Leaning against her carriage door outside of the Bennett manor, Ayla could honestly say that she was getting close too impatient. It had taken a lot of talking for her to convince her mother that she didn’t need her to find a date. Even more so to convince her that she wasn’t lying when she said that she’d already found one for herself.
She’d only relented when Ayla promised her that she’d let them meet “him” in a few days time. Although how she was going to convince Eileen that it would be a good idea to keep the charade going was a mystery. Her lips thinned at the thought, grimacing from the mental image it brought. It wouldn’t be easy.
But she’d manage it somehow. Even if she had to beg. Although if it were anyone else, she doubted she’d even consider that route. She could admit that her pride was remarkably high. She’d been told so often enough.
What was taking her so long? Ayla couldn’t help but fidget with her hands as the minutes passed by with no sign of Eileen arriving. Did she change her mind? But no. She wouldn’t do that. Especially not without letting her know.
Besides she was too stubborn not to go through with a promise she’d made. She’d show up. Ayla tried to squash the spark of uncertainty that had propped up. It would do her no good. But the minutes continued to pass, and her foot started tapping the ground more rapidly.
A sudden need to move had her straightening. She opened the door to pick up her phone to make the call, when a voice behind her stopped her.
“Are you getting impatient already?”
The tension that had been building loosened. Her hand went loose around the phone, putting it into the pocket she’d stitched into her dress. A sigh of relief leaving her as she turned away.
“What took you so-”
Her eyes widened as she got a look behind her. Blinking, she almost wanted to rub her eyes. Her mouth opened and shut a few times, but she couldn’t voice the thoughts racing through her head. She felt dissociated from her body.
“Ayla?”
Aylacleared her throat to dislodge the dryness. Her eyes still focused on the way the clothes draped over Eileen’s body. Trailing up the pants to her shoulders where a jacket was draped over her shoulders like a cape. It was a darker green than her eyes, but it suited her fine. More than fine. Especially with gold detailing.
“Where did you find that?” And was it just her or did the night get warmer?
Eileen blinked glancing down to Ayla’s line of sight. Ayla idly noted that her shoes made her taller than she already was. Then she glanced up and sighed, before shaking her head. Oh. The near shoulder length hair was…different. Even if Eileen had pulled it back into a neater look.
“I found it in…” Eileen hesitated, and when she spoke again, her voice was deeper. “I found it in papa’s old clothes.” Then she fixedAylawith a look. “I almost forgot to change my voice. It’s a good thing we agreed not to have anyone around.”
It had been an early agreement when they’d messaged the other day. Eileen had insisted that they have no one around in caseAylachanged her mind. Which she wouldn’t, but she supposed it was a smart suggestion regardless.
Eileen tilted her head in question, “This is the first time you’re seeing me in this.” A teasing smile. “Will it do?”
Will it do? Gods. Ayla blinked and looked at Eileen in indignation. “Of course it will do,” she huffed. “You could have warned me.”
“That would have ruined the surprise,” Eileen simply answered. Then, she held an arm out for Ayla to take. “I still think this is a terrible idea, but if this is what you want, then I suppose we’ll see.” A smile. “Shall we?”
A smile of her own overtook Ayla’s face at the ease with which Eileen went through the motions. “You know you make a very hot man.”
“Shut.”
Chuckling at the annoyed glare it got her, Ayla looped her arm through her best friend’s and grinned. “We shall.”
When they had been planning this, Eileen had insisted that they not make a big entrance and that she didn’t want to stand out. Which Ayla had thought was not going to be too difficult of a request to fill. But that had been before Ayla had seen her. Now she knew, it had been a bit ambitious to think they’d be able to get both.
For although they had made a quiet entrance, going unnoticed was near impossible. Even as they walked in, Ayla could feel eyes turning in their direction. Or more specifically towards the “man” beside her. Who was too busy surveying the room to notice them.
