Arthur spent the whole afternoon waiting for her in the parlor. Adolphus even left after setting Arthur up. Edgar left him in the parlor going back to his talk.
It wasn't until late twilight when the front door opened again and a sweet laughter disrupted the silence of the manor. Arthur got up from his place and walked towards the door, glancing at the lady whose laughter brought him there.
Her hazel brown hair fluttered in the air, brushing away those strands that her pale fragile fingers. Her thin eyebrows arched perfectly, and underneath them were those gray eyes drawing one in. Her long lashes hide those gray eyes. A thin nose, and small lips, and right above her lips, at the right corner, a mole enhancing her beauty. Arthur was allured by her beauty.
"My lady, someone is waiting to meet you." The maid informed her, taking the bonnet and gloves.
"Is it the guy who is watching from the parlor?" She raised a brow, glancing at him and smiling.
Arthur would be lying if he said that he was not mesmerized by her. There was something about her, the hollow manor that looked more like a haunted house suddenly turned out lively, like a fresh breath of air. She brings life to death.
The maid glanced towards the parlor, to find Arthur bewitched, his eyes focused at her. Adeline chuckled softly seeing him staring at her like that.
She went close to him, the smile still on her lips, "Your eyes will fall down your socket if you continue to stare at me." She smiled and turned around and went back to her maid.
Arthur came out of his fantasy and grabbed the bouquet from the sofa and went up to her with it. He took a deep breath, swallowing hard in nervousness, as his hands touched her shoulder to get her attention.
Adeline turned her head, her eyebrow raised in question. Even without any words, her face says it all. People say eyes said it all, but with time people also learned to lie with their eyes, while hers were clear, every emotion shown in them.
"B-bouquet…" Arthur ends up stammering. He regretted every decision he ever took in life. First impression was the most important, how can he screw it up like that.
Adeline smiled, seeing his reddened face. She glanced down at the wilted daisies. Her brows furrowed together in fun, as she took it from his hand.
Once she took it from his hand, Arthur didn't try to talk further and ran away like a teenage kid, who had for the first time, talked to a girl.
Seeing him leave like that, the maid snickered, "Who would believe he is the infamous rake of Acarvia?"
Adeline looked at the wilted daisies, a smile bloomed on her lips. "I do." She whispered, holding onto the bouquet he gave her.
The maid noticed the blush on her cheeks. It was quite clear, his clumsiness certainly did some magic on her. "My lady, don't do something that will anger them." The maid reminded her, as concern grew.
Adeline's face turned grim, at the reminder. She gave the bouquet to the maid, "I know. It's not like someone like me deserves something pure like love." She answered, her eyes bitter as she walked upstairs to her room.
The maid sighed, following Adeline to her room. Adeline sat by the window, watching the setting sun. While the maid went to the bathroom to prepare her bath.
Once the bath was prepared for her, the maid returned, helping Adeline to undress from her gown. "My lady, what if we return back to Woodland? It's not like you have to comply with every order."
"She doesn't need to comply, she has to." A female voice from the door spoke up. The maid shuddered at the voice, kneeling down on the floor.
Adeline remained quiet, standing just in her undergarments. Her eyes lowered. The woman entered the room, removing her cloak and going up to her.
"I apologize for her mindless chatting. Don't mind her." Adeline tried to speak up.
When a slap hit her cheeks, making it redden. Adeline stepped daggered, and by the time she straightened up, another slap hit her face.
The maid gasped, trying to get up and step in between but just a glare from the woman made her stop and kneel in silence.
"Since you are apologizing for her, then get her portion of punishment too." The woman scoffed, grabbing Adeline's hair.
"Just focus on what I told you to do."
The woman left the room after she was done speaking with Adeline. The maid gulped in fear, not daring to move even one muscle until her shadow was no longer in their sight.
With hastened steps, the maid closed the door before going to Adeline, who had plopped down on the floor.
"My lady…This is all because of me." The maid broke down to tears, seeing her flushed cheeks. Adeline remained quiet and forced out a smile.
"Maya, the water must be going cold. Help me take a bath." Adeline got up from her place and went to the bathroom.
Maya was well aware that Adeline never liked to talk about her, as if it never happened. Maya rubbed away her tears and went to the bath to help Adeline.
Maya's heart aches every time her eyes fall on her red cheeks. Not even a tear on those gray eyes, not even a cry. She remembers the first time she met Adeline. A peal of laughter so pure and mesmerizing that makes you think that she must have never had any problem. Maya would be lying if she said never felt jealous of Adeline until the bitter truth was revealed.
The loudest laughter comes from the one who cries the most.