Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“Hm,” Lizzie murmurs.
I start to get very afraid she’s simply going to make an excuse and go home. I’ll be stuck here in Lydia’s company again. I can’t imagine anything worse. I’m so tired of this constant supervision. It feels like being a baby again, having a nursemaid following me about. I am very much the younger woman, and my age has been brought up time and time again. I need to show that I am not a baby. I need to show everyone that I can handle myself without a guard.
There’s a candy seller nearby. That gives me an idea. Lydia isn’t as close right now. She’s letting us have our conversational privacy, sort of. Maybe. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was some kind of trick at play.
“Want some candy? I’m going to get some candy.”
“Hello, young lady,” the candy seller says.
He’s a tall man wearing a pink striped shirt. He doesn’t look scary in this outfit, but he is absolutely a large male, and I think that’s enough. I am going to come up with a way to pursue my social life independently, and I’m going to do it right now.
“I will give you… what’s a lot of money? A hundred dollars. No?” I look at the contents of my purse containing the allowance Arthur gave me. “I’ll give you all of this money if you pretend to grab me right now.”
His expression contorts in a mystified way. I know he probably thinks it’s very strange.
“Wait. Actually, don’t do that. Damnit. That’s not safe.”
I’ve just realized that if he does what I want him to do, he’s going to be killed. I can’t have blood on my hands like that. I need to form some kind of distraction that won’t cause anybody to get killed.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “That was a reckless request. I’m just trying to get my bodyguard to give me some space.”
“The tall woman in the military uniform?”
“Yes. That’s her.”
He holds out his hand. It takes me a moment to realize that he is asking for the money. I trust him, because frankly I have no idea how much money I have in terms of what it is worth, and I am desperate enough to try anything right now.
I give him the money. He pockets the cash, takes off his little paper hat, rolls his sleeves up his arms, and walks over to Lydia.
“Hello,” he says, smiling broadly in a way he did not smile at me when I wanted candy. “I’m Ellis.”
I see Lydia smile back at him. And then he starts talking, and she starts responding.
He’s providing a distraction.
He’s doing it. Oh, my god. It’s happening. It’s working.
I grab Elizabeth’s hand. “Run!” I hiss.
The two of us dash through the gardens as fast as we can. This is not the most mature thing I’ve ever done. In fact, it makes me feel like a very small child doing something she really should not be doing. There’s a thrill in it that I enjoy anyway, and Lizzie seems to like it well enough too.
We stop in a section of tall bushes that obscures us from general view. I am so pleased, I can’t stop smiling. I actually managed to lose Lydia. Maybe Arthur will be angry at me, but I bet he’ll be angrier at her.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “There’s just no way to get rid of her that doesn’t involve something ridiculous happening. Arthur is obsessed with the idea I need to be followed.”
“It’s okay! That was fun,” Elizabeth laughs. “Edward doesn’t send anybody out to follow me. I would find that quite strange. Arthur seems like a… I hope you don’t mind me saying. But he seems very odd. Very serious. And he’s not rich, is he? Not like Edward is.”
I am starting to find her bragging about her husband just the slightest bit obnoxious. But then again, I suppose it is good that she is happy. She’s proud of her mate, and her mate is apparently proud of her? I don’t know. Edward didn’t really speak to her much when we were all at dinner together. But Arthur didn’t really talk to me either. It wasn’t that sort of affair.
“You didn’t even get any candy sweets in the end, did you?” She laughs. “Never mind, I brought some with me. Edward always gives them to me before we, you know… here, have some.”
Lizzie hands me a little chocolate-covered treat. I think nothing of putting it between my lips and letting it dissolve on my tongue. It tastes good. Almost instantly, I find myself realizing that I am having the absolute best time. I feel free. I feel happy. I feel light. Losing Lydia might have been the absolute best thing I ever did.
“Tasty,” I say, hankering for another, but not wanting to be rude and ask outright.