So she wasn’t surprised when, moments after picking up a glass of wine to drink, they were accosted by a group of people who wanted to talk to Eileen. Well, her in disguise, but Ayla didn’t feel there was much difference. Her friend had a tendency to always look good no matter what she was wearing.
Watching her expertly dodge their inquiries about her name, while subtly diverting the conversation to other topics, Ayla felt certain that even if they’d managed to go unnoticed it wouldn’t have stayed that way. Bringing the rim of the glass up to her lips, she hid the grin pulling her lips. For all her complaints, Eileen belonged here just as much as she did in Calguren.
It was a little impressive, if she was being honest. That she looked so relaxed. If Ayla hadn’t known her as well as she did, she’d never have guess how uncomfortable this situation made her. She wondered whether she should be enjoying this as much as she did. Maybe she shouldn’t, but she was having fun.
“Where did you meet Miss Westford?” The question was so jarring that it immediately made Ayla refocus on the conversation.Hells. They hadn’t planned a response to that. Granted it was because they hadn’t thought it was relevant, but still.
“Oh, It feels like I’ve known her forever.” Eileen’s tone told her she didn’t feel worried at all. As did the mischievous look in her eyes. “When you’re in love everything else just seems to fade away. I certainly can’t remember the date, but I believe it was around the outskirts of Pangrelle during the last meteor shower.” She tilted her head slightly and their eyes met. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
Aylagulped as the weight of their gazes finally moved towards her. Oh rats. Eileen had seen that smile after all. “Yes,” she muttered, “we met during the cosmic rain as they call it. It was beautiful.”
Eileen smiled coolly in a way that indicated she was satisfied at being right, butAylaknew it for what it was. Amusement. She should have known Eileen wouldn’t let herself be the only one subjected to scrutiny. She was petty that way. But she also knew that she’d have cut in if Ayla hadn’t been able to follow.
The conversation was taken towards whether “he” was interested in the stars, so she didn’t have to provide more detail. Although if they had asked, she definitely could have provided them. Fondness pooled in her heart. Even when she was being petty, Eileen still made it easy for her to follow along.
After all, even if it hadn’t been their first meeting, they had seen each other in Pangrelle. Ayla had insisted on not missing it and the entire family had gone down for some time away. It was one of the few arguments she had won over her mother. And she didn’t doubt the fact that it had been so close to where Eileen was had been a contributing factor.
They’d wanted to check up on her, but it had been during a time where Eileen was elsewhere so they were left disappointed. She could still hear the sighs in her ears. She hadn’t had the heart to tell them that Eileen had surprised her with a visit while they were out shopping for supplies. It has been for less than an hour since she’d had to leave soon after, but Ayla hadn’t really minded that too much after seeing her.
“Woah! Watch out!”
The sudden yell has her lifting her head in a snap. Her eyes widen when she takes in the server tripping over his next step. Two goblets of wine sloshing as he starts to fall forward. He’s right next to them. And Ayla’s frozen in place as she waits for the inevitable wine spray.
But it never comes.
Time seems to slow as an arm reaches out to grab the handle of metal goblet, maneuvering it so the wine falls back inside. The server is also pulled back in the next second. His eyes closed as he braces for a fall that never comes.
Ayla doesn’t realise she’d closed her own eyes after the goblet had been grabbed until she open them to see Eileen holding the server by a collar, the goblet held in the other. There isn’t a drop on the ground. Ayla’s jaw drops as she registers that she had somehow managed to both steady the server and prevent the goblets from spilling in the same second.
She’d known Eileen had fast reflexes, but this seemed a little too impossible. She wasn’t the only one who thought so. Because as Eileen spoke to the nervous yet grateful server and smiled at the apology his friend forced him into, she could see their companions similarly stunned.
“You don’t need to bow,” she could hear Eileen saying in a smooth voice, “accidents happen. Just be more careful next time.”
With that the man who had called out let go of his hold on his friend’s head and smiled apologetically at them, thanked Eileen again and frog-marched him back to what she assumed was the kitchen.Aylacould see the hesitation in Eileen’s movement as she slowly turned around to take in her stunned audience.
