Chapter 8: Misunderstanding Again
"Where is it!" A crash, followed by heavy footsteps, erupted from within the library. Nakuru looked worriedly at Spinel. "Do you think we should help?" The feline shook its head. "You heard him, he wants to solve this all by himself. Besides, aren't you afraid of crashing with a flying book?" The moon guardian grimaced and became even more worried as roars of pure agitation echoed throughout the whole bookroom.
Eriol frantically searched among the piles of books stacked along the floor. It's been three hours since he had his breakfast and started looking for the book. Soon, he was covered with dust and the piles of books weren't getting any shorter. "Okay. Now calm down, you're going to find it," he soothed his rumbling emotions. "If you keep on being hasty, nothing will come out of this." And you would never be able to save Tomoyo. Eriol clenched his fists. He vowed to save her, the moment he steps foot in the past and bring her home to the present. The only problem is, he couldn't find the book that would enable him to do that.
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Tomoyo paddled out into the open and went right for the huge flat boulder at the center of the lake. It was still dawn when she decided to go out to the lake and spend the morning alone. Although she hoped that he would, come by and they could talk. She giggled softly and remembered the afternoon she spent with Edward. Upon reaching the rock, she had a little trouble in getting off the boat and settling on the slab of rock. Soon, the morning breeze was tickling her face and the sun was warming her already rosy cheeks. "Good morning." "Aaahh!" she shrieked, stumbling to her right and missing a step. SPLASH! She fell into the lake. "Catherine!" Edward called out from the rock. Then he dived in to rescue her. After a minute, he went up to grab some air and went down again. Tomoyo's hand appeared on the side of the rock and she heaved herself up. She struggled to get off the cold water but her soaking dress was making movement almost impossible. Her footing slipped and her lower body fell into the waters when Edward appeared. "Catherine!" he breathed in relief and grabbed her waist to push her up. But then again, her dress was adding to the weight and Edward's sudden movement caused his muscles to cry out in pain, loosening his hold on her. Tomoyo was depending too much on Edward's hold when she felt his hand break away. She gasped loudly as she slid against his body while her hand reflexively held his neck close to her for support. Soon, they were recovering from the little accident when their brains noticed that their bodies couldn't move. True enough, Tomoyo's one hand was grasping on the rock while her other hand was encircled around Edward's neck. Edward was in the same situation with his first hand but his second hand was around Tomoyo's waist and was holding her close so that she wouldn't slip again. Only hard breathing caught their attention after the span of three minutes. They both blushed and Edward immediately pushed Tomoyo up to the ledge and pulled himself up after. They remained seated back to back for a while, trying to get a hold of their palpitating hearts. It was Tomoyo who first broke the awkward silence. "I'm sorry about that." Edward turned around and answered. "It's okay." Tomoyo still had her back turned. Edward's cool breath against her face a while ago was making her head spin. She couldn't face him with a bright blush. "Um." "Catherine?" he tapped her shoulder. Tomoyo slowly turned found herself looking directly at his face. "Yes?" "I." "Hey Edward!" a voice shouted at them. The couple turned and saw Albert and the others waving and hooting at them. Instantly, blood raced to their faces and Tomoyo couldn't move. Edward's mind raced. What was he going to do? Surely, they'd tease him endlessly and he didn't want that. His girl-hating instincts arose and he suddenly pushed Tomoyo back into the lake. "Aaaahhh!" Tomoyo screamed as she fell back. She swam up and glared at Edward who was looking at her helplessly. "Sorry," he said in low voice, looking sideways at her. "Aarrgh!" then she swam back to the bank, wrung her dress, and walked away in indignation.
"That's it!" she slammed the door and took off her shoes. "I'm never going back there!" "What's the problem dear?" Margaret appeared from the kitchen. She gasped when she saw Tomoyo's dripping form. "Catherine! Oh my goodness, what happened?" "I went to the lake to spend some time alone. Then he comes along and surprises me and I fall into the lake. Then he rescues me and pushes me back just because his friends saw us together! Is there anything more fun than that?" she raved out. "His friends saw you with who?" "Edward!" she shouted in rage. Then she stomped upstairs to change her dress.
