Chapter 30 Carved Affection Chapter 30 Carved Affection : 58 +20 Free Coins " Then , if I may ask , what brought Mr. Xavier back to Jexburgh so soon ? " Fiona ventured , curiosity alive in her eyes . " Why , Xavier is of an age to marry ," Victoria replied , a playful spark beneath her maternal pride . " The task now is finding a young lady perceptive enough to prize him . " Heat rose in Fiona's cheeks ; after all , she was the very girl whose heart had already set itself on Xavier . She opened her mouth to ask more - but the air shifted , and there he was , Xavier himself , standing behind Victoria as though shaped from the quiet afternoon shadows . He must have heard every word , yet his face remained unreadable , calm as polished stone over deeper waters . " Mr. Xavier . " Fiona dipped in a graceful salute , steadying the flutter in her chest . " While tending business in Lakebourne , I found some excellent red sandalwood , " Xavier said , handing her a neatly wrapped bundle . " Please , Ms. Fiona - take it home and see how you might enjoy it ." He had orchestrated the entire lingering visit for one purpose , and that was to place the gift directly into Fiona's hands . Inside the carriage rattling toward the Niven Estate , Fiona untied the ribbon and unfolded layers of crisp linen . Beneath several polished blocks of red sandalwood rested a tiny figure- an archer in mid - release , no taller than her thumb , every muscle , braid , and fold of fabric rendered with breathtaking precision . " This little archer - is that you , Fiona ? " Lilith leaned close , wonder lighting her face . The poised chin , the familiar riding habit - every detail proclaimed Fiona . And aside from Xavier , no one possessed the skill or the insight to capture her so faithfully . Fiona traced the delicate bow with her fingertip , marveling at the patience each groove required . He could have achieved such accuracy only by remembering her stance , her breath , her silent focus - again and again - until memory guided every stroke of his blade . If his thoughts were so filled with her , she reasoned , he would scarcely have room to pine for anyone else . A gentle sweetness , warin as spring honey , spread through her chest . 1/3 14:43 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 30 Carved Affection : 58 +20 Free Coins " Mr. Xavier's carving is truly remarkable ," Lilith sighed , then flashed a teasing grin . " And the man himself is hardly lacking , either ." Yet even as she spoke , another image floated through Lilith's mind . It was the brief glimpse she had stolen in the Zonfrillo Estate of Soren , poised to depart . He had shone like moonlight on still water - serene , austere , unmistakably set apart from every other gentleman present . Lilith had stared too long , her manners forgotten , until Soren's cool gaze flicked toward her , and her heart hammered like a drum . Alas , she was only a concubine's daughter ; he likely never learned her name . The thought stung , and she bit her lip . If only she had been born a trueborn daughter , perhaps she would not be so easily ignored . But then Lilith glanced at Fiona and found a measure of comfort . Even Fiona , a trueborn daughter , had failed to draw more than a passing glance from Soren ; being born on the wrong side of the ledger did not mean she had to belittle herself . Fiona tucked the miniature red sandalwood carving into a silk handkerchief , her fingers moving as carefully as though she were swaddling a newborn . " Lilith , Mr. Xavier only indulged my mischief and gave me these pieces of red sandalwood . If word gets out , tongues will wag . Promise you won't breathe a syllable ." Lilith nodded at once , the motion sharp and certain . She and Fiona were tied to the same fate ; protecting the secret meant protecting herself as well . Naomi's birthday month had come , and as in years past , the Niven family received an invitation to her birthday celebration . Because Penelope had spurned Fiona's proposed match , Hannah harbored no warmth for the Zonfrillo family . She ordered only a perfunctory gift prepared . Fortunately , the celebration concerned someone from the younger generation , so Hannah was not obliged to appear in person and endure embarrassment . Fiona had no such escape . She was the same age as Naomi , and they had once studied together . To avoid going would only invite suspicion . Before Fiona left , Meryl pulled her aside , voice low . " Your grandmother went to propose that marriage , not you . Pretend you never heard of it . " Fiona understood perfectly . Still , the moment she arrived at the Zonfrillo Estate , unease rippled through her belly like cold water . Yes , the proposal had been Hannah's idea , yet the person the Zonfrillo family had rejected was Fiona . No one enjoyed being the one turned away . 2/3 14:43 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 30 Carved Affection 8 ) ' +20 Free Coins What she feared most was crossing paths with Soren . Fate , ever perverse , arranged their collision the instant she stepped from her carriage - he was just returning home . He wore a robe of midnight silk that muted but could not hide the force he carried . The usual emerald pendant at his waist had been replaced by an exquisitely embroidered pouch , its needlework so fine she wondered whose hands created it . Humiliation still lay fresh between them , and Fiona longed to shrink away . Etiquette chained her ; she managed a strained curtsey and lifted her eyes no higher than his shoulder . Soren answered with nothing but a flick of his peripheral gaze , no different from how he might regard Rita or any girl who once adored him . Without a word , he strode toward the inner courtyard . As he passed , a coppery tang brushed Fiona's senses - blood . Fiona's breath caught . Is he wounded ? Thomas , the butler guiding her through the archway , offered a polite explanation , saying , " No matter how busy Lord Soren grows , he never misses Naomi's birthday . " The remark confirmed what Fiona had suspected - Soren had returned solely for Naomi's celebration . Naomi was the Zonfrillo family's only daughter , cherished like a rare star . Even Emperor Aldric , when he came upon some treasure , reportedly set it aside for her . Fiona was among the last guests . Inside the women's hall , the young ladies were already sampling cakes and sipping coffee . No household dared decline Naomi's invitation . Not even the grandest festivals drew as many noblewomen as that day ; chatter and laughter filled every corner like birdsong at dawn . Naomi sat side by side with Roxanne , slim scissors flashing as they cut window flowers from crimson paper . The circle of younger girls clustered around them was all Zonfrillo cousins , proof enough of the esteem Naomi placed on Roxanne . Fiona stepped forward , lifting her skirts over the threshold of the sitting platform . " Naomi , may every year treat you kindly and may every endeavor find its perfect time . " 3/3