Hey so yeah I am back with another update. Sorry it took me well… forever. I have been busy doing my summer assignments and other work, and senior year is killing me. High school is not all that awesome. Between my English assignments and my AP Gov't assignments I have been so stressed. Anyway let's move on to the story because I am sure I am boring all you guys.
Greg's P.O.V.:
Here's the moment of truth. Part of me is a little nervous, what if she says no.
"What is it Holly?"
"I…I don't know how to say this but…"
"Then don't let us live in these few moments and enjoy what could have been."
"Greg I… "
"Please don't."
"No listen to me…I still want to get married."
At this point I had my back to her. I was devastated and I didn't want to face reality, but that soon changed.
"What? You still do?" I questioned as I twisted with lightning speed.
"Yes"
"Yes?" I didn't think I was hearing her correctly.
"Yes" It wasn't a question. I picked her up and quickly and spun her around.
"I love you so much Holly."
"I know that's why I able to forgive you."
I set her down and lead her over to the blanket. I revealed the lunch I had planned for us and began to serve her. We mostly just sat and talked. She brought up wedding plans. I was quick to back out and give her and our moms complete control over the affairs. Once we finished eating I moved over closer and held her in my arms. In complete silence we just sat there enjoying each other's company. The next time I looked at my watch it was already four o'clock. It surprised me that we just sat there talking and laying down, for so long.
"Hey Holly?"
"Mmh?"
"I think it is time we start heading in."
"Do we really have to?"
"Yeah unfortunately we do."
"Alright." It was evident that regret was dripping from her voice.
"Walk with me to the kitchen and then to our rooms."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
We started back towards the kitchens. We walked in through the kitchen door, and as if on cue the servants started to gasp and curtsy/bow. The head house maid and butler immediately came over to offer their services.
"Sir, My Lady" he exclaimed while bowing his head slightly. "Is there anything that we could do for you?"
"Oh no, no. We were just coming back from our lunch and figured it would be easier to just drop off the basket rather than call someone up. You all must be so busy getting dinner ready."
"Of course my lord."
"Please it was hardly a bother. And I know you are a stickler for the rules, just don't make such a big fuss over it."
"As you wish my lord."
"Oh and one more thing."
"Anything."
"Could you just let Tom and Martha know that we won't need their help until the dressing gong."
"Right, I will let them know my lord."
"Thank you, see you at dinner service."
After we got out of the kitchen Holly started to laugh so hard her face was as red as a tomato.
"Stop it, it wasn't that funny."
"Poor Herald, he is probably going to go on forever about how that was completely out of order."
"It's okay. I don't want to run a house hold were we are feared by the people who serve us."
We got over to our rooms and went inside. Almost immediately Holly was all over me. There was a certain lightness to the kisses. At the same time though there was this need and desire. I lead her back over to our bed. We sat down and then shifted more. We stopped after a few minutes and just slowly fell into a sleep.
(A/N: Meanwhile back in the kitchen.)
"My God! Too busy! Too busy to attend to the front door! What kind of house hold am I running if Master Greg thinks we are far to busy to answer the door when he comes in after lunch. This is a debacle."
"Relax Herald." Martha said trying to sooth Herald. "They are good people, maybe they are a little too modern for your tastes but they are good people. Plus Holly was telling me what she and Greg wanted to do."
"And what is that put all of us out of a job!"
"Herald enough! They just want to run a household where the people they employ are not afraid of them. They want a trustworthy house hold. There is nothing wrong with that and all they are doing is already starting to practice that."
"Fine I will let it go now, if they start to downsize because of this stupid 'Modernization' they will never hear the end of it."
"Whatever you say Herald"
Holly's P.O.V.:
That dressing gong really needs to go. I have had it with that routinely noise just destroying the peace and quiet. I honestly think that I know to get ready for dinner at 6:30 without some stupid gong to remind me.
"Greg. Greg." I started to shake him. He was honestly enjoying the sleep a little too much. If I had to get up then so did he. End of story.
"GREG, Get Up!" he exhaled almost immediately.
"What is it Holly? I was really enjoying my peaceful sleep."
"That was the dressing gong its time for dinner."
For the most part today's dinner happened like a predictable one. We went into the dining room ate, made small conversation, then moved to the drawing room to talk some more before we excused ourselves for bed. Greg and I left pretty much as soon as it was acceptable. To be honest I was exhausted. The sun, even if it was just lying down, really drained me. Last I checked it was 10:00 when we went to bed.
