When Ewan opened the door to the house he was surprised to see the caregiver still there, as he had fully expected Storm to be home. She had said she heading home. "Mistress Storm is not returned?"
"No, sir," the lady said gathering her things, "I have not seen her since earlier." She smiled and passed by. "Good night, sir."
"Thank you, yes, good night." Ewan let the woman out, not afraid for her safety since she was a retired guard once joined with the Whistling Downs Holding House and also had some arcane talents. Ewan went to check on Avery and found the boy still asleep. Whisper picked up his head, but then laid it down once more as Ewan pulled the door closed.
Looking down the hall at the doorway, Ewan frowned sharply and wondered where his wife had gone. He would not wait long, but that waiting was done in a slow pacing in the family room.
Storm covered a frown with a smile as she passed the caretaker on the street of her home. She was not aware that Ewan had intended to go home right after. Her small detour was not long, walking through, past, and back through the Marketplace to give her mind time to clear before heading to her home. Once she passed the caretaker, her frown appeared and her pace quickened as she headed for the home. Opening the door gently, the frown could be heard through her voice, "Ewan?"
He came out from the family room to meet her in the hallway. "Storm?" Was the extent of his reply, but in it was wrapped the more important question of "where did you go?"
Her frown remained, "I did not know you were coming home right away when..." her voice trailed off, finding that her sentence did not matter. "I went on a small walk." She explained, reaching to undo her cloak.
Out of habit, he stepped forward to help her with the cloak. "In future, it would be helpful to know that so if it becomes a longer walk I do not worry. I was not mistaken that you said you were heading here, was I?"
"No," her hands automatically went out of his way for him to help, "but I only said that so blatantly to see if you were going to go with me, as you had spoken before. And then you went through the back door, so I assumed you were not coming home."
"You said you were going home, not that we were going home. Such words can only mean you did not want my company on the way." He hung up the cloak and went on in to the family room again, so the continued discussion would not carry down the hall. "I was respecting your right to not have me there, but I do expect when you say you are going somewhere that you are going there." A beat of time, he looked over her. "Not that I need every detail of you whereabouts, Storm," he added, "but it can lead to misunderstandings."
"Beloved," her frown deepened, her voice having a slightly scolding tone to it as she followed him into the living room, "when have I ever not wished for you to walk with me? I am sorry that I caused a misunderstanding, but I do not know why you would think I would want that."
"Storm," his hands went to his hips, "you do not always need to have me there. There is nothing wrong with that. I do not expect you to always have me at your side."
She mirrored his stance, "I did not say that, nor did I imply that. I simply meant that.. oh, nevermind. You think that I need nothing." This clearly being what had upset her, a flush rose high on her cheeks.
"You do need nothing," not about to pretend he does not know what she means. "You do not need me to protect you or provide for you or support you, since you tell me little of what goes on in your work unless I press you for it. You evidently do not need that child since you only suppose you should be congratulated for his or her pending arrival. You need nothing." His voice was low, firm. "What you desire may be entirely different."
She recoiled as if he had smacked her across the face. Her entire body went stiff, and she clenched her jaw. She stood silent and still for several extended moments, experiencing to many emotions to bring forth words. Finding some control, she quickly turned on her heels and intended to head for the door, "You know nothing of me." She stated flatly.
He watched her go, and turned for the bedroom.
Once her hand touched the door knob, she knew that he would not follow. Silently opening the door and stepping out, the only sound was the small click of the door. With tears blurring her vision, she stepped through the portal and out of sight.
"No, sir," the lady said gathering her things, "I have not seen her since earlier." She smiled and passed by. "Good night, sir."
"Thank you, yes, good night." Ewan let the woman out, not afraid for her safety since she was a retired guard once joined with the Whistling Downs Holding House and also had some arcane talents. Ewan went to check on Avery and found the boy still asleep. Whisper picked up his head, but then laid it down once more as Ewan pulled the door closed.
Looking down the hall at the doorway, Ewan frowned sharply and wondered where his wife had gone. He would not wait long, but that waiting was done in a slow pacing in the family room.
Storm covered a frown with a smile as she passed the caretaker on the street of her home. She was not aware that Ewan had intended to go home right after. Her small detour was not long, walking through, past, and back through the Marketplace to give her mind time to clear before heading to her home. Once she passed the caretaker, her frown appeared and her pace quickened as she headed for the home. Opening the door gently, the frown could be heard through her voice, "Ewan?"
He came out from the family room to meet her in the hallway. "Storm?" Was the extent of his reply, but in it was wrapped the more important question of "where did you go?"
Her frown remained, "I did not know you were coming home right away when..." her voice trailed off, finding that her sentence did not matter. "I went on a small walk." She explained, reaching to undo her cloak.
Out of habit, he stepped forward to help her with the cloak. "In future, it would be helpful to know that so if it becomes a longer walk I do not worry. I was not mistaken that you said you were heading here, was I?"
"No," her hands automatically went out of his way for him to help, "but I only said that so blatantly to see if you were going to go with me, as you had spoken before. And then you went through the back door, so I assumed you were not coming home."
"You said you were going home, not that we were going home. Such words can only mean you did not want my company on the way." He hung up the cloak and went on in to the family room again, so the continued discussion would not carry down the hall. "I was respecting your right to not have me there, but I do expect when you say you are going somewhere that you are going there." A beat of time, he looked over her. "Not that I need every detail of you whereabouts, Storm," he added, "but it can lead to misunderstandings."
"Beloved," her frown deepened, her voice having a slightly scolding tone to it as she followed him into the living room, "when have I ever not wished for you to walk with me? I am sorry that I caused a misunderstanding, but I do not know why you would think I would want that."
"Storm," his hands went to his hips, "you do not always need to have me there. There is nothing wrong with that. I do not expect you to always have me at your side."
She mirrored his stance, "I did not say that, nor did I imply that. I simply meant that.. oh, nevermind. You think that I need nothing." This clearly being what had upset her, a flush rose high on her cheeks.
"You do need nothing," not about to pretend he does not know what she means. "You do not need me to protect you or provide for you or support you, since you tell me little of what goes on in your work unless I press you for it. You evidently do not need that child since you only suppose you should be congratulated for his or her pending arrival. You need nothing." His voice was low, firm. "What you desire may be entirely different."
She recoiled as if he had smacked her across the face. Her entire body went stiff, and she clenched her jaw. She stood silent and still for several extended moments, experiencing to many emotions to bring forth words. Finding some control, she quickly turned on her heels and intended to head for the door, "You know nothing of me." She stated flatly.
He watched her go, and turned for the bedroom.
Once her hand touched the door knob, she knew that he would not follow. Silently opening the door and stepping out, the only sound was the small click of the door. With tears blurring her vision, she stepped through the portal and out of sight.