The Curious Swan

by Kenzie Hart

  “This is a surprise,” Cordelia says, making her way to sit on the couch.

  Charles follows her, placing a curt kiss on Cordelia’s hand and giving her the box of treats.

  Charles Bartholomew Kentwood II is a right smart fellow. He is clean-shaven and dressed rather acceptably, but his tired eyes reveal his age. In general, he is a fit man and even considered somewhat sought after by women in London—if not for his charming looks, then most certainly for his status and money.

  He revels in coming home to see his only daughter, Klara, but his visits typically entail an unfortunate exchange with his mother. Well, grandmother, to be exact, but she earned the title of mother, seeing as she raised him. Even being the successful man he is, Charles still can’t bring himself to have a backbone when it comes to Cordelia. He even goes as far as to butter her up each time he visits by bringing her freshly-baked macarons from her favorite shop in London.

  “I thought you rather liked when I dropped in,” he counters, taking a seat on the couch opposite Cordelia.

  “Well, I do enjoy the biscuits,” she replies, opening the box and picking through to find the perfect one. Her long red nails land on a pistachio macaron, and she raises it to her lips in contentment.

  Charles is slightly annoyed. Just once, it would be nice if his mother acknowledged his arrival as if he were more than the delivery man of her favorite dessert. He thought, by now, the old crow would have passed away, but to his surprise, her latest blood work showed her in wonderful health. He couldn’t help but wonder if her daily scotch kept her youthful.

  “Father!” Klara giggles, running into the room. Excitement is bursting from within her. She takes a seat on his knee and wraps her arms around his neck.

  “Klara,” Charles replies with a tight smile.

  The older she gets, the more she looks like her mother. It almost makes his heart stop upon seeing her. Sometimes, it’s as though a ghost from the past were coming into the room instead of his daughter.

  “I’m so happy you’re here.” Klara smiles as she backs out of the hug.

  She takes in her father’s high cheekbones, blue eyes that match hers, and peppering hair. He looks wonderful. He always does, and she thinks back to the start of the year when he was back at the Kentwood Estate for part of the Christmas holiday. He has been back a few times throughout the spring, but most of them were just day trips.

  “Yes,” Cordelia says, eyeing Klara and Charles. “What brings you here this time?” In all honesty, she already knows the answer, but she wants him to admit it.

  “Do I have to have a reason to visit my beloved daughter and charming mother?” he answers dryly.

  “You usually do, yes,” she replies quickly.

  “I’m here for your dinner party, of course. I was invited, wasn’t I? I figured my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail,” he snaps, narrowing his eyes at Cordelia.

  “Oh, it must have!” Klara says, moving off her father’s lap and taking a seat next to him. She takes his hand in hers, looking back to her grandmother. She has never understood why they always have to do this. It’s as though they dislike one another. Klara knows that Grandmother isn’t pleased with her father, but they don’t have to be so testy.

  “I thought as much,” Charles says, turning toward Klara. Her hair spills all the way down her back, and her eyes are bright. She looks healthy and quite happy. “Would you like to have a late lunch together?”

  “Of course! How wonderful. I’ve got to go tell Mrs. B that you’re here. She will insist on making us the most delicious meal,” Klara says, rising from her seat. She drops his hand and continues, “We’ve been working on perfecting cherry pies. I think we might have some left from the one that I made.” Klara feels as though she could just fly, her whole body feeling as light as a cloud.

  “That sounds wonderful,” Charles says to his daughter. “I’ll come to the kitchen to say hello in a moment.”

  Klara skips out of the room, humming the tune her music box plays as she makes her way to the kitchen.

  Cordelia feels a tinge of anger surge from within her. She’s slightly sickened by the entire situation. “Be honest for once, Charles. You aren’t here to see Klara. Or me. You are here to make connections for your business.” She sits up straight, reaching to the table and grabbing a single cigarette. She sparks the match and then takes a long inhale to calm herself.

  “Mother,” Charles says, running his hand through his hair.

