The Socialite [Completed]

The Socialite [11] Deceitful

Chapter Eleven

Deceitful

Nora didn't sleep well during the rest of the night, the heavy whooshing of the rain and wind hitting the roof made it almost impossible for her to slip into unconsciousness. It didn't fade into the background as she had hoped. Nora tossed and turned, not being able to find a comfortable position. Several times during the night she’d put her pillow over her head then added the quilt. Sometime after midnight, the rain eased into a quite drizzle.

In the morning the sun was lost behind the heavy dark grey clouds of the lousy day that lay in front of Nora. The cold wind blew in through the open bay-window, the curtains thrashed about wildly and the rain drops spattered across the floor, on the timber seat and stained the cushions. Nora turned over in her bed, she squinted her eyes, clenched them tightly together then finally woke to face the day that offered so little. She sat up and the warmth escaped her body quickly. She raised her arms over her head yawned and arched her back. She looked at the open window and moaned. She flipped the covers of her bed, swung around and planted her feet on the hardwood floor. Her night gown fell to her feet as she crossed the floor to the window. The wind blowing in the window had made the floor so cold that it stung her feet, but she didn't care. She walked to the small puddles of water; the wind now blew her hair off her face, the sting of the frosty morning bit at her cheeks. She stared out at the… she had never once seen Lake Wylie like this, and since she had only stayed here during the summer months she never expected it could be this miserable. She was in a parallel universe, everything was upside down, and she wondered what good could come of this, and she knew that deep-down something bad was about to happen.

The tree tops in the far distance were blowing in unison to the left. The over-hanging clouds were dark and ominous with the threat of heavy rain again. The rough grey lake water seemed to be a violent mirror of the sky just as intimidating; it smashed against the posts of jetty, the boat rocked unevenly in the water, as if it was being played with by a small child, tossed and thrown around-Swallowed, digested, then spat back up- Nora wanted to walk back to bed crawl under the covers, were it was bound to be warm, she left the thought, knowing that wouldn't happen. She leaned over the dampened cushions and closed the window, it clicked, her hair immediately fell to the sides of her face, and the curtains fell down silently. Nora turned and walked out of her room leaving a trail of wet footprints behind her. She closed the door to her room behind her, and began to dry her feet on the carpet of the hallway, rubbing them fiercely, her feet became hot quickly, due to the friction. Just then the door to Jacks room began to open. Nora fumbled, and started to walk up the hall way. Pretending not to notice his presence.

“Nora.” He called after her. She stopped and turned around. He hurried to her side. He took her hand, leaned in close and kissed her softly on the lips. They parted and Jack breathed “Good morning” the was a smile to his voice, he brushed his free hand through her hair. Nora felt the warmth of his hand in hers, and was sure that he to, noticed the difference in their body temperature. Nora smiled, and said “Good morning”.

Staying close together they walked down stairs, Nora took advantage of the body heat radiating from Jack. She soaked up as mush as she could. They walked to the closed doors of the dinning room were they dropped each others hands, so that they could enter separately. They had not planed to tell their parents of their news until after they got back to Columbia.

Jack pushed the doors open, they creaked then shuttered to a stop, all the heads at the table snapped up to watch them enter. Nora walked forewords in silence all eyes were on the two of them, they were the last to arrive; breakfast had already been served to those present. Nora immediately took her place on the left hand side of Edmund who was sitting in his usual spot at the head of the table at the end of the room. Jack followed in behind her and sat in the only free chair available, which was in-between, Nora and Danielle March. It was a tight squeeze, fitting in the extra chairs. The dinning room felt more congested, than last night. Nora looked around the table at every face, they all had one similarity. All the eyes had the same dark heaving rings under them; clearly Nora wasn't the only person in the house that had little sleep in the night. Now that she looked, she could see that Jack to-did not succeed in locating much sleep last night either. Maybe it was the light in this room, or Nora’s failed attempt to notice anything, that made her unsuccessful to see it before. Ethel leaned across the table to Nora and said “Good morning darling” Nora nodded once and said half-heartily “Morning” her eye brow twitched she itched it once then let it annoy her. Edmund leaned over the corner. Nora turned her head to her left had Edmund kissed her on the cheek, his mustached prickled her. She made a face then leaned back to sit up straight. Her knee touched Jacks under the table, instead of flinching away; she left it there, under the table she reached for his hand. He took it eagerly with his thumb he lightly brushed her index finger.