The Cousin - ONC 2023

Chapter Three

Oscar lay in bed going over the events of the night before. He had found the entire ordeal rather awkward, and something had bothered him. Something about last night had been... off.

He had been seated between Mrs Andrews and Cecily, much to his dismay. Cecily was pleasant enough, if not a little flirtatious. But that he did not mind, he liked a pretty girl with confidence.

Mrs Andrews, on the other hand, now that woman could talk the ear off a horse. Cecily this, Cecily that. Between the two of them, his forearms had never been touched so much in his short twenty-six years. It was clear to see they were after him for a husband and son-in-law—painfully clear.

The thought of Prudence Andrews as his mother-in-law made him shudder. And Cecily, though easy on the eye, would make a dreadful Countess. Her manners slightly lacking, her laugh much too simpering. It would no doubt drive him to drink before long.

And then there was Emily. She had been seated across from him next to Henry. It seemed they had had a pleasant conversation, she would smile at him every so often. Just a shy half smile, but one Oscar found very attractive.

What had bothered him the most though, was when she wasn't engaged in conversation with Henry, she simply sat there, staring at her plate. Aunt Florence, and Uncle Matthew (who had been caught up with a sick Tennant all day) often tried to ask her questions, only to have them interrupted by Mrs or Miss Andrews.

She didn't even look at him once. After all these years, he would have at least thought she would be interested in what he had been doing with his life.

It also hadn't escaped his notice of the way her aunt and cousin treated her. Those jibes about her being a spinster and marrying a simple country curate, she was the daughter of a Viscount—God rest his soul. It was all absolutely absurd.

She was a closed book to him and the more she ignored him, the more intrigued he became. It wasn't so long ago she had been infatuated with him, following him around like a lovesick Apollo.

Perhaps talking with her alone would be the best option. That way, she would be more free to speak, possibly more open.

Oscar pulled back the covers and walked over to the window. Opening the thick golden drapes, he looked out towards a small forest to the east of the grand estate. The sun was about to rise, and the horizon was painted in pinks and purples, giving the illusion of an enchanted forest. It really was dreamlike.

Then as he was about to look away, he saw a figure riding a horse towards the trees. Immediately, he knew it was her. And immediately he knew he had to pursue her. Perhaps that would be a perfect place for a proper conversation, no interruptions, no indignant comments. Just two old acquaintances reconnecting.

He quickly dressed and headed down to the stables. The rest of the house was silent apart from the quiet ministrations of the servants. His cousin Henry would, of course, still be sleeping, and his aunt and uncle enjoyed breaking fast in their rooms.

He knew little about the Andrews', but it seemed the obvious conclusion they would not rise before noon. They had indulged in a good amount of claret the night before.

Emily was long gone by the time Oscar was seated on his horse. So he took off in the same direction she had taken earlier and hoped to find a clue as to where she could be.

There was a wide track that went through the forest. He had ridden it many times, during his many stays. It was one of his most favourite places. The bird song that surrounded him was truly delightful. The sun's rays as it rose, penetrated through the thick trees giving the place a magical feel.

It really was divine, and he could see why Emily would want to come here. She had been obsessed with magic and fairy tales as a child.

He stopped when the path split in two. Which way? He wondered. There was a sort of whistling noise in the distance and he remembered there was a clearing a little further ahead along the track to the right. Urging his horse forward, it wasn't long before he found the source of the noise.

Emily stood in the middle of a large grassy area surrounded by trees, with a bow in hand. She pulled back the arrow, aimed, and released. Oscar watched as the arrow sped through the air, straight through a ladies bonnet—already pierced with half a dozen arrows as it hung limply from an enormous tree trunk. He couldn't quite believe it. Her aim was incredible.

A twig cracked beneath his boot as he moved to get a closer look. She immediately turned towards him, an arrow aimed at what he assumed was his chest.

When she noticed who it was, she suddenly looked relieved. Then, like every other time before, her gaze fell to the ground. He wished she would stop doing that.

"The last time I saw you shoot an arrow, it had flown mere inches from your poor tutor's backside. I must admit you've improved slightly since then," Oscar said.

Emily let out a little giggle before falling silent again. When she finally looked up, her pure blue eyes were glassy and her lip quivered in an effort to hold in her emotions.

"That was a long time ago," was her only reply.

He didn't want to be the one to ruin her morning and changed the subject. "I have never shot an arrow before. Would you be obliging and show me?"

She smiled, nodded, and urged him to come closer. She showed him how to stand and how to hold the bow and notch the arrow.

"Now you try it," she said.

He fumbled with the arrow a little, then aimed at the bonnet— an interesting choice for a target.

"You need to twist your body a little more," she said.

He moved to the right a little.

"No, not like that."

She sighed and came up behind him. She tapped the inside of his boot with hers. His feet shuffled wider and then she took hold of his shoulders to twist his upper body slightly.

"Now here is a situation I never thought I'd see myself in." He laughed as she came around to face him.

Ignoring his last remark, she pushed his elbow up. Standing back, she placed her hand under her chin and looked him up and down. He shivered at her innocent gaze. He couldn't understand why it affected him, but it did. She moved closer, so close as she straightened his other arm. She smelled of lavender soap—he loved the smell of lavender, and now even more so.

She then did something completely unexpected and placed her hands on his waist, making him turn more towards the target.

He could feel her breath on his neck. Dazed, he stared down at her lips—her very kissable lips. She was completely oblivious to his errant thoughts and stepped back, accessing him once more.

"There, now try to shoot. Breathe in and release the arrow as you slowly breathe out."

It took him a moment to compose himself, then he followed her instruction and released the arrow. It flew towards the target, gave up halfway, and dug itself into the dirt.

A giggle escaped from Emily's perfectly pink lips, and he couldn't help but join her.

"I'm sorry, but that was awful, even for your first time." She was still giggling away.

"Can I be honest?" He asked.

She nodded.

"I lied. This isn't my first time."

At that revelation, they both burst into fits of laughter.

"Forgive me," she said between taking in gulps of air. "I should not be laughing at your inadequacies."

She was still laughing.

He stopped and looked at her, eyebrow raised.

"I'm so sorry, I cannot stop. I haven't laughed like this in a very long time and I believe I'm becoming addicted to this feeling," she said.

As he watched her lean against a large boulder, clutching at her middle, he couldn't help but wonder what the last eight years had been like for her. This is how he had remembered her, a giggling ninny. He had been frustrated with her silence since her arrival the day before and it was refreshing to be seeing a glimpse of that ninny once more.

"I would shoot a hundred arrows at the ground to see you laugh like this every day, Emily. You have the most beautiful smile."

And it was true. She was incredibly beautiful and her laughter absolutely enchanting.