Torn Hearts, Lost History

Chapter Seven: The Unexpected Guest

When the story was complete Cora suddenly realized the table was cleaned off. She was so wrapped up in Benjamin's story she didn't even notice the servants clean up their dinner. She had no idea how long they had been sitting there and didn't care. Cora realized how much Benjamin loved sharing his stories. "I've got an idea!" she said excitedly.

Benjamin looked at her confused, she had been so silent and attentive. What about his story could have given her an idea? "What would that be?" He asked inquisitively.

"You," she said abruptly. "I'm going to write about you. Your adventures and your stories. I want to share them with the world!" She got up from her chair and trotted towards him. "Thank you for the inspiration." With that she kissed his forehead and ran out of the dining room to her type writer in the study.

Benjamin was frozen in place for a moment or two. That was the first sign of affection she had ever shown, yet it didn't feel romantic. He was proud and embarrassed. No one had ever shown interest in his stories in such a way before. And yet, something felt so paternal about the whole situation. As much as Benjamin was made happy by Cora's interest, he was heartbroken.

If he told Cora everything of his adventures and his discoveries, he could lose the one person who ever actually listened to this old man. The thought of her putting these discoveries to the public, he couldn't bear. He not only would lose his friend, but his title and maybe even his life.

With this he left the dining room and headed for his room. He decided that it has been to long since he paid his respects to his past. Then he would lay his weary head down for the night.

In the study Cora typed vigorously as the machine to get Benjamin's words down. She didn't want to forget a single detail. She wanted her readers to picture a brave young man who stared death straight in the face and used his fear to summon the strength of Gods beyond this world.

She sighed and leaned back in her seat. She looked her to right at the pile of papers stacked in a messy pile. Cora smiled at the success, but was afraid to read them out of fear that her tired fingers may have made her incomprehensible. She was curious, all the places he traveled, how did he never find love? Why did he decide to buy a trophy instead of take the hand of a women who truly captured his heart? He was a lord, he could have anyone he wanted, so why didn't he want anyone?

At the front door there was a knock. Some of the servants stayed awake while Cora wrote encase she required anything. As one of the staff went to check on her, they heard the knock on the door. Opening it the young made saw a man standing in the dark. He had on a large cloak and his back to her.

"May I help you sir?" she asked confused. "Lord Benjamin has currently retired to his room, but I would be happy to-" the man cut her off as she turned to look at her. His face was covered with his hood.

"I am looking for Cora," he said in a low, calm voice. "I do not wish to disturb Lord Benjamin at such an hour." He smiled. The young maid had heard about Thomas, but had never seen him. Regarding the time she assumed it must have been him. Her imagination went wild thinking about what Romantic journey the two young lovers would go on together.

She smiled discretely and looked around the front entrance way. "Oh of course," she said quietly. "Perhaps you should wait here while I fetch Miss Cora?" she asked him.

The man smiled and turned around again gesturing to wait outside for Cora. The maid walked briskly to the study to find Cora asleep on a pile of papers. She was about to leave so Cora could continue sleeping, but Cora lifted her head. "Oh I'm sorry," she said to the maid. "I must've dozed off." She smiled and laughed.

The maid smiled and bowed her head. "There is a young man at the door for you miss," she said to Cora.

Cora jumped out of her seat. "Is it Thomas? Does Benjamin know? Why is he here?" Her eyes were wide and she frantically smoothed out her dress and she ran out of the study to the front door before the maid had a chance to respond.

Cora opened the door and saw the tall, dark figure standing on the steps. She stepped out and closed the door behind her. "Thomas?" she asked confused, the man didn't look tall enough to be Thomas, but who else could it be? He was standing down a step.

The man turned and smiled at Cora. All she saw was his mouth under the hood and that's when she froze. Her heart leapt in fear as her eyes were drawn to the scar on his mouth. Her eyes widened and she turned to run inside, but before she could move she felt a firm hand around her arm and another come around covering her mouth. She struggled to get away, panicking, but the man's grip grew tighter the more she struggled.

He dragged her down the driveway to a small carriage wait down the road a little ways. He threw her into the seat and sat down beside her. "Go," he said abruptly to the driver.

Finally with her hands free Cora took a swing at the man's face and his head shot to the side. His hands came up quickly to grab his face. As he pulled them away from his painful nose he saw blood on his hands. Cora felt rage building up in her and suddenly disregarded all of her Great Britain lady attitude and went back to the girl on the farm who wouldn't think twice before defending her sisters.

"You bitch," he said under his breath then turned to Cora and laughed. "It's not very lady-like to punch a man in the face," he raised his hand to back hand her and she grabbed his wrist.

"I've never been a lady," she smiled back. "I have no intentions of becoming one." He lowered his hand and took off his hood exposing his bloody, broken nose. She smiled at the sight of his injury. "It looks to me like you need a doctor, I could recommend one if you'd like?"

He laughed boisterously at her comment, "You think I'm dumb enough to bring you to your boyfriend?" Cora froze in her seat, how did this man know about her affair with Thomas? "Don't you remember, I helped her get to him when you were feeling sick outside the building?" Her eyes got wide, that's where she knew this man.

"You don't know who you're messing with. What do you want with me?" she felt the urge to hit the man again, but thought to let him answer her question first.

"You are my leverage deer," she said sitting back in his seat more comfortably. "You see, the day I helped you, I had just been turned down by your deer fiancé." He smirked at the mocking tone he spoke her in. "If he agrees to finance my business he will have this little pet back."

Cora sat back in her seat and looked out to the empty road outside the carriage. "And if he doesn't agree?" she said.

"Well I guess Lord Benjamin Sutton and Mr. Thomas Olivier will greave now won't they," He said and smiled as he ran his fingers over her neck pushing her hair back behind her shoulder. She quickly swatted his hand away.

"If you want to live to see your deal signed I suggest you keep your hands off me," she said angrily.