My Lily Pad| V. Tewkesbury

10

[X] Soft Hands

It was early in the morning. Lily just woken up by the bright rays of the sun outside her window. She sat up and stretches her tired body. She reaches out for her journal at the bedside table when stumble across the sight of the young viscount sleeping on her bedroom floor.

Nicholas won't sleep outside alone since he's scared someone would get him or Lily suddenly leaving him. Lily doesn't want sharing her room at first, but the viscount rather has a way with persuading her.

"You're a bloody pain." She whispers.

She then leaves her bed, quietly making her way towards the door. Nicholas scrambles in his sleep, which made Lily anxious of her movements. She doesn't want to awake the boy. She quietly opens the door, that of course creaked.

"L-Lily?" He called out while being half awake.

"Oh! Sorry! Yes, it is I." She answers him. "Go back to sleep, don't worry about me. I'll just eat breakfast." She ushered him.

"No..." He trails off, finally sitting up. "I'll go with you."

Lily watched the boy stood up from a make-shift bed that is made from layers of sheets they found inside the apartment. Nicholas stretches out before putting on his coat.

London in the morning can be quite cold. The two made their way to the kitchen. Lily ignites the stove with a match stick.

"So, what are we going to do today?" He asked, standing beside her. He watches her put a kettle on the stove.

"I don't know. I might go for a walk." She answered him with no efforts at all. Despite her cold demeanor, she can't keep her calm. Nicholas is getting on her nerves, but it's not even hatred that doing it so. "Can you pass me the eggs."

"Great! I'll go with you." Giving her two eggs, one for the both of them. Nicholas suddenly touches Lily's finger. His hands linger on her skin. "You have a really soft hands." He commented.

Lily quickly pulled out her hand. "Don't you have a flower shop to operate?" She questioned him. "Just because I took you in, it doesn't mean you have to come with me everywhere."

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I thought, you'd want a company since you are on your own for a quite some time now." He reasoned out.

"Appreciate the concern." She smiled. "But! I still have to go to places on my own. Just stay here. Do everything you want, but don't get caught! You understand?"

"Yes, madame." He answered before taking a seat in the small dining hall.

Nicholas started to look around the place. He was amazed how nice it is. It's almost like a proper house.

"How can you afford such luxury? Where do you work?" He asked.

"I don't work. The money I brought, it still suffice my needs." She answered.

"See, you got everything planned." He smiled while he lean back on his chair. "You got everything covered. You already escaped, no one is out there finding you just to kill you, a nice home, and your expenses covered. I am truly impressed by you."

"You are right," she said before putting the plate of eggs on the table, "then if I ran out of money... I can just turn you in and get the reward money." She joked.

"No! You can't do that!" He remarked. He watched the girl's serious expression, before dropping the smile on his face. "Wait... will you really?"

Before Lily could answer, the kettle whistles. Nicholas was left with his question unanswered.

After their breakfast, the two decided to attend to their own agenda for today. Lily will be going to the small plaze she saw when they arrived here days ago. While Nicholas on the other hand, will be attending to his flower stand.

"Here's a duplicate." Lily said, handing out a key to the boy. "I might be home late. Don't worry about eating, we have enough supply of bread and butter."

"I can't. You'll be on your own." He pointed out.

"So?" She questioned him. Surprised with how he is acting.

"The— You know the— The--" He stuttered. He failed to come up with a reason.

"The what? What exactly are you talking about?" She asked, raising a brow to the boy.

"You know... the bowler... The bowler man! Yes! He might come and get you!" He exclaimed.

Lily was taken aback from his expression. She couldn't tell if he is worried or he's kidding her. So, the girl came up with a smart remark. "Hey! You should be the one scared. You don't even have a bloody plan."

"You got me with that one." He said, pointing at her.

"I will be on my way now. Bye!" She said, opening the front door— ready to leave.

Nicholas quickly took a hold of her hand. "You won't be running away from me, are you?" He asked. His eyes could tell anyone that he's wary and scared.

"No, I suppose we will be seeing each other rather all the bloody time." She said, before pulling her hand and leaving him with a wave.

The door slowly closed on Nicholas' face.

Lily entered a café. It was full, but she managed to get a seat near the shelves. A server offered their assistance to the lady, which she obediently accepted. Lily orders a tea and a pastry. She grabbed a book and started reading it waiting for her tea to arrive.

She was focused enough to the book she's reading, that she fail to notice the man in front if her. The man just observed the girl's actions. Lily can not be mistaken for a commoner.

He cleared his throat. Lily was confused to the man who had joined her, uninvited. She looked up from her book and shocked quickly came over to her face.

"You must be Lady Liliana Hasting?" He asked, smiling annoyingly.