I am finally back everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to support this story despite me not being able to update as regularly as before. Please continue to do so because it really makes me want to continue writing.
Without further ado, I shall give you this next chapter. :)
CHAPTER 28: FAMILY
Autumn 1852, England – Selena's POV
The boat trip had been tedious, and the train was proving to be even more so. Ayesha slept peacefully with her large head on Selena's lap as she stared out the window watching as the trees and farms passed by lazily. It was a dreary day and the rain poured down upon the endless fields, leaving the world covered in thick fog. Erik, however, seemed to be quite happy as he relaxed in his seat and read through his newspaper. She looked down at her hand, now devoid of a ring, feeling strangely empty without it. They had agreed to play the part of siblings until they found her parents since she was far too well known in London for a wedding ring to go unnoticed. She huffed in annoyance and returned to her staring. She had completely forgotten the darkness of England after spending so long in the Persian desert and in the warmth of Italy.
"Will you stop you huffing?" Erik asked affectionately without averting his gaze from his newspaper.
"I'm bored," she whined.
"We're almost there, my love."
Selena suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears. Erik seemed to sense her mood change because he immediately looked up from the pages in concern.
"The truth is that I'm not sure if I want to go back," she confessed in a hushed whisper like a prayer. "I-I love my family but they're very traditional—"
"You don't say," Erik muttered under his breath.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You were infuriatingly traditional when we first met, my love. It was the cause of a lot of heartache if I'm not mistaken," he replied, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.
"That's why I'm scared, Erik. I don't want that heartache again. I want them to meet you and love you. I want them to accept our marriage and give us their blessing without a second of hesitation. I want us all to be happy."
Erik sighed and moved to kneel before her, startling the slumbering Ayesha for only a second before she fell back to sleep with a yawn. "Selena, my dear. I don't want to cause a rift between your family, but I will undoubtedly do so. I am not an easy man to accept."
"It isn't fair," she lamented, burying her head in his shoulder.
"The world seldom is, my love."
She must have fallen asleep at some point for she woke up to Erik shaking her shoulder gently. She opened her bleary eyes and saw his slightly guilty-looking ones. "I'm sorry, my love, but it would hardly be proper to carry you."
She nodded in assent and stood, taking hold of Selena's collar. They had found that such an act seemed to calm fellow travellers and Ayesha did not seem to mind too much so long as they did not pull on the collar and strangle her, which had happened once when she tried to run after a fat pigeon as they waited for their train. Unfortunately, the bird had not survived to see another day. Erik had lectured Ayesha on the dangers of eating diseased animals as if the tigress would understand him, much to Selena's amusement.
Now they walked through the busy streets of London. It was still early in the day and so the hustle and bustle of the city was at its worst. Erik and Ayesha, however, managed to part the crowd easily, allowing them to find a cab quickly. The frightened driver helped them with their luggage before running back to the front of the carriage and urging his spooked horse on.
They had decided to make for her parent's house immediately. It was best not to linger in a city where she was so well-known with a strange man and a tiger for gossip would spread like wildfire by the next morning.
The carriage stopped at her family estate and she stared. It loomed menacingly before her, making her swallow the nerves and excitement bubbling in her gut. She missed her family dearly, but it had been over a year since she had last seen them and she feared they would not recognise her.
Erik took her hand in his and raised it to his lips in an act of comfort, giving her the courage she needed to exit the carriage. Erik went to get their bags while she kept an eye on Ayesha, who stared disapprovingly around her. Perhaps a city was not a tiger's favourite home. Hopefully, her family's garden would be enough to satisfy the young animal.
As the carriage drove away, Selena took a deep breath and walked up to the door, knocking loudly on the door, her heart hammering in her ribcage. She wished she could just bury her face into Erik's neck and that he would wrap his arms around her, stroking her hair and whispering sweet nothings into her ears until her fears were abated; but his hands were full with their luggage and they could not risk being caught in such a compromising position in public anyway.
"Everything will be alright, my love," she heard him say, though whether she was speaking to her or to himself, she could not say.
The door opened and Selena held her breath. The butler stood on the other side. His composure fell when he saw her, his face contorting into a look of confusion and shock as he saw the familiar face of his master's daughter.
"M–my lady. I cannot believe it is you. We had all but given up hope. Please, come in, come in. But the animal, my lady—"
"I would feel more comfortable with her beside me, thank you, Parker," she interrupted. "Oh, and this is the man who saved me, Lord Erik Destler. Could you see to it that he is given our best guest room?"
