Chapter 10
Surprisingly, I wasn’t the only sleepy one. Most people who attended the service were somberly quiet, and I had no doubt in my mind that they were wishing to sleep. I was actually quite grateful for the silence, because I was not in the mood to humor anyone.
Uncle Carlton found a pew that would sit all of us and we squeezed in. I smiled tentatively at the other people sitting in the pew and looked around restlessly. Anything to distract me from falling asleep mid-service.
I did a double-take when I saw Henry a few rows behind me, staring at me intently. He immediately recognized my tired face and grinned at me.
“Tired?” He mouthed.
I nodded imperceptibly; making sure no one was staring at me. I felt the blood start pounding through me just by looking at me.
He shook his head bemusedly and mouthed, “I love you.”
I turned away from his gaze as I felt my face flush. Henry had probably said those words to me many times, but he always managed to mean it. It was in the way he glanced at me, when he stared so intensively that he looked right through me and I could do nothing to help myself. His eyes were like a void: deep pools of green that would pull you in inevitably.
God, I had missed him so much. His comfort, his laugh, or the way his eyes furrowed infinitesimally whenever he was upset. With each second that passed, I started counting down the minutes until we could be together. Truly together.
The rest of the service continued fairly uneventful. Cristina was nowhere to be found, and half-way through the service I found Annabelle sitting beside Vincent and his family quietly. I looked for her brother and father, but neither were to be found. They probably skipped the service...again. With a resigned sigh, I turned away from the couple and attempted to contribute to the hymns being sung.
A few hours later I paced towards the back of the first class library, intending to return some books I had borrowed previously. As I left to exit the crowded room, a flash of unusual bronze caught my eye.
To my chagrin, it was Vincent. He was too busy reading a book to notice my stare, along with almost every other young lady in the library. The girls stole small, wistful glances at him when their parents weren’t looking. No one promised adventure and pleasure like Vincent Smith. I slowly strolled over to his seat hesitantly and ignored the curious glances of the ladies around me. Should I be blunt with him? At this point, the only thing I knew is that I wanted to protect Annabelle. I just didn’t know how.
As my figure cast a shadow over the book he was reading, Vincent glanced up at me inquisitively.
“Can I help you, Miss Ashby?” His mahogany eyes were large and attentive. I’m not quite sure where he learned my name from, but it felt as if he knew a lot about me. Something in his stare was strangely unnerving.
“Er, yes. I would like to speak to you about-” Vincent quickly interrupted me and urged me to sit in the chair across from his, tucking his book away. Once seated, I continued my question.
“I would like to speak with you about my friend, Annabelle.” He regarded me coolly.
“What about Miss Annabelle?” This was the tricky part, I thought nervously, fiddling with my fingers.
“I know that you have...an understanding with her.” I whispered, avoiding the eavesdropping ears of the people around me.
“I’m afraid I don’t follow.” He replied tentatively. Oh, forget it. No need to beat around the bush.
“Listen here, just don’t hurt her.” I huffed out impatiently.
“Anna is a lot tougher than you give her credit for.” Anna? Since when were they on such close terms?
“Annabelle.” Vincent amended quickly, realizing his slip of tongue. I quickly dismissed it and continued my argument.
“Annabelle’s family-”
“Those two brutes are fortunate I haven’t smashed their heads in. Yet.” He interrupted slowly, meeting my surprised gaze evenly. For the first time Vincent looked like he lost his composure, his eyes burning with uncontained rage and fierce protection.
So he knew what they did to her. How did he find out so quickly? It had taken me months before I cornered Anna enough to learn the truth.
“Anna trusts you.” I observed quietly. He nodded slowly in response. Unsure on how to continue from thereon, I opened my mouth but failed to produce any words.
“Annabelle could use someone.” I explained. “To be honest, I’m not quite sure you’re right for the job. It’s common knowledge that you’re not exactly...dependable, but Annabelle chose to trust you. I will also trust her judgment on this.”