Greg's P.O.V.:
I think I will tell Holly my plan today. I want to still take her somewhere alone where it can be just us. I don't mean that I want to go away but rather familiarize her with what will one day be all hers. I think it will provide an opportunity for us to spend some alone time and still do something productive.
What time is it? Wow why does the night have to pass by so fast? I honestly really wish that it could be a little longer just for the sake of sleep. I turned over to find Holly fast asleep. She honestly enjoys every moment of sleep.
After breakfast Holly and I enjoyed our normal walk around the grounds. We came to our usual spot in the woods. There was a certain feeling that was and still is comforting about having a spot that is all ours, a spot to constantly remind us where it all began. I want to get a bench out here so that we can always have our little spot.
"Holly, honey?"
"Yeah sweetie?"
"I want to go away."
"Yeah I know I was thinking where we would go after the wedding…"
"No, no. Yes that is important but I want to go away now, just the two of us."
"Stop talking like that. You know very well that we have a lot of responsibilities."
"Like what neither of us are in charge of lands or titles. We honestly can get away and just be us."
"Greg stop being ridiculous. I have to learn about your family history and learn about being the head of a house. There are rules and guides that I don't have the slightest understanding about. I wasn't ever meant to be with someone who was going to inherit such a large meaningful title."
"I talked to my father and yours they think we should go away. I have it all planed out."
"So this is more of we are going away not I want to go away."
"No, well yes. But that's not the point. I want to go away with you. Just us. I know you have a lot to do. That's why I planned it as a tour of my family history. It will help you learn and it can be just the two of us."
"Greg…I can't focus and learn while trying to have fun."
"Please just try this once. I feel trapped here, stuck in a routine." I regretted those words the minute they left my mouth. I don't even know where that thought came from. I just got her back and I can't lose her.
"Well I was having fun, but if that's how you feel then maybe we should reconsider how fast we moved."
"NO. Listen to me. I have a twitch I can't stop talking when I am angry or frustrated sometimes and I just say things that make absolutely no sense and in no way shape or form reflect what I actually feel."
"Greg…"
"Holly I am sorry."
"It's okay. I understand, as a groom who has been trained for a while now to take over the family property you really don't have anything to worry about going into this marriage."
I reached over and cupped her face she was completely stressed. It was a wonder how she managed to keep it all together. There where so many things to take care of before the wedding.
"Let's talk to your mom and mine. We will set straight some details and make it clear that they can have 'input' over certain aspects and that they have complete control over other ones. That we also have control over our proceedings."
"You want to help?"
"Yes. I would do anything for us and more importantly you."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"No okay, let's go away."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Perfect I will go make some more arrangements and meet you later so we can talk to our mothers about backing off a little." I leaned over and gave her a small peck.
Holly's P.O.V.:
When we finally did meet up we were able to find our mothers stressing out in the library. By the look on their faces you would think that it is their weddings. They honestly have to stop.
"Mother. Mrs. Heffley."
"Yes." It was creepy how they managed to say that at the same time.
"I need the both of you to calm down."
Mom approached, as if she was walking on thin ice. "Sweetie it is all for your best."
"I know your intentions are in the right place but it's only the beginning of June and the wedding isn't until late August."
"We were…"She looked to Mrs. Heffley before she continued. Mrs. Heffley immediately nodded encouraging her on. "…just trying to make this as easy for you as possible."
"I know but you are really only adding stress that we don't need."
"Okay we are sorry. How can we help the both of you without adding to your stress?"
"Well first we think, that there are certain tasks that we can give the both of you to handle, but there are also a few that we want to handle personally."
We sat there for almost an hour just going over what still needed to be taken care of. Then we separated it and gave most of the tasks to our parents. To be honest it was a benevolent dictatorship. They were willing to give us a few tasks strictly for us, but they still wanted to take care of the majority of the tasks. I swear that I will never act like them. When and if my daughter's or son's wedding happens I will give them most of the control. When we finally finished Greg and I left. We retreated to our rooms to rest and change for dinner.
Greg said that tomorrow we would be able to leave for his little trip. That meant that we had to catch the six o'clock train to London. I was genuinely excited for the trip, to have the ability to just get away from all the pressure.
Greg's P.O.V.:
We ate and enjoyed the normal routine of how dinner goes. This time however we turned it in early. We left the gathering around ten o'clock. We also said our goodbyes because everyone, for the most part, was still going to be asleep when we left. When we finally made it to our chambers I was ready to pass out. I really have to wonder how Holly could have stayed up.
Time Break-
At one point or another, when I am not exactly sure, I self-diagnosed myself as an insomniac. I never am at ease just laying down not thinking of anything. It is as if at every moment my mind has to be occupied with something. No matter how messed up that is, I still have to live with sleepless nights.
