Close to the Flame

Chapter 10

Arthur walked around the party searching for Scarlet. No one had seen her in the last hour, including Sir Leicester. Amelia also searched the party looking for Scarlet. She worried that she scared her off talking to her about how much Arthur had changed. Arthur asked everyone he could about where Scarlet might be before going on a whim to THE THREE CRIPPLES. He busted through the door looking around. He asked the bartender if a red haired girl had been in and when the bartender shook his head, he asked if his friend Tom had come in. The bartender shook his head again and Arthur left the bar. He stood outside the door looking around wondering what had happened and headed back to Satis House as the party was ending.
The next day, Scarlet sat in her room staring out the window. She hadn't slept all night. When she got back to Chesney Wold the night before, she went to her room and tore off the beautiful dress she had worn and proceeded to destroy her room. Everything was over. She would lose the coal mill. But worst of all, she lost hope to win Arthur. She would never be the right person for him and she would have to accept that. Her heart was broken. When Uncle got home, she avoided speaking to him, she wouldn't even speak to Cathy. As she stared out the window, Cathy came in with tea; Scarlet sent her away. When Cathy came with lunch, Scarlet refused to eat and sent her away.

Sir Leicester needed answers so he sent Cathy to bring Scarlet to his study. Scarlet arose slowly when Cathy came to the room. She didn't say anything, she just followed Cathy to see Uncle.

"Scarlet, what happened at the party last night? The Havishams have been worried sick, especially Arthur." Scarlet gulped before she spoke with her voice shaking.

"You were right, Uncle. About Mr. Havisham. He isn't a good choice for me. I just want to find a husband and get back papas mill. I don't care who you can find. I'll marry anyone. I don't care who. Please, Uncle." Sir Leicester was confused.

Yesterday Scarlet couldn't wait to be with Arthur and now she didn't want anything to do with him?

"Scarlet, if that is what you want, I'll do what I can. But you will not see Arthur Havisham again." Scarlet bit her lip and looked down at the floor, fighting tears as she nodded and went back to her room. She laid on her bed crying. After a while, Scarlet heard a soft knock at the door and then saw Cathy come in when she sat up, sniffling.

"What is it Cathy?" Cathy pointed down and tapped her chest, her sign for Arthur since he always kept a flask in his jacket pocket. "I don't want to see him, Cathy. Uncle will send him away."

Arthur sat in the study with his face scowled as Sir Leicester lectured him. He told Arthur he would never see Scarlet again if he had anything to do with it. Arthur felt his heart sink as her uncle told him Scarlet didn't want to see him either. Arthur was crushed. He didn't understand why she had left the party and he wasn't sure why he felt like there was a hole in his heart now. Arthur stood when Sjr Leicester told him to leave, he felt his eyes bringing to sting as tears formed and he left. He needed to speak to her, desperately. His mind wandered as he rode in the carriage, he closed his eyes remembering the times at the pub, the kiss. That blasted kiss. No one, man or woman, had awakened him the way that kiss had. And her perfume, those letters smelled of her perfume. He hadn't told anyone but he slept with the letters in his pillow, it made him feel like she was there with him when he slept. He balled up his fist and hit the side of the carriage to get the driver to stop. He didn't want to ride anymore, so he got out and walked. Arthur shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking slowly thinking about Scarlet. Her beautiful green eyes piercing him, practically to his soul. Her smile, her lips, that kiss. That damn kiss! He felt a tingle in the pit of his stomach. Why was that kiss so maddening? He stopped walking and looked up to the sky. Was it possible he was in love with her? He covered his face. He needed to find her as quickly as possible. He looked at his watch and saw it was after 10. He knew Scarlet wouldn't come to THE CRIPPLES. He looked around trying to remember. The night she came back to him after the kiss. She had told him she had been spending time at a different pub..... but which one? Arthur grew frustrated trying to remember. It felt like everything was spinning as he tried to clear his mind and focus. Suddenly, he remembered: THE SPANIARDS.