Vincent grinned at me, amused. “Why, I’m honored.”
“I know that I’m probably asking too much, but could you please help her? Anna cannot bear with her family for much longer.”
“Of course.” Vincent replied simply. “As a matter of fact, I am already helping her.”
“Really?” I blurted, surprised. Why would someone like him concern himself with someone like Annabelle? Perhaps he actually cared for her?
“Truly. But we have to be discreet, you understand.” Vincent said cheekily, giving me a pointed glance. Like he knew something...
He knew about my plan with Henry.
“Good God, does that man not know the meaning of discretion?” I muttered.
“Not when it concerns you.” Vincent answered, chuckling. “Don’t worry though; your secret is safe with me.” He winked.
“Thank you for your time.” I backpedaled hastily. “Farewell.” He grinned at me like an amused feline and waved lazily.
After the rather embarrassing meeting with Vincent, I spent at least an hour trying to find Cristina. The search was fruitless, and I ended up holed up in my cabin for a few hours.
Between the few hours of boredom and illicit glasses of brandy, I got struck by the idea of seeing Henry. A feeling of desperation came over me; I couldn’t wait to see him. Stumbling up from my bed, I glanced at myself at the vanity and left my cabin.
The door to Henry’s cabin opened silently. The doors are very well oiled, I thought, standing under the doorframe and swinging the door back and forth and trying to coax a creak from it.
Henry suddenly emerged from his bedroom, fiddling with his cuffs. He froze mid-step when he saw me.
“What are you doing here?” He asked gently, a ghost of a smile over his features.
“I was bored.” I said loudly, cringing when I heard my voice echo in the room.
Henry gave me a curious look. “Have you been drinking?”
“I was bored.” I repeated, shrugging. He approached at held me by my elbows, looking at me with a mixture of amusement and tenderness.
“How much have you had to drink?”
“A little.” I mumbled, snuggling into the crook of Henry’s neck and sighing deeply. He placed one hand one the small of my back and another on my head, playing with my hair soothingly.
“Let’s get you some coffee. You need to sober up.” He said, dropping his arms and reaching for the bell.
“No.” I said childishly, refusing to release myself from his grip. Instead I wrapped my arms around Henry’s torso and clung to him.
“Let go.” He said softly, pursing his lips. His lips...
I wondered if they still felt the way I remembered. Spontaneously, my head inched closer to his. Our lips met softly, warmth searing from his hips and raging through my limbs. Tentatively, I snaked my arms through his smooth locks, gripping his face close to mine. Henry groaned quietly and loosely wrapped his hands around my waist, squeezing gently. I broke the kiss swiftly as I felt a gurgling sensation in my stomach.
“I think I’m going to be ill.” I blurted, clapping a hand over my mouth. Henry quickly wrapped an arm around my waist and nearly carried me to the toilet at precisely the last second. I heaved repeatedly in revolting waves, my throat burning as my stomach was emptied. Afterwards, I gripped the toilet exhaustively with clammy hands, too tired to move.
; Henry suddenly appeared beside me once more, holding a cool rag in his hand. He pressed it to my forehead and helped me clean out my mouth quietly. Once the buzz and heated feeling of the alcohol had subsided, he escorted me back his bed.
“Thank you.”
He nodded, sitting beside me and handing me a glass of water. “You’re welcome.” We sat side by side silently for a few moments before laughed.
“You never change, do you?” When I was with him we would sometimes dare me to have a few drinks. Of course, a few drinks for me were a lot stronger than a few drinks to him.
“Actually, I’ve only drank once before today. You know, after I left your estate.” I said quietly, trying to repress the dark memories of heartbreak that had somehow convinced me drinking was a good idea.
“I’m sorry that I ever had to leave you.” Through his apology, I felt a flare of annoyance.
