A Truelove of Turtle Doves

Chpt 23 - Conclusions

I'd just exited my room, quickly reaching the top of the stairs, ready to head out, when I saw Edward and Ava standing in front of the door, furiously whispering about something. Penny was standing a few paces away, almost seeming to be keeping watch.

Before I could ask what was going on, Josie appeared out of a room to the right, caught sight of me and said, "Oh thank lords, I thought you'd already gone."

"Well I-"

Lauren suddenly appeared. "He's here? Great, let's get started then."

Edward and Ava had stopped their whispering and Penny had already walked into the room that Josie and Lauren had emerged from, huffing about how 'bread didn't bake its bloody self, so we'd better get a move on.'

I raised my eyebrows. "Alright, explain. Now."

"Not in the hallway," hissed Josie, gesturing rather dramatically for me to enter the room.

Rolling my eyes, I complied, the five of us joining Penny inside the mini-living room.

My suspicion was again raised when Edward locked the door.

The two maids took a seat next to each other, as did the sisters. Ed stayed standing by the door, and I happened to be standing in the middle of the room, surveying all of them with a completely dumbfounded look.

All of them looked somewhat nervous.

Ed was looking at the floor. Josie was tapping her foot. Lauren was tapping her fingers on her thigh. Ava was chewing her lip and averting her gaze. Penny had her eyebrows furrowed.

A feeling of dread began settling in my stomach.

"Okay, why do I feel like I've missed something?"

"We think Clark is working with Michael," Lauren blurted out.

I froze.

Josie slapped her leg and the younger sister yelped.

"What did I say about laying the fact down easily?!" Josie scolded.

"Well I'm sorry, but I thought it would work like a plaster," whined Lauren, folding her arms, "Y'know, rip it off all at once so that it's painful, but the pain doesn't last as long."

"Why are we talkin' about bloody plasters!" growled Penny.

Ava made a face. "I hate plasters. I always try and use bandages when I can. They're easier to take off."

"This bloody conversation isn't about plasters!"

"Well everyone else is talking about plasters."

Edward sighed. "If we're going to be this loud then I'm not going to be able to hear if anyone is on the other side of the door."

"Oh put a sock in it, chauffeur," snapped Penny.

"Ah, Pen, there's no need to be rude," Lauren chided gently.

And before I knew it, all of them were yelling in order to be heard above each other. Ava was attempting to break Lauren and Penny up who had gotten into a pretty heated debate about nicknames and plasters, while Josie was arguing with Edward about the choice of room. The voices mixed together into a wall of noise, and all of the shrieking reminded me of what Ravens sounded like when they gathered in groups. Although this was definitely worse.

My blood boiled.

I really wasn't in the mood.

"WOULD ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT IT!!" I screeched.