Thanks for the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter. It's a long 'un.
Louisa and Pomfrey slowly pulled apart and gazed at one another.
He smiled and stroked her cheek, moving in for another kiss.
Suddenly a voice called him. "Piers, come on old chap, time for a toast!"
Pomfrey reluctantly swung around and nodded.
"Alright Thomson, I'm coming," called Pomfrey before turning back around to Louisa.
He reached for her soft hand and pulled it towards his lips and kissed it gently.
"Be right back," he said, making Louisa giggle, before waltzing off into the crowd.
Louisa's heart fluttered.
They'd kissed and this time it didn't seem wrong.
If he truly meant what he said, he would give up the AD1, and they could be together.
Composing herself and toning down the large smile on her face she began to follow the crowd into the grand hallway where everyone was congregating.
Pomfrey was stood on the staircase and had begun to make a speech.
He was addressing his guests politely, but Louisa wasn't listening all she could think about was their kiss.
But she suddenly jumped when she heard her name.
....."but there is one person here today who I can say has changed my life these past few weeks for the better, Miss Louisa Taylor..... and I can honestly say.....in front of you all that I love her, dearly, she is not only my lawyer but my dear friend...and now I hope maybe even something more.....Louisa?"
Louisa was shell-shocked. She stood there mouth agape.
As Pomfrey came to the end of his speech he gestured to her and beckoned her to his side.
Louisa gulped as all eyes fell upon her.
Her cheeks flushed a rosy red colour as she walked towards Pomfrey.
He beamed at her as she moved to his side.
A few of the crowd cheered and yelled things, but Louisa's head just buzzed. She didn't like this, all the attention.
Why would he do this? Here?
"I want to give you this," he said softy pulling the delicate silver bracelet he had previously given her from his pocket, "again."
Louisa couldn't help but smile, despite her anger.
The crowd whooped as Pomfrey attached it to her wrist and kissed her cheek.
Louisa smiled as the crowd cheered her.
But inside she was furious.
Louisa stood at the edge of the room as Pomfrey conversed with his guests, several of them shooting glances across to her every once in a while.
She was mortified.
She thought that he had changed, but all he had done was use her to show off to his friends.
She rubbed her face with her hand.
She was in love with him, she knew that, but she wasn't his prize, something he could show off and brag about.
Suddenly a group of men moved over towards her.
"Lord Davies," said a portly man holding out his hand.
Louisa smiled and shook it politely as two other younger men introduced themselves to her.
"Never thought Pomfrey was one to settle down, but he does seem quite taken with you my dear," said Davies smirking.
Louisa shrugged but said nothing.
"You must be a terribly good cook," chortled Davies glancing at the two other men who began to laugh.
Louisa gaped.
"I-I'm sorry?" she said aghast.
"I said good cook girl, or at least good in bed....or else why would Pomfrey be with you?" Davies snorted.
Louisa couldn't believe it. The way they were talking about her. It was insulting to say the least.
"Are you a member of the AD1 then?" she fumed.
Davies looked at her as if she were stupid before looking at his friends and laughing. "Well it doesn't look like he's with her for her brains is he?"
Louisa shook furiously. They were talking about her as if she wasn't even there. As if her feelings didn't matter.
"Of course we are," said Davies, "AD1's through and through. Just like your Pomfrey."
Louisa shook her head.
"Pomfrey isn't a member anymore, he gave it up," she chimed.
Davies and his fellows burst into fits of laughter.
"Not in the AD1?" Davies laughed, "But he's our leader, only hosted a meeting yesterday. It's surprising he didn't mention you then actually. Well I suppose he didn't want to admit to buying the bottle until he's tasted the wine I suppose."
Their laughter boomed through the entrance hall.
Louisa trembled.
He'd lied to her.
He'd given her the ring, implied he was leaving the AD1 and now she found out he'd only been to a meeting yesterday.
She gulped and strode off, desperate for some fresh air.
She needed to get her head around it.
She heard Davies call after her, his companions still laughing.
She stepped out into the cool night air.
Her head was pounding. How could he do this to her?
A tear trickled down her cheek.
"Louisa?" said a voice behind her suddenly.
She swung around and saw Pomfrey standing there. A look of concern on his face.
Without thinking, her hand met with his cheek.
Pomfrey's eyes widened as he lifted his fingers to his sore face.
"Louisa w-what...?"
"You lied to me!" shouted Louisa.
Several people around them turned to look.
"Louisa I can explain..."
"Explain?! Explain what exactly? Come on Piers...."
But Louisa didn't give him a chance to reply.
"You told me you'd give up everything for me...you gave me your AD1 ring.....so why did you go to a meeting yesterday?"
Pomfrey shook his head.
"I don't know," he muttered, "I went to go and tell them that I was leaving..but the meetings...they just suck you in....."
"Stop making excuses Piers...Oh and that little speech on the stairs...making me come over to you so you could show me off....the woman you've tamed....was that it?" she shouted.
"No!" Pomfrey yelped. "It wasn't like that..."
"What was it your friend Davies said? Oh yeah that's right, that you probably didn't want to admit to buying the bottle until you'd tasted the wine."
"No," said Pomfrey looking shocked, "I wouldn't do that....this isn't how I wanted it to be.....I love you Louisa."
He grabbed her hands, but Louisa tore them away. As she pulled away, the silver bracelet at her wrist caught in Pomfey's cufflink and was ripped from Louisa's wrist, shattering into three pieces.
Louisa looked down at the broken jewellery tearfully before sweeping past Pomfrey.
"Louisa can we talk about this," he shouted, running after her.
Louisa made it to the front door and flung it open, gaining stares from several members of the crowd, probably wondering why Pomfrey's new love was running out tearfully into the night.
On the top step Pomfrey caught up with her and ran in front of her, blocking her path.
"Just listen to me, I love you, let's talk about this. I can give up the AD1, I promise," Pomfrey said trying to stoke her bare shoulders.
But Louisa just shook her head.
"It's too late," she wept.
"Listen, we can go for dinner, tomorrow night, just me and you, we can talk," he said pleadingly.
Louisa scowled.
He had hurt her so much and now all she wanted to do was hurt him back.
Suddenly she remembered.
"It's too late Piers...beside's I already have a date with someone else tomorrow night....and he's probably twice the man you'll ever be," said Louisa scornfully.
Pomfrey frowned.
"Y-You have a date? So what were you doing to me? Just stringing me along?" he shouted angrily.
Louisa sniffed, "Yeah pretty much."
Pomfrey turned away angrily and Louisa stormed furiously down the steps.
Louisa reached the bottom and turned around to take one last glance at Pomfrey.
He stared down at her, tears falling from his cheeks.
"B-But I love you...." he stuttered through sobs.
Louisa held back her own tears, remembering how much he had hurt her.
"Well......I don't love you." She called up to him, before sliding into the back seat of a cab that had just pulled up.
As the car drove away, she could see the lone figure of Pomfrey standing at the top of the steps, his head in his hands.
Louisa burst into tears.
She had lied. She did love him. But all she had wanted to do was hurt him like he had hurt her.
Whether it broke her heart to do so or not.
Don't worry that's not the end.
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I will update soon depending on how many reviews I get. Cheeky.