VIII
As the last clap reverberated off the walls and almost punctured Willow's eardrum the sitting room was blanketed in eerie silence. Everyone waited for someone else to be the first one to react, not knowing how to do so themselves.
Willow, on the other hand, was thunderstruck.
She was staring into those same dark eyes she tried to escape merely few days, finding them twinkling in amusement. However, there was a certain restlessness in those onyxes as they inspected each and every person in the room, finally ending their journey on Willow's widened ones. His full lips pulled into a smirk, guarded from the others and conjured especially for Willow like a part of some private joke.
"If I had known I was to be welcomed in such gaiety I would have hastened my arrival," he spoke, his words held just a dash of sarcasm that was not missed by anyone.
From her peripheral vision, Willow's spotted Lord Richmond standing up and walking towards the newcomer but she couldn't move. His eyes that followed her anywhere put her under a spell she failed to break, her feet became stone and motionless. Even if her brain functioned properly in order to make an attempt to hide her surprise, it was doubtless she would fail.
Her eyes stung being open wide for long time and she blinked, that minor sign from her body managing to pull her out of the shock and she pealed her eyes from him. There was some indescribable fear in the pit of her stomach - small, but present nonetheless - and Willow wanted to shrink and disappear.
Against all odds, against all rules of sanity she was stuck in 19th century, in the presence of only person that has seen her when she first arrived and kidnapped her just two days ago. That was still very indigestible for Willow.
"Miss Blackwood," she heard her name being called and her head shot up only to find Lord Richmond standing in front of her with worried look on his face. The devil himself was stood next to him, his mouth still pulled in that obnoxious smirk. Willow's knees betrayed her and trembled, causing her to lean backwards a little and grip the the pianoforte behind her for dear life. Her head was spinning in the turmoil of her thoughts, but she managed to plaster tight smile on her lips. "May I present to you my eldest grandson, Emmett Richmond."
Willow wanted to laugh bitterly at him. Of course he would lie about his name, that's only one more item to add on his substantive summary of a criminal.
Before she knew what happened, he clasped her hand in his rough one, and never losing her eyes he slowly brought it to his mouth. Time as if stopped, seconds stretched into agonizing hours as he pierced in her eyes with his dark gaze, his warm lips pressing into her hand and Willow shivered. Pulling her hand back roughly she let it fall beside her and ignoring the tingling feeling that was left there she masked her expression into spiteful smile.
"It's an honor," he said. For the first time his face betrayed a little bit of surprise but he managed to fight it off. Willow was uncertain as to whether anyone could sense the discomfort that settled above them like their own personal cloud, though the staring contest they had merely minutes ago was a pretty good give away.
"Likewise," she retorted, her head held high. "Mr. Emmett Richmond."
Willow shot him a look that said drop the shit though Jack - well, Emmett Richmond - only nodded and raised his eyebrows as in challenge. Their eyes met again, and the alarm that was in his dark gaze didn't miss her and she was happy that this time her mouth adorned the same smirk he so proudly wore just few minutes ago.
"You know, you remind me of someone I recently met..." she taunted, narrowing her eyes as if she was searching her brain and Ja- Emmett - mimicked her look.
"Impossible," Lord Richmond's brusque voice was heard but Willow didn't allow herself to be the first one to avert her eyes. She managed to stifle a self satisfied laugh when he was the one to break the eye contact and bore into his grandfather. "Emmett was on his Grand Tour for few months now and has just arrived this morning. I'm sure you have mistaken him for someone else."
"Yeah," Willow mumbled, nodding in agreement, no matter how false. "I'm sure that I made a mistake."
She smiled at Lord Richmond and brushed past Mr. Emmett to sit next to Mary. It was sure that everyone caught on awkwardness in the air but decided to ignore, so chatter revived again and gentlemen continued with their game. Lord Richmond and his infamous grandson mimicked Willow and sat in respective chairs across from sofa Willow was sharing with Mary and Lady Collins.
Chatter around was lost into swirl of thoughts Willow was fighting with. Could it be that she is actually mistaken? She glanced at him insensibly.
Raven hair was neatly combed backwards allowing his dark eyes to capture all attention. He was dressed in black, his white shirt slowly peaking under his vest. It's no mistake. He looked cleaner and sober but he is most definitely the same men she met in the tavern and the one that kidnapped her.
