Eight

 

 

“How was your hunting trip with father?”, Aileen rushed towards him the moment he arrived at the stables. 

 

 

“Good”, he said in a cryptic manner. 

 

 

“Just good?”, she inquired, “Surely there’s more?” 

 

 

He didn’t say a word to her, he continued to tend to his horse Buckley. He unsaddled it and meticulously brushed his body. 

 

 

Aileen was having none of it, “Come on Cedric, spill the beans already do not ignore me. You and father rarely go out leisurely, if it is not a war or…” 

 

 

“Why is that?”, he cut her off harshly. 

 

 

She stared at him surprisingly, she knew he merely tolerated her but never had he raised his voice at her, “Cedric…”, she called out in a whisp