C2 Chapter 2

“Thank you,” he said lifting her hands to brush his lips in an airy kiss, whilst studying her face. She had amazing hazel green eyes, he imagined drowning in them but as he looked deeply into them, he saw something sad lurking behind them, she seemed to have hidden them quite well and Richard had a sinking feeling that she hide it even from herself, someone had hurt her badly and she pretended to not feel the pain, Richard felt his hands fist up and realized that he wanted to strangle that person and hurt him even worse than the way he had hurt this woman.

Feeling uncomfortable with his thought, as Richard wasn't a particularly violent person, he drifted his thoughts and looked down, his eyes caught her mouth they were pressed into a thin line reminding him of apricots, well done he thought to himself, smiling at his imaginations.

She nibbled at her lower lip, a nervous gesture which was naturally innocent, but only reminded Richard that he had not called on miss Antoinette (his mistress) for quite a while, so he made a mental note to see her within the week. “ Um....sir” he heard her say awkwardly.

“Sorry, woolgathering too,” he said giving her a dashing smile.

“I'll just go in now” she announced.

“Thanks again for the biscuit miss Ann,” he said wiping his hands.

“My pleasure....do have a nice day” she replied while gathering her tray of biscuit.

“Same,” he said offering his hand.

* * *

Richard entered through the main door of the house, as he entered, he heard his name, as usual.

“Richy!” Anna shrieked, Richard looked up to see his youngest sister.

“Anna...” He replied.

“What a surprise!” she shrieked again.

“ You knew I'm was coming today Anna, and why are you shouting?” he asked frowning.

“It's very unladylike” he added just to spite her. She was taking glances at something behind him, so he turned around to find miss Ann enter his mother's drawing-room.

“What are you up to Anna?” he asked raising his brows.

“Nothing…” She replied smiling with satisfaction.

“Mom has been looking for you” she stated sighing dramatically.

“Why?” He asked just to make conversations, he already knew why.

“I don't know” she replied shrugging.

“Better find the dragon before she finds me” she shrugged again.

" Where is she?” he asked

“Upstairs and did you just liken mother to a dragon?” She asked smirking.

"She quite fierce you know...”

He replied climbing the stairs to his mother's drawing-room.

“So what have you been up to since I last saw you?” She asked nosily.

Nothing much, paperwork here and there” he replied, “what about you?”

“Mom has a new companion, she also our lady's maid” she replied grinning.

“Miss Ann, I gathered” he replied almost kicking himself for falling bait.

“She's not our lady's maid” Ara announced immediately he opens the door. “ Mother says she's just helping until we get a new one” she added irritated.

“Is she doing it or not?” Anna asked rolling her eyes just to annoy her sister more.

Ara looked ready to fling the biscuit she was holding at her sister.

“Anna it's rude to roll your eyes in the presence of a gentleman and....don't... you... dare miss Arabella” lady Arnold said looking at Ara, who decided it was better to eat her biscuit than get a long lecture on morals.

“Mother... it's just Richy” Anna replied frowning at her embroidery.

“I don't think you got it right Anna” Ara said staring at the embroidery.

“I also felt it didn't look normal” Anna replied looking at her twin.

“Pls can you take a look at this?” she said turning to Ann who was reading a book.

“Hmm?” Ann asked looking up.

“What do you think about this?” Anna asked taking the embroidery from her sister.

“Why don't you try making a sunflower over here” she suggested pouting as she thought.

“Such brilliant suggestion” Anna beamed.

“Thanks,” Ara said eyeing her sister suspiciously as she collected the piece of clothing.

“Do you know miss Ann loves reading and is reading all the Shakespearean works alphabetically?!” Anna said turning to Richard.

“That's....quite impressive miss Ann” Richard answered surprised at the turn of the conversation. Richard had stood at the window watching the exchange going on between his sisters and miss Ann, and he could tell that they were quite fond of her, which was a common trait in the Arnold household, but it seemed Anna was even more fond of her, which was uncommon. Her eyes were lovely, and he could have sworn he had seen uncommon sprinkles of gold at the side of each, she had not very bright blond hair, and he wondered how long it was when let loose from the tight bun, that was customary to her position. He looked down, and his eyes caught her lip, they were full and pink and wondered just how much more beautiful she could be, when she smiled broadly, she must have been one of the best catch of her season, if she ever had one, and this made him wonder what her story was. Did her family lose their means of livelihood, or was she a noble man's bygone? her ascent reveals that she must have been of highborn or must have enjoyed such life. It was all like an interesting puzzle, and Richard wasn't a fan of puzzles, but there was something about her, that made him interested, it could be the wealth of emotions, she hid quite well, he just couldn't pull out the reason.