“Well,” Lord Ash murmured, “I certainly didn’t expect that. That was quite an incredible feat young man.”
“Oh it was really nothing,” Eileen tried to play it off. “It was very spur of the moment really.”
“Spur of the moment?” The lord’s wife looked indignant as she regained her composure. “It was impressive! You certainly have very fast reflexes to prevent that disaster.”
Eileen smiled tightly, “I know some things I suppose.”
“Quite incredible even if it was spur of the moment,” Lord Ash noted, clearly still stuck in his own head.
“I assure you that it-” Whatever she was going to say to play off the action didn’t matter.
For in the next moment, she was holding a knife she’d caught midair in between her fingers. Watching her as Ayla had been, she’d seen the way she’d simply caught it on reflex, not even looking in the direction it had come from. If she’d wanted to make it seem that her catching the wine had been no big deal, it would be downright impossible now.
Every head in the ballroom was turned towards the “man” who’d caught the knife midair. If they’d been stunned before, their companions were now downright flabbergasted. Yet an uncomfortable chill went up Ayla’s spine when she noted there was a glowing glimmer of interest in their eyes as well.
That wasn’t good. She didn’t remember why it wasn’t good, being stunned by her friend’s heroic deeds as she was, but she knew it wasn’t. Maybe when her brain didn’t feel like it was so blown, she’d remember.
Glancing to the side, she saw Eileen facing the direction the knife had come from, a considering look on her face. She seemed to be contemplating something, and Ayla wondered whether she knew she was twirling the knife around her fingers as she did so. It certainly wasn’t going to help matters.
A quick glance around the room showed that some other people had noticed it as well. Some of them immediately turned around and went back to their conversations, as if they had decided they didn’t want to be involved in whatever was going on with the unusual man who was casually playing with a knife.
But others seemed to be growing more intrigued by the second. She couldn’t exactly blame them. It had been very impressive when she’d caught it. And Ayla found herself grinning, the shock wearing off. Only Eileen would say she didn’t want attention and somehow get it in droves.
And Eileen has said her plans went off course. See! It was very easy for something to throw a wench into them. She’d tell her so as well. After they got home and weren’t in such a public space.
Ayla’s thoughts cut off as Eileen stopped twirling the knife, smoothly catching it in her palm as she went to turn around. An apologetic smile was pressed onto her face as she faced the Lord and his wife.
“My apologies, but it seems something pressing has come up.” Then, to loosen the blow, “We could always continue our conversation another time.”
Then seeing them nod, Eileen glanced towards Ayla before opening her mouth again. “Would you be able to keep her company for me?” Another smile.
“Of course.” Lady Ash replied, smiling kindly at Ayla.
“Thank you.”
Eileen turned to leave, but not before leaning in towards Ayla. “There’s something I need to check. I won’t be long. Stay where I can see you.”
The deep voice that whispered into her ear was not registering as Eileen, although she’d heard her speak in it the entire night. It made her tense. But one glance into her familiar green eyes had her relaxing. This was still Eileen, even if she didn’t look like herself at the moment.
It was what had been throwing her off so often tonight. The disguise had been starting to seem too real. She hadn’t been able to link it to Eileen when her eyes were turned towards other people. She’d had to catch herself a few times from staring into her eyes excessively when Eileen had taken her hand to move from group to group.
Now. Having the weight of her eyes looking into Ayla’s, the worries slipped away. Getting rid of the problem she hadn’t even thought would occur. It was good that it didn’t look too much like her. Ayla knew that Eileen looking like herself in Teodes would get the wrong attention.
“Alright,” she whispered when it became clear Eileen was waiting for a reply.
She was rewarded with a comforting smile and kiss to the side of her head as Eileen walked away. A hand came up to touch the spot. She really shouldn’t have been surprised Eileen had committed to the act, she always had been thorough.
But she still was.
