My Fair Lady

Visit

"Enchanted to meet you again, Ms Rosewood," Sir Bernard bent over and lightly kissed Titania on the cheek. He did the same for Juliet though she could clearly see that he had eyes only for her beloved sister.

As all of them settled down in the parlor, Juliet could see Mrs Rosewood darting evil eyes at Titania. Her sister seemed utterly oblivious, choosing to stare straight into the distance.

"How is your father, Sir Bernard? I trust he is well?" Mrs Rosewood asked, flashing a dazzling smile. Even past her prime years, her step-mother was still  a beauty. It was no wonder why her father was so enamoured by her.

"He's been ill, lately, and I'm now unoffically in-charge of handling all his estates." Sir Bernard shook his head forlornly. He casted another glance at Titania who still ignored him.

What a pretence. Juliet thought. Sir Bernard must have been happy. With only two sisters, he was the rightful heir to his family fortunes. Once his father was gone, he would be promoted to a duke.

"Titania, say something," Mrs Rosewood gritted under her teeth. She pinched her subtly and Titania winced.

"How are you lately, Sir Bernard?" Titania replied stiffly. Juliet frowned. Why was she so cold to Sir Bernard? Although he was a rather pompous and pretentious man, he wasn't bad in nature. There were far worse men out there.

"I'm much better now that I've seen you in person," Sir Bernard answered charmingly. "I trust you're busy with your activities?"

"Oh no, I'm just sitting around to wait for your arrival," Titania replied sarcastically. Juliet gasped and threw her sister a warning glare but Sir Bernard didn't seem to catch her cold tone. His smile grew and he nodded with a satisfied smirk.

Turning his attention back to her step-mother, Sir Bernard asked, "Have you heard the news? A parchment just arrived on my table and I'm indeed much surprised to learn that Edmund Aughust is returning within this spring."

"Do you mean the late earl's son?" Mrs Rosewood seemed surprised. She dabbed her forehead with a floral-embroidered handkercheif.

"Indeed. The last time I saw him, he was anything but an ignorant young mand. I reckon the ladies will be flocking to his side now," Sir Bernard laughed.

"Why?" Mrs Rosewood demanded, her eyes gleaming with interest. "He's the second son of the earl, destined for nothing but a life living under his brother's shadow."

"Haven't you heard?" Sir Bernard asked, surprised. "His brother died and he has inherited his father's title. He's now Earl Aughust now."

Mrs Rosewood didn't reply. Instead, her eyes flicked to Titania. Juliet sighed. She knew that look. She was perhaps thinking that this Edmund Aughust was a better match than Sir Bernard for a ravishing beauty like Titania.

"Many debutantes are falling all over their feet to meet him," Sir Bernard laughed. "I don't believe that scrawny little boy can amount to much in terms of looks."

Juliet frowned. She disliked Sir Bernard's comments. She recalled Edmund Aughust because they were once childhood playmates. He was indeed a scrawny and sickly boy then but because Juliet couldn't find any friends due to her timid, quiet nature, she hung out with him.

Gradually, she grew to genuinely like him. Not because he was rich or anything, he probably would not have amounted to much being the second son, but he was kind and sensitive. She wondered if he had changed.

"Juliet!" Her step-mother's sharp, raspy voice broke her train of thought. "See Sir Bernard out of the door."

"Yes, m'am," she muttered annd hastened to the door. She hated being treated like a parlor maid but there was no way out of this unfortunate situation.

Still, her thoughts kept drifting to Edmund Aughust......