Chapter Two
Sienna backed herself up against the garden wall. She had seen everything that had gone on in Billy's garden and she finally captured a glance of her daughter. Her squealing, crying daughter.
She had felt quite sorry for the girl when she tripped over the plant pot, but she did not pity her. Children, after all, did tend to cry about anything, whether it be small or large. And that was why Sienna disliked little kids.
But she was not here to see her daughter, she was here to do what she was told. She was the puppet on a string with her brother and Victoria controlling her. The two were waiting for her two streets away, and if she did not hurry, she'd be in trouble with them both.
She made a move and gasped as she quickly dove behind a weirdly placed beer barrel. Coming up to the steps of Shepherd's house was a girl Sienna recognised. The girl had long, curly red hair and a short body.
No, it can't be, Sienna thought, squinting. It's not Cat Royal, is it?
The girl turned. It was, in fact, Cat Royal. Sienna's guess was correct. Sienna tried to grab another glance but Cat had already disappeared into the house, signalling that it was Sienna's time to disappear.
Cat was standing in the same white room she had been in three years ago. It came as a shock to her as she never thought that'd she'd step inside the gloomed house ever again. But she was here now and there was no turning back.
On the right wall, opposite her, the clock ticked. She'd been waiting here for thirteen minutes and there still was no sign of her host. She let out a big sigh, legs growing limp, but refusing to take a sit-down.
And then finally, with a bang of a side door, the host arrived. The man had obviously tried to spruce himself up as his figure was clean to the bone. The shinned waistcoat that the man wore sparkled through the tinkle on the chandelier like a beetle's shell. And that's what he was.
"Miss Royal," He breathed through a grin, bending down low into a mocking bow.
Barely acknowledging him, Cat nodded. She held his gaze and looked into his grey eyes which danced like the wind. He was up to something.
"Please," he said. "Take a seat, there is no need to stand on occasion."
He was right, there was no need to stand before him. So she took a seat, perching on the edge of the chair.
"So, Billy," Cat looked down at her hands. "What do you want this time?"
The man's grin grew wider like a crocodile opening up to devour its prey. "I knew you'd want to get straight to the point, Kitten. So why don't you test out your mind-reading powers? Give you some time to think it over, yeah?"
She frowned. She knew him pretty well, but if her guess was wrong, then she'd be stumped. So, as Billy had requested, she took some time to think it over and came out with, "You need help. You're struggling, aren't you?"
Billy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How did you guess?" He gazed at her and she looked back up through her curled lashes.
"You moved differently," she replied. "You took your steps with care as if you could shatter this house apart by just one wrong step. And your eyes...your eyes were scanning the room like you were afraid. So, tell me, what's wrong?"
He gulped. Not once, but twice. "I have no one, now. I have no one to take care of my daughter. My mother, she can't cope and my brother has enough on his plate with his wife expecting soon. And I...I don't know what to do." The desperation was filled in his voice, so strained that Cat managed to soften.
"You mean to ask me to help you look after your daughter?" She questioned and Billy nodded. "Well," She loosened a breath. "I'm going to have to think about it before I make any decisions."
"But you would like to meet here first?" It was more of a demand than a question and Cat replied with a simple nod of the head.
Billy stood up and held out an arm to her. She took it let him lead her out through the door into the corridor. Like before, the walls and ornaments were splattered with gold, showing off the man's true colours. Cat could have laughed but she decided against it.
They finally arrived at a large door at the farthest point of the corridor. Billy didn't even bother to knock as he strode right through, leaving Cat to shut the door swiftly behind her.
In the corner of the room stood a tiny bed with a current occupant on it. Lying there, spark out, was Penny. Her knee was still bandaged, yet you could still see the blood seeping through. She was a little beauty when she slept with her arms crossed over her stomach like a fairytale princess. Billy smiled down at her.
He approached and gently shook her. "Penny," he whispered but she did not move. "Penny," He shook her harder, this time, her eyes fluttering gently open.
Her face became a surprise of joy as she saw who stood before her. She sprang forward but winced as a sudden pain shot through her knee. Even though she was in pain, she managed to stand up on her bed and hold her arms out to her father. He quickly swept her up and landed her against his hip and arm.
"Penny, I would like you to meet somebody, this is my very good friend, Miss Catherine Royal," Billy said, turning so that his daughter could see Cat.
She looked her up and down and Penny squinted at her, nose turning upwards. "You rich and you a royal?" She queried, her face turning a picture of disgust.
"Penny!" Billy gasped. "Be polite!"
The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I was only saying." She muttered. "I don't like the royal family, they're all stuffed shirts.'
With wide eyes, her father glared down at her but Cat just laughed. "I'm not rich, sweetheart, and I am certainly not a royal." The girl eyed her suspiciously and shrugged once more. "Royal is just my surname."
Taking it a step further, Penny decided to ask the question, "What are you doing here, anyway? Are you and my father friends with benefits?"
Cat and Billy's eyes drew wide open in shock. They both turned to take a panicked look at each other. Billy scowled at his daughter and placed her back on her bed.
"I've told you about this kind of behaviour, Penny," he scolded, wagging a finger. "I don't know where you get these phrases from but it's going to have to stop, understand?" Penny nodded her head, slowly. "Good, now, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Penny stood up and bowed her head before them. "Sorry, Father, sorry Miss Royal."
Cat smiled down at her and Billy dipped his head to her. "Good girl, now go and find your grandmother, she's got something for you. She'll be in the library."
The little girl's face lit up with glee. She rushed over to her father before bounding toward the exit. This left Cat and Billy alone in Penny's bedroom.
"So," Billy asked, rubbing his chin. "What do you make of her?"
"She's bold enough. I can tell that we'll get along."
"So you'll help me?" His voiced filled with too much enthusiasm.
"How could I say no? Penny's unsurprisingly persuasive, like her father." And she smiled, finding out that he was smiling at her back.
