Chapter 3 — Reasons to Not Frequent Millennium Park
Tris POV
I stare at the coins nestled in my palm. I didn't think that Four had it in him, to have compassion for the lesser, to give a poor urchin money. And yet here I am, staring at the proof. Had there been pity in his eyes when he had looked at me? I'm sure of it. But luckily, there was no flash of recognition. If there had been, all would be lost.
I look up in time to see the end of his cloak disappear around the corner of a building and realization hits me. If he's heading where I think he is, then I might be able to achieve something. I turn into an alleyway and begin to sprint towards the compound. I might only have thirty minutes to get ready, but if I hurry, I can do it. My legs ache and my lungs burn as I cut across streets and alleys before throwing myself on a train. I get five minutes to calm my breathing before I jump on the roof of headquarters and into the net.
"Christina!" I yell over the noise of the Pit. I shoulder past people and ignore their protests. "Christina!"
"She's in your room." My friend, Al stands in front of me, a small smile tugging on his lips.
"Thanks," I gasp as an idea begins to form in my head. "Can you come with me? I need you for something." He shrugs and follows me.
Christina and Will are sitting on her bed, talking. I wonder if they notice that their faces are only inches from each other. "Christina I need you to help me!" They spring apart, guiltily. "Four's heading towards Millennium Park."
A smile flits across her face as she realizes what this means. "I'm sorry," Will says. "But what are we missing?" I explain my plan and they begin to laugh.
"Do you think it will work?" Al asks.
"Wait and see." I shrug. "You might want to make yourselves look more like ruffians. We'll meet you in the Pit."
I ignore the looks that my dress—a dainty sky blue number—receives. I hear wolf whistles and I blush. In the pale blue that's striking against the sea of black clothing, I can't help but stand out. Christina and I walk over to where Will and Al are standing, dressed in ragged black shorts and grimy boots. Their faces are smeared with food and dirt. We leave the compound and jump on another train. I sigh, envious of everyone. Will and Al are wearing pants which makes it easy for them to climb on the train and Christina appears to have mastered the art of jumping in a dress, while I'm still clumsy in the long skirt.
As we walk down the path that leads to Millennium Park, the boys melt into the trees. "Remember the plan." I whisper.
Christina and I link arms as I spot Four's broad back. We dart ahead so that we are walking directly in front of them.
Suddenly, I feel a large and menacing presence beside me. "Hello, miss." The man says coldly. "That's a lovely reticule you have there. Got anything good?"
"No." I reply just as coldly, suppressing a snort of laughter at Al's disguised voice.
"I think you do." Al begins to paw at my waist.
"Leave me alone, you ruffian!" I shriek batting his hands away and slamming the heel of my shoe into his foot, softening the blow at the last second so that it doesn't hurt quite as much. I pray that Al is a good actor. Fortunately for me, he is. And I nearly burst out laughing as Al grabs his foot and howls in agony. Beside me, Christina cries out as Will tries to drag her away.
"Leave the ladies alone!" Four's voice cuts through the commotion and Will and Al immediately flee. I rush over to where Chris slumps on the ground.
"Are you alright?" Four's voice startles me, and this time, I can see the flash of recognition. "Lady Beatrice?" He chokes out.
"Yes my lord." I curtsy.
"Are you alright?"
"Of course she's alright." Uriah interjects, "did you see how she fought against those ruffians?"
Four nods and I can see admiration flash briefly across his face. He exchanges a look with Zeke. "Would you care to walk with me Lady Beatrice."
"That would be lovely." I say, placing my hand in the crook of his elbow. Christina's face brightens as Uriah offers her his arm. As we wander towards the park, many other couples stare at us. Four is easily recognizable—who wouldn't recognize one of the richest men in England?
"Why are they looking at us?" Four murmurs in my ear. To an outsider who can't hear our conversation, it looks terrible intimate, and I begin to laugh.
"My lord, do you frequent London?"
"No," he says, clearly bewildered
Millennium Park is beautiful with lush green lawns and thick groves of trees. It's also where the young—and in love—couples like to frequent. Four has unknowingly walked through a notoriously romantic park with a lady. I can only imagine the rumours that will soon fly.
Four is still staring at me, so I answer his question.
