The Villager

5

THE VILLAGER
ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

"What?!" My little sister's voice screeches out throughout the house and it has me jumping. She watches me continue to cover a cake with icing for Serena.

She came to escape mother's wrath about school and being a debutante this year, but the news I have told her makes her wish to fall to the floor. I have officially told her the news about seeing Timothy, and her expression is shocked as I knew it would be.

"It has been so long, you don't think..." She trails, thinking of ways why he has now come back around.

"No, it was a coincidence we bumped into each other. Serena introduced us together, she simply did not know."

"What are the odds you see him in the papers and bump into him? Shall I say it?"

"No," I say quickly

She was going to call it fate, but I call it a nightmare waiting to happen.

She giggles, standing from her chair and kissing me on the cheek. "Do not fret, sister. Everything happens for a reason. I shall see you soon?"

"Where are you taking off to?" I raise a brow.

"Archery school, mother does not know, but I really wish to get into this school for arts and if I do not take this class, there is no hope for me."

"It will be our secret."

She winks before exiting out the door and leaving me alone in my cottage home. I try busying myself to keep my mind off of Timothy, but he seems to always pop himself back into my mind. Why? Just why? I was doing so well.

A knock on my door is being heard and my brows furrow, wondering if Tilley locked herself out and could not get back in. The lock was not on, which only confuses me further. Another knock is presented, and I open the door to reveal the person whom almost makes me fall to the floor.

Really wishing it was Tilley at this moment.

I slam the door shut in his face, my back leaning against it as I let out a breath. How does he know where I reside? And why is he showing up suddenly? He is engaged! He needs to leave.

I shall tell him to leave at once.

Opening the door again, I breathe out with a smile on my face. "Timothy, hello."

He stands there in all his glory, with his hands in his pockets. I earn a soft smile, but it does not meet his eyes as he takes me in fully. He finally breathes, like he has been waiting to see me for so long.

"Um, how did you know where I am?" My voice is soft, and I try not to be rude, but I just had to know. "I am not what you say easy to find."

"I know." He laughs, and it takes me back to the times where he always used to laugh around me when we were younger. "I took it from a little birdie."

Serena, you traitor.

I eye the carriage outside my cottage home, and remember the times we had in that same one. I shake my head to erase the thoughts, gazing back up to the man whom continues to invade my mind without cause.

"Oh, well it was good seeing you again." I try closing the door, but it stops suddenly and I look down at his foot that is caught in between the door from shutting. "Do you not have somewhere to be? I have always known you as a busy man, and now that you are engaged, you surely are busy."

"This was on the top of my list of things to do." He pushes himself into my home, and it now has me breaking my good girl act. I turn with the front door still open, watching as he looks throughout the house, eyeing the cake I am decorating. "Where is your lovely husband?"