[Celia's POV]
Celia did not even dare look at the housekeeper while the man asked him to come with him. She knew this would happen, and she could do nothing about it. All the excuses and reasons she had chalked up earlier in her room had vanished, leaving her mind blank and reeling.
"Give me the tray. You go," Mrs. Gibson's tone was sharp. Celia kept her eyes downcast as she gave her the tray. Her appetite was gone, replaced with a ball of anxiety.
"Fredrick, are you done with the garden?" Mrs. Gibson asked, her voice acidic.
"Yes." The man, Fredrick answered in his impassive tone, not letting his reaction known.
"Fine, lead this girl to Lady Wilson then," the older woman said as if the man hadn't come for just that.
The man simply bowed and then turned around. That was Celia's cue to leave, and she did so after bowing to Mrs. Gibson curtly. The walk to the parlor seemed too short for her because she was anything but ready to face Lady Regina's wrath.
Lady Regina stood up as soon as Celia entered while Fredrick swiftly moved out of the room. Celia's gaze widened at the murderous look in the older woman's eyes before she saw Enzo in the room, standing up as well as if to intervene.
"Please leave us a for a moment," Lady Regina said, her eyes not leaving Celia.
Celia wanted to plead with Enzo to stay, but she knew that he would not intervene just like that. Celia was not related to him in any way, which did not give him the right to intervene. The fact that he had taken her in without any reluctance was enough, but beyond he wouldn't be able to help.
Celia's eyes darted to Lady Regina's hands which were clenching and unclenching. Her heartbeat notched up. The older woman was livid beyond words and Celia knew that at times like this, she did not hesitate to use her hands to get her words across. Or her whip.
Celia tried to not flinch. She also felt grateful that there was no whip in sight.
Enzo hesitated for a moment before throwing a concerned glance at Celia, and then nodding at Lady Regina. As he passed by Celia, he whispered, "I will be standing outside. Don't worry."
Those few words of reassurance made her eyes fill with tears. She blinked them back lest the other woman saw it.
Once Enzo left and closed the door behind him, Lady Regina stalked toward her until she was invading her personal space.
"Explain," Lady Regina gritted out, her eyes burning with rage.
Celia's tongue felt too heavy. No words would come out of her mouth. She could only stagger back a little with fear.
Lady Regina's lips curved into a malicious smile before her smile dropped and she sneered, "So you choose to rebel? You choose to leave the manor and bring us all down after we have done so much for you, you unworthy harlot."
Celia flinched as the hand struck her face. Her ears rang and her left cheek stung from the slap. She brought a shaky hand to her left cheek, and this time she did not stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.
She was trembling with fear now. Why did she even think that she would be able to get away from this woman's anger? Why did she think that anyone would help her?
At that moment, the door burst open and Enzo walked back in. Celia did not dare look at his face as she turned away her face to hide the reddened cheek.
"Lady Wilson I think you are crossing the line," Celia heard Enzo say. She could hear the anger laced in his tone.
Lady Regina let out a bitter chuckle. Before throwing a scathing glare at Celia, she moved to stand in front of Enzo. Her facade of innocence and calmness did not return. Finally, apart from Celia, someone else had seen this side of Lady Regina.
"And you think you have done something kind and charitable? Do you know what this silly woman has done? Her coming here at the crack of dawn will inevitably lead to scandal. I am sure half of the Elm Brook already know about it." Her voice rose an octave at the end. She sounded hysteric, and Celia closed her eyes trying to not drown in the shame she felt.
"No one will speak anything about her or your family. She is here as my apprentice. If you are worrying about us living under the same roof, then let me tell you that Mrs. Gibson also lives here and so does my butler, Fredrick." Despite Enzo's reasoning, Lady Regina laughed.
Celia knew that the older woman did not like to see reason, nor did she like to solve things when she did not want to. If things did not go her way then she would make sure somehow it did.
"Whatever you say, Doctor O'Neil, this girl is going to come with me." Lady Regina grabbed Celia's hand before could do anything. Her grip was tight and Celia managed to not wince in pain.
She was about to drag her out of the parlor when Enzo intervened. "Let us talk once."
There was such a calmness in his tone that it made Celia shiver. This calm tone sounded even more dangerous than Lady Regina's angry voice.
"Miss Wilson, please leave us for a while. You didn't have breakfast, did you? Go to the kitchen and have some." Celia stared at Enzo incredulously while the man only gave her a tight smile.
His gaze returned to Lady Wilson who slowly loosened her grip, and Celia immediately snatched her hand back. There was something in Enzo's gaze that Celia could not point out, and Lady Regina also seemed slightly compliant.
She bowed once to both before scurrying out of the parlor. She rubbed the area where Lady Regina had been gripping. The skin had reddened slightly. She could not decide whether she should go back to the kitchen or go to her room. Going to the kitchen would also mean facing Mrs. Gibson, which she did not want.
She decided to linger near the parlor. She paced down the corridor, biting her nails occasionally. She could only hope for some miracle, although nothing like that had happened in her life. However, she was thankful to the doctor for at least trying to save her.
'What will happen when I meet Austin next?' She shuddered at the thought. She did not want to go back. Her vision blurred again. Her heart clenched painfully.
'Please… please let Lady Regina leave without me,' she prayed to the higher power above.
After what felt like ages, the parlor door opened and Lady Regina stormed out. To Celia's pleasant surprise she did not ask for Celia to come out, nor did she say anything to Enzo. However, she couldn't help but notice her eyes as Lady Regina glanced at him once.
From where she was standing, she could see Lady Regina's face clearly, but the older woman wouldn't be able to see her. She couldn't help but feel that the older woman was glancing at Enzo fearfully.
Celia frowned, why would a woman such as her look at him like that? She clenched her hands by her sides.
Lady Regina's jaw twitched before she turned around and stormed out of the house. Celia let out a shuddering breath. However, she did not want to make her presence known yet.
"You can come out now. She is gone and won't be coming back," Enzo suddenly said. Celia gasped. How did he…?
She stepped out of her hiding spot.
He turned to look in her direction and smiled. "You are safe now."
Despite the words of assurance, Celia did not feel it. Was she really safe?