Leaning against her carriage door outside of the Bennett manor, Ayla could honestly say that she was getting close too impatient. It had taken a lot of talking for her to convince her mother that she didn’t need her to find a date. Even more so to convince her that she wasn’t lying when she said that she’d already found one for herself.
She’d only relented when Ayla promised her that she’d let them meet “him” in a few days time. Although how she was going to convince Eileen that it would be a good idea to keep the charade going was a mystery. Her lips thinned at the thought, grimacing from the mental image it brought. It wouldn’t be easy.
But she’d manage it somehow. Even if she had to beg. Although if it were anyone else, she doubted she’d even consider that route. She could admit that her pride was remarkably high. She’d been told so often enough.
What was taking her so long? Ayla couldn’t help but fidget with her hands as the minutes passed by with no sign of Eileen arriving. Did she change her mind? But no. She wouldn’t do that. Especially not without letting her know.
Besides she was too stubborn not to go through with a promise she’d made. She’d show up. Ayla tried to squash the spark of uncertainty that had propped up. It would do her no good. But the minutes continued to pass, and her foot started tapping the ground more rapidly.
A sudden need to move had her straightening. She opened the door to pick up her phone to make the call, when a voice behind her stopped her.
“Are you getting impatient already?”
The tension that had been building loosened. Her hand went loose around the phone, putting it into the pocket she’d stitched into her dress. A sigh of relief leaving her as she turned away.
“What took you so-”
Her eyes widened as she got a look behind her. Blinking, she almost wanted to rub her eyes. Her mouth opened and shut a few times, but she couldn’t voice the thoughts racing through her head. She felt dissociated from her body.
“Ayla?”
Aylacleared her throat to dislodge the dryness. Her eyes still focused on the way the clothes draped over Eileen’s body. Trailing up the pants to her shoulders where a jacket was draped over her shoulders like a cape. It was a darker green than her eyes, but it suited her fine. More than fine. Especially with gold detailing.
“Where did you find that?” And was it just her or did the night get warmer?
Eileen blinked glancing down to Ayla’s line of sight. Ayla idly noted that her shoes made her taller than she already was. Then she glanced up and sighed, before shaking her head. Oh. The near shoulder length hair was…different. Even if Eileen had pulled it back into a neater look.
“I found it in…” Eileen hesitated, and when she spoke again, her voice was deeper. “I found it in papa’s old clothes.” Then she fixedAylawith a look. “I almost forgot to change my voice. It’s a good thing we agreed not to have anyone around.”
It had been an early agreement when they’d messaged the other day. Eileen had insisted that they have no one around in caseAylachanged her mind. Which she wouldn’t, but she supposed it was a smart suggestion regardless.
Eileen tilted her head in question, “This is the first time you’re seeing me in this.” A teasing smile. “Will it do?”
Will it do? Gods. Ayla blinked and looked at Eileen in indignation. “Of course it will do,” she huffed. “You could have warned me.”
“That would have ruined the surprise,” Eileen simply answered. Then, she held an arm out for Ayla to take. “I still think this is a terrible idea, but if this is what you want, then I suppose we’ll see.” A smile. “Shall we?”
A smile of her own overtook Ayla’s face at the ease with which Eileen went through the motions. “You know you make a very hot man.”
“Shut.”
Chuckling at the annoyed glare it got her, Ayla looped her arm through her best friend’s and grinned. “We shall.”
When they had been planning this, Eileen had insisted that they not make a big entrance and that she didn’t want to stand out. Which Ayla had thought was not going to be too difficult of a request to fill. But that had been before Ayla had seen her. Now she knew, it had been a bit ambitious to think they’d be able to get both.
For although they had made a quiet entrance, going unnoticed was near impossible. Even as they walked in, Ayla could feel eyes turning in their direction. Or more specifically towards the “man” beside her. Who was too busy surveying the room to notice them.
