Chapter Two

Augusto Steel sat at the dining room table surrounded by his sons and their wives looking frustrated as he finished off his wine. “Damn it all where is that girl?”

Brice the oldest of the five laughed “I saw her by the ruins this morning on my ride looks as if she has resorted to painting the outside of the stone walls as well as the inside.” Caleb the youngest laughed “Theo is sporting a black eye because of her; he accused her of looking like a mourning widow then tried to kick Apollo when he growled at him.”

Just then Zeta walked in looking like a dark angel dressed in black and sat down sending Artemis and Apollo away. “Go lay down.” Augusto looked her over shaking his head in disbelief “You’re late as usual and covered in paint.” Zeta shrugged as she downed her wine and signaled for more, “Been painting since dawn and I wanted to finish before I came home.”

Her father smiled enjoying her eyes light up as she talked about painting. “What exactly did you paint today?” Zeta gave an excited smile “Two warriors in battle.” Brice laughed “Battle?”

Zeta nodded as she picked at the food on her plate “The theme is blood and honor, more blood than honor of course.” Devlin the second to the oldest laughed “Of course.”

Augusto changed the subject “I’ll be returning to London with your brothers tomorrow Zeta and I’ll be gone for two weeks at the most. With the new coffee house under construction there’s lot’s to be done, I trust that you my feminine flower can behave yourself while I’m away.” Everyone laughed including the help, Zeta rolled her eyes “Yes Father, I’ll be an angel no doubt.”

Augusto put on a strict expression “And try not to beat up on the staff, Theo is only a boy and stating the obvious.” Zeta nodded “Yes Father, I’ll try to control myself.” Allison muttered under her breath “As if that’s possible.”

Caleb the youngest of the sons shushed his wife then winked at Zeta. With Zeta’s eighteenth birthday only two weeks away Augusto wanted to get started on her gifts right away knowing it would take time to have the dresses he had ordered picked up and her undergarments made. Being the beginning of the month he knew his good friend Webster Prescott would have recently restocked his art supplies and would need at least a week to bind two books of parchment in leather for Zeta’s sketch books. It had been almost a year since Zeta had gotten any new supplies and Augusto knew she was in dire need due to her constant painting and drawing. He knew Zeta would love to have some new canvas; at this point she had already started painting the ruins, the walls of her cottage not to mention the back of the barn and the ceiling of the stables. Hell she had even painted a mural in the wine cellar which Augusto had to admit was his favorite.

After meeting with Brice, Devlin and Christopher Naples to go over his design idea’s Augusto headed to Webster Prescott’s cartography and engraving shop walking up in time to hear him and his son Phoenix in the middle of an argument. “Damn it Phoenix I know what I said but it’s the Michael’s annually garden party and the entire town will be there, would it kill you to attend maybe you’ll meet someone.”

Phoenix was a young man of twenty-one different in appearance, dark features dressed in a fitted black suit with long black hair that fell to his strong jaw. “What’s the use pops I leave in two months and I know you’re worried that I won’t meet a woman but I know the women that will be there and I have no interest in any of them and I won’t marry just anyone just so you can have grandchildren. Not to mention half the town thinks I’m a Warlock not that it stops the ladies from hunting me like sport.”

Webster slammed the book in front of him shut then smiled when he saw Augusto “Augie it’s been a long time.” Augusto laughed “I’d say so last time I stopped by Phoenix was still away at college.”

Webster shrugged “So how are your boys doing? I heard your opening another coffee house near the docks, with the one in Sheffield and Bristol this is your fourth correct?” Augusto smiled “Brice has his own law practice in Sheffield so Devlin takes care of the Sheffield Steel house while Kent takes care of the Bristol Steel house, Maxwell and Caleb take care of the London Steel houses.”

Webster smiled “Thank the Gods you have five sons.” Augusto laughed “Let’s not forget Lil bit.” Webster smiled “So how is Zeta, she still driving you crazy?” Augusto laughed “She turns eighteen on the tenth; I came here to get a few of her gifts.” Webster looked confused “A gift for an eighteen-year-old woman from here?”

Augusto smiled “Zeta is not like other women, hell Web all she does is draw and paint, she’s nothing like her mother, Madeline was bright and light hearted, soft spoken and sweet tempered as you well remember. Zeta is dark, feisty, out spoken, a real spit fire, and most people think she’s a witch because of the way she dresses. She has an ability to know what people are thinking and can spot a liar from a mile away.”

