The King's Obsession

11

C51 - Pausing the carriage- Part 1

Lisa had never stayed out of her house at this hour of the night, at least not near the forest, which made her worry and scared. Her eyes kept darting at every single sound that she came to hear. She could only hope that she was covering a decent amount of distance and she would reach the village.      

Finally, like a ray of sunshine, horses neighed, and she prayed that it was someone who didn't belong to the castle. Not all rays were the happy ones, and with that thought, she came to stand in the path so that the coachman would be able to see her and stop. Raising her hands, she waved them. The coachman first didn't stop, and therefore she had to use her mouth to alert him,     

"Please stop! Please!" she cried to gain the coachman's attention.      

The coachman did stop, looking at the lady, "Milady what are you doing here in the middle of the forest?" asked the coachman. Whoever was sitting inside the carriage must have asked who the coachman was talking to as the coachman turned his head to say, "There's a lady who is standing here. Seems like she's lost."      

Lisa quickly went to the window, and she saw it was a man who was inside the carriage who appeared to be in his forties.      

"I am looking to go to the village that comes after this forest. Could you please give me a ride there?" she asked him, her eyebrows drawn together.      

The man looked at her, looking at her attire and then her face, "How do we know you aren't a witch who is trying to get into the carriage and kill us?" he asked. His question surprised her, and for a second, she blinked at him.      

"What?"      

"I said how do we know you are not some stranded woman?" he asked her. When he moved his lips, the moustache on his lips moved along with his thin mouth.      

Lisa closed her eyes. She was tired and exhausted but going back was her priority, "I was riding a carriage, but they didn't give me a full ride. They had me step down after a few minutes," she spoke the truth, hoping he would listen to her, "Please. All I ask is for a ride," she pleaded. The man leaned forward, and he opened the door.      

"Just a ride," he said, and she gave him a look of relief.      

"Thank you so much. Thank you," she bowed her head, but the man didn't say anything.      

Lisa felt better now that she was in the carriage. With her hands folded together on her lap, she sat there quietly without a word. She could feel the man's gaze on her, but she didn't look at him straight. She bared the atmosphere in the carriage which was turning hostile even without any exchange of words, but the man then spoke,      

"I am Anthony Bartholomew," he introduced himself, giving his hand and Lisa had to oblige by giving her hand to him.     

"Lisa," she felt him kiss the back of her hand, and the little action made her skin crawl. Now that she thought about it, she realised how when Jungkook had kissed her hand she had never felt disgusted by it when they had first met.      

"No last name?" asked Anthony and Lisa shook her head. She didn't want to build an acquaintance here when all she wanted was to finish her ride as soon as she could.      

"No," Lisa shook her head, "Do you know what time it is now?" she asked him curiously.     

The man pulled out his watch that was made out of gold. He said, "It is thirty-seven minutes past six," compared to the previous questioning gaze, the man was being friendly. She had to jerk her hand away from his hold, and she offered him a small smile, "Thank you."