I passed through the door and entered the garden in search of the lady. The garden flowers were dead still and a few were being planted anew. The view was improving under the bright day than at the dark hour I had taken a tour.
It would be easy to find her and soon I did find her, bent, touching a few flowers that were budding this time.
She was unaware of my presence at her back and I took time to scrutinize her. She was tall nonetheless and was slightly inclined to Embonpoint. (plump hourglass figure) despite her covering black dress and shawl. I wondered why she was in black. Was she a widow of some sort—-? oh! I remember. She was possibly mourning the dead relative.
Sad.
But I went towards her nonetheless.
A cough was all it took for her to turn to me in a flinch— unexpectedly. And in the process, her shawl fell off revealing her whole self. Her long black curly hair was almost to her bottom length and it went all over her face as she tried to coat the sides of her face.
I tried to help her pick it up but she was in such a rush my intentions ended up unfruitful.
She went ahead to cover herself back looking away. She was discomfited by my intrusion.
"Mr Houston,"
"I'm sorry if I took you by surprise,"
"You did"
"I know that's why I apologized"
"What are you doing here?"
I stood upright to render my pure reasons diligently.
"I thought it proper to apologize sincerely for last night's action, it was uncalled for and I am very sorry for making you encounter such an incident. It must have disturbed you"
She stalled for a while looking at me emotionless. I couldn't catch any reaction.
"No." She replied."I was not disturbed that much, I was only shocked."
"Really?"
"Is that all Mr Houston?"
"I wanted to —-"
"Uncle! Uncle!"
The princesses interrupted running into the garden.
"If that would be all," she turned away with a gesture that meant she wanted me to leave.
The girls ran towards me and came to grab my hand. "Grandma wants you inside"
"Alright," I turned to her. "I loved the flowers and books anyway."
She didn't turn or whatsoever but I was sure she heard it as I left with the kids.
What could be so urgent?
When we got in the first thing that I smelt was the extravagant vanilla scent in the air.
Going into the dining room someone screeched my name in earnest.
"Eugene!"
She ran into my arms.
"Lily!"
I was surprised indeed and yes it will only be her that would smell like she poured the whole bottle of scent on her body.
Lily white. A childhood neighborhood friend.
"What are you doing here today?"
I released myself from her grip.
"Of course to see you!"
She turned around to take her seat near my delighted mother whose seat was also near mine.
Dennis and Aunt gave off smiles to me. One I hated and hated even more because I knew what it meant.
"I thought you went out of the country?"
I asked as I sat down.
"Mother! You didn't tell him I came back three months ago!"
Her high-pitched voice sang around the room.
"I —"
"She didn't." I interrupted. "Besides I came back yesterday"
Mother gave me a look that indicated, 'Treat her better'.
Well, I wasn't in the mood to pretend about anything. I didn't want her here. Another of my reasons for avoiding Bewifield.
Lily white was the total type I hated and it didn't help that since childhood my parents were trying to pair me off with her as the 'eligible lady' for me.
Her screeching voice, dressing, and over-the-board scent were the worst. Now her hair was elaborately adorned with hair accessories and feathers held up like a hill. Her ridiculous gown, shoes, and pieces of jewelry that she would claim to have bought thousands of coins were all unbefitting and out if fashion.
"I am here now" she laughed. An ugly and loud laugh.
Her sitting beside me were already more uncomfortable. And now, I had to deal with her laugh.
We went ahead finally to the drawing room when the meal was done and the table cleared. I couldn't even dismiss myself anymore just as Dennis did with his children. They were escorted to their rooms by Mrs Williams, who came in later on.
Aunt and mother focused on a few talks leaving us together.
I went outside when it became unbearable and she followed me.
"Gene!"
Now wasn't that the worst nickname ever?
"Lily"
She came to stand beside me. "You wronged me," she pursed her lips.
"I?"
"Yes, silly, you never wrote to me"
She feigned being offended swinging the rope of her gown.
"I was busy and we lost each other's addresses. You were traveling all over the place, how was I supposed to write to you?"
"A message to your mother would have done better whenever I came back"
I smirked watching her in pretense.
"Did you ever visit my mother before this past year?"
She again, as usual, pretended to be confused. "I was traveling, I had a lot to do during the seasons and holidays"
I nodded. "And why haven't you in all your travelings gotten married?"
She turned to me in horror as the sweetness on her dissipated.
She huffed. "Why— why would you ask such?"
"Because I thought you would be married by now. You are pretty and from a wealthy respectable family,"
A silly chuckle escaped her lips as she blushed looking away or should I say pretended to blush, because I tell you, I and Lily had come a long way as children and we were literally the same kind of persons and knew each other well. It's hardly that any of us could deceive each other. I knew her like the palm of my hand.
Two stubborn and shrewd people how would that even work in terms of marriage? Our parents were confused by our closeness as children to think we would ever work.
I knew she knew. What was the act for? She better drop it. Unless all she wanted was fun. That I could play at.
"Unquestionably," she removed a strand of hair on her face to the side. "But, I have my heart set on someone else. He is the one I have been waiting for to walk me down the aisle."
Well, it better not be me.