If I Could Fly // h.s.

Chapter 4

I wake suddenly when I heard a soft knock on the door. "Come in," I reply groggily, still half asleep.

"I'm so sorry to wake you, sweetheart, but dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Do you feel up to coming downstairs?" She eyes me cautiously, a kind smile on her lips.

"Of course! I can't believe I fell asleep. I'm so sorry," I start to apologize when she starts shaking her finger at me.

"You have nothing to apologize for. You were absolutely exhausted. I just can't wait for you to meet Richard. He will be home any minute now," she said grinning up at me. "Well.. I'll leave you to get dressed. See you downstairs!" She turns and heads out of the room. My room. It's crazy to think about the last 24 hours of my life.

I shuffle out of bed and start rummaging through my suitcase, trying to find something decent to wear that doesn't require ironing. I settle on a simple ivory shift dress. I brush through my unruly, brown hair and pull it into a low ponytail. I return my simple, daily jewelry, consisting of a gold band on my right ring finger, a small gold-plated necklace, and diamond studs in my ears, before slipping on my camel flats and heading downstairs.

I immediately start feeling the bundle of nerves forming in my belly as I walk down the grand staircase, still taken aback by how incredible this home is. As soon as I reach the bottom of the steps, I hear the front doors open and see a man standing in its opening. He is handing his coat and hat to the butler. Joe, I think was his name? He then heads in my direction before making eye contact with me. Once he is closer and looks up at me, I get a better view of his features. He is a very tall man. His dark hair is peppered with gray. When he reaches me, I notice the part of him that stands out the most. He has the kindest, light blue eyes I've ever seen.

"Hello there," he smiles at me. "You must be Amelia."

"Yes, sir. Mr. Norton?" I ask shyly.

"Please, call me Richard," he replies, extending his hand for me to shake.

I take it and he gently shakes it before letting go and holding his left elbow out to me. "Shall we?" He smiles and I gladly take it and he leads us into the dining room.

The dining room, like each other room I've had the chance to see today, is amazing. It had intricate, crown molding at the tops and bottoms of the walls. The large mahogany table in the center of the room had 22 chairs strategically placed around it. There was a beautiful glass chandelier hung down above the middle of the table.

Aunt Jane walked out of what I presumed to be the kitchen as we walked in. "Oh, you two met!!" She all but squealed. "Isn't she just lovely, Richard?"

"Of course, darling," he chuckles. I release his arm as he pulls one of the chairs out for me. He then walks over to Aunt Jane and gently kisses her cheek before pulling her chair out as well. She smiles up at him adoringly. Once he takes his seat, an older woman appears and begins serving our food and drinks.

Dinner passes quickly with comfortable conversation in between bites of the delicious food and crisp white wine. Before I know it, we are finished and the couple sitting at the table rises and begins bidding me good night.

Just as they are about to exit the room, I remember and stop them. "Aunt Jane... I was wondering if you could tell me where the kitchen is and if you would mind if I made myself a cup of tea before I head upstairs," I say, biting my lip.