Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 54: Lady Brandon~

Fortunately, Jiu had eventually managed to find his way out of the cemetery and back into the manor. He did not find Leora for the rest of the day, however, and decided it was safe to assume she was wherever Edward was. Jiu ate something, before deciding he was too tired, and went to take a nap; intending for it to be small. However, when he woke up, he found that it was the next day; so, feeling quite dehydrated, the ghost made his way downstairs to get a drink. However, he instinctively paused when he reached the foyer; as he found Henry, Leora, Edward and Master Mohan stood there, talking to a woman he did not recognise. She was quite a beautiful woman, admittedly. She had a delicate, pale face; with her dark brown hair tied everso neatly into a bun. Her lips were sharp, and full; and complimented the ghostly look she had. She wore a floral sort of petticoat. Her ocean blue eyes wandered over to Jiu, and she smiled, softly.
"Is this a guest, dear?" She spoke, her voice quite melodious.
Henry glanced around, before smiling," Ah, yes; this is Kong Hun Jiu, a general from China."
"China," She smiled, gracefully, before raising her hand in a beckoning sort of gesture, for Jiu to come closer," It's a pleasure to meet you Jiu, I am Lady Elizabeth Brandon."
So this was Henry's bride.

Jiu made his way over, and bowed, respectfully," A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Lady Brandon blinked slowly, before laughing behind her hand.
"You're too kind, you treat me like a princess. Not even Henry does that to me."
Henry shot her a pointed look," Perhaps he would if you would talk less."
"Charming," Lady Brandon grumbled.
They bickered more like siblings than people who were supposedly in love.
"Lady Brandon, I'm quite fond of your petticoat," Leora smiled, changing the topic," Wherever did you get it?"
"Hm, let's see now," Lady Brandon thought about it, seeming to quite like Leora," I received it about two and a half years ago from my father. I believe he purchased it at a Boutique in Leamington. Oh, but don't look so eager dear. I hate to get your hopes crushed, but it's a bring your own materials sort of thing. The fabric was from some beautiful town in Italy, and these custom pearls from the Persian Gulf. I travel quite frequently. In fact, I'm hoping to go abroad again, next year; perhaps to the Americas. Oh don't scoff now Henry, the people aren't that bad! In fact I have quite a few friends there, there's Emma, Rachael, Olivia. Oh, about Olivia, she's found this rather beautiful farm near-"
"Enough, woman!" Henry groaned, his temper frayed everso slightly," You will talk our ears off otherwise."

Jiu couldn't believe this was the woman Henry was marrying, she was like the complete opposite of him. She was much to frilly and romantic, and when she talked like that, quite dull. She could only seem to hold a proper conversation for about a minute, before it seemed to become a rather dreary, Shakespeare recital. True, she was quite beautiful, but Jiu found it hard to imagine that was truly the only reason Henry would ever marry someone like that. Edward led them to the dining room, and Lady Brandon continued her particularly nasty habit of talking much too much about herself. She mainly spoke of travel, and all the places she had gone and was planning to go. Jiu could see Leora out of the corner of his eye, shooting Henry a miserable glare at why she couldn't travel, but his bride could. Jiu knew why Henry most likely wanted Lady Brandon to travel, so he wouldn't have to hear her talk so bloody much. Most of her conversations were about the most ridiculously insignificant things. Jiu could see Henry gripping his glass tighter in frustration, and pour himself more and more alcohol when she didn't stop talking. Lady Brandon finally went on to talk about how her father was a wealthy man, and planned to purchase Henry and Lady Brandon, soon to be Lady Mohan, and house in London, opposite the Thames. Suddenly, it all made sense. Henry was marrying for the wealth, status and home. Not to mention, Lady Brandon was quite attractive, so there was likely an element of that at play; wanting his own children to be picture perfect. After all, he was friends with the Dorian Grey, and cherished Dorian everso dearly for his stunning beauty and youth.

In fact, the more Jiu thought about it, the more Lady Brandon and Henry's wedding seemed to be a transaction of sorts; rather than out of love. The two often seemed quite frustrated when the other spoke, somehow already sick and tired of each other, despite not even living together yet. The more the talk went on, the more Leora seemed to loose her infatuation with the woman; finding her to be overly snobby, overly self-centred, and utterly dull. She excused herself, and left the room. Jiu could see Henry watch his younger sister leave, with a desperate look of drunken jealousy in his eyes; wishing he could just get up and leave the woman, who had not yet shut up. Jiu tried to help out at occasions, trying to turn the conversation to Henry or himself, but Lady Brandon seemed to always magically find a way to make it about her once more. Jiu debated whether her father was so eager to have her marry anyone, was to simply relieve himself of the burden of her insistent talking. He wondered if she was just as obnoxious when sleep talking. After a while, he could deal with it no longer, and he too excused himself in quite a hurried manner. Lady Brandon was utterly unbearable; she reminded him quite like an White Bellbird. Such beautiful feathers, but such an ugly, detestable, noise she made.