Chapter 19

"Have you and Sarah already decided to corrupt Haze? Do you listen behind doors now?" Gareth asked sternly but surprisingly, he didn't seem annoyed with them. Thomas on the other hand was blushing beet red, mortified that not only had his estranged daughter witnessed his humiliation but also that he should meet his daughter face to face for the first time now that he was in the least bit emotionally prepared.

"Step forward Hazel." Gareth said Kindy. "This is your father," he continued when she stepped out from where she cowered behind Jamie. Lord Gareth turned to Thomas, and he did not bother to hide the disgust in his voice. "Thomas, your daughter Hazel. Now that you have seen her and satisfied your curiosity that she is unharmed, you had best be on your way."

"Wait." Hazel called out when her father turned to obey Lord Gareth without even a word to her. Her father's shoulders drooped, and when he turned to face her, she could see the sad regret in his eyes and shameful fatigue in his eyes. In spite of herself, she was moved to pity.

"Mother always spoke kindly of you." She offered. "She said you were – handsome." Hazel finished lamely, unable to come up with any other adjective her mother had used to describe him, and not wanting to lie. To her surprise, his face brightened. With the twinkle in his eyes when he smiled, she was starting to see a resemblance between him and the pixie's face that stared up at her through still waters whenever she dared to look at her reflection.

"Your mother was always so kind. I didn't deserve her." He said wistfully, then without a another word, he turned suddenly and was gone.

"I think you have a lot of questions you would like to ask Hazel." Lord Gareth said gently, and Hazel had to drag her eyes away from her father's retreating back. Without a word, she followed meekly as he led her to his private library. "Ask your questions." He said after motioning for her to sit.