The Veil - Chapter 5

A/N: For anyone who's been following, someone pointed out to me that Conya and Lornya's names were very similar, so I changed Lornya's to Sefu. It's a weird change that I'm still getting used to, so if you catch any points where I call him Lornya instead of Sefu, please point them out.

Enjoy :3

Obi tapped on the top of his boiled egg, wishing the cook would just peel the shell off like a regular person. He hoped it was cooked longer too. The lady always took offense at his request for more time on his food, swearing that she wouldn’t burn anything that came out of her kitchen, but Obi had survived on overcooked meat and eggs ever since he went into the military. He was suspicious of things that still seemed to have life in them.

Conya sat across the table, looking nowhere but her plate, her body perfectly positioned to meet all etiquette requirements.

He wondered if she ever got stiff or if she ever thought the impenetrable silence that seemed to follow her was awkward. He had only known Conya for a few months before he had been sent out of the country on duty, but he always thought she had been a different woman then. She had smiled then. She had laughed then. He could have sworn he had been envious of his brother, but when he returned, she had been a silent ghost.

He must have been remembering wrong or maybe the joy of a newlywed had made her gay for a while.

Nevertheless, he’d always held a concern and a love for his sister-in-law which had only strengthened after his brother’s death.

He couldn’t help notice her abnormally messy hair and her unmade face. The circles under her eyes and the red tinge where obvious signs that she had cried far more than she had slept last night. She gave a mournful sigh as she spread marmalade on her toast and glanced up at him. Somehow, she dredged up a shaky smile for him.

His heart hurt for her. “I’m doing something for him, Conya. Don’t give up hope.”

She studied him, her dark brown eyes seeming to burn into his skin. Biting her lip, she laid her hand, palm up, on the table, and he took it on a whim, pressing his lips to her fingertips. “I trust you, Obi. You’ve taken such great care of us. What would we do without you?” Her lips wobbled as tears filled her eyes.

He moved around the table and sat beside her, allowing her to lean her head against his shoulder. “You would figure out a way to survive. You might even do a better job with Lekan than I’m doing.”

She sniffled, tracing patterns on his chest as he rubbed her hair comfortingly. “Not with this mess. He’s gone too far this time. He’ll put us all in ruin on the path he’s going down.”

Ignoring the uncomfortable clench of guilt, Obi held her closer. “You don’t know that, Conya. He’s just mourning his father. He’ll come around soon.”

“He’ll be dead or in another country risking his life!” she wailed. “All for some silly adventure.” Unaware of the panicked look that crawled over his face, she slid from her chair to his lap, somehow maintaining the grace Obi had always admired, and thread her arms around his neck. She rested her head against her head against his shoulder.

Obi looked at the doorway, praying for a miracle. He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten into this situation, and he didn’t need the staff talking. They already made speculations on how he’d gotten away with murdering the previous master. All he needed was someone talking about how he was taking advantage of the poor, distraught widow.

He grinned at Sefu who had waved the butler who had let him in away, gods bless him, and ignored the congratulatory smirk on his friend’s face. “Sefu,” he said, perhaps a tad too loudly because Conya jumped. “Glad to see you.” He helped Conya back into her chair, skimming over her face so he didn’t have to see the bewildered, slightly hurt expression on her face. “Er...” He studied her hair line, noticing a few grays in the brown. “Things will get better. You’ll see.” He gave her hairline a cheerful smile after the meaningless platitude and hurried off. “Let’s go to my office.” Glancing back at his egg, barely touched, he sighed. He’d had a good feeling about it too.

Sefu didn’t ask any questions which Obi was thankful for, but he still felt himself answering.

“Listen, Conya’s really upset about this entire ordeal.”

His friend’s face was composed as he nodded. “It’s understandable. Losing her son so soon after her husband can’t be easy.”

“Of course not, and as head of the household, it’s my job to care for her.” Obi could hear the snap in his voice before Sefu turned to him with a slow blink.