The lady laughed delicately when she heard Margaret's story. "Really?" she smiled elegantly, as Margaret pinned a cloth around her. "Edward did that?" Margaret smiled lightly and continued with her work. "Yes, Lady Clara. My niece was positively fuming when she came home this morning." "That certainly is the work of my little brother," Clara said as she held up her black hair when Margaret attached pins to her collar. "However, I think that your niece has an effect on Edward." Margaret stood up. "Really, my lady? How can you say that?" "Well, when he came home yesterday, he was absolutely silent during dinner." Margaret furrowed her eyebrows. "Isn't he always like that?" "Well yes. But he acts like no one was existing in front of him. I can tell he was brooding over something. Tell me, Margaret, what is your niece's name?" "Catherine, my lady," came the reply. "Catherine? Isn't that the name of your daughter?" "Yes, Lady Clara. It just so happens that my sister never told me that she had a daughter named Catherine," Margaret explained. Then she asked, "A while ago, you said something about Sir Edward coming home from somewhere that made him change, I would like to know if he happened to be at Rosewood Lake." Clara looked astonished. "Yes. He came from the lake yesterday. How did you know?" Margaret smiled knowingly. "I think I may have an idea why your little brother is so much affected."
Margaret came home earlier than usual. And as usual, she found Tomoyo cooking dinner. "Good evening Catherine!" "Good evening mother," Tomoyo said from the kitchen. "You're early." "Yes, I finished Lady Clara's dress earlier than I expected. Oh by the way, she gave me this," Margaret said and fished out an envelope. "For me?" Tomoyo took the envelope and opened to read its contents. "Lady Clara's engagement ball? What's this all about?" "She wants to invite you." "Me? How can I go there without recognizing anyone? Besides, she barely knows me." Margaret smiled slyly. "But her brother does."
Margaret knocked lightly. "Come in." The older woman opened the door and stepped in. "My lady, she's here." Tomoyo gasped inwardly as she saw a tall and very beautiful lady with black hair and gray eyes stand up from a huge vanity table. The woman glided with grace across the huge room, which, according to Tomoyo, was exquisite in terms of decorations and interior design. "So this is Catherine," the lady spoke in a soft, clear, and medium- pitched voice. "Lady Clara, may I present to you my niece, Catherine Hudson. Catherine, this is Lady Clara of the Montgomery Family," Margaret spoke in a reverent tone. "I'm pleased to meet you, Lady Clara," Tomoyo said and curtsied. Clara's smiled widened. "I must say, this girl has class. Margaret please start taking her measurements." At once, Margaret went out of the door to get her things. Clara invited Tomoyo to take a seat by the window. "I've heard so much about you, Catherine," Clara started. Tomoyo was startled. "You have?" "Yes. Margaret said that you've been staying with her for a while and my brother has been affected by your presence." "He is?" "And about your accident by the lake, my brother is terribly sorry he did that. Although he has no way of expressing his regret without getting teased by his friends, I've decided to help him. That is why I'm inviting you to the ball so that you could sort things out." Clara paused when Margaret entered the room.
The night of the ball came and Tomoyo went with Margaret to the palace. They assembled Tomoyo's dress in one of the guestrooms and when it came to the make-up, Tomoyo requested to do it by herself. "Be sure to be down before everything starts all right?" "Yes, Mother." The door closed and Tomoyo examined the cosmetics Lady Clara had bought for her. Then she shuddered at the thought of looking like a very pale ghost like the women she saw in Renaissance-theme films. She picked up a ceramic container containing foundation and started applying make-up the modern way. Soon she was finished and neatly fixed all the cosmetics. She stood up and went out.
