Secrets of the Night

Chapter 14

Willow and Philip were just "enjoying" their breakfast in their usual tense silence as Thomas entered the dining room in company of another man. Judging by his attire it was a servant as well. He bowed slightly towards the siblings before he spoke up. "Please excuse me for interrupting your breakfast, your Graces. But I am to deliver this letter to the Duke of Cornwall, as soon as anyhow possible."

Philip gestured for him to come to his side so he could deliver the letter. After handing it over the servant bowed again and had left the room with Thomas a moment later again.

Willow watched her brother curiously as he opened the letter. It must have been written in a hurry since there wasn't any attention put in the folding or even just sealing of it. Or maybe it was from one of Philip's friends... Maybe they wanted to go out hunting or something like that and therefore the letter had to be delivered immediately.

Philip's expression changed from surprise to something that could probably be described as indisposition. Willow did not like the look on her brother's face all that much. She could nearly feel trouble approaching. Who was that letter from? And what did it say?

"You are going to stay in your room this afternoon. You will go there right after lunch and you will not come out of there until I come and get you. Is that clear?" Philip spoke up, looking towards his sister now. He didn't need her to be snooping around when her husband to be would come by and she had no idea that she was even betrothed to someone yet. The risk of her overhearing something, freaking out and running away was way too big.

"But-" Willow tried to argue back, not at all willing to spend almost all day inside her room, when the weather was so lovely outside today.

"No buts. You will do as you're told." Philip wouldn't have any of this. He didn't have the time to argue about this withWillow. For once she would have to just behave herself and do as she was told.

"Please Philip. Can't I stay in the gardens? I promise I'll keep away from the house. I will not get in your way. I promise." Willow pleaded - she just had to try to change his mind. If he would just let her stay in the gardens instead, she would make sure to stay at the far ends off the garden, as far away from the house as possible. Obviously someone important would come to visit and her brother didn't want to be interrupted. And that was fine with her, she just didn't want to be locked away in her room.

Philip looked at his sister for a moment, considering her request. It probably wouldn't matter whether she stayed in her room or in the gardens. Either way she would be far away from their guest. "Alright." he finally gave in. "But you will not come near the house, is that understood?"

"Yes," Willow nodded happily that she could at least spend the afternoon outside. "Yes of course." To be honest she hadn't expected her brother to give in to her so easily, but she was really glad that he did. "Thank you, Philip."

But her brother already seemed to be too deep in thought to even notice that she said something. And only a few moments later he had gotten up and left the room, not even sparing his sister a glance.

This was bad. Really bad. Marcus didn't seem too pleased about the arranged marriage at all and Philip noticed that he hadn't really taken him into consideration at all, when he made his decision all those years back. What was he going to do? What was Marcus going to do?

What if he was really mad? What if he would refuse to get married to his sister? Would the Grand Duke insist on him to pay back the money that had been used to pay all those debts? There was no way for them to pay back that much money at once. The business was stable now, much better than it had been 3 years prior but they had not saved up much money just yet. Oh what did he get himself into with this decision?