“It’s only responsible.”

“Exactly what I think!”

Frowning, Sefu turned his gaze to the pretentious stained glass window that was meant to boast wealth. “I’m not quite sure what you want from me.”

“I had no intentions,” Obi hissed and felt heat crawl up his neck as the other man scratched the back of his neck and cleared his throat.

“Well… I wasn’t going to accuse you of anything, but since you brought it up.” His mouth twitched at Obi’s groan. “You have to admit you’re getting very friendly with the widow under your roof.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Shrugging, he waited for Obi to open his study door. “Touchy this morning, I see.”

“Uncle Obi touchy? I don’t believe it.” Lekan strolled down the stairs directly across from the study. “What’s got his hackles up today?”

Sefu returned Obi’s glare with a grin, looking up. “Good morning. Obi’s having woman troubles.”

Letting out a breath through his teeth, Obi opened his study door, wondering if it was too early for a drink. “Sefu,” he warned as he flipped a switch.

“Stop being so grouchy. I can’t stand to be around you,” Sefu laughed as he sat in one of the cushy leather chairs Obi had added to what had been a sparse area for the estate accountant.

Peering out the doorway at the last moment, Obi called, “Lekan, your mother is still in the breakfast room.” He was glad to see his nephew had the sense to stiffen and turn away.

“Do you mind if I stay with you two until she leaves?” He allowed for a sheepish smile.

Being exactly aware of exactly what hour Lekan had stumbled in last night, Obi was surprised to see how bright eyed the boy was now. “Just ask for your meal here. It’ll make everything easier.” He tugged on the bell pull and waved at a chair as he sat behind his desk.

There was a dense silence as Sefu settled back and lit a pipe, ignoring Obi’s flat stare as a window was opened.

Lekan coughed as discreetly as he could manage as his eyes began to water. “…Not really woman troubles, right?” he asked as boldly and flippantly as he could. The truth was, he didn’t want his uncle to wed. He would put it past his uncle to make a favorable connection and get an estate of his own. Any father would take Obi Eshe as his son-in-law. Lekan knew enough to know that connections were everything, and even disgraced, Obi was powerful enough to only do an estate favors. Now, Obi had given Lekan a time of peace from the responsibilities that hung over his head. He didn’t want him to leave.

Women troubles were not tolerable.

Chuckling, Sefu nodded, blowing smoke towards Obi which left his friend in the throes of a coughing fit. “Indeed. You know the veiled woman?”

Obi’s glare morphed into a look of confusion as Lekan laughed.

“The whore?”

Obi shushed both men as a maid walked in timidly. “Lord Eshe would like his breakfast served in here, please.” He smiled blandly as she curtsied and left before pointing at Lekan. “She’s more than that. She’s got class. You wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Sefu nodded, impressed at how quickly Obi had caught on. “Your uncle certainly wasn’t.”

His head snapping towards Sefu, Obi narrowed his eyes as Lekan smothered horrified laughter.

“I bet I could get her.”

Obi scoffed. “You’re young and dumb. You know nothing.”

Leaning forward, Lekan opened his mouth then shut it again as the maid came in, burdened with a tray. The silence was thick as she set everything on the desk.

“Anything else, sirs?”

Obi had to admire how unflappable she was. She seemed completely unbothered by the awkward quiet in the room. “No. Thank you. You’re dismissed.”

Lekan paused in smearing preserves on his toast to meet his uncle’s gaze. “I bet I can get this whore because I’m prettier than you are.”

Obi’s smile was a cold one. “Then you’d better get started.”

When Lekan finally left, Obi stood by the window, a thin cigarette hanging from his fingers as he tapped ash behind the bushes. “Sefu?”

“Yes, Obi?”

“You’d be best to watch your back. I will not forget how you’ve made me look to my nephew.” A small smile tipped his lips and crinkled his face into kinder lines. “And you shouldn’t either. Revenge is a fun game to play.”

He wasn’t offended when Sefu merely laughed.