As I rolled over to my other side I took a look at my wrist watch. It read four thirty in the morning. I am very time oriented even if I didn't come across as that when I was younger. I decided that if we have to leave for the train station and buy our tickets at 5:30 then I should get ready soon so that Holly can get ready in peace as soon as possible.
As I shifted out of bed, towering over the bed for a split second, I just stared at what my life was like. I pondered my position in the world and what life would have been like if I didn't act on instinct and I didn't get to know Holly as intimately as I did. I think that everyone has that reflection on their life at some point. Or maybe I just am way too serious and I need to relax. It's really funny I had this one professor in college that completely made fun of me and told me I take things way to seriously. She (yes that's rare but it's the truth) told me it wouldn't surprise her if I had a heart attack that was stress induced in the next year or so.
By the time I was done getting ready it was nearly five o'clock. I softly began to call Holly. As I rounded the bed to her side of it I noticed the soft golden glow of the morning sunrise desperately trying to sneak inside of our rooms through the heavy old curtains that draped over every window in the room.
"Holly…Holly" This time I said it a little louder "Holly".
"Mmh"
"It's time to get up. We have to leave soon." Holly sighed as I finished talking.
"I am too exhausted to get up. Can we just stay in bed for a little longer?"
"You have to get up so we can catch our train to London. I have already gotten dressed."
"Fine I am getting up."
"I will go get us some food and get our luggage downstairs; why don't you meet downstairs when you are ready."
"Okay" She leaned in for a kiss that I quickly responded to.
I left the room and went down stairs. I took our luggage to the doors. One footman stopped me halfway there and offered to help. I accepted his help despite my pride. I mean I had two bags, but Holly had 3 bags. I don't understand why she packed so many clothes. Any way once we got to the doors I thanked him and asked him to call for the chauffer so we could leave in a few minutes. After he left I went down the stairs to the servant's hall. Couldn't find anyone so I walked into the dining hall part of the servant's hall. Everyone was eating breakfast and immediately stood up.
"Please do not stand on my account. I just needed to talk to Herald, but he wasn't in his office." Herald was giving everyone a stern eye to everyone so no one moved. "Please everyone sit down and enjoy your breakfast, you all work so hard every day and deserve to have meal time to yourself, it was completely inappropriate of me to interrupt…Herald could you come here." He left slowly giving a nod for the rest of the staff to sit back down. We moved to right outside the hall.
"Moring Herald"
"Good Morning Sir"
"I am sorry to bother you"
"Please don't worry"
"Well I just wanted to ask you a favor. As I am sure you know Lady Holly and I are leaving for a little while."
"Yes sir it has been brought to my attention."
"Well I just wanted to know if you could find some time in your schedule to call the London house and tell them that we will be arriving at the London main station around nine o'clock."
"Not a problem sir consider it done."
"I am sorry to have burdened you, it just that I called to tell them that we were coming but I forgot to call back letting them know about our arrival."
"It's okay really it is no problem."
"Thank you Herald, I don't know how anything in this house could happen without you."
"Thank you sir…Would you like me to have breakfast ready for you to go?"
"No that's okay, we were planning on eating on the train."
"Okay. Well I hope that you and Lady Holly have a wonderful time on your trip."
"Thank you Herald. And thank you for all of your help."
" Anytime"
I walked back upstairs and went to find Holly we were going to be late if we didn't leave soon.
"Holly" I called as I entered our room. She was gathering her coat and shoes when I walked in.
"Hey Greg. I am almost ready. I just need a few minutes."
"Okay" I walked over to my desk to make sure all my paperwork was put away.
"Ready honey."
"Alright let's get going Holly." As we walked down my dad stopped us. "Father what are you doing up so early?"
"I wanted to see you off."
"Well thank you father."
"Listen Greg as you know we typically leave a week or so after the summer party. I just wanted to make sure that you and Holly will be back by then."
"I thought about that. I intend to take her straight to Devonshire and show her around so that you guys can come back on time."
"Great Greg. Have fun and do call when you have reached London and Devonshire."
"Of course father." We left within a few minutes and were on the train in no time with a few minutes to spare. As we got settled I started to ponder just how great my life was. How everything was falling into place now. It was all so perfect and I couldn't wait for our wedding."
A/N: Thank you all for reading this update. Please let me know what you think in the review box below. At the same time I understand if you don't want to review. It is completely okay; just knowing that you read the story is enough for me.
Next time on No More Suitors, Lady Holly's Engaged: They will tour most of the property and have some alone time.
