DISCLAIMER; I DO NOT OWN CRIMSON PEAK OR THE CHARACTERS.
A.N: hope you guys like this chapter!
Looked around once I had gotten to the party. There were so many people. Most of them I couldn't stand. The wind blew around me, my hair blowing with the breeze. I had forgotten to put up my hair in the typical bun, but since I wasn't engaged, it was fine to have it down.
I kept walking forward, looking around to see if I could see this mysterious man with my sister, and when I finally saw them, I faltered in my step. No. I could feel my body and heart freeze in place. I closed my eyes.
I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders and walked towards my sister with a resolve.
"Ah, Iliana!" I turned to the person who Yelled my name and froze with fear. I could hear myself groan softly, why? Why did she always single me out, how could she always find me? I could see Edith turn towards us and open her mouth in happy shock. The man next to her turning towards me as well and his body straightening.
I took a deep breath and put on my lady face on, something that I always did when people like this person were nearby. "Hello, Lady McMichael." I put on a soft smile. "How are you?" My voice and features turning softer.
Lady McMichael hugged me tightly, patting my back as she did. Lady McMichael was the mother of my childhood best friend, Alan. He would always play with Edith and I when we were younger and as we grew up we became close. Then one day he decided to go study somewhere else, he wanted to be a doctor you see, and we lost contact. I hadn't seen him in a while. I wondered if he had come back.
"I am very good, Iliana." I shook my head, getting rid of my thoughts, paying attention at Lady McMichael again. "I have organized this party and the guests seen to be enjoying it greatly." The lady motioned with her hand around the park and that have me an excuse to send Edith a look of help. But of course she did not see it because of he paying attention to that man, he was leaning close to her whispering in her ear. "I hope you are enjoying yourself, as well."
I narrowed my eyes and turned back to Lady McMichal. I smiled kindly, my hands together near my stomach. "I've only just gotten here, it seems like a very well thought out party. If you'll excuse me-" I was about to walk towards Edith when Lady McMichael latched on to my arm. I could see Edith smiling brightly at me, her face full of amusement.
"Oh! Of course! How was your trip, dear? Did you meet any suitors?" Lady McMichael asked, leaning towards me as if telling me a great big secret. I could feel my features twitching, they wouldn't last much longer. The annoyance would show.
I turned to Edith again and saw her amused expression, I narrowed my eyes at her. She was so dead later on. "It was an amazing trip." I answered mechanically, not really paying attention to what I was saying. "Saw so many sceneries. Hope to be back one day. And no, I did not meet any suitors. I do not fancy a suitor, right now." I stopped speaking when I saw a woman approach Edith and the man. She met my eyes and we stared at each other. The sister. "If you will excuse me-"
Again, Lady McMichael interrupted me. She had a knack of doing that. "That is great! That means that my Alan has a chance to be a suitor. It would be great to have our families unite in marriage."
I wish I had paid more attention. Then I would have know what I had agreed to...I would have known that I had signed my name to the devil himself. "That is great, Lady McMichael. We should talk more about this, some OThER time. But right now.." I pulled my arm from her grasp. " I have not seen my sister in a few months." I smiled prettily at her. "I would really like to go see her and her new suitor."
Her face faltered, she had never liked my sister for some reason. Maybe because Edith always had her head in the clouds...wonder how she would treat me when she found out I was the same way? "Of course! I will set a date with your father so we may speak more about the arrangement. Have a lovely day, dear!" She leaned in and kissed my cheeks before leaving me.
I exhaled deeply. Why was it that I always got tired when I spoke to her?
I turned to Edith and stuck my tongue out in disgust. I could hear her laughter coming closer to me and I opened my eyes. "Not. A. Word, Edith." Edith covered her mouth to hide her smile and hugged me tightly.
"It is good to see you, sister!" I hugged Edith back, my eyes opened, starting at the couple standing behind her. I narrowed my eyes at them. "Yeah, yeah. Me too Edith." The couple stared at me, one narrowing their eyes while the other full out stared.
Edith finally let go, after what seemed hours and turned to the couple, her arm holding on to mine. "Lina, these are the Sharpe's. Thomas and Lucille." Edith smiled at Thomas and Lucille. "Sir Thomas, Lady Lucille this is my twin sister, Iliana."
Lucille was the first to break the silence, stepping forward and curtsying. "Nice to meet you, Lady Iliana. You do not look a-like." Her face was friendly enough...but I could feel that she was anything but friendly.
