Veiled Whispers

Ch.3 - The Painting

Lily
It was a close one. As I stood there, entranced, I inadvertently eavesdropped on a conversation between two of Papa’s closest confidants. If they were to catch me here, it would be the end of my story. Fortunately, the music ended, and I swiftly vacated the area, making my way to the exit. I heard my name being called out. Ah, the cake I had ordered. As I collected it, I spotted him again. He was no longer on stage.
He was gazing directly at me. Time was not on my side to even inquire about his name.

By the time I returned home, the guests had begun to disperse. Mama hadn’t noticed my absence, which was a relief. I retreated from the party and entered the house, heading straight to my room. I placed the book on the bed while I opened the cake box and took a bite. It was divine. The chocolate frosting was to die for. As I savored the cake, I opened the mysterious book. The initial pages were devoid of any writing, but they contained several illustrations. Their meaning eluded me. I leafed through them and landed on a page that simply read,
“Hi.”
Puzzled, I turned to the next page, only to find it blank. I flipped through the entire book, and it was empty. Was this meant to be a diary? I placed the book on my table and searched for a pen. Upon finding one, I reciprocated the ‘Hi’ in the book for no reason at all. To my astonishment, it vanished.
The ‘Hi’ that was already written, and the one I wrote, both disappeared. I slammed the book shut. What on earth had just happened? Had I imagined it?
After the day I had, I needed to clear my head. I placed the book on the stand and switched off the light. Lying in bed, I allowed my thoughts to drift to the man in blue. I had seen him somewhere, but no matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn’t place him. Since he was invited to the ball, perhaps Papa knows him. Then again, almost all privileged men and women were invited. I need to get hold of the register for the event. Perhaps his name has something to do with the ‘V’ he wears.

As sleep eluded me, I rose from my bed and made my way to Papa’s office. I had to ensure I didn’t encounter Mama; she might bombard me with a million questions. ‘Did you meet anyone?’ ‘Lord Tewksbury was asking about you.’ ‘Why don’t you spend a day with him, maybe you’ll like him?’
Goodness, I’m her only daughter, then why is she so eager to marry me off?

I entered his study, thankfully Papa wasn’t there. Seeing the multitude of papers and books on his desk, I sighed. How was I going to find it? The party was today, so how is the book not here at the top of everything? Maybe he hasn’t brought it in yet. As I was rummaging, I heard voices approaching the study. I exited, but the people were coming down the hallway.
I needed to get out of there.
Papa would be livid if he found me there. The one place I’m forbidden to enter in this house is his study. I don’t know what could possibly be in there. Despite that, I have actually been in there a couple of times. Sometimes just to look around. Sometimes to pilfer his pen. Other times to steal books from his library. There are books there which aren’t found in the main library. And as you have guessed, I’m a sucker for books.
I headed down another hallway which I thought led to the conference room. At least that’s what I thought. I was horribly wrong. Another fact about me, I have no sense of direction. I’m not bragging, but my ‘house’ is a colossal palace and I can never figure it out. I came across a clock and checked the time. It was one o’clock. Wow, that’s really late to be roaming about this eerie place.
I stumbled upon a familiar room, one I hadn’t visited in a long time. A little while back, Papa transformed this grand hall into a Hall of Paintings of all the greats in the land. I expected it to be locked, but as I pressed the handle, the door opened. I went around seeing many faces in paintings. Some handsome, some looked like they could easily be homeless.
I almost walked out the door, and that’s when I saw it. The handsome man’s portrait. The ‘V’ on his neck. My eyes fell to the plaque at the bottom.
Theodore Vincent - Duke Of Delphi. Son of Prince Jacob Thomas Wilson.

Vincent. I smiled to myself. That was what the V stood for.