Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 105: Be Happy in the Life that You have Chosen~

Leora got out of the cab when she saw the building; she made her way inside and up the steps, determined to set things right. It was a miserable building, with mould seeming to cling to the greyed walls, but Leora hardly considered it during her ascent. She froze as she reached the door with the word 'Bramston' engraved. Without knocking, she pushed the door open; her face set in frustration. She was startled to find Lord Bramston at his desk, with another lady on his lap. She was partially exposed, and smiling, as she traced her finger up and down his chest. Leora blushed at the embarrassing sight, but swiftly cleared her throat to get their attention. The two both immediately twisted to face her. Lord Bramston's mouth dropped in horror and he swiftly shoved the woman off him, standing up and hurrying over to the girl's side.
"Leora, it's not quite...erm...you see I..." He blushed, trying to come up with the words," You weren't meant to, I..."
Leora scowled," It would do you good to not touch me with those filthy, indecent hands."
Lord Bramston staggered back, his eyes wide. He glanced at the woman, who was hurriedly dressing, and snapped his fingers for her to leave. She did so, accordingly; running off. Lord Bramston and Leora stood in silence for a few moments.

"It meant nothing," Lord Bramston muttered.
"I don't care if it meant anything," Leora frowned," I feel nothing about what I saw."
Lord Bramston furrowed his eyebrows," You won't tell Henry?"
Leora remained silent; Lord Bramston grew frustrated by this.
"Can't a man have fun?" He cried, ringing his hands together as he sat back at his desk, straightening his kerchief.
He paused after a moment, before glancing at her, frowning.
"Why are you here, anyway; Leora? I haven't seen you since the wedding, and I thought you were afflicted with tuberculosis in the manor?"
"I do have tuberculosis, yes," Leora nodded, glancing out the window in his office," But I've come to say goodbye."
Lord Bramston stared at her, confused, for a moment.
"You will not see me again," Leora explained.
He blinked repetitively, bewildered," But we're supposed to marry!"
"Well, you've seemed to find another love to replace me quite easily," Leora smiled, coldly, stepping closer to his desk," Clearly she is much more desirable than I am."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Lord Bramston scoffed," That was a moment of...of stupidity on my part, yes. But you cannot leave me because of that!"
Leora glanced at Lord Bramston's desk, and spotted a pearl, from the woman's outfit that had fallen off. Leora swiftly snatched this, and chucked it onto the scale on Lord Bramston's desk, for snapping her own pearl off her neck piece and putting it on the other scale. Lord Bramston's face fell as he watched the other pearl take over Leora's in weight.

"You see?" Leora hummed, as he stared at her, nervously," If you weigh me by gain, I weigh very little to you. So I release you with a full heart."
Lord Bramston seemed uncertain what to say. How to protest. He knew that if he pushed her too hard or went against her, Leora could very easily tell Henry all about Lord Bramston's little slip up. Or, rather, the whole world. He would be shamed rather badly, as a man of business.
"You shall tell my brother that you and I can no longer marry, or I will be forced to share your dirty little secret," Leora regarded him with a collected expression," And you shall never show your face to my family again; understand?"
He nodded, weakly, glancing at his desk. Leora moved to the door, satisfied, before glancing at him for the very last time.
"Be happy in the life that you have chosen, Lord Bramston."
And with that, she left his office, and made her way back down the stairs. Lord Bramston stood up, rushing over to the stairs as he tried to redeem his foolish choice.
"Leora!" He called after her," Leora!"
Leora did not stop, she did not even look at him. He felt his shoulders sag, as he watched her disappear. He bit his lip, storming back to his office, slamming the door behind him and sitting at his desk massaging his temples. What was he supposed to tell people now? He'd lost his bride and future fortune.

He truly felt like such a fool. He got up once more and made his way over to the window, glancing out. On the empty, snowy streets; he watched as Leora walked out. She stopped at a row of houses, glancing up at the building for the final time. Her face fell slightly, seeing the man staring back at her with an unreadable, yet cold, expression. She turned away, and walked into the alley; out of sight. Lord Bramston furrowed his eyebrows, nervously chewing at his lip. In a moment, he turned back around and made his way over to his desk. His hand hovered over the scales, before reaching out to take the pearl that once belonged on Leora's neck. His fingers traced around it, feeling the smooth, soft and warm material. He let out a stubborn grunt, tugging open a drawer and shoving it in there, so it hit the back and hid, miserably between piles of documents regarding money. And then...he went back to work, massaging his temples as he tried to push what had been far, far away.