"Who's that?" one man asked. His companion looked at the direction pointed at and saw a lady enter one of the doors. Tomoyo looked fantastic and was feeling very happy that she looked different than those who wore their make-up differently. She held her big, flowing skirt and was having a hard time breathing because of the tight corset. "I don't know, but I'm sure Lady Clara may have an answer for that." Tomoyo's face started heating up as men looked her way. She finally saw a face that she recognized. "Carter!" Carter's jaw dropped as Tomoyo made her way through the crowd. Tomoyo had made a smoky look to contrast her pale features and match the purple velvet dress she wore. "Hi Catherine!" "Am I ever glad you're here! I thought I wouldn't recognize anyone," Tomoyo said and smiled. "You look dashing in that suit, Carter." Carter blushed at her compliment. "Thank you." They continued to talk until William, Andrew, Sid, and the rest, including Albert, made an appearance. All of them were complimenting Tomoyo's beautiful look. After sometime, some of them left and a few guys introduced themselves. Pretty soon, Tomoyo was crowded with guys when someone cleared his throat. "May I have your attention please." The crowd went silent as the man spoke. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I, Charles Perry Montgomery, Duke of Cornwall, am pleased to announce that my daughter, Clara Marie Montgomery, would be engaged to William Harper Johnson, oldest son of the Duke of Windsor." The crowd clapped as Clara appeared and descended down the huge staircase to meet Johnson who was at the bottom of the stairs, smiling happily. After a while, the celebration started and people were dancing, eating, drinking, and chatting. Tomoyo was talking to James when she saw someone at the corner of her eye. "Edward." she muttered angrily. "Uh, James, I think I would be going somewhere for a while, please excuse me." "Sure, go ahead." Tomoyo wove in and out of the crowd in order to avoid Edward who immediately saw her and started to follow her. She got out of the hall and turned to the left corridor. She was walking fast when someone called her. "Catherine!" Tomoyo only walked faster turning another corner and hid behind a tall vase. Edward missed her and she went to the other hallway. Edward on the other hand saw her gown turning the other way and he was starting to get ticked off. "Great!" she groaned when she ended up in a dead end. She turned away when she bumped into "Edward?" Edward smirked. "So where are you going? The servant's quarters?" Tomoyo ignored him and went passed him. But he barred her way by spreading his arms. "I'm not letting you pass until you talk to me." But Tomoyo was stubborn. She pushed his arm away and took off like a shot. But Edward remained undaunted and ran after her.
"Where is it!" A crash, followed by heavy footsteps, erupted from within the library. Nakuru looked worriedly at Spinel. "Do you think we should help?" The feline shook its head. "You heard him, he wants to solve this all by himself. Besides, aren't you afraid of crashing with a flying book?" The moon guardian grimaced and became even more worried as roars of pure agitation echoed throughout the whole bookroom.
Eriol frantically searched among the piles of books stacked along the floor. It's been three hours since he had his breakfast and started looking for the book. Soon, he was covered with dust and the piles of books weren't getting any shorter. "Okay. Now calm down, you're going to find it," he soothed his rumbling emotions. "If you keep on being hasty, nothing will come out of this." And you would never be able to save Tomoyo. Eriol clenched his fists. He vowed to save her, the moment he steps foot in the past and bring her home to the present. The only problem is, he couldn't find the book that would enable him to do that.
