My Fair Lady

Absence

The next day, Juliet went for a walk in the park with Sophie following her. She smiled as she saw a bunch of rowdy children run past her and she sighed, wondering if she could possibly have Edmund's children one day.

Suddenly, she passed by several women whom she recognized as guests at her engagement party the night before. They stopped to stare at her and Juliet smiled politely back but they just kept on staring.

"Is there something on my face?" she whispered.

"No, m'am," Sophie answered dutifully. "Perhaps they were all mesmerized after seeing the face of the new Countess." The maid grinned and Juliet couldn't help but smile back.

Of course, it wasn't the thought of having a new title which pleased her. It was the thought of having Edmund completely to herself.

"You were beautiful last night, m'am," Sophie said. "Thank-you." Juliet nodded. "Did you happen to see Cedric at the party?"

At the mention of the manservant, Sophie's face crumpled. "Aye. I saw him with his new master and he refused to talk to me. I thought that we were friends at least," she added sadly.

"No worries. I'm sure that Cedric just want to stay out of trouble," Juliet replied gently. "Besides, it was a formal occasion. He probably felt that it wasn't right to talk as a servant."

"M'lady, you really think so?" Sophie's face lighted up. Juliet nodded.

Suddenly, she noticed another group of women stop and stare at her. When she realized that Syvil was one of the ladies, she waved but her best friend's face was pale. Thankfully, Syvil's stomach hadn't begun to show.

Whe the group finally moved on, Syvil lingered behind. "Juliet," she breathed. "Have you heard the news?" "What news? Is it another piece of juicy gossip?" Juliet raised her eyebrows. She could never get the fascination with society news.

"No, 'tis serious." Syvil shook her head. "The manservant who once worked for you. He's gone."

"Gone? As in Cedric escaped?"

"No." Syvil looked at her in the eye. "Cedric's dead." *

*******

Gone. Gone. Gone. Dead. Dead. Dead.

The words kept ringing in Juliet's mind as she stumbled home in shock. It wasn't possible. She just talked to him the night before. How could Cedric be dead? Maybe it was an accident. It must be.

The doors flew open and she looked up, startled. It was Edmund. He stared at her and immediately walked over to hug her.

"You're safe," he breathed and he looked up sharply. "Did you hear the news?"

"I did. Is it true?" She stared at his handsome face hopefully. Maybe it was just rumors. Maybe Syvil heard wrongly.

Edmund nodded, confirming the disastrous news. "No."

Her face crumpled and she wiped away the tears. "I was just talking to him last night...."

"That's why I'm here now," Edmund said agitatedly. "I know that Captain Jack has included you in his plans. And that's why I need to know whether anyone saw you talk to him."

"I...." Juliet looked up, shocked. "You can't think that I killed him, right? I was alone with you in the garden all night!"

"I know," Edmund answered seriously. "But first, you must answer me. What did you speak to him about?"

"I tried to ask him whether Titania was the one who poisoned me. I had my own suspicions."

"What did he say?"