Chapitre 16: Stupid Toes!

Contentedly, Louisa and her mama started their walk towards the direction of the Kitchen area. As they walked, they both chimed a rhyming melody with their voices because of how merry and high-spirited their moods had become. At this time, their hearts boasted a swelling feeling of pure bliss!—a burst of raw happiness; of sweet joy.

Louisa was the most excited as she drummed her heels about the floors in a light dancing sashay. Her hips, she swanked them energetically from one side to the next and her cheeks puffed up easily with smiling blushes. She'd not known this much giddy feeling ever since the time of the messenger who'd stopped at their door for the very first time to announce of a feast that should hold in far-away Aegremonth—of the celebration of a great king's passing and of the inauguration of a new successor who should take his place. Briceus was that man whose beauty defiled the nations and whose heart had chosen to love her sister and not her!—foster sister, to be precise. But not anymore.

Now, there was going to be a different narrative and one that no longer bothered on that Elizabeth's appearance but herself. She was finally going to have a happy ending, a suitor of her liking, and with her mother just affirming the words; ''Now, you're going to make a truly beautiful bride!'', she giggled shyly but mostly because of the memory of the passionate night she'd shared with that man, just the night before.

They continued to loll over their stroll until a sinister feeling swiftly crawled up the hairs of her skin, causing her to halt in her place.

Louisa stopped walking.

It was easy for her mother to get alerted by her sudden halt because of how they both—mother and girl, had their arms clamped in each other's all along.

''My damsel.. '' She called out in a gentle whisper. ''You were just now happy in this minute, how come suddenly you are not?''

Letita asked and then shot the girl a glint of concern which was legibly crafted in both her irises. It sparkled graciously but not for a good reason and Louisa could not deny her an answer for long.

''A hunch, mother.'' She quickly announced to the worried woman. ''I feel a pretty strong hunch and it is not a good sign.''

''A hunch?'' The roundish woman asked for reiteration as she unclasped their arms.

''Yes, mother..'' Louisa restated. ''It is a picture that this merchant might be onto his way back to Aegremonth even right now as we speak.''

''Nonsense opinion! I cannot accept the likelihood of it!''

''But it seems plausible in a way, mother. Such an ill-feeling it is!—I lie not.'' At this, Louisa then turned to look at her mother directly: Fear and worry latched onto her irises the moment she spoke. ''Mother.. Please, whatever your plan is, I think now is the best time to return to that place and fulfil it. We must not slack.''

Once Letita looked down on her own feet to ponder deeper on it, she soon concluded that she did not need to overthink it, and that the girl certainly had a sense in her fears.

''Come—!'' She demanded and swiftly picked up the girl's hands, ''Let us hurry so that if this talk of yours is true, then we might be able to catch up to him.''

''Thank you..'' Was Louisa's hurried reply. Then she asked. ''I believe I can go like this?''

''Yes. You can.''

''I can? Are you sure?''

''You can, my darling save for a change of clothes at least.''

''A change—?!''

''But, of course.'' Her mother replied to her, ''You'll do that because we do not want him to see you as some desperate whore. Or do we?''

''Certainly not!'' Louisa yelped.

''Good.'' Her mother declared. ''Now go. Hurry on and put on some makeup too.''

''Will do, mother.''

In a dash, Louisa had already sprinted halfway across the room. She was headed for the passage now: the one that led to the several bedrooms in the average-looking house.

But the minute she allowed her mind to settle on a neutral thought, she stopped at the threshold of that place.

Flicking herself to make a quick turn, she stopped just in time to catch her mother before she left for the kitchen completely.

''Wait—!''

She shouted.

''Is there anything else you want to say?'' Asked her mother.

''Father..'' Louisa blurted.

''What about him?''

''Should he come and ask about my whereabouts, how will you—?''

''I can handle him. That should not bother you one bit.''

Satisfied by her mother's promise, Louisa turned back around and ushered right in, disappearing from her mother's view.

—''She truly worries about everything.''

The woman smiled and was about to dash to the kitchen alone when a startling knock appeared on the door.

''Who could that be?''

She asked out loud as she stopped in her place to mull over who the likely intruder could be.

****

|Back

At The Inn|

Rochester swiftly padded his way out of the washroom. The water that was available in that place for him to wash up was nowhere near hygienic in the first place so he focused the drops on his face instead.

Rochester dashed out of there.

''Aargh!''

''Stupid toes!''

He cursed out loud and could have slapped his feet if he'd not just refrained himself with a great deal of guts. They were dripping wet and for this reason had nearly caused him to topple over because of how he rushed into the bedroom.

Ignoring them, he quickly walked to the bed to pick up his clothes. As he pulled his pants up his legs, he began to study the fast rhythm of his heart. He knew he was agitated about being caught.

''Master..''

Simon's sudden call at the other side of the door prompted him to crane his neck upward from looking over his belt hole just now.

''What!'' He shouted harshly at the man.

''Em..'' Simon stammered for a bit. ''I only came to inform you that the coach is ready.''

''Oh, good. Hurry down now and use from what you still have with you to clear out any outstanding with the owner. I'll be out in a minute.''

''Sure, boss.''

Rochester then returned to hastily grooming up himself. All that was soon heard of Simon was his agitated footsteps as he jolted down the stairs in a rush..