Storm and Silence (FANFIC)

12. Hot, Cold, Then Kooky

"I... I um..."

"Finished reading it yet?" I shook my head a little. "No? Well then continue. I doubt you'll find anything... Tedious to read about." I forced myself to look down and finish the article, without responding to him. With each new sentence, my eyes widened, millimetre by millimetre, mouth half open. When I finished, I looked back up at the towering, cold and formidable man in front of me. Why? Why, why, why!? Why had this had to happen? Why did it have to be me? Why not another person?!

"You." He began, glaring at me intensely, as if he hadn't been while I was reading the article. "You had been the one to make me the laughing stock of the entire city of London. You were the one who made it happen. You were the one to speak of such foolish and brainless talk!" I slowly stood up quirking an eyebrow. Foolish? My words? They certainly were not! Rather, they had seemed smart and possibly extremely intellectual!

"They were not foolish, sir. They were true words, all from my heart, from the deepest pits of it. You should have known that I hate that we women are classified as basic damsels in distress. We are not. We are perfectly capable of being our own saviours."

"Oh? And, pray tell me, why is that not the case in the society now?" I didn't answer immediately. Rather, I absorbed the question and procured an answer that seemed at least that I had thought about it, which I had.

"Because that's what society does not want. Society is just a big, burly, antagonistic and cruel man, raising you men up the charts and us women down. It has its rules and if the women want to fit in, they best better start, or continue following those rules given and portrayed by society. There remains a select few who do not follow those rules. I am one of them." I said. My hands rested on my hips now and I wasn't enraged - not yet. I told myself to keep calm and not blow up, at least show him that I could try to be as levelheaded as I possibly could. It was tough work since all I wanted to do was somehow bash his head in, but I restrained my urges.

"Then you might as well start following those rules of society, lest you want to remain under my employ any longer."

"You can't sack me for my beliefs!" I said, in a shocked and slightly angry tone.

"I can and I just might." He said, leaning towards me.

"Gah! Just because I did something two years ago, doesn't mean you'd stay angry at me now!"

"Oh I am far from angry, Mr. Linton. I am on the verge of sacking you on the spot, but alas I cannot for I have given my... gentleman's word of honour."

"At least you bloody reminded yourself! You really like to hold grudges, don't you? I bet you anything that main reason why I'm here at all is due to a grudge you have against Lord Dalgliesh, isn't it?"

"It is a possibility that I won't tell you."

"Well that's unfortunate. But I have a feeling that it might tick you off that someone who has newly and freshly entered your life has it known to the entire public, yet somehow excluding you, that I am to be married to him! a lying, thieving, manipulating man, which," I started to amend as he started towards me but stopped. "You have banned me from saying so. Will it not?"

He glared at me and didn't give a response. "The only thing that might ever.. tick me off would be the fact that you have not changed since I last saw you. I had expected something... else."

"Are you saying that who I am now is entirely despicable and irritating to tolerate!?" I started feeling self conscious then, for no reason at all. I knew that this was no compliment. It was more leading to an insult. And when he said it, a sharp stab lanced through my heart. I didn't exactly recognise it, I wasn't too good with feelings.