Seconds in Time

Page 16

Chapter Three: Heavy

All that broke the silence was the clink of silverware against dishes.

Over the past few minutes this had become a game. I had decided that if Alexander was going to act so hatefully toward me I was going to quit being the innocent captive and build up a cold wall of my own. Every time he pierced me with those dark, soulless eyes of his, I spitefully looked back. It was hard to tell if Victoria and Richmond were aware of this, but the tension in the room was undeniable.

"Lillian dear, I was going to wait to ask this, but how do you feel about the engagement?" Victoria asked me cautiously. I didn't hesitate in answering and made no effort to humor them with lies.

"Well, to be honest, I've found it to be an exceedingly difficult thing to be happy about." Her eyes saddened slightly and she nodded. I could tell she had expected me to answer as such.

"We figured you would feel that way." She said with a small smile. "You're just such a lovely young woman and we hoped that you could somehow make it work." The tension in the room multiplied to an unbreathable level and we all turned our eyes to Alexander. Though he hadn't said anything we knew it was coming from him.

I didn't hold eye contact with him long or test his patience this time because I felt like if I had he would have reached across the table and strangled me to death. Instead I safely returned my attention to my meal.

"I hope I can too." I told Victoria softly and we shared a knowing smile.

I hadn't lied when I said it, but it didn't make a difference in the tension radiating from Alexander. The look in his eyes didn't soften for the rest of lunch and had Victoria and Richmond not kept talking the last twenty minutes would have been filed with silence. The two seemed so happy together. Love just poured off of them. I was a little envious of that.

After lunch Alexander and Richmond stayed at the table while Victoria invited me on a walk.

"I remember how overwhelming it was for me when I married Richmond. I had so much to learn and even to this day I don't know it all. At heart I'm still just a simple village girl." Victoria began. I assume she knew that my problem wasn't with what I was going to have to change about myself. She was probably just trying to avoid the topic.

"Of course...I'm afraid Alexander is very different from my husband." I hadn't expected her to admit it so quickly. "He's just so angry and I was afraid he would never agree to marry anyone. I'm sorry we have to put you through this, but from what I know about you I believe that you'll be able to get through to him." I could tell this whole thing was really getting to her. She looked ready to cry.