The Heiress' Dilemma

8 | Preston's little crush

We sat in a triangle on the bed, a small mountain of letters served as the centroid of our triangle. His sister was quite a writer because these letters were accumulated over a period of 6 months and she had another box for the other 6 months.

The two oil lamps illuminated our surrounding, enabling me to read the letters and see Vern- ehem.

Vernon was opening a letter from the bundle, eyebrows drawn in concentration while the lamp light falling upon him, accentuated his jaw and eyelashes. Upon sensing my stare, he averted his gaze to me with a subtle raise of eyebrow. In response, I disguised my stare with a disgusted squint and he grimaced.

"Why did you not try to read these letters if you had this box with you the whole day? This is such a wastage of time," he said, scrunching one of the letters in annoyance.

I replied, "Calm yourself, dear highness. If you struggle to recall, let me remind you that you have not paid me. So, relax and read." My eyes remained glued to a letter.

Taking hold of yet another letter from the box, I suppressed a yawn and looked at Preston who was battling to keep his eyes open, whilst Vernon appeared more disgusted by the letter's contents than drowsy.

As I carefully opened the envelope, my eyebrows rose in astonishment. It was a love letter! I couldn't help but giggle as I read the overly dramatic words, drawing their attention.

"Why, pray, are you laughing like a maniac? Do you really need to sleep that bad?" Vernon spat, annoyed but what was new about that? He was always annoyed, ill mannered and ugly-faced(who am I even kidding?).

A cheshire smile spread across my face as I looked at Preston who blinked in confusion. "Oh, I found something interesting."

"What is it?" Vernon questioned, raking a hand through his hair. "And look at me when I am talking."

I frowned. "Why?"

"To be polite." He shrugged.

"Oh, I will show-"

Preston's hand sneakily came to grab the letter from my hand but being the smart airhead- that I am, I protected the letter with all my life by hugging it and turning into a ball on the bed.

His hand came again, this time with slightly greater force than before, giving me a silent confirmation that he knew what I had just discovered.

My parents would have grimaced at how "unladylike" and "uncivilized" behaviour I was currently showing, with my head and entire body contorted akin to a turtle retreating into its shell, while a man endeavored to extract the letter from my grasp.

Before he could attempt to do anything, a hand gripped his, restricting him.

"Speak," Vernon said, tightly grasping Preston's wrist to stop him from causing any hindrance to my sudden discovery.

My fellow princesses got it all wrong. Preston was the one they should be jealous of, not me.

I brought the paper in my hand like it was speech and began, "Dearest Keira, two hearts and a star, I am Preston, closest friend of your younger brother. You might have not noticed me since I shy away at the mere sight of your alluring self but I  have finally gathered the courage to declare what has been kept hidden in my heart that beats for you for years. I have fallen in love with you. I fell the moment I saw you throwing that glass plate on Vernon. I was enchanted by the rage you carried in your fiery eyes and the way your long black hair cascaded down your back. You are a literal living-Goddess. Despite our age and status difference, I believe love knows no bounds. Will you give me a chance?A rabbit and a heart."