After the Storm

Burglar! (Part 2)

Ok so for all those wondering about my chapter arrangements (which are quite confusing so sorry), they are mostly all different. Only those with the same title with a bracket saying what part it is, are connected and I just separated them that's all.

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"You are an embarrassment! A good-for-nothing brat!" Aunt Branks screeched like a harpy. "I should have never taken you in!"

"I would have been blessed if you never took me in." I mumbled under my breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, Aunt."

She glowered at me. "Fancy dressing up as a man! Why in God's name for?"

I stroked my chin thoughtfully, a brilliant idea popping up in my head. "Well... I was thinking that dressing as a male would give me larger opportunities to court females. I mean, seeming like a woman yourself doesn't exactly attract other ladies, does it?"

I grinned wolfishly and gave a cheeky wink. The choking noises coming from my dear Aunt's throat and the squeal of shock from my sisters was entirely worth the lie.

This was better than I thought.

"Oh Lilly, you surely don't mean that you are..." Ella trailed off worriedly.

"I'm what?" I gave a wide eyed innocent look.

"You're attracted to women?" Anne choked out in disgust.

Shrugging, I smiled secretively. "Who knows?"

Well I hope that there is no misunderstanding about my gender preferences. I'm still straight as a pole and unwillingly attracted to a certain dark haired member of the male species. But you see, messing with the heads of my folks was the most fun I was getting in weeks.

"But what about the secret man with whom you are enamoured?" Ella blurted and then hurriedly covered her mouth. "Oh I'm sorry Lil! I didn't mean to..." She garbled frantically.

"That's not very much of a secret now is it?" I asked acidly and she threw me a sincere remorseful look.

I huffed as Aunt Brank showered me with heated questions on who the man was. I wanted to be furious with Ella but her sweet nature prevented anyone from staying mad at her.

"What man? Is he rich? Is he handsome?" The moment my money lusting Aunt heard about the possibility of getting me married off, hopefully to an eligible bachelor, every other concern flew out of the window along with my sanity.

"Yes." I said with some element of truth in my words. Surely making my Aunt so excited will deter her from murdering me.

Every displeasure she had initially harboured for my joke about liking women in a different manner, and dressing as a man, disappeared faster than I could blink. Her eyes shone with phantom coins as she fantasised about the wealth this man I 'fancied' could bring her.

"Who is he?" Maria demanded, burning with curiosity and jealousy. "How can such an ugly and tanned girl like you attract any man?"

I snorted incredulously, "At least my lovely Maria, I don't look like I'm suffering from chronic blood deficiency." I had started taking a fancy to my darker skin and her insult didn't go well with my temper.

She gasped, ready to throw a conniption fit. "You little!"

Aunt Branks shoved an advancing Maria away and literally stuffed her face in front of mine. "Who is he? How does he look like? Tell me!"

My mind reeled, in a frenzy to come up with a convincing lie.

"He's a Captain." I forced out. "He erm..."

Out of the blue, the face of a particular dashing Captain with brown hair and a rougish speck of beard popped up in my mind's eye.

"He has brown curly hair, a small patch of fuzz on his chin, and is tall." I concluded vaguely.

Ella shot me a confused stare. Before she could open her mouth and ask me why the description of the 'love of my life' did not coincide with what I formally told her, I shot her a warning glare. She wisely shut her trap.

Aunt Brank advanced on Ella like a vulture on prey. "Is what Lilly saying true?"

Ella in all her timidness, cowered away. Her eyes screamed a silent plea of help.

"Is it true?" The scarecrow like woman towered over my sister.

"Ye - ye - yes!" The blond girl forced out. My eyebrows shot up. That was quite an amazing feet for the painfully honest and shy Ella.

"Hmm." Surprisingly, she believed Ella's atrocious fib.

"Well I have a rendevous with this Captain tomorrow at the park!" I chirped brightly. "So I guess I'll go catch some rest. Wouldn't want me missing a date, would you?"

My Aunt's eyes gleamed. She was entirely absorbed into the deception. "Sure sure!" She gestured to the stairs. "Go and sleep, shoo!"

I gave a polite curtsy and dashed up to my lodging. Safe at last!

"Lilly, you aren't actually attracted to females are you?" Ella questioned shakily when I had shut the door to our shared room. "I mean, it's fine if you are. You'll still be my sister and I'll still love yo ―"

"I was just joking Ella!"

"You were?" She gawked at me, the possibly slightly rusty cogs in her brain clicking. "So you aren't attracted to women?"

Patting her shoulder and settling myself onto the bed, I exclaimed quite sarcastically, "Good job! You got that quite quick didn't you?"

"Oh thanks."

"You're welcome."

Bless her little soul. She actually thought that was a compliment.

"Well good night then." Ella said, sounding relieved.

"Goodnight."

I blew out the lights and darkness cloaked the room.

That night I dreamt of a certain handsome miser chasing and scolding me for being in love with a female version of Captain Carter even when I wasn't.

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I want to thank all those who voted and commented, again, because I woke up with a lot of notifications and I'm almost screaming for joy! I feel popular for once XD.

You guys made my morning <3 <3 <3

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