  Of course he is happy to see his daughter. And Cordelia, for that matter, though he would never admit it. He loves her, though he is unsure why. She has always made it clear that he abandoned his family the moment he left for London. But she is right. His main reason for returning is to attend the dinner.

  “No,” Cordelia says, holding up her finger. Her bracelets clink against one another, falling down her wrist. “You are never here for her. You insisted Klara stay with me, and you promised you would visit often. Yet you never visit her. If you’re going to be here for her, then be here. If not, then stop coming. But don’t pretend you’re here for her.”

  “You know I care for her,” he responds, feeling a ball form in his throat. It is all too much for him sometimes.

  “If you cared for her, you would be with her. She doesn’t have a mother. And, now, she doesn’t have a father either.”

  “You know I can’t stay here.” He shakes his head at her. He will not let Cordelia make him feel guilty. He does what he has to do for his own personal sanity.

  “Charles, I know you have demons. We all do. But, for Klara’s sake, you need to gain composure.” Cordelia taps on her cigarette, ashing it over the tray.

  Charles stands, moving to the liquor cart. He pours himself a generous drink, and it feels good to have the weight of the crystal glass in his hand. Cordelia clears her throat, so Charles takes another glass out, pouring her just as much.

  “I think Klara does just fine here with you,” he replies, handing Mother her drink and then taking a long sip of his own.

  “You always have been a charmer, but you run away from your problems,” she continues, taking no notice of his attempt to change the subject.

  “I suppose you know me better than anyone.” He leans back in his seat and thinks that this is one reason, among many, he doesn’t like to return to the family estate.

  “That I do.” She raises her glass in the air before taking a sip.

  “Klara seems happy,” Charles says, thinking about how beautiful his daughter looked.

  “She has been quite happy.” Cordelia smiles, her eyebrows rising slightly as a smirk plays across her face.

  “What is that look for, Mother?” he asks, furrowing his brows.

  “Nothing, dear. I was just thinking about how you will get to meet the boy behind Klara’s happiness tonight.”

  “Oh, Eddie,” Rose gasps, taking in her son’s appearance.

  He walks out of his room, dressed in a tuxedo. His strawberry-blond hair is parted to the side and brushed back. He stands tall, and the jacket tapers in at his waist just right. He looks more like a grown man than her son, and that thought causes a tear to escape from her eye.

  “Mum.” Eddie rolls his eyes.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. You just look so handsome.” Rose sniffles, but a smile spreads across her face.

  “Thanks,” he says with a grin. “I can’t believe they were able to get it to me so fast.”

  The clothing arrived just this morning along with a new set of black shoes, which he hadn’t been expecting. Part of him felt completely guilty for Klara and her grandmother being so generous with him. But he also knew Cordelia had seemed excited about the idea of him coming, and she knew that her request wasn’t an ordinary one. And it wasn’t as if Eddie had formalwear lying around.

  “So, how are things going with Klara?” Rose asks, moving to the kitchen table.

  She watches as Eddie takes a bite of a blueberry muffin she made this morning. Eddie came out of
bed, still looking half-asleep but saying that the wonderful aroma had woken him. It is in those moments Rose feels most fulfilled.

  Eddie, swallowing down his last bit, replies, “They’re good, Mum. She is really different. But fun. I like being with her.” A smile graces his face. “She’s actually, uh, my girlfriend now.”

  “Oh, Eddie!” she screeches, rising from the table with her hands in the air. She moves swiftly over to him, pulling him into a tight hug.

  “Mum, relax!” Eddie laughs out. “It’s no big deal.”

  “My baby boy has his first girlfriend.” Rose squeezes Eddie a little tighter but pulls back to pinch his cheek. He is a good kid, and she probably doesn’t tell him so enough. “But what is your mother to do now? My little boy has been taken from me,” she says with a fake pout.

  “You know you’ll always be the most important woman in my life,” Eddie says, his eyes bright. He places a kiss on his mother’s nose. It isn’t something he does often, but he knows she enjoys it, as he used to do it when he was a little boy.

  Rose melts a little. “Make sure you get some photos tonight, darling.”

