An awkward silence follows as Lady Geraldine and Lord Geraldine walk back to their home.
"I didn't-"
"Hush," Geraldine said, her face grim.
"You have to understand it was just out of respect. I didn't expect him to agree to it. He usually doesn't." Lord Ershire explained hurriedly to his wife.
"Hm." She replied as she continued to walk without even glancing at him.
"I can tell him to"
"It seems you've forgotten your place, Ershire." She paused.
"I dragged you and your family out of ruins and this is what you repay me with? Disrespect and doing however you want to. You seem to forget the head of this house isn't you but me and I can just decide to throw you out."
"Forgive me, my Lady."
"You'll be given 10 whips on your back for your insolent character."
"P-p-lease…" He said going on his knees begging her profusely. "It won't happen again please."
"Yes, it will because you never learn Ershire. It hurts me a whole lot to do this to you." She said walking away.
"I promise it won't happen." He said his head bowed in defeat. His shoulders shaking from fear and tears.
"Guards, please take him away and get this over with." She said, waving her hands towards him.
"No! I won't do it again. Please just let this slide." He said bowing.
"That was what you said the last time and the time before that. You truly amaze me with your lies. Guards take him away."
Ershire's shouts reverberated around the entire house causing those who didn't see this normal occurrence to flinch hearing the sound of the whip crack.
*******
"Sing sweet nightingale."
"Again now. On a higher pitch."
"Sing sweet nightingale."
"That's perfect. Just a little bit higher now."
"Sing sweet-" A dark creature moved past the corner of her eye.
"Why'd you stop?"
"Please may you excuse me? I need to go to the ladies' room."
Donna walks out of the room quickly going to her room. She hears some giggles from the passage and decides to check.
"You look better than-" The man said.
"Father? Matilda?"
The two hurriedly turned, keeping a wide distance away from each other.
"Father, what are you doing here with Matilda? And Matilda you didn't inform me you were coming today."
"I just wanted to give you a huge surprise. On my way to your room, I saw your father and then we decided to chat a bit and here we are." She laughed awkwardly, glancing at Donna.
"Father. I thought you had fencing practice today."
"I was feeling a bit under the weather."
"Oh alright then. Matilda let's go?"
Matilda turned to Mr Doughburry bowing very exaggeratedly. Her full bosoms were all open to his sight.
"Goodbye Mr Doughburry." She said as they shared a long glance.
Donna looked at them, feeling a spirit of dread climbing up her spine.
"Good day, Miss." He said, giving her a small smile.
"Do you want to engage in idle chatter and let me kill you right in front of them?" The Ursalaian said, making her skin prick.
"Matilda, we have to go," Donna said, pulling her away fast.
The two walked through the hallways going to Donna's room.
"Donna, wait…"
Donna continued to pull Matilda walking as fast as she could.
"Wait Donna you're hurting me." She said, finally pulling her hand free from her grasp.
"We don't have much time, Matilda. Why're you wasting it?" She said, her eyes darting around.
"I want to just go get a biscuit tray. I'll be right back." Matilda says walking away. Her low-heeled shoes made a "click clack" sound in the distance.
Donna entered her room leaning on the door, her eyes shut.
"It took you long enough." The Ursalaian said, settling in on one of the chairs.
Donna visibly flinched looking towards the table and swung back at the slimy creature with tentacles.
"Please change your form." She said looking away like she must
"Why? You don't like to see my natural form? I would like to see your natural form without all that makeup."
"Well, your natural form is disgusting. So change immediately."
"Coming from you. That's weird to hear."
Donna turned back to hear the sounds of bones shifting and cracking.
"There we go."
Donna looked at the creature to see who or what he had turned to.
"You have to be making a joke out of me."
"You don't like this?" "Lilith," said smiling.
"So I've seen that Lilith is still very much alive and well and I remember passing an instruction to you for her to wipe off the face of this earth or you face the consequences."
"It's harder than you think."
"It's quite a simple task if you ask me."
"As you know, Lord Kent's cousin usually comes during this period to organize a little get-together for the high society ladies."
"Okay? But Lilith isn't high society and I doubt she'll be invited." Donna shrugged.
"Oh, you didn't know?"
"Didn't know what?"
"Kent is trying to introduce our dear friend, Lilith, to high society which means she's going to be there."
"So what do I do?"
"Don't act like you don't already know. I can feel and sense the sinister plans in your mind and I truly have to commend you. Those are excellent options but you'll be implicated if the news ever gets out."
"Then what do we do?"
"That's for you to figure out. I'm just here to help remind you to get the job done and not get too comfortable."
"After I kill her then what then happens?"
"That'll be where I enter the plan. I guess it's time to take my leave."
"What if I get caught?"
"That's just not my problem." The Ursalaian said walking. "Oh, and you should try to monitor the things happening around you that seem to be clean but aren't. I bid you farewell."
"What do you mean?"
"That's for you to find out."
"Do you-"
The door opened suddenly with Matilda bringing a tray of biscuits.
"Are you okay? You look a bit red. Who were you talking to?" Matilda asked, looking around the room, seeing no one.
"Oh, no one."
"Shall we eat now?"
"Of course."