Augusto laughed “The girl says whatever she’s thinking which usually shocks most people. I have had a hell of a time finding her a husband. I’ve had more than twenty men out to meet her and each and every one of them showed up cocky and eager for her dowry and has left with their tails between their legs and their ego’s deflated.”

Webster laughed “What did you need to get?”

Augusto smiled “Two books of parchment bound in leather, two of every color of paint you have in stock, a variety of paint brushes, a roll of canvas and a dozen already stretched and framed canvases.”

Webster smiled “Phoenix can you start to fill Augie’s order for me while he and I go get a drink.” Phoenix looked up from his work “I’ll start right away.” Augusto frowned at Webster as he followed him out. “Alright Web what’s on your mind?”

Webster looked to have had an epiphany “Phoenix leaves for the West Indies soon and I was thinking it may be a good idea if he and Zeta meet. They are both strange birds maybe together they will make a good match.”

Augusto paused as if to ponder the idea “Now that I think on it they do have a lot in common, well their weirdness at least.” Webster nodded “So what do you think?”

Augusto gave a sly smile “You and Phoenix should come to Zeta’s birthday celebration on the tenth, spend a few days and we can see if they hit it off or not.” Walking back into his shop, they found Phoenix boxing up jars of paint. “That was fast.”

Webster shrugged “Augusto has invited us to Zeta’s birthday celebration on the tenth how does that sound to you?” Phoenix laughed “I’m sure Zeta is not having any problems finding men to court her.”

Augusto smiled “Her beauty brings them from miles away it’s her personality that sends them running for the hills, most men want meek women and Zeta is just not what most men want in a wife.”

Phoenix thought about it a moment “I have to admit I’m curious to meet her but if I go along with this. I’d rather her not know why I’m there, I’d rather her think I’m there just as a guest.”

Augusto shook his head and chuckled “We can try that but Zeta will see right through that. By the way do you like, dogs?” Phoenix shrugged “Yes why?”

Augusto grinned “Zeta has two Irish wolf hounds Apollo and Artemis that follow her around everywhere, let’s hope they like you.”

Phoenix raised an eyebrow “A lover of Greek mythology?”

Augusto nodded “She named her mare Hermes.”

Webster chuckled “Phoenix named his stallion Zeus.”

After leaving the Prescott’s Augusto headed for Miss Lanes Zeta’s favorite dress maker. Walking through the door, Miss Lane met him with a smile. “I’ve been expecting you; Zeta’s is going to love the dresses you had made for her. I made four dresses using the crushed velvet you bought one of each color. I made them in her favorite style easy enough for her to dress without assistance. I figured you would want to get her some new under garments and if I know Zeta she won’t wear anything but black so I made her a black set and threw in a dark red set including the corsets.”

A few days had passed and Phoenix found himself looking forward to meeting Zeta, he had read about her a few times in the gossip pages and had even heard some rumors about her around town. What would turn most men away seemed to fascinate him and spark his curiosity. Not able to sleep Webster walked down stairs to get a drink to find Phoenix downstairs at his desk painting. “What’s keeping you up?” Phoenix looked up “Pour me a glass to.”

Webster smiled as he handed him a glass looking over what he was painting. “Are those book marks they’re beautiful, Hades, Earth and Mount Olympus, so much detail?”

Phoenix smiled “It’s for Zeta, after hearing that she named her dogs Artemis and Apollo and her mare Hermes, I thought she might like it being from Greek mythology and all. So do you think she’ll like it?” Webster smiled “Yes Son, I think she will and I’m glad you’re trying to make a good impression.”

Phoenix laughed “Well I figured arriving to a birthday party empty handed wouldn’t be all that good of an idea or the best first impression.”

After two long weeks in London Augusto, was ready to get home, when he arrived all five of his sons and their families had arrived, his grandchildren ran the halls giggling and playing. Seeing their grandpa Augie they all screamed with excitement as they surrounded him, hands open waiting for the sweets he always carried. “Where are your daddies?”

His oldest grandchild Benjamin sat on the stairs watching them “They’re all in the study talking, momma and the other ladies are up looking through grandma’s old chest filled with fabric in the attic.”

Augusto smiled as he ruffed up Benjamin hair “You be a good boy and watch your cousins while I hide your Aunt Zeta’s birthday gifts.”