"Of course, my lady," Parker replied while gesturing for a couple of footmen to take their bags. "Shall I fetch your parents?"
"Yes please, Parker. I shall be in the blue room."
The butler departed and Selena led Erik to the drawing room, her hands trembling. Despite how hard it was to read Erik, he seemed nervous, his eyes constantly shifting as if trying to find an escape route.
"Erik," she said as they sat down, Ayesha taking her place between them, "we will be fine."
The words felt hollow even to her. There was no way anything would be completely fine.
The door opened with a quiet whoosh of air and Selena could feel the blood rushing to her ears and grabbed hold of Erik's arm to steady herself. Her mother rushed forward first, her arms outstretched but stopped in her tracks the moment she caught sight of Ayesha, who was eyeing the newcomers suspiciously, and ran back to hide behind her husband with a shriek. Her father was more composed, though his eyes did not leave the tigress for a moment.
Seeing her parents after over a year apart was probably one of the most joyful moments of her life and for a few minutes she was able to forget all her fears. She ran to them, and hugged them, happy to feel them returning the embrace despite their trepidation.
Only after many moments did they begrudgingly part, her father cupping her face in his hands and staring at her as if trying to ascertain that it was indeed his long-lost daughter.
"We are so glad you're safe, my dear," he said, his voice shaky with emotion, gesturing for everyone to sit. "You must tell us everything."
And so she told them about her kidnapping, her time in Persia, finding Ayesha and finally their daring escape. She told them about the Shah's naivety, the Khanum's malice, the Daroga's kindness and Darius' gentle nature. Once again she lied about her status, claiming that she was Erik's servant and not his concubine.
"Thank you very much for returning our daughter to us," her father said to Erik after she had finished her tale rising to shake his hand. "We are forever in your debt. Please allow us to give you some compensation for your troubles. Anything you desire shall be yours, you need only ask."
Erik pressed hid thumb against his palm and rubbed it nervously before suddenly straightening his shoulders and staring boldly at the Earl of Winterton. Had Selena not known how to see the turbulent fear in his eyes, she would have believed him to be the epitome of confidence.
"There is only one thing in this world I desire, my lord."
"And what is it?"
"Your daughter's hand in marriage," he stated with a gesture in Selena's direction.
Her father froze, his brain working desperately to process what Erik had asked him and her mother gasped from her position on the settee, looking positively scandalised. Erik took his eyes away for her father for a moment to stare lovingly at Selena before returning his gaze to the Earl.
"I do not know if you are aware, my lord, but my daughter is engaged to Lord John Hallward," her father said.
"I am aware," Erik replied, almost cockily.
Selena's mother stood and glared at Erik in indignation. "You know of our daughter's engagement and dare to ask for her hand. I am grateful to you for her return but if you think for one second that we would allow one of our children to marry a freak like you—"
"Mother!" Selena shouted, standing defensively in front of Erik, who seemed surprisingly unperturbed by her mother's words. "Don't you dare insult him."
Her mother's face turned red with anger at Selena's rudeness but said nothing. Her father, on the other hand, looked conflicted.
"My lord, apologies for my wife's words but Selena's engagement cannot simply be broken now. Her fiancé has been searching tirelessly for her, refusing to marry any other. We cannot simply—"
"With all due respect, I believe the final choice should be left to the woman in question, do you not agree?" Erik asked, turning to look at the woman standing protectively before him.
Selena's mother scoffed. "If you believe that my daughter would wish to wed you over the young marquis then you are quite mistaken."
"But I want to marry Erik, I mean Lord Destler," Selena said with more confidence than she thought possible. "I love him and want to marry him, whether or not I have your blessing."
"Have you gone quite mad?" her mother stated, looking like she was about to swoon, but Selena only had eyes for Erik at that moment.
Her father opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and an adolescent boy walking in before stopping dead in his tracks when he saw Selena. She smiled at him and he lunged at her, embracing her for a few moments before he let her go, clearing his throat uncomfortably in embarrassment.
"It's… um… I'm glad you're here, Selena," he said awkwardly.
She smiled at her little brother and patted his shoulder affectionately. "I'm glad to be back, John."
Her father cleared his throat. "I'm certain you are both exhausted. I will allow you to go rest and see you again at dinner. There is much still to discuss."
Selena nodded in agreement. "I'll see you later, father. Goodbye Johnny."
