Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 1: Dearest Brother~

Leora woke with a small gasp, gripping her bedsheets as the sweat on her body drenched the sheets. She raised her hand to her chest, her eyes fluttering shut as she felt her heart beat; practically thumping like a drum in her chest.
"What an odd dream..." Leora murmured, her breaths still short.
She collapsed back onto her pillow, staring at the plastered ceiling above her; just as it had been for years. She was where she was supposed to be, at least, according to the strange male in her dream. The smell of lilacs, lavender and honeysuckle seemed to fill her room; perhaps signaling the start of a long and weary spring. Her hand played with the fabric on her chest, finding it to be her nightie she'd put on the night before; not the dress she had in that peculiar dream, which sat much differently to dresses she was used to. Her room was bright, her curtains fluttering with each breath of wind that passed through her balcony; clearly Edward had come in, in his usual attempt to stir her, but there was no hope. Leora was the heaviest sleeper in her family, and she took pride in that fact. Edward, was the family butler, who was tasked with all the long and plodding tasks of the day. Leora always felt quite bad for the poor man, after all, when Leora was young she had followed him around like a lost puppy; barking her odd questions at the much too busy butler. Unfortunately for him, Leora never took no as an answer.

The girl slid out of her bed, her breath heavy as she made her way to the cabinet in the far end of her room; each step lighter than the last. On the cabinet, was a dress fashioned out of silk; coloured a pale yellow, with flowers cut at its hem. Leora slipped it on over her head, kicking off her nightie with a movement so unladylike, she felt her parents turn in their casket. After all, they had died when she was young; leaving Leora and her older brother, Henry, with their grandparents in their manor house, somewhere near York in the middle of nowhere. Leora made her way out of her room, skipping down the halls of the manor house until she made her way to the dining room. Henry sat there; wrinkling his nose at something he read in the newspaper, whilst furiously dipping a piece of toast in an egg yolk; he had not noticed his sister's appearance. Henry was much older than Leora, in fact he was already 25 and engaged to wed; Leora on the other hand, was only 19 years of age. It wasn't often that Henry visited, he was usually much too preoccupied with his own stately home near London; dabbling in much more eccentric affairs. Leora had heard many of Henry's friends compare him to some sort of impish creature; for her brother could never seem to keep his mouth shut, and always questioned the most unthinkable things.

Leora hummed aloud, sitting down opposite her brother," Good morning to you too, Henry!"
She flashed a cheeky smile at him. Henry glanced up from his paper, raising a slightly exasperated eyebrow.
"My, already so full of energy?" Henry leaned back in his chair," Yet, I recall Edward telling me he could hardly get you up this morning, Leora. I wouldn't be surprised if I got a call one day, where he was crying telling me you were dead! Dead as can be. When, in fact, you were simply dreaming about all the odd things you girls dream about."
Leora scowled at her brother, childishly.
"Girls do not dream weirdly."
"I should think they do," Henry laughed, though it felt more like a scoff," They dream of love because they are simple. All girls do, don't they? I haven't met one who hasn't. And girls marry because they are curious. Curious and disappointed."
"Do boys not dream of marriage?"
"No. No, I should think not."
Leora let out a loud groan," You spoil everything, Henry! You are no romantic."
Henry raised an eyebrow at his sister, setting the paper down on the table," What point is there for romanticism? To avoid the world? Why on earth would I avoid that, my dear sister? Your head is much too stuffed with clouds, I'm surprised you are still seated."
"Oh, Henry! People will think you are not soon to be married."
Henry sighed," Good."

"If you must know," Leora smiled, wistfully, fiddling with her fork as she swiftly brought the subject back to herself," I had a most wonderful dream."
Henry grunted in response, stabbing his food with a soured expression. He looked bored half to death, even though he had not yet heard her dream.
"I was in such a grim place, sat on this chair," Leora recounted," There were monsters, Henry! They were so scary. But then, this male helped me. He took my hand and walked me to safety. But he refused to talk to me-"
Henry threw his head back with a loud laugh," I should think so! You scare all the men with your questions, Leora."
"I wonder who I got it from," Leora scowled at her brother, who shrunk a little in his chair," No matter, let me finish now, Henry. As I was saying, he refused to talk to me until the very end. He told me it was in my best interest to forget about the place and him."
Henry studied her for a moment, tapping the tablecloth with his fingers, his expression curious.
"Clearly it did not work," Henry frowned," You would have forgotten it. You silly girl! You are too caught up in your dreams."
"It felt so vivid, Henry," Leora groaned, defensively, pointing her fork at him and jabbing it in his direction," Can't you understand? I felt his touch, his breath, his everything!"
Henry smirked, bitterly," You seem to have proven my previous point, romantic."

"It's not like that," Leora flushed, glaring daggers at her brother," I believe..."
Henry let out a short snort, as though amused by his sister's uncertainty. He stared at her for a moment, as though trying to figure her out, before pursing his lips and standing up.
"It would do you good to join me for dinner with the Duchess this evening," Henry sighed," Forget your silly, naive dreams and focus on reality."
Leora glared at her brother," You know I cannot stand that woman."
"Why ever not?" Henry blinked in shock," She is ever so interesting. She invites the greatest guests too...I wonder how she meets so many interesting people."
"The same way you do, dear brother," Leora sighed, begrudgingly," London."
Henry chuckled, it was a rich and deep chuckle, almost soft in nature," One day you will understand the beauty of city life and test it out, Leora. But for now, live your bubbled off life I suppose. There is no rush."
Leora wrinkled her nose at her brother as he left the room, leaving her to her own devices. The smell of lilac was strong.