And the look on his face is priceless.
Four POV
"A romantic park?" I ask incredulously.
"Yes."
"And you didn't think it was important information?"
"Are you so afraid to be seen with a lady?" She counters. I sigh loudly and move to yank my arm from her grasp, but she hangs on with surprising strength. "If you walk away now, people will see, and unmarried girls will swarm you, determined to succeed where I could not."
"So you are looking for a husband!"
"I said no such thing!" she snaps. "I'm simply trying to help you from ruining your reputation."
"You shouldn't care about such things. You are not my keeper."
"Perhaps I care more about myself." Lady Beatrice says coldly. "This might be damaging for my reputation, you know."
"You're appealing to my chivalrous side. That's a very dastardly move."
"You don't have a chivalrous side. You are unkind."
I turn to look directly into her large blue eyes and I can see the hurt in her eyes again. "I apologize for my behavior. It was rude of me."
She nods curtly and we walk through the trees in uncomfortable silence. Without looking, I can tell that we are being watched—and I hate it. I would rather be in the country. There is no privacy in London. "I didn't intend to force you to walk with me." Her voice is quiet and even.
"I do not mind."
"Where you planning to walk through Millennium Park with your friends?"
"We were heading in that direction, yes."
"I thought the lords Uriah and Zeke would know London better than that." She says thoughtfully. "One avoids Millennium Park at all costs if they don't wish to be the subject of gossip."
"Knowing them, they probably thought it would be an entertaining joke."
"They sound lovely, my lord."
"If you like to be publicly humiliated frequently." I mutter. One time Uriah stuck a sign to my back during a foxhunt . . . and I couldn't sit down for a week. It seems that other men my age enjoy acting like little boys when someone unknowingly walks around with a "kick me" sign on his back.
"Pardon?" Her voice startles me from my thoughts and I realize that I've been muttering to myself.
"Nothing. I didn't say anything."
"How long are you in London?" She asks, changing the subject.
"For far too long. I leave for my estate in a fortnight."
"Four!" Uriah calls, with Lady Beatrice's friend on his arm. "Did you enjoy your walk?" He's grinning broadly and I can just tell that he's been having a good laugh over how Four Eaton walked through a romantic park with a girl.
"It was lovely, thanks." I say through gritted teeth, turning to Lady Beatrice and kissing her gloved knuckles. "Thank you for walking with me, my lady."
"You didn't congratulate her on beating away the ruffians!" Uriah sounds appalled and he bounds forward to bow deeply to Lady Beatrice and her friend. "You are my hero, lady. When I grow up, I want to be like you." He bends forward to whisper something in her ear, and her lips curl into a small smile.
I grasp his shoulder and drag him away. "You knew about Millennium Park." I growl.
He shrugs, "I thought it would be amusing."
"Did you plan to meet Lady Beatrice there?"
"No, it was just sheer luck that we met her and Lady Christina. Though I can guarantee that we'll be seeing more of those lovely ladies soon."
"Who is Lady Christina?" I ask as we walk to where Zeke waits for us at the entrance of Millennium Park. There's a distant expression on his face. I can tell he's thinking of Eleanor. She would've liked to come to this place.
"Lady Beatrice's friend. The dark-skinned beauty with the face of an angel." Uriah murmurs dreamily.
"Huh." I say absently. Suddenly, the rest of his words sink in.
"What do you mean we'll be seeing more of them?"
Uriah laughs.
A/N: Thanks to ElectricDemigod16, scc318, etzmn123, divergentdandelion, DKMfairy, ser1112, pixieprincess77, kitkat2001, Malfry, Emily volturi, luck8y, CavyGirl1991, Buddy339, TwerkTeamCaptain, Cya latter, ShaDeau4, mary24798, Fourtris4646, Mocat101 and BubblyBunny153 for following and/or favouriting! Thanks to Sandprints, LegendLover94, scc318, Divergent1315, DKMfairy, kitkat2001, TwerkTeamCaptain, Guest and Catelyn for reviewing!
Seriously, wow! The feedback on this story has been so positive and awesome, so thank you so much. What did you think of this chapter? What do you think Uriah's planning? Let me know in the reviews!
Over and out,
Wren