The butler arrived to take Erik to his room and for the first time in months Selena and Erik were forced to part, the guest rooms being in the west wing and hers in the east wing. Ayesha decided to follow her mistress and, with one last look towards Erik, Selena turned and made her way to her rooms.
They were exactly as she'd left them, all creams and mahogany wood and so very feminine. It oozed innocence and fragility and felt like the room of the woman she had once been. It would have to do until she could change the décor somewhat.
She fell backwards onto her bed and closed her eyes, the exhaustion of her travels draining her completely. Before she could fall asleep, however, the door burst open and her mother strode him, her face flushed with fury.
"How could you disrespect me, Selena. I am your mother!"
Had this happened months prior she would have shrunk back and apologised immediately but now, after years of living in constant danger, her mother seemed as meek as a mouse.
"How dare you insult my fiancé," she retorted.
Her mother laughed. "Your fiancé? You think that we shall ever allow you to marry that… thing? Mark my words, girl, you will marry Lord Hallward and you will be grateful that he is a gentleman."
With that she stormed out of the room and Selena collapsed onto her bed, bursting into tears. Ayesha placed her lead on Selena's lap, looking up at her mistress with concern. She didn't mind when Selena dropped to her knees beside her and embraced her, sobbing into her soft fur. How she wished she could just run away with Erik and live on some small deserted island where no one could hurt them but she wanted her family in her life as well. Perhaps she would have to choose one before the end.
Dinner was an awkward affair and would've been laced in silence had her little brother John not insisted on chattering the whole time.
"Oh, it's such a shame you missed Anne's wedding, she had always planned for you to be there… Elizabeth, the twins and Philip are all staying at Aunt Linda's house. I wanted to go to but father insists I must concentrate on my education… Have you heard of the latest scandal? It appears that Lady Bradbury was found to be unfaithful. Her own husband caught her in bed and with a footman no less…" His chatter went on and on.
No more was spoken on the topic of engagements that night, her father only mentioning that there would be a ball in honour of her return before excusing himself, her mother following shortly after.
As Selena lay in bed that night, she felt terribly alone. She wasn't used to sleeping without Erik beside her and now found herself unable to do so. She laid in bed, Ayesha at her feet, hoping that exhaustion would override her loneliness but it didn't. She stared at the ceiling for hours before she was startled by a rap at the window. She sat up on the bed and stared at her balcony only to find Erik waving shyly at her from the other side. She all but bolted to the window, ignoring her obvious state of undress, and pulled him into the room before someone saw him.
"I'm sorry," he said sheepishly. "I just missed you."
Selena kissed him passionately in response until they were both left breathless. She stared deep into his eyes and took off his mask and smiled. "I missed you, too."
Selena almost shrieked when Erik picked her up and threw her onto the bed, awakening Ayesha in the process, who let out an annoyed growl and moved to the settee. Erik climbed in after her and drew her to him, kissing her neck.
"You're irresistible, my dear."
Selena could only blush in response, the lust in his words painfully obvious. "Erik, we can't… um… I can't… not before we're married…"
Erik stared at her incredulously for several seconds before bursting into quiet laughter. "I wasn't suggesting it, my love, I know your faith means far too much to you. I was just stating a fact."
"I think you're quite irresistible too," Selena heard herself saying before she could stop herself. Mortified, she felt her cheeks burning more than she ever thought possible. If her mother had heard that, Lord knows she would have been sent to a nunnery the next day.
Erik only seemed flattered though, to her surprise. He blushed as well, the red tinge prominent on his pale cheeks, and pulled her head onto his chest, stroking her hair.
"Erik?" she called out quietly a long time after, afraid he was asleep. His hand had long ago ceased the hypnotising stroking.
She heard him humming in response and looked at to find him staring at her curiously.
"Are you alright?"
Erik cocked his head in confusion. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"My mother was cruel to you today," Selena murmured apologetically.
"I did not expect for my request to be well met, my dear."
Suddenly Selena sat up, much to Erik's confusion, though he remained laying down.
"I've made up my mind," she stated. "If my parents do not accept our love after the ball, we shall elope."
"You can't be serious? Your family—"
"My family means a lot to me but everyone will be miserable if I am forced to marry Hallward, but if I marry you we can be happy. I want freedom, Erik and only you can give me that."
Erik laid there, his mouth agape, desperately fishing for something to say as tears welled up in his eyes. For once in his life, he could say nothing and pulled Selena down to him as their lips met once more.
