Stormy Hearts

Chapter 4

"My dear Lillian!" My aunt rushed towards me as she saw me walk through the door "Where have you been all day? I was worried for you."

Wow! Thank you very much. I'm glad to hear you were worried. Now that I was engaged to Lord Dalgliesh you were suddenly so worried as I was gone just for a few hours. Earlier neither did you care, nor did you notice when I would be gone for days, unless there was a ball for me to attend. Heck! It wouldn't have mattered to you even if I died back then.

"Thank the lord, you're fine." She exclaimed, sighing dramatically out of relief. "You can't hope to imagine what kind of negative thoughts I was having."

Well, if you were having negative thoughts about me slaughtering a certain Lord of British Empire, who's now my beloved fiance then I would gladly be pointing out that your thoughts are not just mere thoughts whatsoever.

"Now, tell me, Girl." Aunt Brank demanded sternly, her little eyes in her vulture like face was narrowing with suspicion. "Where were you?"

I would be lying if I don't admit, her sudden change of behaviour didn't surprise me sometimes. One moment she was dying of worry, and thanking god for my well being and just the next moment she was back to her usual harpy self.

"Remember, I told you this morning that I would be going to the library." I lied smoothly, forcing a bright smile on my face.

"Library!" She exclaimed in horror as if I had just said I went to the jail after committing a murder. A moment later the horror on her face was replaced by a frown. "Lillian, you are to be married to the richest man and most respected Lord of the country in just a week."

You don't have to spoil my mood by reminding me that over and over again!

Good for my beloved aunt that she didn't say 'the rich man thing' in front of a certain business mogul named Mr. Rikkard Ambrose otherwise he would have turned her into a frozen snow sculpture version of Hester Mahulda Brank, using his famous freezing glare.

"... And you were wasting your time doing something so unladylike and absolutely outrageous such as reading ,while you should have been here at home, take some rest or probably a nap so that you look fresh like a flower at the Ball." She continued with a frown.

"Now you go upstairs to your room and dress up immediately. We haven't got much time left for the ball. Lord Dalgliesh will be here probably in an hour."

Without answering, I started climbing up the stairs. "Hurry up, Lillian. You can't keep such a important man like Lord Dalgliesh waiting. He wouldn't appreciate it."

Mentally cursing, I ran up the stairs. Reaching the door of mine and Ella's shared bedroom, I pushed it open and sauntered in. My little sister Ella's back was turning towards me, she was occupied with doing her hair when she saw me in the reflection of the mirror.

"Lill!" Ella, my sweet little sister turned towards me with a beautiful smile on her face. Probably her smile was the only good thing that I saw in all these days. "Where have you been? You know aunt was looking for you everywhere all day, and her worry didn't decrease the least even after I reminded her that you don't normally stay at home on weekdays, and you're safe and will be back by evening."

"Thanks, Ella. I was in the library."

"Oh! Well, I told aunt that too. I told her that you probably went to the library or you were at the Green Park with your friends but she didn't stop worrying, not even a little. Please Lilly promise me from next time you'll let her know before going somewhere." Ella requested, as her both hands grasped mine.

It's not surprising that my innocent little sister believed that the old hag really had been worried for me! But still Ella seemed different.

"All right, from now on I'll make sure that aunt knows about my whereabouts." I normally didn't mind making false promises to people. However, Ella was an exception. She was the only one person in this entire blasted universe who gave a darn about me. While a fleeting name of a certain cold and miserly son of a bachelor's paid a temporary visit to my mind.