So she wasn’t surprised when, moments after picking up a glass of wine to drink, they were accosted by a group of people who wanted to talk to Eileen. Well, her in disguise, but Ayla didn’t feel there was much difference. Her friend had a tendency to always look good no matter what she was wearing.
Watching her expertly dodge their inquiries about her name, while subtly diverting the conversation to other topics, Ayla felt certain that even if they’d managed to go unnoticed it wouldn’t have stayed that way. Bringing the rim of the glass up to her lips, she hid the grin pulling her lips. For all her complaints, Eileen belonged here just as much as she did in Calguren.
It was a little impressive, if she was being honest. That she looked so relaxed. If Ayla hadn’t known her as well as she did, she’d never have guess how uncomfortable this situation made her. She wondered whether she should be enjoying this as much as she did. Maybe she shouldn’t, but she was having fun.
“Where did you meet Miss Westford?” The question was so jarring that it immediately made Ayla refocus on the conversation.Hells. They hadn’t planned a response to that. Granted it was because they hadn’t thought it was relevant, but still.
“Oh, It feels like I’ve known her forever.” Eileen’s tone told her she didn’t feel worried at all. As did the mischievous look in her eyes. “When you’re in love everything else just seems to fade away. I certainly can’t remember the date, but I believe it was around the outskirts of Pangrelle during the last meteor shower.” She tilted her head slightly and their eyes met. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
Aylagulped as the weight of their gazes finally moved towards her. Oh rats. Eileen had seen that smile after all. “Yes,” she muttered, “we met during the cosmic rain as they call it. It was beautiful.”
Eileen smiled coolly in a way that indicated she was satisfied at being right, butAylaknew it for what it was. Amusement. She should have known Eileen wouldn’t let herself be the only one subjected to scrutiny. She was petty that way. But she also knew that she’d have cut in if Ayla hadn’t been able to follow.
The conversation was taken towards whether “he” was interested in the stars, so she didn’t have to provide more detail. Although if they had asked, she definitely could have provided them. Fondness pooled in her heart. Even when she was being petty, Eileen still made it easy for her to follow along.
After all, even if it hadn’t been their first meeting, they had seen each other in Pangrelle. Ayla had insisted on not missing it and the entire family had gone down for some time away. It was one of the few arguments she had won over her mother. And she didn’t doubt the fact that it had been so close to where Eileen was had been a contributing factor.
They’d wanted to check up on her, but it had been during a time where Eileen was elsewhere so they were left disappointed. She could still hear the sighs in her ears. She hadn’t had the heart to tell them that Eileen had surprised her with a visit while they were out shopping for supplies. It has been for less than an hour since she’d had to leave soon after, but Ayla hadn’t really minded that too much after seeing her.
“Woah! Watch out!”
The sudden yell has her lifting her head in a snap. Her eyes widen when she takes in the server tripping over his next step. Two goblets of wine sloshing as he starts to fall forward. He’s right next to them. And Ayla’s frozen in place as she waits for the inevitable wine spray.
But it never comes.
Time seems to slow as an arm reaches out to grab the handle of metal goblet, maneuvering it so the wine falls back inside. The server is also pulled back in the next second. His eyes closed as he braces for a fall that never comes.
Ayla doesn’t realise she’d closed her own eyes after the goblet had been grabbed until she open them to see Eileen holding the server by a collar, the goblet held in the other. There isn’t a drop on the ground. Ayla’s jaw drops as she registers that she had somehow managed to both steady the server and prevent the goblets from spilling in the same second.
She’d known Eileen had fast reflexes, but this seemed a little too impossible. She wasn’t the only one who thought so. Because as Eileen spoke to the nervous yet grateful server and smiled at the apology his friend forced him into, she could see their companions similarly stunned.
“You don’t need to bow,” she could hear Eileen saying in a smooth voice, “accidents happen. Just be more careful next time.”
With that the man who had called out let go of his hold on his friend’s head and smiled apologetically at them, thanked Eileen again and frog-marched him back to what she assumed was the kitchen.Aylacould see the hesitation in Eileen’s movement as she slowly turned around to take in her stunned audience.
