A few hours later, I was expected to act like the lady that I should be to my soon to become owner... I can't say I didn't try, for I did, but things did not exactly turn out as I wished for them to.
"So tell me more about you, Lady Taimara," asked John, giving me one of his sick grins.
I managed to smile back, and said, "There is absolutely nothing interesting to tell anyone about me."
I could hear my mother gasp silently, and she spoke up, with a nervous laugh, "Oh, don't listen to her! She's just really modest, aren't you, Tamy?"
I grinned sweetly. "Yes, of course..."
She looked ready to kill me, but I was actually enjoying this, the thought of embarrassing my poor mother didn't bother me. It was quite a lot of fun, actually, that is, as long as I begged hard enough for forgiveness later on...
Duke junior started to laugh as he took a sip of tea. Bad idea, I thought with a smile, as he started coughing immedietly after. He got all red in the face and I had to supress this urge of laughing out loud as his mother, who was sitting next to him, started slapping his back.
"Are you ok?" asked my mother with a concerned expression.
Oh yes, she sure was concerned... about him dying on the spot and me losing the title of duchess... what a terrible thought... of course, I am being sarcastic.
"Yes-yes..." he replied, breathing heavily. "I wonder why that happened?" he asked, looking confused. I was trying so hard to hide my smile, but I found it almost impossible, that I just burst out laughing at his stupidity.
They all looked at me, and no one said anything. I stopped laughing, and I knew I was in trouble.
"Well, uh, what is it you found so amusing, Taimara? Couldn't you please tell us?" asked John, giving me one of his idiotic smiles, yet this one I could see was fake. I must have really offended him by laughing out loud, oh well...
"I was-uh, remembering how the same thing happened to me just the other day..." I stammered quickly, hoping they'd just forget about it.
"Well, I wouldn't find that funny, dear," spoke up his mother, who looked absolutely horrified that her future daughter-in-law had shown no compassion for her poor son... please, note that I am being sarcastic again...
"It was funny because-uh, well, i was just thinking about how funny it was that the same thing happened to him-as to me, it was almost as if we were meant for each other, no? It just seemed like such a coincidence..." I don't know why I said all that, perhaps to get them to shut up and talk about something else, but I of course meant nothing of what I said...
He smiled, looking pleased, and I smiled back, relieved. I looked at my mother and she was giving me this suspicious look, and I knew she didn't believe me, but I didn't care. It was just enough that Johnny boy did...
Hours later, I was ready to fall scream. I wondered when they would finish up their small talk, which was just the usual sick gossip anyway, and leave. Besides, it was getting dark outside, and I really couldn't wait to go meet Brian... at 'our' place...
Someone up there must have been listening to me for the Duchess stood up. "Dear, we have stayed quite a long time. I'm sorry to leave this beautiful evening, but we'll of course have many more to get acquainted better, won't we?" she said smiling at me.
I smiled back, as sweetly as I could, although inside I was gagging. She was such a big hypocrite, and couldn't even hide it well... but I had a reason to be happy anyway, they were leaving...
John stood up, too, but before leaving, reached for my hand and kissed it, and I could feel my tea and cookies getting ready to come out... "I will see you soon, Lady Taimara..."
I kept that smile pasted on my face, until he left, when I felt ready to cry, but I didn't. I remained calm and walked past my mother, expecting to hear something, but she just ignored me, and I was glad...
Hoping Nick wouldn't see me this time, I slowly found a way to get out without anyone noticing. Once I was outside, I started running, holding my dress. It was kind of hard to run around in a long dress, and if it were up to me, I'd just borrow Nick's clothes, but oh well... I stopped then, noticing a beautiful red flower growing out of the side of our house. It's beauty had no words, and i carefully picked it up with a smile, anxious now more than ever to see him so I could give it to him and show him how I felt..
It wasn't that dark, I could still see as it was a full moon that night, anyway. I reached the cliff after a few minutes, and I was totally out of breath, too. I must have been a little too excited, for no one was there.
Oh well, maybe I got there too early, I mean, he did say 'tonight', and that could basically mean anything, no? I sat down, watching the sea. It was so beautiful at night, so dark, so full of mystery, full of secrets it would never unravel... where was Brian? I was overreacting, and I knew it, but I thought he'd at least be as excited as I was and come early...
I sighed, thinking about that morning. Had it all been but a mere dream? Was that it? Was that why I was sitting down here in this high cliff, facing the wide and angry sea, all alone? I didn't have time to answer all my questions, for I fell asleep.
I could hear the sound of seagulls, and i thought that was funny, because why would there be seagulls at night... I opened my eyes slowly, realizing that it was actually the start of dawn... I could see the sun rising slowly from over the horizon, and looking around, I knew I was alone.
I couldn't cry, no I wouldn't cry... but I did, and I hated him for this, for making me feel this way, for making me fall in love with him...
I noticed the red flower on the ground beside me, and I slowly picked it up, fingering it softly. I threw it down the sea, and watched as it floated down, and as the waves washed it away, until it was out of sight.
