It was past midnight and Theodore had a hard time falling asleep. Even though it was approaching the end of winter - the coldest time in Veurause, his room, his bed. It all felt too warm.
He couldn't get rid of Tamara from his mind. And how close Pavel was to her. The way he kissed her hand in front of him.
And then his mother. His mother was more quiet than usual, he knew something wasn't right. She had Elisabeth by her side.
Ever since both Elisabeth and him were wee children, even then, Elisabeth was always by his mother's side.
Feeling that his throat had turned dry, he stood up and walked to his work desk. There he was met by his jug of water and a glass beside it.
Pouring the water from the jug into his glass, he realised it only managed to fill half of the glass.
So, drinking the water he had, he began to make his way down to the kitchen for more.
Upon his entry into the kitchen, a light by the side caught his attention. And upon closer inspection, he realised it was Elisabeth.
Almost instantly, as if feeling his presence in the room, she redirected her eyes so that they met him. She was surprised to see him awake at this time of night, just as he was to see her.
"Can't sleep?" She asked.
"I guess you can say so..." he replied. "And you're all here alone because?...".
"I couldn't sleep also..." Elisabeth responded.
Something about her reply didn't his off Theodore right. But regardless, placing his glass on a countertop, he filled it up with water.
He was about to head back to his room, but - with another thought - turned back around and began his way toward Elisabeth.
From the moment he stepped into the kitchen, he felt as though something was wrong. And the closer he got to Elisabeth, the feeling only grew stronger. He took a seat beside her.
Even to that, she managed to find an element of surprise in his actions.
"I can feel it in the air, I can see it on your face and you're scrunched down... what is bothering you?" he asked.
She couldn't help but smile at his words of concern. "I thank you for asking, but let me reassure you that nothing is bothering me.".
Theodore kept his eyes on her before raising his brow. He didn't believe a word she said. "We've known each other since we were small kids... and in that time, I've built up a sense to know when you're being truthful and when you aren't.". He purposefully paused to spectate her reaction to his words. "And right now, I can tell you're not saying the truth. We both know how we feel about lying...".
"We hate it... ain't it?" she inquired, knowing the answer.
All he did was he simply nodded. "Yes... and now I'll ask you again. But this time, I want you to be truthful. What is bothering you, Elisabeth?".
She let out a gentle sigh before glancing at Theodore and back down at the blank page in front of her. "You've caught me..." she played it off as a smile grew on her lips. "I... I think I just miss home...".
Theodore raised his brows to her words. "You? Missing home?? Why, I never thought I'd expect to hear such words come out of your mouth...". With that, he took a gulp of his water.
"Not my parents, if that's what you implied. I just... I miss the luxury back home. Going shopping with my friends..." Elisabeth paused, lifting her gaze to Theodore. She wasn't lying when she said she missed home.
However, that wasn't what really bothered her, it was something else. Something she, under no circumstance, wanted to let Theodore know. Her argument with Tamara.
"You don't think shops in Veurause would suffice your needs?" Theodore couldn't help but crack a joke as a small smile grew on his lips.
"Very funny, Theodore Baraville... very funny..." Elisabeth responded.
"My apologies, I couldn't help it.".
With that, a mere moment of silence descended between them both.
And, before she could stop herself, Elisabeth voiced, "There's something else actually...". Seconds later, she damned herself for speaking.
Just as he was about to take another drink of his water, he lay the glass back down on the table. "Well... go on, tell me. What is it?".
She bit her tongue, at first, not knowing what to say. But then, she remembered. It was something else that bothered her.
"I... Whenever we were with Ms Tamara, I always see you close to her. Like today, you were right there, beside her. On her bed..." Elisabeth spoke.
To her words, Theodore furrowed his brows. "I- I am not too sure I understand, Elisabeth...".
"Your proximity with Ms Tamara is something else that bothers me..." She rephrased.
And then, it hit him like a block of bricks. She noticed. Of course she did. It was only a matter of time.
"What do you see in her, Theodore, so you spend so much time around her?" Elisabeth posed her question. "Both you and I know that it's us who'll get married in a time that's not all so far away...".
