Chapter 37
In this chapter we get a sneak peek of Rosalind's past.
In the earlier chapters I dropped a couple of snippets, but I felt it was time to reveal a bit more.
Hope you like it!
Enjoy
"Go on, say it."
I pressed my lips in a tight line, shook my head but then let out a loud snort. Alfred whimpered and leaned back against the headboard, his hand resting on his lower abdomen.
"Don't hold back on my account. Put me out of my misery, would you?"
I chuckled before taking a deep breath and said. "I told you so."
Alfred groaned and his tongue fell out of his mouth. I cocked my head and look at him from head to toe. "Finally." I pretended to move as Alfred's hand clutched my wrist.
"What, no tears for this dead man?"
"How about a scream? Dead men are not suppose to speak." I retorted and I moved back against him.
"Frankly, I was hoping for a scream. Not one of fear, mind you." Alfred grinned.
I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes. I had warned him, but the man was too stubborn to listen to reason and set on finding out for himself how far he could go. He made it to the bed, with me in his arms. After that it all went downhill pretty quick. Really quick. His new clean shirt soon adorned a fresh red spot of blood as did the bed sheets. Not exactly how both of us had wanted the night to go, though I had warned him this was likely to happen. Thankfully this time the pain wasn't all too serious compared to earlier today. I could only take his word for it.
After the whole bloody incident I sneaked into Alfred's room, quietly trying to avoid an encounter with Bruce, grabbed a clean shirt for Alfred and hurried back to my room. Alfred had already removed the blood stained shirt and hung it over a random chair, assuring me he would be able to get the stain out which I somehow very much doubted.
I carefully checked and cleaned the wound on Alfred but had to agree with him that it indeed did not look as bas as it had done the last couple of days. It seemed as though he was finally getting his wish and the wound was starting to heal better with each passing day. Still, straining himself or putting to much pressure on his waist and upper leg area could cause the wound to reopen, even if it was only for a tad bit.
For now we decided, much to both our frustration, it was better to just spend the night talking or sleeping. But Alfred had no desire to leave my room for the time being and I didn't mind. After today I had no desire to be alone.
I went downstairs to make us some tea and a late night snack. On my way to the kitchen I stopped at the study, wondering if Bruce was still up and working on his parents' murder case. I glanced into the room, but there was nobody there. However a light had been left on. Bruce had probably already gone up to bed without us noticing and forgot to shut off the light. I switched it off and went back on my way to the kitchen.
About fifteen minutes later I carried a tray with tea and two plates of sandwiches back up the stairs. Slowly but steady. Even though my left leg still felt sore at times at least my balance had finally returned. With my food I pushed the door to the guest room open. Alfred was no longer sitting on the bed. I looked at the spot on the ground where I had been when he first entered the room tonight, in the midst of all the books and various documents. There he stood, still shirtless and holding a document in his hands.
At first I didn't think to much of it but when I came closer I spotted the headline of the article he was currently reading. Charles Wood, British archaeologist, found beheaded during excavation.
I almost dropped the tray I was holding. Quickly I placed it on the table next to the door but somehow I was unable to move forward. A lump started to form in my throat. It was pointless to pull the document away from him, I'd been gone for fifteen minutes. Knowing Alfred he'd probably read it already, perhaps he even read more than just this one.
My legs started to feel weak and I pulled the chair up from behind me to sit down. Alfred was still looking at the article instead of acknowledging my presence in the room but I was pretty sure he knew I was here. I bit my lower lip and folded my hands together. Finally he looked up and placed the document back in its folder. He stared in front of him for a few seconds and then turned to look at me.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He said looking a bit hurt. "Or Bruce for that matter?"
I exhaled deeply and looked up at the ceiling. A trick I always did when I knew I was about to burst into tears. Only this time I wasn't. This particular event had happened so long ago that tears no longer flowed whenever I was reminded of it.
"Didn't think it mattered that much. It's been seventeen years, Alfred. I've made my peace with it."
Alfred didn't reply yet. Instead he dropped the folder on the bed and walked over to me. He placed his hands on either side of my face and made sure I locked eyes with him. It was almost as if he was searching for something the way he was staring.
"No." He said deeply. "You haven't, have you?"
I blinked.
"I know that look, love. Doesn't matter how long ago, it matters if the matter is resolved or not."
Shit. In the past I would yelled at the person who dared say things like that to me. I probably still would if someone said those things to me nowadays. But this particular man in front of me wasn't just anybody. It was someone who has been on both sides of the gun.
"Tell me." His eyes begged. "Please."
And I did. I took a deep breath and told him everything he'd read in the article.
"Charles Wood was my father. As you know he was known as an archaeologist, but the term 'treasure hunter' is more accurate. When I was seventeen my mother got a call. They'd found my father's body at an excavation site. Only his body. The head was simply...gone." I stopped and stood up from my seat.
"Did they ever find out who did it?" Alfred asked as he came up behind me. I shook my head.
"The authorities didn't do a lot about it. It wasn't an odd thing. Diggers, archaeologist even tourists. It tends to happen." I turned around and looked up at Alfred. "Except for the beheading obviously, that was quite uncommon."
"So the person who murdered your old man?"
"He's still somewhere."
"Rosalind,-" Alfred grabbed my hand and placed it against his chest. "Is this why you want you to help Bruce? Because of your father?"