  “Sure, Mum,” Eddie says, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. “I’d better head that way.”

  Klara told him cocktails were being served at six thirty, and dinner would start an hour later.

  Rose walks with Eddie out to the front of the house and watches him as he gets onto his bike. He looks slightly odd, riding a bike in a tuxedo, but no matter, he looks dashing all the same.

  “Have a wonderful time!” she calls out as Eddie takes off up the street.

  Eddie is breathless as he passes through the Kentwood Estate’s gates on his bike. Cars line the front of the circular drive, and people seem to be everywhere. A valet opens doors as couples get out of their cars, dressed in gowns and tuxedos that fit well with the theme.

  Eddie places his bike along the gate, deciding he would rather walk the rest of the way than be seen hopping off his bicycle. When he walks through the front door, more people fill the entryway, but he easily spots Cordelia.

  “Edward,” Cordelia calls to him.

  She has on a red gown trimmed with long fringe, which flows from just above her knees to the bottom of her calves. Her usual glasses are in their place, but her hair is done up for the occasion in a faux bob.

  “Mrs. Kentwood,” Eddie says, dropping his mouth to her hand, causing Cordelia to revel in the formality.

  All the women around her let out coos; after all, Eddie is a handsome boy. Most of these women don’t have the pleasure of being in the company of dashing young men, except for family.

  “You look wonderful.”

  “Thank you, Edward,” Cordelia replies, wrapping her arm around Eddie’s.

  For someone so unaccustomed to such occasions, Cordelia notes how at ease Edward seems to be. He’s adjusting to their world nicely, and it takes her aback that such a young, spirited boy would become the collected man on her arm. “Klara will be a few moments, so in the meantime, I would like to introduce you to some of my dear friends.”

  Eddie nods, walking beside Cordelia into the sitting room where trays of champagne are being moved throughout the room. Waiters are wearing crisp white jackets and carrying either champagne or trays filled with hors d’oeuvres. A group of old women surround him, and Eddie feels almost attacked by the amount of perfume. He has to press his free hand at his side to keep from batting away the thick air.

  Charles is standing in the corner, talking with a wealthy London banker, when he spots his mother across the room. He downs his glass of champagne at the sight of his mother parading the boy, whom he assumes is Klara’s date, around the room. “Excuse me,” he says to the banker even though he was mid-sentence. Charles moves a little closer, grabbing another champagne flute from the tray.

  He is a good-looking boy, but Charles rolls his eyes at his mother. Though, in all honesty, he is slightly jealous. There was a time when that would have been him with his mother. She was always so proud of him, yet now, she looks at him with a certain disdain he doesn’t care to be reminded of.

  “Charles,” Cordelia says, watching as her son comes striding toward her and Eddie.

  “Mother.” Charles beams handsomely.

  He looks to Eddie, making Cordelia add, “Charles, this is Edward Barnett. Edward, this is Charles Kentwood.”

  Eddie swallows hard. His eyes go a little wide, but he quickly recovers. “It’s great to meet you, sir. I didn’t realize you would be attending this evening.” What is Klara’s father doing in town? And why didn’t she tell him that her father was back?

  “Yes, you as well,” Charles replies, firmly shaking the boy’s hand. “I decided to drop in for a surprise visit.”

  “It was quite the surprise,” Cordelia says, raising her eyebrows at Charles.

  Eddie watches as the two have a stare-off, and he isn’t sure what to do. It’s a little terrifying but mostly hilarious to watch Cordelia partake in a standoff.

  “I see you’ve met Father!” Klara says excitedly, moving through the crowd of people.

  She was a little late to get ready, having spent too long out in the sun that afternoon, enjoying a nearly perfect day. After lunch with her father, she decided to have some time to herself before everyone arrived for the evening.

  Everyone’s attention turns toward Klara, and Eddie feels as though the wind has been knocked out of his chest.

  Klara is wearing a golden gown with beaded embroidery. She has on a headband that rests just over the front of her forehead and is encrusted with a few jewels and the same beading that is on her dress. Cream gloves rise up to her elbows.

