My Lily Pad| V. Tewkesbury

11

[XI] A Match

Lily was shaking when she closed her book. The man is looking at her intensely. She's very nervous.

"What a lovely day, isn't it?" The man asked, looking out the window.

"How did you follow me? Did they hire you?" She questioned.

"I'm not working for anyone." He answered.

"Then tell me..." Lily said before grabbing the teacup. "Why is the great detective—Sherlock Holmes is suddenly in front of me?"

"When did you ranaway?" He questioned.

"You're looking for your sister, aren't you?" She questioned back.

"You know my sister?" He asked, getting interested by the girl's information he might get.

"No." She answered shortly, cutting down his hope. "But I did saw a young suspicious boy in the train ride." She said.

"What is his name?" He asked.

"I have no absolute idea." She answered. "Seriously, Mr. Holmes... If you want to look for her, look harder. She might be right under your nose. London is smaller than you think."

Lily started putting her pastry inside her handkerchief, saving it for later. Sherlock just watches her actions.

"Well, this conversation surely is a pleasure..." She said, standing up from her seat. "But I must end it before you can jump into conclusions."

Sherlock watches the young lady exits the café. Lily know how well off the man is, she just let him pay for her food.

She started walking. Along the way, she bought a newspaper from a young boy. She read it out, while eating the pastry from earlier. Lily decided to head later tonight at a wrestling match. She heard how great it was from her brothers, but her mother banned her from seeing such spectacle.

Time passed. Load voices roared from the inside. It was secluded. Men are mostly there to watch the match. Lily decided to blend in with the ladies watching. A servant already offered her a drink, which she reluctantly took.

The show begun. Everyone was cheering and placing bets. It was intense. Lily just watched silently. Across the room, Leo stood drinking his beer. He started looking over the crowd. He already saw a familiar silhouette, but managed to lost her.

"Bloody hell." She whispered to herself when she saw her brother. She quickly drinks her drink.

Lily started to make her exit. It was only made it harder when the crowd started to grow larger. She excuses herself. Lily felt her brother following her. She started running.

"Lily! Come back here!" He called out.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled back.

Leo started to quicken his pace. It is no doubt he can outrun the girl. He was much taller and trained. He got in front of her and wrapped his arms at girl's body, preventing her to escape.

"Let me go!" She shout at him. "Please." Lily whispered.

Leo let his sister go, but quickly taking a hold of her wrist. Lily looked at his brother. Will he betray her?

"They're looking for you." He said.

"Are you going to turn me in?" She asked.

"No. Not yet." He said.

"Then what?" She asked, her voice started to get harsher and louder.

"A boy told me that you are helping him." He said. Lily froze. Tewkesbury, you are such a tattle tale. "Why don't we go for a walk, hmm?" He asked.

Not waiting for any answer he started leading her sister to walk.

"Where did you see this boy?" Lily asked. Please don't be Nicholas. Say 'at the café', tell me it's Sherlock who told you so.

"At the flower district." He answered back.

How could you, Nicholas? Why are you so naive? "Why would you be there?" I questioned him, raising a brow.

"I don't know..." He trailed off. "Are you in love with him?" He asked.

Lily stopped at her tracks. "What?"

"Do you fancy him?"

"No... yes... maybe?" She said, also confused with her feelings. "I don't know!"

"You don't know? Why don't you go home and find out." He said, letting her arm go. "I'll give three days to find out. If you fail to do so... I apologise, but you have to marry the marquess of Basilwether."

The girl finally put every puzzle piece together. Lily smiled and hug her brother. She was so happy.

The young lady quickly went to her lodging house. She opened the door and saw Nicholas sitting at the parlor. She felt her heart warms to him.

"You came back." He said, smiling.

Lily couldn't take it. She doesn't want to choose a boy over her family. The thought of hurting her mother's feelings and her father's ego is eating her alive. She may not want to give her life to someone, she can't just waste her parents hard work and neglect her duties ahead of her.

She ignored the boy's words and went to her room. She started to collect her things, putting it inside her trunk. In such a hurry, she dropped her shoes a long with her trinkets.

Nicholas heard the noise from outside the room. He quickly went in and looked for Lily, but to his dismay he saw no one. He looks around the room, Lily's things are also gone. Only a purse on her bed was found.

He grabbed it before noticing the open window. He looked outside and down on the busy street. Nicholas saw the girl walking in a rush. He knows her too well.

Without a thought in his mind, he quickly left the place and run outside.

He was too late. He lost her. He's alone again. Nicholas opens the purse. He saw a letter inside it and a good amount of money that will cover his weekly needs.

I apologise. I am not that strong as we both think I am. I don't have everything planned, I failed. Please don't look for me. They already found me. Feel free to stay at the place. The money I left must be little, but with proper handling— you'll be fine. This is not a farewell. We will be seeing each other soon, whether we like it or not.