident, I believe.”
The man raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
“Is that so?”
But he spoke no more about it.
“Charles, I am stepping down.”
It took Charles a moment to comprehend what he had heard, though his reaction upon doing so was not what the other man had been expecting.
“I do not think that is a good idea just yet, sir.”
The man started, clearly surprised by the reply.
“I am likely to be a new father soon, sir. Although I will perform my duties, both to the Order and to the nation, to the best of my abilities, I will not shirk my responsibilities as a father. I will not abandon my child for my duties.”
As someone else once did, went unsaid.
Master Kenway shifted.
“Do you mean to give the position to another? You know the rest of the Inner Circle is too new and untried for such an important standing.”
Oh yes, he knew. Even James, who he admired for the temperance of his temper and his natural charisma was relatively untried in Templar affairs, having only obtained his high seat a little over a year and a half ago.
“I mean, Master Kenway, that you should hold the position for another couple of years.”
The man shook his head solemnly.
“I am getting old, Charles. It is time to hand the title and responsibilities over to my successor.”
“You have years in you yet, sir. And you have given so much to the Order, sacrificed everything for it.” Including his son. “You should lead us to the end.”
Master Kenway did not look as if he agreed, but before he could try different arguments, Mary broke into the room.
“M-master Lee,” she panted. “Mister K-kenway. Forgive me for interrupting, but,” she heaved a few times, desperately trying to catch her breath. “Mister Lee is back!”
-----
The two men raced to Connor’s room, heart pounding, thoughts whirling.
How? Why? Is he well? Now?
They passed a startled Ronald on their way and burst through the door to Connor’s chambers to find...
Connor.
With a soft smile on his lips and hugging Clipper. Soothing the other Omega who was sobbing at his chest.
Connor.
Who was pale and wan and thin still, but up and about and awake for far, far too long.
Connor.
Whose smile faded upon catching sight of Charles and of his father and whispered something to Clipper that encouraged the other Omega to leave.
Although it seemed to take a few tries as his friend obviously did not want to leave him, newly awakened and weakened as he undoubtedly was.
Connor.
Who sat on the bed still, one hand gently cradling the child growing within his body. Who watched them both with eagle eyes and neither smiled nor frowned nor attacked them. Who seemed utterly unlike the rash and naïve boy he had been before he had been captured and fettered.
Connor.
Whose first words in over a year was, “hello husband, father. I believe we have a few things to discuss.”