Author's Note: Hello, lovelies! I just want to ask all of my earlies who read the 9th chapter within of 24h of me posting it to read it again because there are two more scenes added at the end and also because the beginning of this chapter won't make sense without it. Hope you enjoy this one!
Getting back to her room, Elaine shut the door behind her. She was crushed with the thoughts, but won't let herself feel angry because of some boy she met three days ago. She slowly walked across the room and seated herself at the table, staring into space.
"You came back!" Elizabeth marched into the room and sat opposite of her daughter when she spotted her. "Did you find out anything?"
"I wish to rest, mother." was all Elaine could muster against her lips, still staring ahead.
"But—" she wanted to protest, but Elaine suddenly rose up and dragged herself to the bed. Elizabeth frowned. "Elaine, what is this behavior?!"
"I am tired. We'll talk after dinner." The young girl muffled against her sheets.
Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room with her lips pressed into a thin line, burning holes into her daughter's back with her squinted eyes.
"Alright." She said at last before turning away and leaving the room.
Later that evening, Amelia was waking Elaine up from her accidental nap. They quickly rushed to get ready for dinner in time.
"It's alright, Amelia, I think that'll do." Elaine lightly pushed the other girl away, feeling grumpy. Even she didn't know why she was feeling that way; was that post nap grumpiness or thoughts of Harold that were creeping in the back of her mind? She frowned at herself in the mirror on the thought of him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, miss," Amelia backed away.
Elaine breathed out hard and relaxed her face. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't unload myself on you. Not because of this anyway. It's not your fault."
Amelia stiffed a smile. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, uncertain. The last time she suggested something like that Elaine scolded her and said they are not friends.
But before Elaine could answer, there was a knock on the door and Amelia breathed the sigh of relief. The two girls looked at each other, clearly no one was expecting anyone.
"Do you want me to get that for you, miss?"
"No, no," Elaine waved her hand "It's probably Philip. Came to escort me and all that." She playfully rolled her eyes with a smile.
Amelia returned the smile. "You look lovely, miss."
Elaine wanted to say something sassy back, but thought against it and just shot an "Thank you." over her shoulder.
She opened the door expecting to see her brother standing there, but was astonished when she saw William instead.
"Well, very bold of you showing up at my door." She crossed her arms, looking him up and down.
"After what you said? Yeah, I couldn't care less, Elaine." He said like it was nothing at all. "It's you who needs my help, anyway." He knew just what to say to provoke her and it was working. Elaine's blood was boiling, like the sight of him alone wasn't enough.
Behind the door, Elaine was gripping the handle so strong that her knuckles turned white. She didn't want him to see that he got to her so she kept her silence.
"So, do yourself a favor and let me escort you to dinner." He said while extending his arm.
She hesitated. What she wanted to do and do herself a favor is to slam the door in his face. But she sighed and slipped her arm under his.
"Lead the way, Mr. Caison." She said staring ahead, head held high. He made a smug smirk.
The dining room was already crowded and the band was playing in the background. She felt awkward walking beside William, everyone just nodding their heads in passing until they reached the table. And there were all of the familiar faces Elaine met three days ago. Everyone stared in shock at the two of them.
"Good evening, gentlemen." William said. "Ladies." He added, smiling. "So sorry to keep you waiting." He nudged Elaine towards her seat as to help her sit down.
"William," it was Charlotte.
Elaine couldn't really decide was she scolding her son for being around someone who offended him before all the important people the other night, but here they were still dining at their table.
"Oh, mother, I already told you." He said still standing over Elaine's chair "Water under the bridge, a misunderstanding" He looked down at her and she half grinned at him as to say thank you.
He walked around the table to his seat, saying "I'm sure miss Elaine was feeling a little lightheaded and a few of harsh words slipped her tongue. I'm almost certain she wouldn't have said those things if she was in her common sense." He said sitting down and staring at her expectedly.
She was staring daggers back at him. Not that this blonde brat was telling her, and everyone else, what was she supposedly thinking, he was accusing her of being drunk also.
"I would—" she started, but her mother slapped her hand under the table "not, of course." She let out a shaky smile. "So, in that name I'd love to apologize to William before all of you here that I spoke in haste and raise a toast in his name." she said as she picked up her glass and raised it.
"Very good," Ismay said. "Very good, she's owning up to her actions."
That made Elaine want to roll her eyes.
"That is my daughter for you. Very bold at times, but will admit if she was wrong." Kenneth said proudly and Elizabeth followed with an approving smile.
Elaine glanced over at Estella who shifted beside Edward. She couldn't really read her face though she held her head down.
"That was an easy pass, don't you think?" Elizabeth leaned over to whisper to Elaine. "What's the catch, do you wonder?"
"We are the catch, mother." Said Elaine through gritted teeth. "Think about this next time you say I don't care about this family."
Elizabeth took a sharp breath. "Well, you had to unleash your wittiness somewhere now. And if it's going to be me, so be it."
Elaine didn't have to say anything else and Elizabeth fixed her posture and smiled at everyone else as if nothing had happened. The waiters brought food soon enough and they all dined in peace.
Elizabeth couldn't wait for the men to finally leave the table and once they did, she immediately turned to Elaine, but Charlotte cut her short.
"I have to say, Elaine, I very much appreciate what you did for our William."
Elaine faked a big smile. "I'm glad we could work this out."
"Me too." Said Charlotte. "I don't want to have to think badly of you."
"God forbids!" jumped Elizabeth.
Someone cleared their throat and all three ladies looked up. It was Edward with Estella on his arm.
"Oh, you were still here." Said Elizabeth as if she didn't realize.
"Yeah, and actually we were just leaving. We just wanted to wish you good rest of the night."
All that time Estella was staring blankly at Elaine and Elaine was staring back at her. Their staring was ended when Edward tugged Estella behind him. It left Elaine feeling strange, her mind running wild.
"Now, you and I have something to talk about." Started Elizabeth. "Elaine, are you even listening?!" she questioned her unresponsive daughter.
Oh my God!
Panicked Elaine inside her brain.
Now it all made sense.
She looked at her mother with eyes wide open before standing up and running out of the dining room, leaving her mother shouting her name behind her.