/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /
Chapter Three
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of one of the most well known dressers in all of London. Sighing with the knowledge that there was no way to get out of it, I obediently got out of the carriage and hurried inside.
It appeared that today was one of their busy days, so I made myself comfortable in one of the chairs up front. Somehow I knew that it was going to be torture to come in today. Grandmother picked one of the worst days for me to come over here.
It didn't take long before I heard a familiar voice coming closer to where I was sitting. I looked up to see Felicity and Ann laughing over some little joke that they were sharing between them. Instantly I felt jealous of them. How could they get together so quickly and have so much fun together whether ever inviting me?
"But of course she wouldn't have anything else to do," Felicity gasped between laughs.
She stops in surprise when she sees me sitting up at the front. I could nearly laugh at the sight of her surprise and Ann nearly running into the back of her. It looks like they have seen a ghost.
"Hello, girls," I exclaimed, standing up to walk over to them.
Felicity recovered her shock and put on her usual smiles. "Why, Gemma, how splendid it is to see you again! When did you get here?"
"Oh, not very long, to be truthful," I reply, "my grandmother wishes me to order new clothes for the season."
"What a coincidence, that's exactly what we were in here for, as well," Ann exclaims, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. She seems so much happier, I note, less the careful and quiet girl I once knew.
"I see that you are not at Spence, Ann," I stated, "has your cousin pulled you out for you to be her children's governess?"
Ann gives me a curious look. "Didn't you know? I am to be married."
I look at Felicity in surprise. She merely shrugs and I turn back to Ann.
"This is surely some news," I reply, "who are engaged to?"
"But didn't you know? I'm to be married to your brother," Ann exclaimed. "Didn't he tell you?"
Right now I would have given anything to give Tom a quick kick in the shins for not telling me his news. But then again he was tired and I didn't want to press him any further. News of my father had overshadowed everything else.
"No, he didn't," I answer. "We had some rather unexpected news that quite possibly drove everything else out of his mind. When did this happen?"
Ann was about to speak when one of the seamstresses came up to us. I sighed. Something to prolong my curiosity even further, it seemed.
"We're waiting for you now, Miss Doyle," the seamstress said.
I nodded before turning to my friends. I curtsied to them. "It's a pleasure seeing you again, Miss Worthington, Miss Bradshaw. Please do come see me sometime. I am free most afternoons."
Felicity gave a smile. "And perhaps we'll take a trip to a place that we all miss."
I frown and turn back to Felicity. "When it is most suitable, I'm sure."
Without another word, I followed the seamstress back to the back. I couldn't let my grandmother be disappointed this day.
As I expected, it took hours for the seamstress to figure out my size and what colors suited me best. Finally, I was allowed to go with the promise of my clothes in a few weeks. Stepping outside, I looked for the carriage that bore me here.
Finding the carriage, I walked confidently towards it and was about to go in when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Spinning around, I found myself looking into those beautiful dark eyes that have haunted me in my dreams. It was Kartik. My Kartik.
"We meet again, I see, Miss Doyle," Kartik said, a warm smile on his face. "I see that you are well."
I gave a small smile in return. "As well as I can be, Mr. Kartik."
"I have missed you so, Gemma," he said in a low voice. "When can we meet again?"
I take his hand and gave it a squeeze. "You know where we live. I'll meet you in the stables the first chance I get. There are many things to discuss."
Kartik gave a curt nod. "I shall see you then, madam."
Without another word, he turns and disappears into the ever growing crowd. I climbed into my carriage, unable to stop a smile from spreading on my face. I had found Kartik again and in less than a few hours I was going to meet him again. This surely had to be what it felt like to be in love. True love, that is. I think of Simon Middleton and I shudder slightly. What would have happened if I had married him? Doomed to forever live in unhappiness, in a marriage where I could never make the man I married to happy.
As I reached home, I noticed Tom standing outside the front door, waiting for me apparently. I wonder what for.
Jumping out of the carriage, I walk towards him. "This is surely an improvement from last night."
Tom shook his head. "I am not in the mood for your antagonistic moods, Gemma. Father has asked for you and I am to take you to him."
"How is he?" I ask as I find myself hopping back into the carriage.
Tom climbed up into the carriage beside me. "In one of his lucid moments, I do believe. He's getting more and more of these, thank goodness. Hopefully the worst part is almost over."
I sigh. Tom always believes it is he that who helped cure father. He'll never know that it is I who gave our father the hope and courage to move past his addictions.
As the carriage lurched foreword I couldn't help but wonder what I was going to find in my father once we reached Bethlem Hospital. I hope that I will find him at peace but deep down I know he won't be completely better. Not for a long time.
--
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed and here's chapter three for everybody. I hope everybody likes it so far. I promise it will get more exciting after this, just give me a while to work on it.
My fourth anniversary on being on this site! Amazing how time flies when you're having fun, no? I might have a new story or something updated for the occasion but it might not be until later or in the morning. Meanwhile you get updates!
Once again, thanks to all who've reviewed and I'll update when I can. Don't forget to review, it makes the writer happy.