It was these words of hers that only further hit Theodore in the face. He knew this was the plan his parents had set out for him ever since he was little. But, quite frankly, he didn't really care whether or not he obeyed his parents. It was because he didn't want to hurt his long-time friend, Elisabeth.
"Yes... I- I know..." he responded.
"So then... why are you always around her? Dancing with her?" Elisabeth furthermore asked.
Theodore couldn't help but snicker at her words. "This was meant to be me asking you what's bothering you, not vice versa.".
"But, as you see, we both have something... or things that are bothering us..." she responded.
He groaned in slight annoyance. "To be honest, I don't know, Elisabeth...".
"You don't know?...".
Theodore replied with silence. "She's different than the rest of the women I've met in my life. She's different from the typical women I've come across in Veursau.".
In other words, she was different from Elisabeth.
"She never asks for much... the one thing I'll always remember Ms Tamara Clarke by is her... her generosity. Her will to help. She helped our dear Diana learn how to play the piano, even if it was a little bit... I don't remember the last time Diana beamed with joy except for all the times she was in the company with the Clarke sisters," Theodore spoke out, not being able to stop his words from coming through his lips. At the same time, without him noticing, a smile made its way to his lips. He was smiling.
Elisabeth remained quiet. If anything, she was hurt. Hurt by the fact that she wasn't all too sure if Theodore was able to talk like that about her. Generosity was looked down upon back at home, in Veursau. Poor people were generous and rich people were economical.
"It's not like that back in Verusau..." Theodore began. "And you know that as well as I do. Nothing can be done without..." he stopped himself, only to raise his hand and rub his thumb against his middle and index finger - symbolising money.
"But..." Elisabeth began. "Regardless of all of that, you're taking interest in someone of a lower class than you, Theodore... Your reputation will be ruined...".
"You're making it sound as if I am about to get married to Ms Tamara..." Theodore began. "Besides, I know. I know all that far too well. But, it's a corrupt system to live in...".
To his words, once again, Elisabeth remained quiet.
"Elisabeth?" Theodore spoke out, breaking the silence.
"Yes?".
"Have you... Have you ever come across a man who... who made you want to break all the rules there is to our society?" he asked.
Elisabeth just looked at him, not believing what she just heard. Finally, opening her mouth, she responded with a simple "No.".
"Then, there's no point in us having this conversation..." Theodore muttered under his breath. But his words were loud enough for Elisabeth to hear.
She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say. She felt that familiar sensation swirl in the pit of her stomach and she hated it.
Was it the fact that she now sees that Tamara wasn't the person both she and Victoria perceived her to be?
Or was it the fact that she was about to rain agony on a family that shed nothing but joy and happiness for Diana?... Or was it because her plan was slowly but surely falling apart, her plan to keep Theodore all to herself?
Elisabeth let out a gentle sigh as her head dropped ever so slightly toward her sheet of paper.
"I'm sorry, Theo..." she spoke softly. "I shouldn't have brought up such a topic...".
Theodore let a small smile evolve on his lips. "Hearing you apologise is a rare commodity, Liz...".
She let out a mere chuckle as she rubbed her face with her hands.
"What's the page for anyway?" Theodore inquired.
"I felt like writing something...".
"You, Elisabeth, to write something??" Theodore couldn't help but poke slight fun at her.
Initially raising an eyebrow at him, she cleared her throat. "But while we are on writing, Theodore..." Elisabeth began. "Why have you failed to mention that you're an author to me?".
Such a question really put Theodore off guard. The smile that was present on his face only a few seconds ago was now reduced to nothing. He couldn't help but blurt out, "How did you find out?".
"Ms Eileen Clarke told me..." Elisabeth responded. "And what you gave to Ms Tamara, she said those were author notes...".
With her finishing her sentence, silence descended amongst them both.
"I didn't mention it to her... she found that out all by herself..." he explained. "But why did you bring such up? Does it bother you that I didn't tell you as such?".
"Yes, actually..." she began. "It does bother me...".