  “Wow,” Eddie whispers, taking in how beautiful she looks—something of a mix between an angel and a goddess.

  Klara blushes under his intense gaze, specifically because of the way his gaze is moving across her body while both Grandmother and her father watch.

  “You look lovely,” Charles says tightly with the weight of an elephant on his chest. He places a kiss on his daughter’s cheek.

  “Thank you.” Klara smiles at him, happiness bubbling inside her.

  “Come along, Charles. Let’s give these two a few moments,” Grandmother says with a twinkle in her eye.

  “It was good to meet you. I would enjoy talking with you more this evening.”

  “Yes, of course,” Eddie replies, watching as Cordelia drags off Charles.

  “You look divine,” Klara says, grabbing Edward’s hand.

  Eddie drags his thoughts away from Klara’s father and back to Klara.

  “Thank you. And you look gorgeous,” he says, taking another moment to admire her. She is glowing.

  “I’m glad you like it! It was fun, picking it out with Grandmother.”

  “Klara,” he says, rubbing his hand against hers, “how are you doing with your father here?”

  “It’s wonderful, isn’t it? It was such a surprise. He actually just arrived this afternoon. We had lunch together, and he told me about some of the goings-on at his office in London.”

  “I’m glad you’re happy to see him,” he says, relieved. “I didn’t expect to meet him tonight.”

  “I know, but it will be nice for the two of you to get acquainted.”

  Eddie nods at her with a smile. “So, do you know all of these people?”

  “Most of them,” Klara says, thinking back to her grandmother’s previous parties and dinners. “I’ve met many of them before at past events. A few I’ve never met, and some I don’t quite remember because it has been so long since our last meeting.”

  “And things normally get out of hand, yeah?” Eddie says with a laugh. Looking around at the eloquent men and women in their formal gowns and champagne, he can’t picture anyone getting riled up.

  Klara lets out a giggle. “Of course. You can’t have so many prestigious and dignified people in one room and not expect a scandal to come out—or, better yet, have one happen after a few too many drinks. But it
is all in good fun and entertaining nonetheless.” She laces her arm through his.

  It’s as though she is playing make-believe and dress-up, all at the same time. Circling the room with Eddie beside her, she wonders if this is what it feels like to be an adult. To have someone always at your side. To move from one social circle to the next, catching up with friends and making new ones. Attending dinners and events isn’t anything new to Klara, but she is normally alone.

  “If I could get everyone’s attention,” Charles says, his voice booming across the room.

  Eddie watches as Cordelia stands besides Charles. She stands straight and tall and has a champagne flute in her hand, ready to toast her guests.

  “Welcome, everyone. I’ve personally greeted most of you, and it is wonderful to see so many old faces as well as some new. I want to thank you for entertaining my idea of having a themed dinner, and I’d like to make a toast.”

  As Cordelia talks, waiters slip across the room, passing out champagne to everyone. Cordelia raises her glass into the air, and everyone follows suit.

  Eddie is filled with excitement. He can barely believe he is at a formal event with so many distinguished people, feeling like he belongs. He’s holding a champagne glass and wearing a tuxedo, just like them. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s standing beside the most beautiful girl in the room. He glances over at Klara. Her arm is outstretched with her champagne flute in hand, and a smile is on her face. Her eyes are focused on Cordelia, but she must feel his gaze because she turns toward him to give him a quick smile.

  “It isn’t often I get to be surrounded by so many close friends and family. Tonight, I urge you to mingle with those you haven’t met, create wonderful memories, and get yourself into a little trouble. It’s good for the spirit.” Cordelia smirks to herself at her last words. With age, she can get away with anything. Anyone who agrees just smiles back at her, and anyone who doesn’t just rolls their eyes and thinks she’s gone mad with age. “Cheers,” she says, raising her glass into the air.

  Klara watches as everyone raises their glasses higher, toasting Cordelia and one another. She lets out a small giggle as she clinks glasses with Eddie and takes a sip of her champagne.