There was a moment of silence and Orion risked looking through the leaves of a bush so that he could observe.
Nina dropped her head. “I am sorry. It was wrong of me.”
“Perhaps,” his mother agreed. “But no harm was done. I have spoken with Nephele, and she will not mention you again, nor bother you again by visiting.”
“She was not a bother,” Nina insisted.
“Will the others come here?” one of the women who had come from the trees asked in alarm. “She already brought one man here.”
“She will not bring another,” his mother promised. “Nobody believed her but my son and as he saw nothing but the temple, there is no longer a concern.”
Orion waited for one of them to tell his mother that he had come back, but they didn’t.
“We have been remiss in not visiting,” his aunt Eugenia said to Nina. “We should have introduced you to our daughters before now, but we also know that you prefer to live in peace and without intrusion, so we stay away.”
“They know who we are?” another woman who had stepped from the trees asked.
“Yes,” his mother answered. “We explained everything before coming here.”
Orion wished he knew who they were.
“They understand the secrecy?” another woman from the trees asked.
“Yes,” his aunt Cassandra answered. “As well as the importance of this sacred grove, but it was also important that you meet.”
Then the introductions began, and Orion tried to concentrate on who was who, but each of the strange ladies was only addressed by a first name.
“Cassian will also be moving to the grove to protect Nina,” his mother informed them.
Orion frowned. Why would the adopted son of his uncle be Nina’s protector?
“Cassian has known all of you since he was a boy and is familiar with why this grove needs to remain a secret, sacred and can provide all supplies that you may need,” one of his aunts added.
“But if you have an objection to a man living within the grove, he will live in the mansion and only visit, as it has always been,” his mother said.
The five strange ladies removed themselves from his female family members and Nina and then talked quietly amongst themselves for a short time. They then returned to the others. “We have no objection to Cassian. He is likely the only male we would ever welcome here.”
The more he listened, the more confused Orion became. Why weren’t men allowed here, with the exception of Cassian? How did Cassian know about the sacred grove and those within? Further, why hadn’t he ever told anyone?
While Nina enjoyed spending time with her benefactors and meeting the daughters who were now old enough to know the truth, her mind also worried about Orion.
How long would he wait?
Would he wait?
Would he grow tired and come looking for her and then be discovered?
It was bad enough that the dryads knew, and all during the visit she waited for them to say something.
Oh, she should send Orion away and insist that he never come back. Except, she didn’t want him to go.
As the women were finally saying goodbye, Lady Chandos handed her a large satchel. “More clothing.”
Nina took it, thanked her, and grasped the handle as their guests left the temple and walked back toward the boxwood barrier. While the other women in the grove preferred to wear the Chiton as their ancestors had worn in ancient Greece, Nina always felt too naked in the loose, flowing material.
Once their guests were out of sight and their voices could no longer be heard, Nina turned and headed to the path that led down to the grotto, hoping that Orion still waited. It was all she could do not to run, but she didn’t want to appear too anxious. She didn’t even know him.
When she rounded the last curve in the path, Nina slowed her steps and strolled through the bushes.
