Gradence | White Lilies

"Alone" | Chapter 7

The next day, Credence woke up from a sweet dream with a smile spread across his face.

Fully rested, he got off his bed and sprung open the curtains, letting the warm rays of morning sun hit his pale, gentle skin. He opened the window and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air and letting it fill up his lungs.

He looked around the property and noticed that both of their carriages were gone. Usually, there would be only one gone, since his father got driven in it to work, but this time it seemed both of them were missing. It intrigued him so he went downstairs to investigate and find out who took it.

With quick steps he came downstairs and, looking around, he called out for his sisters, "Modesty?. . .Chastity?. . .", his voice echoed through the mansion, but nobody was answering.

". . . .Ma?. .", he waited for her to answer, but there was, still, nothing but silence.

He lifted his eyebrows up pulling them together in confusion. He went further into the house, hoping that he would at least run into a maid, but he knew that they had a day off today, and as he was passing through the dining room, he noticed a neatly folded piece of paper laying on the dining table which was fully set for one with freshly cooked breakfast.

He walked up to it and picked it up. It was a note from his mother, and it said:

"Credence,

Chastity, Modesty and I went to the tailor's for new gowns for your sisters. Also, your father will be at work the whole day and will come home late, so you two will go to the tailor's for suits some other time. The maids have cooked you breakfast before they left so make sure you eat it. I expect you to behave while we're gone.

                                             - Mary Lou"

"Oh!..", Credence looked at the note for a few more moments and than he put it back onto the table.

He sat down and had his breakfast, enjoying the solitude and the fact that his mother isn't around watching every move he makes.

After the breakfast he got back to his room, not really knowing what to do besides painting, so he painted the whole morning and most of the day and as he was painting, his eyes fell onto the novel, calmly laying on a nightstand next to his bed.

A gentle smile spread across his face and a familiar warmth filled up his whole body.
He walked over to the book and he picked it up, gently caressing it's edges.

DING DONG

The sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the entire mansion and made Credence look up from the novel.

Not knowing who could it be, he walked down the stairs and to the door. Hesistantly, Credence opened the door but he was relieved to see none other than Percival himself standing in front of him.

"Hello Credence.", Percival smiled warmly to the younger man.

"M-Mister Percival, i-it's you..", Credence's heart fluttered with an unknown strength.

"What did I say about that "Mister" ?", Percival grinned slightly, teasing the younger man playfully.

"I-I'm sorry..-", Credence blushed dark red. "-U-Uhm w-would you like to come in?", he asked after he pulled himself together and he quickly moved away from the entrance, allowing Percival to get in.

"Sure.", Percival smiled, being amused by Credence's reaction, and entered the mansion, holding onto a tied block of papers, "Your parents aren't home?".