"I closed my mouth and spoke to you in a hundred silent ways."
-Rumi
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Em and Evangeline finished tucking the clothes back and sorted which ones needed laundering. The room was once again tidy.
"Thank you Em. You've been a great help."
"It's my pleasure Evangeline. Should you need anything, just ring the bell."
"I will. Now, off you go and I'll tend to my mistress."
They parted ways as Em was headed for the guest room. Samantha was certain she finished the preparations on her own but she'd better check to make sure.
Her feet found the slightly opened door and peeked, Sam was nowhere to be seen but the room was in order.
"Looking for something?"
Em jumped and turned around. A man was standing right in front of her and was wearing an oversized cloak, his face was obscured by the wide hood, it was as if he did not wish to be seen.
Funny, just last night she was dressed the same. This must be the guest who forgot the date of the party.
"I, I was just making sure the room is prepared..." she was about to add Mister or Lord but she didn't know which one to use. "Is there something I can do for you?"
The hooded man looked from left to right and pushed her inside the room. Em was too shocked to react and stumbled down on the bed. The man had turned and closed the door, there was an audible click of the lock.
Panic rose within Em, who is this man? Why is he suddenly acting strange?
"W-what do you want?"
The man turned to her, if he can see her , she couldn't tell. Her eyes only caught a well chiseled jaw with a stubble growing fresh. A smile appeared on his lips as he walked towards her.
Em tried not to gasp, should she yell for help? And who would come? The entire west wing was empty for the day. And would the man even let her scream?
The man stopped right in front of her and Em fought the urge to crawl away. He slowly bent down until his face touched her cheek and whispered, "Boo..."
Em jumped again and hit the man's face, he stumbled back and the hood came off, "Oww! That hurt!"
Em's eyes widened, "Dathan?"
The man smiled at her, his eyes were the same deep blue eyes that Lord Vincent had, "I scared you, haven't I?"
"You horrid man!" She rose and pulled the pillows out of the pile and began hitting him, "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
Dathan was defending himself from the ridiculous attack, his arms came to shield his face against the pillow, "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. Emelia, I'm sorry.." But he was laughing.
Em finally stopped and threw the pillow at him, her face was flushed with embarrassment. When she finally calmed down she asked.
"What are you doing here Dathan?"
He just sat there, on the floor, looking up to her, "I'm visiting. Is that illegal?"
Of course it was not. He was Lord Vincent's second son and is very much allowed to visit his home.
"Stand up will you? I feel ridiculous already," she sat back on the bed while he rose to his feet, "if you did not reveal yourself right away, I could've hurt you."
"With what Em? Another pillow?"
Oh, that annoying smirk of his! Em did threw him the second pillow which he caught without effort. If Damian had been the baiter, Dathan had been the bully. And years have not changed him. He was still the Dathan she knew, spirited, jolly and very handsome.
He got the signature blonde hair which he kept short always and blue eyes, a little darker than his brother's. His cheeks had dimples on each side, whenever he smiled they deepened. It was one thing she liked about him. But despite those wonderful features, they did not draw her close him, it was Damian who had been caring and sensitive and she found herself liking that very much.
Dathan was the total opposite. If people would ask which brother was prettier, she could say him but then again, it was hard to decide, for they were identical twins.
"You really are upset, aren't you?" He asked her.
Em turned her attention back to him, she had been thinking so far, "You just surprised me, Dathan. You never changed." She finally gave him a smile.
"So did you Em, still the funny little girl."
He did used to call her that, because every time he pulled pranks on her, she never cried. There were times she even played pranks back at him and he thought it was funny.
"I should've have known you'll be coming back. I had been planning on many pranks for you."
Dathan smiled and took off his cloak, beneath the fabric he wore was a white shirt tucked inside the blue breeches. The clothes framed his well sculpted body and Em could not help but stare. He was no longer the skinny lord she used to play with. He'd certainly grown in some areas. Noticeable areas.
If he noticed her staring, Dathan gave no remark, "You're still upset the last time I played a prank on you? That was what? Five years ago?"
Em remembered, it was the day Damian was due to leave. She was helping Ana pack the food in a basket when Dathan came through the kitchen and spilled a bucket full of frogs.
"Ana was so mad about the frogs, we weren't able to capture all of them. Some had squeezed through the tables and cabinets. You have no idea how tiring that was." But recalling the memory now, she was not upset anymore.
"But I did got you soaked, didn't I?"
Soaked was far it, she had been covered in both dirty water and mud. Then the frogs started leaping at her, she had shrieked over and over again.
"And you laughed at us. You were just there at the door, holding your stomach because you couldn't stop laughing."
"Ahhh, those were the days." He was tugging at his cravat but for some reason it wasn't coming off.
Em rose and slapped his hands, "Let me."