Augusto headed to his personal chambers and arranged Zeta’s dresses out on his bed, excited for Webster and Phoenix to bring the rest of her gifts. That night at dinner the Steel dining hall was filled to the brim the entire family was present and talking and laughing only Zeta’s chair sat empty. Augusto smiled as he looked around at his ever growing family. “It’s nice to have you all together again.”

Looking over at Zeta’s empty seat he sighed, “Has anyone seen Zeta?” Everyone shrugged, Allison gave a haughty laugh “Let her be Augie, were having so much fun without her, she’s such a sour puss we all have to see her tomorrow isn’t that enough?”

Just then Zeta walked in dressed in all black and guarded by Apollo and Artemis. “If you like I can leave you to your fun no need for me to ruin your little family reunion.”

Augusto stood to stop her “Don’t even think about it, come and sit with us love, everyone is here this weekend to celebrate your birthday.”

Turning to Allison and Caleb Augusto frowned “Damn it Caleb this is the last time I will say this, maintain your wife’s big mouth. It seems like every time you two visit she spends every other minute trying to bait your sister into an argument and we all know she has no chance of winning.” Allison looked shocked and offended about to argue Caleb shushed her “Yes Papa she won’t say anything else.”

Turning to Zeta he smiled “Please stay Lil Bit my wife doesn’t know when to shut up.” Zeta sat and poured herself a glass of red wine then looked around at her family wearing a smile “Either way it’s nice to see you all.” Augusto smiled “An old friend of mine Webster Prescott and his son Phoenix will also be joining us for the celebration they will be arriving tomorrow.”

Devlin smiled as he lifted his wine glass to his lips, “I know Phoenix, smart man, a bit dark and obscure and some say eccentric but a good man through and through.” Augusto nodded in agreement “It will be nice to have them visit.”

After dinner Zeta headed, back to her cottage, happy to have her own private hide away far from her family and the chaos of a house full of people. With only a day or so until her eighteenth birthday she was feeling strangely uneasy about it knowing she couldn’t put off marriage and family for much longer. Not that she had a line of unattached men vying for her attention, at this point she would probably get stuck with an unattractive dullard. She was rather curious about Phoenix Prescott having read about him in the gossip pages. She knew he was handsome and well educated not to mention wealthy but what really sparked her interest was how the town viewed him, eccentric, dark, and strange. One paper even called him London’s own Warlock which made her like him already.

Webster and Phoenix arrived at the Steel estate around noon stopping first at the stables. It was early afternoon and Zeta had just returned after a long ride and was bathing her horse Hermes, hearing someone approach she stepped back out of sight and waited to see who it was trying to avoid Allison who liked to ride when she was visiting. Apollo and Artemis were lying up in the loft with Theo while she groomed Hermes. Webster was first to walk in. “Phoenix just do me a favor and try not to scare Zeta off by acting strange.”

Phoenix followed in after him laughing making Zeta smile “Yeah pops I’ll try not to embarrass you or scare Zeta off, hell dad if she’s anything like me she’s sick to death with getting matched up.” Webster laughed as he handed his horse over to Theo “That’s the problem son no one is like you.” Zeta watched as he handed over his reins to Theo “Zeus will need to be watered right away I plan to go riding again soon, thanks.”

Zeta watched as Phoenix straightened his black suit and hair then followed his father toward the house. At six-three he looked to have a fairly muscular build his black hair was grown out and sat at jaw level his eyes were a fierce green color that seemed intense and vivid. Zeta ran out from her hiding place to watch them as they walked toward the house, Webster stopped Phoenix midway and frowned. “Augusto did mention she can easily read people.” Phoenix laughed “Are you afraid she will see that I’m strange and different faster than it takes most women.”

Webster nodded “You’re a good man and very talented you just have never fit in with everyone else, I only hope she can see that.”

Phoenix smiled as he put his arm around his father shoulder “Stop worrying pops I will find someone okay you don’t need to rush it. Zeta sounds like a very unique woman if were compatible were compatible if were not were not let’s just enjoy our visit and see what happens.”

Webster nodded “I only worry because I care; you know your momma always wanted to have grandchildren.” Phoenix laughed “Just give me some time; I’m sure momma was interested in my happiness as well.”

Zeta couldn’t help but smile, the funny thing was she was looking forward to meeting him and this was definitely a first for her. Whistling for Apollo and Artemis, she headed to her cottage. Having had another nightmare the night before she couldn’t wait to gather what little supplies she had left, clean her brushes from the night before and head to the ruins to add it to her dream journal.