章 17: Resolve 1
"Why are we hiding like this Eve?" Bele asked, glancing around as they hid behind a small shop.
Earlier in the morning, she saw Walford's royal carriage approaching her Manor and pondered who from the royal lineage had arrived. Noticing Eve, she strolled towards her. It appeared that Eve was in a hurry as all she could remember was being dragged by her and now they were here in the market, hiding behind a small flower shop.
"Trying to make someone remorseful," Evelyn saw the perplexed face of Bele and continued, "Just wait and watch." Evelyn grinned.
Everything was going perfectly according to plan. Evelyn had informed Earl what needed to be done. Earl lurked in the market lane to check everything was alright and waited for the man to appear.
Far over a distance, a man walked sluggishly. Earl squinted his eyes as he stared at him. Recognising the man, he turned around and gestured to Eve. The man was Mr Hamon.
He appeared tired. Sweat had formed on his forehead due to intense work which he wiped it with his sleeves. Due to a lack of employees, the work doubled burdening him.
As he walked he felt one of his shoe's sole was hanging off the ground. He took out it and turned only to see it was detached. Letting out a distressing sigh, he tossed it on the ground and put it in his feet.
He could have brought a new pair but rather chose to save the coins in order to pay the wages of his employees. Also, he recalled himself to buy wooden logs so that he won't freeze on these cold, harsh winter nights.
He walked towards a shop where a man was selling them. It was rare to purchase wooden logs as most of the commoners themselves went to the forest to assemble them and save the wealth for later use. But in his case, he didn't have time to do it.
"How much for a bundle?" He asked. Reluctance in his voice was clearly visible as he didn't want to spend his earnings.
The vendor looked at him with judging eyes. Yearning to sell the logs, he dropped the price so that the customer wouldn't bargain and purchase them.
"Ten bronze coins, sir," he said.
Averet glanced at the vendor in dismay. Usually, he would have bargained to drop the price but today being already fatigued he nodded in agreement.
The vendor's eyes sparkled in happiness. He quickly took out a bundle and handed it to his customer in exchange for ten bronze coins.
"Do you know any cobbler around?" Averet asked, taking the bundle.
"Umm," he looked around to see if he could find anyone and continue, "There used to be someone who sat at that corner. But I guess he didn't come today."
Averet sighed, blaming his luck and went ahead looking for a cobbler on his way home. He saw a cobbler sitting at a corner, mending a few shoes and therefore walked towards him.
When he was near to him, he recognised the man. He looked at him with wide eyes. He was shocked to see one of the good designers who worked in the firm was sitting on the lane and mending shoes instead of designing clothes.
"Greetings sir," Averet heard him say. He nodded back as he couldn't find any words to speak.
"Do you need any help, sir?" He asked.
"What are you doing here? As far as I remember you worked for Mr Martin right?" Averet asked, confused. The man nodded humbly and Averet continued, "Why didn't you join him back?"
"Sir, I used to work for Sir Martin. But now he wasn't able to pay a few of us. So we had to leave. And to fill our stomach anyhow, many of us started doing whatever we could do," he informed him. His voice held sorrow yet a smile appeared on his face which affected Averett.
He forgot that he had to mend his shoes. He looked at the man one last time and walked away.
"Who was the man Eve?" Bele asked, lowering her voice.
"He was one among the members of the firm due to which it is closed right now," Eve informed. Bele nodded in understanding. She knew what had happened in the firm.
"Do you think it will work?" Earl asked. He gestured to the man who sat with shoes acting like a cobbler. The man packed the stuff, bowed to Evelyn thanking her for the help she was providing to them and left.
"Hope for the good. Now it all depends on how he reacts," she said, crossing her fingers, hoping for good. She explained the plan to Bele seeing her lost and not knowing what was happening exactly.
"Okay, so Eve." She heard Bele call her and glanced at her.
"I will be going to watch an act in the theatre now. Would you like to join?" She asked.
"Oh dear, I will try joining next time," Evelyn declined as she was tired and wanted to have some rest.
"No worries. Anyways I am going with Mr Alfred," she informed her with a smile.
"I see you already have a company. Enjoy yourself," she replied. Her eyes squinted as she smiled back.
"Let me bring the carriage here my lady," Earl said and went towards the place where it was parked.
Evelyn wandered around the different stalls but near far enough that Earl could find her easily. As she was glancing around, her eyes hooked to the brown-eyed man. She felt her heartbeat raising just at his sight. His perfectly messy hairs were combed back. The gentle smile on his face was like a magnet attracting people towards him. He had worn a black suit enhancing his handsomeness.
"Don't miss the chance to meet him, Eve," she murmured to herself.
Taking a deep breath she moved towards him. She raised her hand to wave and was about to approach him, she saw a woman hold his arm and smile at him.
Evelyn stopped in her tracks and retreated her hand. She saw the man and woman walk together holding hands like a couple. Her heart ached at the scene. She felt someone was squeezing it with enormous pressure.
She couldn't contemplate what was happening to her. Tears welled in her eyes. She quickly blinked, stopping them from streaming down her face. She stood there being lost.
"Miss Evelyn, the carriage is ready." She heard Earl's voice and snapped back from her thoughts.
"Take me back home," she said, hopping into it without glancing back at the couple.
"Is something wrong Eve?" Earl asked, hearing her quavered voice.
"Nothing," she said to which Earl nodded.
The carriage began to move. Tears that she had held back found their way out. She wiped them as if nothing happened, trying her best to act strong. But deep down her heart was shattered into infinite pieces.
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