Leave it to Alfred to hit the nail on the head. The murder case of Thomas and Martha Wayne at first did not resemble my father's murder. However, the more Bruce investigated it, the more it seemed that this was not some random murder. But a real thought through plan. Just as had been the case with him. I nodded and Alfred squeezed my hand.
"Though, this is not all of it, is it?" He then said softly.
"No, but it's no longer important. You were right before. What matters is whether it's been resolved or not. In my case it'll never be fully resolved, I have no choice but to make my peace with it."
"But not Bruce?" Alfred furrowed his brow.
"Not Bruce." I repeated. "Not if we can help it."
Alfred let go of my hand and placed them on my hips, moving me back to the bed. My legs bumped against the mattress but Alfred made sure I made my way down onto the bed.
For the second time that night he towered over me. His hand caressing the side of my face, neck, shoulder and then all the way down my side, sending electric shocks trough my body.
"You do realize I made us tea and sandwiches?" I gasped as he leaned in for a kiss.
Alfred moaned. "And thus the torment continues."
I chuckled.
The next day
It wasn't until Bruce addressed me the next morning that I remembered a request Lucius Fox had asked of me the previous day. If I was being completely honest I had trouble remembering his request in the first place. Luckily for me, Bruce unintentionally filled in the blanks for me. Lucius's request had to do with an annual event. An event Bruce's parents hosted and attended every year. The Wayne Enterprise Charity Ball.
"A ball? Tonight?"
Bruce nodded at me. "Everyone who is someone will attend, not just Wayne Enterprise employees."
"It doesn't sound completely unfamiliar. Are you planning on attending this ball?"
"I wasn't at first. But I then I though to myself, why not? If anything it might be good for me to show myself. Show everyone that Bruce Wayne is following into his father's footstep."
I pursed my lips and leaned back into the couch as the request Lucius had made popped up in my mind.
"There a charity ball taking place soon, now I don't know if Bruce is planning on attending, but if he is can you make sure to leave certain members of staff alone?"
This had been his request, followed by names of the people he wanted to keep away from Bruce. People who kept a close eyes on the boy. Of course all of these names were unknown to me and unfortunately for Lucius I'd already forgotten most of them. I mean after everything which happened during the rest of the day, he couldn't really blame me for forgetting, could he?
"That's a pretty fair point." I replied. "I'm sure many people will be surprised. Especially certain Wayne Enterprise staff members. Have you discussed this with Alfred yet?"
As if on cue, Bruce's butler and the man who'd spent the night in my room, entered the study. Fully dressed and looking quite dashing. When I woke up this morning he was already gone. I never noticed him leave.
"Morning, Alfred. We were just talking about you. How are you feeling?" Bruce asked.
"Much better. Thank you, sir." Alfred smiled adjusting his blazer. "Anything I can do for you?"
Bruce looked at me for a quick second and then redirecting his attention back to Alfred. "Actually, I've decided to attend the Wayne Enterprise Charity Ball tonight. I thought it was a good idea to show the senior management that a Wayne is still head of the company."
If Alfred disagreed with Bruce on the matter, he certainly didn't show it. "Good idea, sir. I'll set your tux out for you."
As Alfred turned around Bruce called out to him once more. "Alfred?"
"Yes, master Bruce?"
The boy paused and eyed me once more. "Miss Wood, would you mind giving me and Alfred a moment?"
Unable to hide my surprise at his request I frowned at him. As of late it had often been the other way around, that he'd ask Alfred to leave the room instead. Nonetheless I got up and walked out of the study, wondering what it was the two of them were going to discuss.
As I walked into the kitchen I began to wonder how it would be possible for me to insure that Bruce wasn't going to meet certain members of staff during this ball. I wasn't even invited, was I? Besides, what harm could there be with Bruce meeting these people? For all I knew Bruce had no intention of discussing the same matters he'd already brought up during the board meeting.
It took a short ten minutes before Alfred made an appearance in the kitchen. Was it my imagination or was he looking rather pleased with himself?
"That was swift." I said to him.
Alfred grinned and held his hands behind his back. He didn't say a word, simply stared directly at me. The corner of his mouth twitched. I arched an eyebrow but still the man kept his mouth shut.
"All right, I give up. What's gotten you so chipper?"
"Remember that Bruce had the intention of setting us up for a date? Because apparently he thinks we fit quite well together." Alfred kept on grinning as he made his was to the table and stopped next to me. "Don't know where he got that ridiculous idea."
"One does wonder." I replied. "Did he finally give up on the thought?"
"No, sadly. In fact, he is quite adamant about it. Told me he wanted me to get you a nice dress, perhaps even a flower or two."
"Pfft." I scoffed. "The utter nerve of him. I hope you told him off?"
Alfred sighed deeply and shook his head. "Boy said he'd fire me if I disobeyed him."
I widened my eyes with feigned shock. "Oh no. Then again, it's not my job we're talking about."
Quietly Alfred stepped away and walked up behind my chair. His hands touched my shoulders, the right one slowly making it's way to the side of my neck and started to gently caress it.
"Will you do me the honour of being my date tonight?" His deep voice whispered into my ear sending shivers down my spine.
"I'd love to." I replied. Suddenly his left hand had left my shoulder and I could feel it tugging on something on my back. I glanced over my shoulder.
"You're trying to read the label on my dress, aren't you?" I chuckled, immediately his hand dropped.
"Mmm, I wouldn't dare." He winked.
That's it for this chapter!
Up next, the ball, some romance...what else?
Let me know what you'd like to see ;)
Have a great day!