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Tomoyo paddled out into the open and went right for the huge flat boulder at the center of the lake. It was still dawn when she decided to go out to the lake and spend the morning alone. Although she hoped that he would, come by and they could talk. She giggled softly and remembered the afternoon she spent with Edward. Upon reaching the rock, she had a little trouble in getting off the boat and settling on the slab of rock. Soon, the morning breeze was tickling her face and the sun was warming her already rosy cheeks. "Good morning." "Aaahh!" she shrieked, stumbling to her right and missing a step. SPLASH! She fell into the lake. "Catherine!" Edward called out from the rock. Then he dived in to rescue her. After a minute, he went up to grab some air and went down again. Tomoyo's hand appeared on the side of the rock and she heaved herself up. She struggled to get off the cold water but her soaking dress was making movement almost impossible. Her footing slipped and her lower body fell into the waters when Edward appeared. "Catherine!" he breathed in relief and grabbed her waist to push her up. But then again, her dress was adding to the weight and Edward's sudden movement caused his muscles to cry out in pain, loosening his hold on her. Tomoyo was depending too much on Edward's hold when she felt his hand break away. She gasped loudly as she slid against his body while her hand reflexively held his neck close to her for support. Soon, they were recovering from the little accident when their brains noticed that their bodies couldn't move. True enough, Tomoyo's one hand was grasping on the rock while her other hand was encircled around Edward's neck. Edward was in the same situation with his first hand but his second hand was around Tomoyo's waist and was holding her close so that she wouldn't slip again. Only hard breathing caught their attention after the span of three minutes. They both blushed and Edward immediately pushed Tomoyo up to the ledge and pulled himself up after. They remained seated back to back for a while, trying to get a hold of their palpitating hearts. It was Tomoyo who first broke the awkward silence. "I'm sorry about that." Edward turned around and answered. "It's okay." Tomoyo still had her back turned. Edward's cool breath against her face a while ago was making her head spin. She couldn't face him with a bright blush. "Um." "Catherine?" he tapped her shoulder. Tomoyo slowly turned found herself looking directly at his face. "Yes?" "I." "Hey Edward!" a voice shouted at them. The couple turned and saw Albert and the others waving and hooting at them. Instantly, blood raced to their faces and Tomoyo couldn't move. Edward's mind raced. What was he going to do? Surely, they'd tease him endlessly and he didn't want that. His girl-hating instincts arose and he suddenly pushed Tomoyo back into the lake. "Aaaahhh!" Tomoyo screamed as she fell back. She swam up and glared at Edward who was looking at her helplessly. "Sorry," he said in low voice, looking sideways at her. "Aarrgh!" then she swam back to the bank, wrung her dress, and walked away in indignation.
"That's it!" she slammed the door and took off her shoes. "I'm never going back there!" "What's the problem dear?" Margaret appeared from the kitchen. She gasped when she saw Tomoyo's dripping form. "Catherine! Oh my goodness, what happened?" "I went to the lake to spend some time alone. Then he comes along and surprises me and I fall into the lake. Then he rescues me and pushes me back just because his friends saw us together! Is there anything more fun than that?" she raved out. "His friends saw you with who?" "Edward!" she shouted in rage. Then she stomped upstairs to change her dress.
The lady laughed delicately when she heard Margaret's story. "Really?" she smiled elegantly, as Margaret pinned a cloth around her. "Edward did that?" Margaret smiled lightly and continued with her work. "Yes, Lady Clara. My niece was positively fuming when she came home this morning." "That certainly is the work of my little brother," Clara said as she held up her black hair when Margaret attached pins to her collar. "However, I think that your niece has an effect on Edward." Margaret stood up. "Really, my lady? How can you say that?" "Well, when he came home yesterday, he was absolutely silent during dinner." Margaret furrowed her eyebrows. "Isn't he always like that?" "Well yes. But he acts like no one was existing in front of him. I can tell he was brooding over something. Tell me, Margaret, what is your niece's name?" "Catherine, my lady," came the reply. "Catherine? Isn't that the name of your daughter?" "Yes, Lady Clara. It just so happens that my sister never told me that she had a daughter named Catherine," Margaret explained. Then she asked, "A while ago, you said something about Sir Edward coming home from somewhere that made him change, I would like to know if he happened to be at Rosewood Lake." Clara looked astonished. "Yes. He came from the lake yesterday. How did you know?" Margaret smiled knowingly. "I think I may have an idea why your little brother is so much affected."
Margaret came home earlier than usual. And as usual, she found Tomoyo cooking dinner. "Good evening Catherine!" "Good evening mother," Tomoyo said from the kitchen. "You're early." "Yes, I finished Lady Clara's dress earlier than I expected. Oh by the way, she gave me this," Margaret said and fished out an envelope. "For me?" Tomoyo took the envelope and opened to read its contents. "Lady Clara's engagement ball? What's this all about?" "She wants to invite you." "Me? How can I go there without recognizing anyone? Besides, she barely knows me." Margaret smiled slyly. "But her brother does."
