Written For:
- Day 8 of 366 Days of Writing Challenge: Hidden
Pairing/Characters: Walburga, Alphard
Word Count: 379
Love Me For Me
I must become a lion hearted girl, ready for a fight.
Walburga shrunk back in her hiding place in the laundry cupboard as feet padded past, but her brother's giggling told her that she had already been discovered. Alphard's dark eyes and grinning face appeared in the crack of the door, surprising her. She scowled at him. "Go away, Al!" she hissed.
"Why are you hidden in there?" he questioned, bending down to peer inside. Unlike six year old Walburga, who was fairly skinny and short enough to squeeze into narrow spots like the laundry cupboard, Alphard would have never fitted inside.
"Will you be quiet?" Walburga snapped, peering behind Alphard into the kitchen and lowering her voice. "Mother is trying to make me have one of those dreadful etiquette lessons again."
"Well, you have to go for them."
Walburga glowered at him. "You and Cygnus never have to attend!"
Alphard puffed out his chest proudly. "That's because Mother doesn't think we need etiquette, Walburga. Also, you need good manners if you intend to secure a husband when you're older."
"I'm never going to get married," Walburga replied nonchalantly, folding her arms over her chest. "I hate boys, and I hate etiquette."
"You shouldn't glare and pout like that, Walburga," Alphard continued. "And you really shouldn't say how much you hate things—it's not ladylike. No man would ever want to marry you with that terrible attitude." The corners of Alphard's lips were tugging upwards—he always knew how to wind up Walburga.
"I don't care!" Walburga shrieked suddenly. "I don't want a smelly husband who won't like me for who I am! I hate being polite and quiet and stupid!" she pushed past Alphard as she climbed out of the cupboard, and came face-to-face with Irma Black, who was standing in the entryway of the kitchen. "Mother," Walburga stammered quickly, resisting the urge to shrink back into her cupboard.
"There you are, Walburga," Irma replied huffily. "I've been looking for you everywhere!" She reached forward, grabbing her daughter by the wrist. "Now, come along to the drawing room—we have lots to do today!"
As Walburga was dragged away by her mother, she turned back to stare at her grinning brother, and stuck out her tongue rudely.
