Of Fantasies And Realities (BOOK I)

Chapter 9....

Infamous Acquaintances

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"Why do you want to put me in so much trouble?!", she hissed and resisted the urge to stamp her feet down like a child. Since Mattie got back from the Academy, she had made it her responsibility to make sure Rosylie gets in trouble. Even when there was no trouble, she always made certain of it that she located one.

Rosylie glared at her friend who she thought, seemed pretty unaffected by her tantrums. They'd being at this same conversation since breakfast.

"I'm not putting you in any trouble", Mattie assured her and added when she saw the questioning look on Rosy's face. "Well, only a little. It would be worth it, I promise. You know I don't get to spend enough time with you whilst I'm around". Rosy raised a remarkable eyebrow at her. "the outdoorsy kind, of course", she added.

The poor girl sighed tiredly. Her friend was right. Even though she knew she'd be punished severely if they were ever caught - mostly herself, she didn't want to not feel what it felt like to have fun and be free for once with friends, in the outdoorsy kind of way as she said.

Mattie smiled when she saw her friend's internal struggle turn to resignation. "Fine!", Rosy groaned when the girl's loud squeals rang throughout the open space.

"You won't regret it, I promise", Mattie said again.

"I already am", Rosy muttered. Mattie ignored her and grabbed her hand to usher her out through the kitchen door. The carriage was already waiting out back. "I see you already made plans"

"Made plans for what, my dear?", a strong male voice boomed from behind them. Rosy went pale with fright immediately her brain registered the owner of the voice.

A slightly tall man came into view from the shadows; slightly tall because he was not so tall as a tall man should be, and he was not short either. He had a wicked face with a perpetual frown on his face. Rosylie always wondered how the quiet and submissive Lady Havalunde would decide to get shackled to him for eternity and not consider

The girl in question crept behind Mattie to hide and hoped he didn't see her. He was the true epitome of danger and terror.

"N..nothing Father", Mattie stuttered, cleared shaken up a bit. "I didn't say such".

"I believe I heard correctly", Lord Havalunde's icy voice froze the the girls cold. He stared expectantly at his daughter likes wanted to read the truth from her eyes. His piercing gaze shifted to Rosy's and he bore holes into her head for a long time before they were back to Mattie.

Mattie composed herself and replied. "I...uh... was just telling Rosy about the apple pie we were about joining the kitchen maids to prepare. For dinner", the lie flowed fluently from her mouth.

"You know how I feel about...", he began saying.

"I know Father but I want to do it", Mattie interrupted him, knowing what his reply would have being.

He stared intently at them for a while before he replied. "Very well then, since you do want to take up the responsibilities of a mere kitchen maid, Do well not to burn down my residence", he spoke sharply and brushed passed the girls without waiting for a reply.

They inhaled a deep breathe and tried to calm their racing hearts. "I don't think...", Mattie dragged her out through the kitchen and and out the back door to the awaiting carriage before the other girl could change her mind.

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"When do we get to go to the park? You're taking your precious time picking a book", Rosy said impatiently at her friend. She'd chosen hers few minutes after they arrived at the Library but knowing Mattie, she chose books as if she were choosing fabrics for a ball gown.