Violet

8| Bandages and Bricks

Emmett grabs my arm and pulls me down with him at once, silently falling against each other on the soft grass below. We both do not dare move a muscle, desperately attempting to not be seen or heard.

"Wait William, be quiet," Fredrick says harshly. "Who is there!?" Then nothing. My stomach is in my throat.

"Hello?" William asks, "Is anyone there?" It is true when someone tells you about their heart beating so loud, that it can be heard by others. That is how I feel right now, terrified, like my heart is going to break through my ribs and chest to explode, allowing them to find us.

"See? Nothing there. Are you done now?"

"Listen to me carefully, if anyone hears us speak, there will be massive consequences." I look down at Emmett, who is sprawled out next to me and feel his body quivering against me.

"Let it go," says William, "it is probably just an animal."

A grunt from Fredrick then the sound of both their footsteps carry away until I cannot hear them anymore.

...

"You heard him say this? That is not suspicious in the slightest." Arietta paces around my room a few hours later, while Emmett sits on the chair and I the bed, recollecting ourselves. "Are you sure that it was not about something else?"

Technically we did not tell Arietta the whole story; the note, the plan to overthrow the castle, the plan involving Emmett and I being killed. Yesterday's morning chat with her in the stable about William made me feel comfortable enough to tell her.

"That is what he said," Emmett adds, "word for word."

"He is dangerous after all," Arietta joins me on the bed, with a serious expression on her face, she turns to us, "would you like me to talk to my fathers about it?" Emmett looks at me, and I look at him, he shrugs.

"Thanks, Arietta," I say, "but I think we need more information before doing anything drastic."

"Alright, but if you change your mind, let me know." Then she pulls a watch from her pocket. "Oh no, I am so sorry, I need to get to work. Augh.

Unfortunately, my fathers have me working at eight in the mornings instead of nine on Wednesdays."

"Oh okay, no problem," I say as she gets up from the bed and walks over to the door, "thank you heaps for coming over."

"Not a problem," she says, "and just so you know, I will be telling all the girls to stay away. You would not believe the amount of them who fancy William."

"Oh wait, maybe you should-"

"I will not be telling them anything else, do not worry." Relief enters my body as she smiles before walking out the door. Then she adds, singing, "goodbye you lovebirds." Sighing, I close the door after her.

Emmett lets out half a laugh. "Why does she keep saying that?"

"She has got a fixed mind at the moment."

"About what?" I look at him.

"Ah."

I sit down on my bed to face Emmett in the chair opposite me. We both sit in silence for a while.

Emmett starts "I am not sure if you have noticed – " "I have," I interrupt, trying out a small smile.

"It takes a while for me to become used to someone else's touch," he says, and

I listen, "I did not want you to think I was doing it on purpose."

"I noticed," I start, "and I am not sure what would have happened if you did not pull us down to hide, but I am glad you did so thank you for that. I would have gotten caught for sure."