Margaret knocked lightly. "Come in." The older woman opened the door and stepped in. "My lady, she's here." Tomoyo gasped inwardly as she saw a tall and very beautiful lady with black hair and gray eyes stand up from a huge vanity table. The woman glided with grace across the huge room, which, according to Tomoyo, was exquisite in terms of decorations and interior design. "So this is Catherine," the lady spoke in a soft, clear, and medium- pitched voice. "Lady Clara, may I present to you my niece, Catherine Hudson. Catherine, this is Lady Clara of the Montgomery Family," Margaret spoke in a reverent tone. "I'm pleased to meet you, Lady Clara," Tomoyo said and curtsied. Clara's smiled widened. "I must say, this girl has class. Margaret please start taking her measurements." At once, Margaret went out of the door to get her things. Clara invited Tomoyo to take a seat by the window. "I've heard so much about you, Catherine," Clara started. Tomoyo was startled. "You have?" "Yes. Margaret said that you've been staying with her for a while and my brother has been affected by your presence." "He is?" "And about your accident by the lake, my brother is terribly sorry he did that. Although he has no way of expressing his regret without getting teased by his friends, I've decided to help him. That is why I'm inviting you to the ball so that you could sort things out." Clara paused when Margaret entered the room.
The night of the ball came and Tomoyo went with Margaret to the palace. They assembled Tomoyo's dress in one of the guestrooms and when it came to the make-up, Tomoyo requested to do it by herself. "Be sure to be down before everything starts all right?" "Yes, Mother." The door closed and Tomoyo examined the cosmetics Lady Clara had bought for her. Then she shuddered at the thought of looking like a very pale ghost like the women she saw in Renaissance-theme films. She picked up a ceramic container containing foundation and started applying make-up the modern way. Soon she was finished and neatly fixed all the cosmetics. She stood up and went out.
"Who's that?" one man asked. His companion looked at the direction pointed at and saw a lady enter one of the doors. Tomoyo looked fantastic and was feeling very happy that she looked different than those who wore their make-up differently. She held her big, flowing skirt and was having a hard time breathing because of the tight corset. "I don't know, but I'm sure Lady Clara may have an answer for that." Tomoyo's face started heating up as men looked her way. She finally saw a face that she recognized. "Carter!" Carter's jaw dropped as Tomoyo made her way through the crowd. Tomoyo had made a smoky look to contrast her pale features and match the purple velvet dress she wore. "Hi Catherine!" "Am I ever glad you're here! I thought I wouldn't recognize anyone," Tomoyo said and smiled. "You look dashing in that suit, Carter." Carter blushed at her compliment. "Thank you." They continued to talk until William, Andrew, Sid, and the rest, including Albert, made an appearance. All of them were complimenting Tomoyo's beautiful look. After sometime, some of them left and a few guys introduced themselves. Pretty soon, Tomoyo was crowded with guys when someone cleared his throat. "May I have your attention please." The crowd went silent as the man spoke. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I, Charles Perry Montgomery, Duke of Cornwall, am pleased to announce that my daughter, Clara Marie Montgomery, would be engaged to William Harper Johnson, oldest son of the Duke of Windsor." The crowd clapped as Clara appeared and descended down the huge staircase to meet Johnson who was at the bottom of the stairs, smiling happily. After a while, the celebration started and people were dancing, eating, drinking, and chatting. Tomoyo was talking to James when she saw someone at the corner of her eye. "Edward." she muttered angrily. "Uh, James, I think I would be going somewhere for a while, please excuse me." "Sure, go ahead." Tomoyo wove in and out of the crowd in order to avoid Edward who immediately saw her and started to follow her. She got out of the hall and turned to the left corridor. She was walking fast when someone called her. "Catherine!" Tomoyo only walked faster turning another corner and hid behind a tall vase. Edward missed her and she went to the other hallway. Edward on the other hand saw her gown turning the other way and he was starting to get ticked off. "Great!" she groaned when she ended up in a dead end. She turned away when she bumped into "Edward?" Edward smirked. "So where are you going? The servant's quarters?" Tomoyo ignored him and went passed him. But he barred her way by spreading his arms. "I'm not letting you pass until you talk to me." But Tomoyo was stubborn. She pushed his arm away and took off like a shot. But Edward remained undaunted and ran after her.