"Pleased to meet you too, Mr Finn." She said bowing slightly.
"Green is a superb color on you, Miss …"
"Donna Doughburry."
"Donna is truly an excellent and beautiful name, almost as beautiful as the girl who bears it," Finn said.
"Oh, you flatter me."
"It's not flattery if I say nothing but the truth, my lady."
"Can I ?" He gestured to her to wear the necklace.
"Oh, sure."
She turned around, facing the mirror moving her hair to the side. His hand softly unclasped the necklace, laying it gently on her skin. The gems felt so cold on her skin instantly causing her goosebumps. The hairs around her neck instantly stood.
"There you go." He whispered so close to her ear, causing her to redden.
His deep voice almost turned her into a puddle.
"I do hope I'm not interrupting anything of the sort," Matilda said suddenly, giggling.
"Is it raining pretty damsels today?" Finn said with a smile.
"Shucks," Matilda said with a wide smile, her cheeks a twinge of red.
"Are you also getting something?"
"I've already picked mine, I'm waiting for my friend, Donna, to pick hers."
"Well then." He said whilst motioning to the attendant.
"I'll pay for these two ladies' choices."
Matilda let out an audible gasp looking wide-eyed at Finn.
"I'd like to get the whole set for this lady here. " He said, motioning to Donna. "And then this lady's jewelry too."
Finn paid for both the jewelry and turned back to Donna and Matilda.
"Have a good day ladies, especially you Miss Donna." He said bowing to kiss her hand.
The bell jingled signaling his leave.
"Oh heavens, Donna."
Donna stood dumbstruck still looking at the door.
"Did what just happened happen?"
"Yes, it just did," Matilda confirmed.
"Oh, Matilda," Donna said, swooning down to the chair near her friend. "Do you think he's interested in me?"
"Do I think so? I know for a fact that he is in love with you. He was looking at you like he wanted to ask you to marry you. He is surely in love with you."
"And he paid for all our purchases?"
"Every single thing, Donna."
"This feels like a fever dream." She said dramatically leaning on the chair.
"Did you see how he looked at you through the mirror?"
"I did."
"And how he wore you the necklace. I felt like I was interrupting something very steamy."
"Oh please."
"What did he say his name was again?"
"Finn Webschester."
"We will meet again, Finn," Donna said to herself.
*******
Kent paced around the living room, repeatedly tapping his foot against the floor.
"Thomas?"
"Yes Sir?" Thomas said, rushing forward.
"Are these all the maids in the Manor?" He asked, looking up at them.
"Yes Sir."
"So which of you gave Miss Lilith her snacks today and locked her inside the library."
A long silence followed.
"Thomas, point the person out."
Thomas looked at all the frightened faces of the maids looking for the maid.
After a while, he turned back to Kent.
"Sir, she doesn't appear to be here."
"What do you mean?" He said rising slowly.
"S-sir I don't know." Thomas stuttered.
"Was any maid dismissed early today?"
"Well, sir…"
"Sir!" A voice sounded amidst the maids.
"Yes? Come forward while you speak."
A short, smallish-looking pale man walks forward, his head down.
"I recall late this afternoon, a man sneaking out quite fastly when I called out to ask her where she was headed too and whether she had told anyone she was done for the day. She didn't respond to me and instead increased her pace."
"Hm," Kent said, stroking his chin.
"Do you know her name by any chance or what she looks like?" He asked the manservant.
"She was a redhead and she had dark under eyes. I haven't seen her around the manor until recently. I recall her mentioning her name was Veronica."
"Thank you for the information. You'll be greatly rewarded for this. The rest of you may leave but Thomas."
The maids hurriedly left the living room, leaving only Thomas and Kent.
"How could you be so careless, Thomas?"
"I apologize Sir." He said bowing.
"Lilith would have been frozen to cold or died of thirst and all because you don't take hints of things or notice when things are weird."
"..."
"Perhaps you are also part of the plan of conspirators to kill Lilith?" He said, looking at him sharply.
"Sir, I would never think to hurt someone you give high regard to. I was simply careless and I swear it would not happen again."
"I hope so. Run through the new staff again. Check where this stranger is from and bring her."
"Will do, Sir."
Thomas left after a short while leaving Kent alone in the huge living room.
"Why do you care so much?" He thought silently to himself.
"Perhaps I only care because she is a woman and my desire to protect her is strong." He thought.
"I strive to look my best in her eyes. I want to shower her with the best things I can offer. Could I be a madman for feeling this way for a strange woman?" He said quietly in the empty room.
"She evokes such thoughts in my head I never imagined to have. For all I know she could be a trap sent to make me weak."
"But I would happily fall into this trap with my knees."
"She could be a witch but I don't think I would care about that."
"What is wrong with me?" He said, running his hands through his face.
He stood up walking towards Lilith's room to check on her.
He watched her as she slept so soundly. He ran his hands through her hair caressing her face ever so softly.
"How could you trust me so blindly?" He whispered to her.
He watched her intently like he was studying each inch of her face eager to engrave it into his memory like she would disappear any moment.
"I don't know what it is about you that makes me so curious to know more, to want more even."