Stormy Hearts

Chapter 2

I hurriedly climbed down the stairs and approached my small loving family at the dining room. My aunt and all of my lovely sisters were sitting at the breakfast table, waiting for me to come down and honor them with my presence during breakfast.

When I pulled my chair to sit. They all glared at me, for being this late, apart from my aunt who was too pleased to be angry with me that being only thirty minutes late for breakfast wasn't a big deal for her, and my little sister Ella, who looked concerned for me, probably because she saw me pacing back and forth on our bedroom all night with a book in my hand, for being unable to sleep.

"Lilly, my dear. What took you so long to come down here for breakfast?" My aunt chirped, smiling creepily at me.

"And, what's wrong with your eyes? Let me see, let me see" she grabbed my chin, roughly, and pulled it close to her face.

Oh god! Damn her! Damn her to hell! What the bloody hell is wrong with this old hag? Has she gone blind that she has to pull my face that close to hers to see what has happened to my eyes.

I didn't have any problem with her examining my eyes to see if there's anything wrong, except for the fact that I might have to go to the doctor for the bruise that had probably formed on my chin.

"Oh god! Aunt! Leave my chin, you're hurting me like hell." I groaned. She frowned and instantly left my chin. I rubbed it gently.

My poor little limbs are going through a lot these days, just like sweet little me. At first, Lord Dalgliesh made my lips bleed, just two days ago. Then my eyes were suffering from a very strange kind of disease that I assumed called insomnia. I couldn't get any sleep last night, my eyes were hurting like hell, and I felt exhausted. And right now, because of the concerns of my dear aunt, I managed to get a new bruise on my chin. That, thankfully wasn't hurting as much my eyes and my lips were.

"Jesus Christ! I didn't realize that I was holding your chin so tight, that a bruise would form there. I'm so sorry, Lilly. I should've realized, how much fragile and delicate you are."

My eyes widened. Was this true? Did my aunt really apologize to me? No, No this couldn't be true. This had to be a dream, a very beautiful dream. I pinched my arm to check if I was awake or dreaming. And I realized this was no dream. I was surely awake.

Never in a million years, had I ever thought that my great aunt, who had fed me clothed me would ever apologize to me. From then on, I started to believe that miracles do happen.

"And your eyes, dear. Why do you have dark circles under them? Didn't you sleep well last night?" My aunt asked, adding some more sugar and concern in her voice.

"No, I couldn't get any sleep last night."

"Oh! That's quite normal, darling. Don't worry, it's totally normal for a girl who has just got engaged, and is going to be married in just a week to not be able to sleep out of excitement and nervousness."

"If you were nervous about tonight's ball then don't worry, dear. You won't have to do anything. When Lord Dalgliesh announces that you both are engaged and going to get married next week. Everyone will congratulate you, and all you will have to do is to smile and thank them. That's all, you understand me, Lilly. There's nothing to be nervous about." She said with a smile that was supposed to be a reassuring smile and rubbed my back.

"Okay, Aunt" I sighed, mentally cursing my fate.

"And, Lillian. You are going to behave properly, like a gentleman's daughter at the ball. You hear me. Lord Dalgliesh is one of the richest men of London. He could marry any richer lady with a higher social status than you, if he wished to. You're extremely fortunate, that you managed to catch his attention at Sir Philip's ball and he's marrying a penniless gentry girl like you. You won't let him get out of your clutches. You understand, girl." She said in her usual dangerous threatening tone. The creepy smile had disappeared from her face.