Emily's racing heart suddenly dropped. Her expectations and hopes had been taken away in a matter of seconds. Closing the front door behind her and feeling the slight chill of the air on her arms, Emily wandered out in to the village, watching the young children play around her, giggling and running like it was their last day alive. She folded her arms across her chest and let the wind blow her curls about as she stepped closer to the village fountain, finding a seat at its edge.
The coldness of the concrete stones seeped through her dress and chilled Emily to the bone, as she gazed down in to the slow trickling water of the fountain, noticing the wishing coins glistening at the bottom, like a diamond mosaic. She noticed her reflection in the water's surface and gazed at every detail. The curve of her chin. The point of her perfect nose. Every curl in her hair and every single little black eyelash.
And then…her reflection became two. To her left, a new face appeared in the water. That of the mysterious stranger. His dark hair came out in more detail than before – small strands of grey starting to seep their way through – and the way his nose curved. At first Emily wondered what made her so charmed by the man, but the way his eyes glistened and his lips curved to a seductive smile, the wonders vanished and replaced themselves with fascination. Emily slowly turned her body away from the fountain water and towards this anonymous man, keeping her eyes trained on whatever part of the man she saw first. With a quick and swift movement, Emily brought her eyes to look up, coming in contact with the man's face – every precise detail making an appearance.
"You found me" he smirked, his first words to her sounding smooth and silky.
"You found me" Emily returned, beginning to stand before the gentleman, announcing her height as she came face to face with him, her eyes coming level with his bulging chin.
"Indeed. Though I'd like to think we found each other. Almost like a destined fate."
"Almost. My name is Emily, sir. Miss Emily Hunter." Emily held an arm forward, hoping the stranger would know his manners and kiss her hand politely.
"Miss Emily. My name is Barkis Bittern. Lord Barkis Bittern" he replied, taking Emily's hand in his, gladly caressing it with his lips in a courteous manner.
"A Lord?" Emily practically beamed. "Such a man of your status has never been seen in these parts of the village."
"That is because, my dear Miss Emily, I am new to these parts. I arrived just yesterday afternoon. My…mansion…is just a few streets away."
"Your mansion?"
"Yes, my dear. My mansion."
"Your…lady companion is a very lucky woman to be married to such a gentleman" Emily batted her eyelids, hoping what Lord Barkis said next was what she wanted to hear. And it was.
"Alas my dear, I am not married. I am a bachelor. A lonely man wishing to share his…fortunes and luck with…someone very special. A special young woman, to be preferred."
Result! He was single, rich and looking for love and companionship!
"And I am sure you shall find your lucky lady in the near future, Lord Barkis…if not, very soon."
Emily found this the perfect opportunity to play 'reel-him-in'. She smiled her flirtatious smile to Lord Barkis, and taking a small stride away from him, feeling his eyes bearing in to her, waited for:
"Miss Emily…where do you think you are going?"
Again, result!
"Home, Lord Barkis. My parents will be wondering where their one and only bachelorette daughter is. Farewell…for now" Emily said, turning away once again and resumed walking back towards her house.
"But Miss Emily…when shall I see you again?" Lord Barkis asked.
"But Lord Barkis, are you sure you will be seeing me again?" Emily teased.
"Oh I am very sure. If not, very soon" he smirked in response.
Emily smiled once more, batting her eyelids some more, certain she had a definite candidate for a future husband. She walked away, leaving Lord Barkis by the village fountain, closing the space between her and the front door of her home.
As she embraced the entrance to her home, she decided to add one more flirtatious charm, and tossed her caramel hair over her shoulder and looked back to Lord Barkis, showing off her pearly-white teeth, hoping she would astound him and add more seduction to the situation.
As Emily disappeared through her front door, closing it behind her, she failed to notice one small gesture that would change her future forever. As the train of her dress disappeared, she failed to notice Lord Barkis' sweet, seductive, charming smile fade to a more gruesome, devilish and menacing smirk. His eyes filled with greed, as he watched the young, vulnerable beauty disappear for the day. He had a plan. A most brilliant and cunning plan.