The Book Of Flowers

Chapter 4

I sit down and start playing with the hem of my dress. I don't look at either of them until lunch is almost over.

"Estella." Father says harshly.

"Yes?" I say just above a whisper.

"Look at me when I speak to you." He says louder than usual.

My eyes start to water and I look up at him, "Yes?"

"What you did this morning must never happen again. Do you understand me?" He shouts.

"Yes." I say while looking at my mother who is looking down at my hand. I quickly pull it out of her view.

"Estella? What happened to your hand?" Mother asks.

"Oh, It was just an accident, nothing to worry about." I say while touching the bandage.

"Lift your hand Estella," he says.

I slowly lift my hand so they can both see it. Mother walks over to me and looks at it, she slowly starts to unwrap it and I wince.

"Darling what happened?" She asks.

"A glass broke and I went to clean it up and it sliced me." I say while looking down.

"Who cleaned it?" She asks.

"Oh, Sebastian did. He found me in the bathroom and helped me." I say while looking at my father. Why does he look so upset?

"He did a really good job. I'm glad he was there to help you get it all cleaned up." She says.

I smile at her and stand up and start walking to the doors, I look at them briefly and start walking out the doors and shutting them behind me.

"Rachel. What is up with those two? You know the rules!" He says quietly so I don't hear him.

"Steven, I'll talk to him. I will figure it out." She says.

"If you have to switch her guard I expect you to do so. You know the rules." He says.

I am met with Sebastian at the doors, he still has a red tint to his cheeks from earlier.

"I'm going to head to my room, if you want to accompany me." I say while passing him. I hear his footsteps running up next to me. He turns and smiles. When we arrive at my door we are met with Mary and Jane standing outside my door. "Mary? Jane? Do you need something?" I ask.

"Oh, hello dear. Yes we just needed to grab your dress from the party and put it in the laundry quarters." Jane says while looking at me.

"Oh, we can always come back later if you guys are busy at the moment." She says while looking at me and Sebastian.

"Oh." I turn red. "No, no go ahead. You guys can get it!" I say while looking at Sebastian. I nudge his arm and he looks at me. His face is completely red and I laugh.

"What's so funny?" He asks.

"You're completely red!" I say while laughing.

"Well you should go take a look in the mirror, you are also quite red yourself Stell." He says.

I hide my face in my hands. We both enter my room. As we enter, Mary and Jane leave.

"Goodbye!" Mary says.

"Bye! Have a good day!" I reply.

When I turn around Sebastian is sitting on my bed. I head over to him and sit next to him. I then rest my head on his shoulder.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" He asks while looking at me. "About this morning?" He continues.

"Oh, my parents want me to marry some prince from the neighboring kingdom to clear up any tensions." I look down at my hands. "I don't want to marry him. It's completely my choice but I know they will be upset with me if I tell them that. Or my father will be at least." I say while looking up at him. I feel his hand meet my back and it starts to move up and down.