“Well,” Lord Ash murmured, “I certainly didn’t expect that. That was quite an incredible feat young man.”
“Oh it was really nothing,” Eileen tried to play it off. “It was very spur of the moment really.”
“Spur of the moment?” The lord’s wife looked indignant as she regained her composure. “It was impressive! You certainly have very fast reflexes to prevent that disaster.”
Eileen smiled tightly, “I know some things I suppose.”
“Quite incredible even if it was spur of the moment,” Lord Ash noted, clearly still stuck in his own head.
“I assure you that it-” Whatever she was going to say to play off the action didn’t matter.
For in the next moment, she was holding a knife she’d caught midair in between her fingers. Watching her as Ayla had been, she’d seen the way she’d simply caught it on reflex, not even looking in the direction it had come from. If she’d wanted to make it seem that her catching the wine had been no big deal, it would be downright impossible now.
Every head in the ballroom was turned towards the “man” who’d caught the knife midair. If they’d been stunned before, their companions were now downright flabbergasted. Yet an uncomfortable chill went up Ayla’s spine when she noted there was a glowing glimmer of interest in their eyes as well.
That wasn’t good. She didn’t remember why it wasn’t good, being stunned by her friend’s heroic deeds as she was, but she knew it wasn’t. Maybe when her brain didn’t feel like it was so blown, she’d remember.
Glancing to the side, she saw Eileen facing the direction the knife had come from, a considering look on her face. She seemed to be contemplating something, and Ayla wondered whether she knew she was twirling the knife around her fingers as she did so. It certainly wasn’t going to help matters.
A quick glance around the room showed that some other people had noticed it as well. Some of them immediately turned around and went back to their conversations, as if they had decided they didn’t want to be involved in whatever was going on with the unusual man who was casually playing with a knife.
But others seemed to be growing more intrigued by the second. She couldn’t exactly blame them. It had been very impressive when she’d caught it. And Ayla found herself grinning, the shock wearing off. Only Eileen would say she didn’t want attention and somehow get it in droves.
And Eileen has said her plans went off course. See! It was very easy for something to throw a wench into them. She’d tell her so as well. After they got home and weren’t in such a public space.
Ayla’s thoughts cut off as Eileen stopped twirling the knife, smoothly catching it in her palm as she went to turn around. An apologetic smile was pressed onto her face as she faced the Lord and his wife.
“My apologies, but it seems something pressing has come up.” Then, to loosen the blow, “We could always continue our conversation another time.”
Then seeing them nod, Eileen glanced towards Ayla before opening her mouth again. “Would you be able to keep her company for me?” Another smile.
“Of course.” Lady Ash replied, smiling kindly at Ayla.
“Thank you.”
Eileen turned to leave, but not before leaning in towards Ayla. “There’s something I need to check. I won’t be long. Stay where I can see you.”
The deep voice that whispered into her ear was not registering as Eileen, although she’d heard her speak in it the entire night. It made her tense. But one glance into her familiar green eyes had her relaxing. This was still Eileen, even if she didn’t look like herself at the moment.
It was what had been throwing her off so often tonight. The disguise had been starting to seem too real. She hadn’t been able to link it to Eileen when her eyes were turned towards other people. She’d had to catch herself a few times from staring into her eyes excessively when Eileen had taken her hand to move from group to group.
Now. Having the weight of her eyes looking into Ayla’s, the worries slipped away. Getting rid of the problem she hadn’t even thought would occur. It was good that it didn’t look too much like her. Ayla knew that Eileen looking like herself in Teodes would get the wrong attention.
“Alright,” she whispered when it became clear Eileen was waiting for a reply.
She was rewarded with a comforting smile and kiss to the side of her head as Eileen walked away. A hand came up to touch the spot. She really shouldn’t have been surprised Eileen had committed to the act, she always had been thorough.
But she still was.