I stepped forward, Edith still attached to my arm, and held out my hand. "Nice to meet you too, Lady Lucille." I could feel Lucille surprised at my hand, guess she didn't expect me to greet her like a man...but I did not like her. I would never curtsy to her. Lucille finally shook my hand, my grip strong, but not strong enough to hurt her. " we are fraternal sisters. She got our fathers good looks and I got mothers bold behavior."
I turned to Thomas and extend my hand again. "...nice to meet you, as well, Sir Thomas." I could feel my eyes narrowing on their own. Thomas just stared at me before grabbing my hand in his. His eyes never leaving mine, he leaned down and kissed the back of my hand. I could feel electricity running up my hand and arm, earning an inaudible gasp from both of us. "...It is a pleasure to meet you, too, lady Iliana."
He kept my hand in mine as we stared at each other, seconds turned to minutes and I could see Lucille's hands clenching tightly. My jaw tightened. "Yes..."
"Uh...sister..." I let go of Thomas's hand quickly, coming back to earth. "May I speak to you? In private?"
I looked at both Thomas and Lucille and smiled fakely at them. "Of course," I turned back to Edith and smiled. " sister dear. Let us go near that beautiful tree." I pointed to the tree a few feet away from us and pulled her along, trying to get away from them as fast as I could.
Once we arrived at the tree edith stopped me and I turned to her. Her back was to the Sharpe's while I could see everything they did. "Do not be like father, Lina." I looked back at Edith. " I know father told you about his suspicions"
I crossed my arms and pouted. "How do you know?"
Edith's hands were on her waist, narrowing her eyes at me. " for one thing, you are taking your defensive stance. Crossing your arms and all." I looked down at my arms and dropped them to my side. She knew me so well. "And second thing, you are analyzing them. Trying to find something wrong with them." I could see Thomas and Lucille arguing in the background. Their lips and hands moving rapidly.
I sighed softly, scratching the back of my neck. "You can tell?" I could feel eyes on me, so I looked up and saw Thomas starting at me. Our eyes met and it was as if they were glued together.
"Of course I can tell! I am your sister , after all. Older sister." I turned to her, my lips in a pout. It seemed like she wasn't aware what was going on with Thomas and I...I knew she had her head in the clouds but she could usually be more observant.
I threw my hands in the air. "By ten minutes!" I exhaled, rubbing my forehead. "...fine. I'll be nicer and stop analyzing them." When I saw Edith's triumphant expression I pointed at her, my eyes narrowing. "That does not mean I like them! Father was right, there is something wrong with them."
Edith stepped towards me, her eyes big and round. "Leave it please...he is my suitor...the only suitor I have ever had...please?"
I stepped back, staring at her. I hated when she used those dang puppy eyes.
"Fine." I grabbed her arm and made our way to Thomas and Lucille. I smiled softly at them, my expression the same as the one I used with lady McMichael and everyone else. "I apologize for my ride behavior. I am still tired from the long trip, I did not get much sleep."
Thomas stepped forward, his mouth pulling down in one side. He was trying hard not to frown. "No, it is fine. We understand."
Edith let go of my arm and latched on to Thomas's. I could feel my chest constrict and I mentally yelled at myself. I would not do anything. He was edith's, after all.
"Edith told me you are courting her?" I could feel my chest constrict again when he stared at me, his eyes trying to convey something...but I was never very good at speaking the language of the eyes.
"...yes" Thomas seemed to hesitate as he spoke. His eyes never leaving mine.
I smiled brightly, closing my eyes. "well, just so you know, as her sister-" I stopped, exhaling, when Edith coughed lightly. "As her...YOUNGER sister...by like ten minutes, might I add" I said, glaring at Edith. "You will have to get my blessing, along with my fathers." I could see Thomas smiling in amusement, doubting I would do anything to him, I bet. "We are twins, after all. I will also like costing rights...if you do get our blessing."
Thomas froze and Lucille was the one to step forward, her face with fake concern. " our home is in London...I do not think you will like to travel so much...it is a long way, after all."
I turned to her, smiling prettily. " if your brother wants to marry my sister, the you get my presence. After all...you, Thomas's sister, will be near them...so why can't i, Edith's TWIN sister, visit?"
We stared at each other, a battle going on with our eyes...I could see her face twitching in annoyance...and I knew I had her. This would be extremely fun.
A.N: SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