“Oh where are my manners?” his mother purred while touching her heart.

“ They are right in your petticoat mother” Anna replied grinning.

“ Lady Annabella Arnold" lady Arnold replied, with just the right amount of scolding, only a mother can put in one phrase.

“ Mother...where's your sense of humor?” she asked, still grinning.

“In that same petticoat I suppose” she replied smiling at her joke.

“As I was about to say, miss Ann, this is Lord Rich Arnold, my oldest son and the Duke of Westonhigh,” she said smiling brightly.

“I'll prefer you make use of eldest instead, mother,” he said grinning.

“Well you're surely going to grow older if you don't get married soon” she replied, sighing for more effect.

“This is miss Ann liverbert, my new companion,” she said turning to Ann.

“It's a pleasure to meet you again,” he said taking her hand and giving it an airy kiss.

“You have met before?” His mother asked, curiosity written all over her.

“Um... It was just a few minutes ago, in the kitchen” Ann replied.

“ But it's a pleasure nevertheless he said. She pursed her lips in thought, and his throat suddenly got dry, so he poured himself a cup of tea.

“ So miss Ann, how do you like been in my family's service," he asked surprisingly curious.

“It has been a very lovely experience my lord” she replied quickly before going back to her book.

“They can be very overwhelming you know" he continued just to make her look up from her book.

"well I believe they are a good kind of overwhelming " she replied.

"You seem to concentrate very well on that book," he said again.

"It is very much interesting," she said with a slight smile, he knew she was getting impatient by his frequent interruptions and he was astonished at how well she hides it.

"What is the title?" He asked just to spite her.

"Miss Winterham and the stranger" Richard could almost hear her teeth grind into dust, and she was very much enjoying the sight.

He looked up and realized his family had been paying keen attention to their conversation.

"What is it all about," he asked again.

"I am not sure yet, since I just started reading" she replied tightly.

"I have read it before and it is very interesting" Ara sighed.

"How did it end?" Anna asked.

"Miss Winterham got kissed by her Prince charming, and they lived happily ever after" Ara replied grinning.

"As expected," Anna murmured.

"I love happily ever afters," Ara said ignoring her.

"Miss Ann, do you like happily ever afters?" Ara asked searching for an associate.

"Everyone loves happy endings" she replied, obviously uncomfortable with different shades of gray eyes, staring at her.

"Do you believe in happily ever after?"

"Well, I believe we make our luck" she replied.

"Hmm....ok" he replied still staring at her, she looked like she was about to melt any moment, from the stares but he couldn't stop staring.

"I'll like to retire early, so I can press your gowns for the Belgrave ball" she muttered, as she stood up to leave, she upset the table causing the tea to get spilled on the table.

"I....am.... so.....sorry," she said.

"I'll get a dishrag," she said while picking up the teapot.

" oh no need I'll just ring for a maid" his mother replied sympathetically.

"I'll be back" she made a small courtesy before scurrying off.

"Richard?!" Lady Arnold said, raising a brow.

"Yes, mother" he answered grinning.

"Ann is a very nice girl, and I won't have you staring at her like that," she said moving to another chair.

"What stare?" He asked blinking innocently.

"The type that makes most people uncomfortable" she replied.

"I wish it works on you" he murmured crossing his legs on the table.

"Well there nothing we can do about that" she shrugged.

"And remove those legs from my table" she hissed.

" and the twins?" he asked turning to them.

"It doesn't work," Anna said rolling her eyes.

"Because you are our brother" Ara added

"I feel so blessed" he replied, touching his heart for emphasis.

"Well I don't think it will work on miss Ann," Anna said while inspecting the embroidery.

"It did already," he said grinning.

"Unlike most of our previous chaperones she's way too practical," Ara said.

"But it did," he said, wondering if his family were on his side.

"When miss Ann left here, she was more irritated than scared" Anna stated.

"And pray tell how do you know?" he asked leaning in.

"We are quite similar you know"Anna replied smiling.

" But I thought you were 'quite' similar with Daphne?" he asked.

"Well, that was before she abandoned me in the hands of you. Miss Ann is like a breath of fresh air" she replied.

"Now that's a lot of compliment from you, huzzah for Ann," he said smiling.

"What?!" he asked when she looked surprised.

"I don't think she has given you permission to use her given name" she replied frowning.

"Then I better go get it" he replied, Seeing this as an opportunity to leave, as he was already wondering what was keeping her.

" excuse me I'll be back "

* * * * *