Dathan stood stiffly and allowed her to unfasten the cravat, he let himself study her. She had grown. Not quiet tall but not too short either. She stood level with his jaw, a good stature for a woman. He liked them shorter, so he could always looked down and kiss them.
He wondered how Em would feel in his arms, how she would react if he stole a kiss from her. Would she hit him or would she shriek like the little girl she used to? His curiosity brought his attention to her. She'd always been pretty, dark hair with amber eyes. It wasn't a common trait, most raven haired people were from the East, he wondered if Em's parents were from there.
Then he stared at her face, the perfectly curved eyebrows, so thick that she would not need pencil to draw in them. Like the other ladies he'd been with. The amber eyes looked golden when the sunlight hit her globes, so fascinating, it was so lovely. Her nose was long and pointed, if their faces were close, he'd bump into her nose first. Then his gaze fell into her mouth. She had a tiny mouth, full and pink. He watched her tongue flicked as she struggled his cravat. It was a habit she's never grown out. As a kid, he thought she did it to keep herself form crying. But now, they were standing just inches away from each other, the simple gesture made him gulp.
He was really reacting to his childhood friend? It was only last night that he enjoyed Penelope's attention, the girl he paid at Dallswick to spend the night in his bed. Yet, now, his needs rose like an insatiable hunger. As if his body had the answer, a slight tightening grew on his breeches.
"Em..." he began to say but his throat was dry.
"Stand still, you've done something with the fabric. It's caught in tangles, my fingers cannot undo them if you keep squirming."
Dathan watched her mouth move and revelled at the motions. Her voice was soft. So enticing, so warm and so—
"What are you doing?"
Dathan realized he had leaned over and was hovering at her face, her eyes caught his in a daze. Had her lashes been this long? Or had she always had this cute freckles on her nose? Up close she was much more beautiful. She also smelled good, there was a hint of sunlight, kitchen smoke and something very feminine. Why were those attracting him? He'd been under the sun himself and hated to bask on it, because he'd smell like dried laundry. But on Emelia, he loved the scent of the sun on her skin. Like she had been kissed by the warmth of the heavens.
"D-dathan?"
He blinked and realized he'd been staring at her. Perhaps more than he needed to. Her hands hand managed to remove his cravat and were now resting on his shoulders.
"Yes Em?"
He heard her gasp, "I have your cravat here, you can lean back now..." but her eyes remained glued to his. Did she feel the pull as well? He certainly did.
He did not step back. Instead, he curled his hands on her waist and drew her body close. Em was caught unprepared and she had to hold unto him to keep her balance. That was silly. Dathan held her so close and she wouldn't really fall. But the movement surprised her and she did not know what to do.
She stared at his eyes, there was a noticeable hint of green mixed with the blue. Sometimes, she'd see more green depending on his mood. They were so fascinating, she couldn't look away. What was he thinking?
"Dathan?"
"Yes.."
"Are you—-"
There was knock on the door and they both jumped, Dathan had to let her go and they pulled apart. The friction he felt faded and he sighed with relief.
"Is someone in there?" The door rattled, whoever was outside tried to open the room but the knob had been locked.
"Yes," Dathan answered and walked towards the door, not yet opening it, "Who is it?"
"It's Carter my lord, your driver. I have your trunks with me."
Dathan looked at Em and she nodded, no need to fret. He unbolted the door and pushed it open.
Carter smiled at his master and bent down to retrieve the fallen trunks. "Where do you need this my lord?"
"Just by the bed Carter."
The aged man walked in and paused when he saw Em, "Oh, I apologize my lord. I dinna know you had company."
Em flushed. Carter must have thought she was there for something else.
"Nonesense. This is Emelia, my childhood friend. She works here. Em, this is Carter. Carter, Emelia Roderick."
The man offered a hand and she shook it, "Pleased to meet you Miss. You have to forgive an old man for not being dressed in a Lady's presence."
Em laughed, what a wonderful melody.
"I am not a Lady, Carter. I am scullery maid. Lord Dathan had been a playmate when we were children. I was just here to welcome him back."
Carter looked her up and down and it was only then he noticed she was wearing a servant's garb. But Lord, she was beautiful! More beautiful than the ladies his master had been with.
"Apologies then, Em, was it?" He waited for her to nod, "I do have a habit of sputtering nonsense out of my mouth."
"That's alright. Why don't I take you to the kitchen and have Ana give you refreshments?"
Carter stared at his master, he gave him a nod of approval. He smiled back to Em, "Will you let an old man escort you dear?"
"It'll be my pleasure Carter."
They walked out of his room and chatted all the way to the kitchen. Dathan shook his head. His driver was smitten!
But then, he was too, wasn't he? If Carter had not disturbed them, would he really kiss Em? And what was she about to say? He longed to know. But for now, he planned to bathe. The journey had been a disaster and his body still ached.
He pulled the bell and waited for someone to bring him a bath. He wanted cold water. Because one certain part of him had warmed up too much and he needed to cool down.