“Why didn’t you tell me anything? I could’ve kept a secret.” His green eyes snapped to mine as he looked at me disbelievingly.
“Could you have kept the secret, truly? Not being able to exchange a single letter, a few words, a few kisses? Having to stay away from you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
I was relentless. “Yes, I could have, it was better than the alternative. Do you know what it’s like to feel irrelevant? To feel left abandoned by the person you love? ”
Henry met my eyes evenly. “How do you think I felt when you moved on? I felt like an ass, because I hurt you. I assumed you hated me. Then your deadbeat fiancée walked in and takes you away.” I scoffed softly and stared into his green eyes.
“I never hated you. The only reason I got engaged to Stanley was because I thought you had already forgotten all about me. That, and Carlton’s relentless badgering for me to marry Stanley.” Henry shook his head slowly.
“I was so close to whisking you away. I should have.” I gasped softly in surprise.
“When was this?” He tugged his hand through his curls before answering.
“It was sometime after you got engaged. I snuck into your bedroom late at night, prepared to explain everything to you and praying you’d take me back. Then I saw that atrocious thing on your finger.” He groaned, nudging towards my engagement ring. “I realized you’d probably be better off without me anyway. You had already picked up the pieces and got your life moving again, and here I was just going to waltz in and draw you back.” I climbed on his lap and gripped his face in mine, making sure that he looked straight into my eyes.
“Silly little fool. You could never hold me back.” I said softly, looking deeply into his eyes and trying to somehow convey everything I felt for him.
We stood motionless for a few seconds, just staring at each other. There was a silent agreement; he was sorry, and I forgave him. With a reluctant sigh, I eased off of Henry’s lap and got to my feet.
“Will you be joining us for dinner?” I asked, silently hoping he said yes.
“I’m afraid not. Royce made plans with someone else.” He answered sadly. I held back an ironic chuckle.
“Of all the times I didn’t want you at dinner, it had to be today?” He shrugged and cracked a small grin, soft dimples forming on his cheeks.
“Speaking of which, don’t you have to go get ready?” After spending hours lazing in my room, the dinner bell would ring at any minute.
“You know, for someone who professes their undying love for me, you sure do seem eager to get rid of me.” I accused, crossing my arms. Henry looked absolutely bewildered.
“Get rid of you? I’m itching to lock you up so that I could have you all to myself.” He said, as if it was the most obvious thing.
“Prove it.” With those two simple words, Henry’s face was suddenly masked with confidence. I held my breath as he strolled to me with a sly smirk on his face and leaned in, his soft breath near my ear.
“Darling, I think you’ve already spent enough time on my bed. Don’t you?” My mouth opened and closed like a fish, completely side blinded. As I felt my face flush, I realized that some things between us haven’t changed.
“Goodbye” I stuttered, striding out of his room clumsily and ignoring his echoing laughter. By the time I reached my cabin my face didn’t feel flushed, and I wasn’t quite as breathless. I eased through the door, only to stop short as Mother sat in front of it. Masking my face in what I hoped was aloofness, I met yes eyes.
“Surprise seeing you here.” I said quietly. By the look of her evening dress and the pair of silk gloves she was holding, it was obvious she had already dressed for dinner.
“This is our cabin. I was surprised to see you weren’t here.” She replied wearily, her eyes staring through me like a mountain lion stalking its prey. I shrugged.
“Where have you been, Ophelia?” She probed seriously.
I stared at the intricate rug at my feet. “Oh, I’ve been about.” I hedged, trying to use my best carefree voice. From my view of the floor, Mother’s polished shoes came into my periphery.
“Honestly, I don’t want to know. Don’t do something you will regret, Ophelia.” She warned. As if on cue, the dinner bells went off. I ignored her intense gaze and moved past her into my bedroom, preparing to change into the clothes that were already laid out for me.
Oh mother, I thought, if you only knew. I’m not doing anything I’ll regret: I’m doing something that I should have done a long time ago.