Although, something about his demeanour changed, long gone the air of carelessness he seemed constantly wrapped into and his body seemed tense, nervous. The way his eyes traveled from his grandfather to Willow betrayed the calmness he wanted to show.
Good, Willow thought, wheels in her brain turning and slow smirk creeping on her lips. She knew how to use this situation in her benefit.
**********
"Miss Blackwood,"Lady Collins said as she slowly sipped her lemonade and Willow was snapped out of her daze. Jack or now known as certain Emmett left the sitting room less than five minutes ago and Willow's feet itched to dash after him, -"the song you preformed was quite-"
"Different?" Willow offered, eager to finish this conservation so she could carry out her plan. Her eyes flickered towards the door and back to Lady Collins who glared at her insensibly, enraged for being interrupted.
"Well, if I had been given the opportunity to complete my sentence I would've said controversial," she added, sending Willow another look of disdain.
"Agree to disagree," Willow retorted, jumping up on her feet. "I need to go to the bathroom."
Quickly turning around on her heel she made a dash towards the door without waiting for response from anyone, though she could catch Mary's jaw hitting floor right before she disappeared through the huge, double door. She half walked half skipped as she wandered long halls inwardly praying that she would be able to find him in this gigantic house.
Hallways were filled with different kind of works of art, from statues to paintings of various sizes. Some of them were grotesque representing some kind of war Willow wasn't familiar with, but few of them were so enchanting Willow's short attention span won the battle and she stopped to observe. There were voices coming from the end of the hall and Willow's head snapped in its direction, her eyes narrowed as she tried to discern them.
"I came to report, my Queen,''
Even though it was lost in the long hallway, it was quite distinct to whom the voice belonged, and Willow rushed forward as quite as she could possible do. Arriving at the end of the hallway she pressed her back on the wall as if she was to be merged with it and continued listening. There was this burning curiosity in her gut to learn whom he addressed with such term of endearment.
''Do tell, my knight,'' another voice was heard, small and tender. Willow assumed it belonged to a child, but she refrained from peaking even though her entire body urged her so.
''All that I have said before remains valid,'' male voice continued, the amusement it was laced with was very detectable. ''I assure you that you're not missing anything of importance, quite contrary, you are far better off sitting here rather than being forced to attend their entertainment.''
''Are you saying that just to make feel better, uncle Emmett?''
Uncle Emmett?
''Nonsense, I swear on my honor, my Queen,'' he laughed, that sound dripped with so much sincerity and ease Willow was perplexed. ''Off you go now, it's quite past your bedtime.''
Giggling and a soft ''Good night'' was heard followed by departing steps before everything was hugged with silence. Willow was trying to think of an scenario consisting of everything she just heard, connecting dots in her head and forcing her mind to focus on her original plan. She thought of going back a little and announcing her arrival with humming or over dramatic coughing like she always did when she accidentally eavesdropped.
She paused. It was silent. Too silent.
''Eavesdropping is not quite polite, Miss Blackwood,'' she heard and closed her eyes, letting out a breath she's been holding hoping it would be enough to help her cover. She pressed her back further to the wall as a last chance and contemplated of sliding back to the place she came from. Maybe this battle that was ahead of them could be postponed.
''There's no point in hiding anymore, your own shadow betrayed you,'' he called out again and she heard his advancing footsteps. Willow's eyes flicked to the floor eager to grasp what he was saying and she face-palmed when she saw her own silhouette drawn in the floor by the candles that shivered behind her. Left with no other choice, she braced herself and stepped out of her hiding place.
Jack was casually standing by the stairs, his elbow prompted on the railing with devilish smile on his face. There was self-satisfied aura around him, one that she was used to seeing him enveloped it by now, although he still seemed tense and nervous and totally out of place. His dark eyes pierced her with their depth, and his head cocked to side as puzzled look replaced his previous amused one.
"What?'' Willow inquired, feeling self-conscious under his penetrative gaze.
''I'm contemplating whether I should be honored that you felt the need to follow me here and eavesdrop or afraid for the same reason,'' he said and Willow scoffed, deciding to cut to the chase immediately.
''I'm contemplating whether I should add professional liar on the list of the things I know about you, or is that attribute implied seeing your profession is, after all, a criminal,'' she retorted in spite, narrowing her eyes at him.
''I beg your pardon, Miss?" he had the audacity to look confused.