"But, however, it would have bothered me if I told you I write though..." Theodore answered back. "Not even Victoria knows I do as such...".
"She doesn't?" Elisabeth's voice showed a sense of confusion. Uncertainty as to why it was that way.
"What do you think she would have told me if she knew?" he asked. "I know she would have gone on and on about how I should be doing something more worthy of my time...".
"But she is not wrong, is she?" Elisabeth spoke out as she kept her gaze on Theodore.
And he, from looking down at her page - upon hearing her words, darted his gaze so that it met hers.
He laughed at her, he couldn't help himself. And with that, he stood up as he took hold of his glass of water - nearly empty, going to refill it again.
"I-... I didn't mean any offence with what I've said..." she tried to defend herself. "But... instead of writing, you could be looking to get further education. Make something more out of yourself... And I want you to know that I'm only saying that for your own good...".
Just as he filled his glass of water, his gaze returned back to Elisabeth. He felt a sour aftertaste in his mouth, a side effect of his company's words.
His fingernails slowly whitened from the pressure he had upon his glass, he couldn't help it with the anger that grew within him.
"I don't expect you to understand anyway..." was all he said before turning and beginning his way toward the door of the kitchen.
"Theodore..." Elisabeth called out. Then, standing up and pursuing her way toward the door, she once more called out, "Theodore.".
It took almost all his strength to turn one, final time and to look at her.
"I-... I didn't mean to sound so... disconnected from what you do in your pastime..." Elisabeth began. "But... but what would writing bring you?...".
"It has already brought me more than I could have ever imagined..." he responded.
Elisabeth remained quiet for a second more, digesting his words and just as she was about to speak up, Theodore bet her to it. "Good night, Elisabeth...".
"Theodore..." she called out his name, but this time, he disregarded her calling and continued his way back to his room.
---
A few days have passed since Tamara had fully recovered. The weather only got better with the worst of the Winter over and gone, the early feeling of Spring was gladly welcomed by all.
The Clarke sisters were all in the kitchen with Ms Hope when a knock was heard on the door.
"Who could it be, I wonder... I'll go and get it," Ms Hope spoke out as she took off her apron and set it aside.
With her reaching the front door, she opened it. Immediately, she was pleasantly greeted by the familiar face of that youthful, handsome gentleman from the last day. Mr Pavel.
"Good afternoon," he greeted her.
"Good afternoon to you too, dear Child. What can I help you with?".
"I wanted to ask actually... is Ms Tamara Clarke at home at this time?" he inquired.
"Why yes, yes she is... would you like me to pass on a message to her?".
"Actually... There's something I wish to discuss with her...".
"Well then, I shall summon her to you. One moment, please.". Just as Ms Hope was about to turn around and leave, she stopped herself and faced the young man again. "Would you like to come in?".
With a pleasant smile, he kindly rejected the invitation, saying, "No thank you but thank you very much for your offer.".
And with that, she closed the front door before making her way back to the kitchen.
"Ms Tamara... you have a gentleman awaiting your company by the front door," Ms Hope spoke up as she approached Tamara.
"A gentleman?" Tamara questioned. "I wonder who could it be...".
"He was here when you were ill... I've forgotten his name. All I remember is that he brought you those flowers that day...".
No more had to be said, with the mentioning of the flowers, Tamara knew exactly who it was.
So, leaving all of what she held on the table, she made haste to reach the door fast. Opening it, she was greeted by Mr Pavel, whose face lit up when he saw Tamara. "Mr Pavel..." she greeted him before doing a curtsey.
"Ms Tamara..." he responded, bowing his head.
"What brings you here, Mr Pavel?".
"I've actually come to see if you're all well... but seeing you're on your feet, I think I've got my answer.". To his words, they both broke into slight laughter before quiet lay between them both. "I've also come to talk to you...".
"Oh? About what, Mr Pavel?".
At first, hesitancy filled his chest, and then he spoke, "Would you like to go on a walk with me?".
"A walk? Right now??".
He looked at her in slight diffidence before clearing his throat. "If possible at all. I don't intend on taking too much of your time.".