''Cut the crap Jack,'' Willow rolled her eyes and crossed her hands on her chest, aiming to show him her seriousness with that move, however the baffled look on his face didn't disappear.
''I'm afraid I'm not aware of what you are accusing me of," he proceeded, still persistent in playing dumb and Willow's rage was increased threatening to explode like volcano. However, taking few deep breath to push that fire down she decided to call his bluff.
''Oh, is that so?'' she inquired, feigning innocence. ''Well, in that case I don't see why I shouldn't explain the inconveniences involving certain criminal named Jack to Lord Richmond,'' Willow forced sickly sweet smile on her lips as she challenged him but was enraged when he just shrugged off her threat.
''By all means,'' he motioned towards the hallway and Willow nodded, spinning around on her heel and her face acquired stupefied look as soon as she turned her back on him. Was it possible that she was mistaken?
However, as soon as she made first step forward in order to walk away from him, she felt his long fingers wrap around her forearm and he roughly whirled her around. He was close, way closer than she expected but she refrained from pulling back for she needed to prove a point. Jack's dark eyes were narrowed in splits and rage he felt was evident on his pale face.
''I'm not fond of being threatened in my own house, Lady Oak,'' he said slowly in menacing manner, aiming to intimidate her. However, Willow was having none of that.
''I'm not fond of being lied in my face, Mr. Jack-ass,'' she spat back, mimicking his face and tone of voice. His hand tightened around her forearm to a point she felt slight pain, but she stood her ground.
''The fact that you're are threatening to - as you say - a criminal make me sincerely doubt your intelligence,'' he shot back, still not moving an inch or changing his menacing demeanor.
''What can I say, desperate times call for desperate measures,'' Willow retorted. ''I have a proposal for yo-''
''Proposal?'' he interrupted her, small smirk appeared on his full lips. ''My, my, how very bold of you Lady Oak, although I demand proper courting.''
It took Willow a split second to understand what he was not so subtly implied and that thought settled her eyes widened and she haphazardly pushed him away from her. He laughed out load, straightening his coat but he remained in the place where she pushed him.
''Nevertheless,'' she decided to cut to the chase already. ''I prepared to offer my silence in exchange for my bag.''
Willow couldn't quite understand where the need to find that backpack raised from, but it was burning in her gut. It was all she could think about for a while. Perhaps it was the fact that that was the only palpable thing that was connecting her to her own world, to her real life. She was adamant to locate it.
''A bag?'' he voiced his surprise. ''You are prepared to collaborate with a criminal who might place you in dangerous situations that could certainly endanger you life, not to mention completely destroy your reputation merely for a bag?'' Willow nodded and Jack let out a long sigh. ''You are most eccentric person, Lady Oak.''
''Than-''
''It's frustrating.'' he interrupted her with a shake of head. ''However, allow me to ask you one thing. What makes you think that my own grandfather would believe your over me, his grandson?''
Willow sighed. She knew that this question will be shot at her and even though she did ponder over it on her way to find him she failed to find good reason. He was right, it's ridiculous to think that she was able to persuade Lord Richmond to believe her, but she was hoping that Jack wouldn't call her bluff. However, she decided to trust the superiority she had by being born in 21 century, a world far more developed that his and she needed to use that advantage.
''He wouldn't, at first,'' she started, determination written on her face. ''But there's this thing called planting an idea in one's mind. At first, you only give a hint, a clue just enough to spike their interest. Perhaps at first he would dismiss it, calling me ridiculous but that thought is bound to settle somewhere in his subconscious. Slowly, he would start to ponder over it considering it his own idea therefore he will research it further. A person as powerful as Lord Richmond is bound to find out about your alter ego if he wants it.''
When she finished her monologue Willow was left slightly panting, her eyes never left his narrowed ones. The improvisation she just showed sounded good to her ears, quite convincing actually. Jack however, had baffled expression on his face - stupefied even. They were silent for few minutes, leading a hushed battle withe their eyes, waiting to see which side would prevail. Willow was only able to relax when he broke eye contact and firmly nodded.
''Very well, we can discuss details at the ball,'' as soon as those words left his mouth her turned abruptly and in long strides walked towards the glass door that lead outside. Marvelous lake peaked his glowing face through the doors when he opened them and disappeared in the darkness but Willow couldn't dwell in its beauty for she was left confused.
''Ball? What ball?''717Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqAJ1EFLZK
