Sorry that I took so long to update! But school's been really busy lately... sorry! I'll try to update all my other stories but I'm a little stuck, anyways... ENJOY AND REVIEW PLEASE!!
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Clara, and that really upsets me...
Disclaimer: I don't own the song Sweet William either...
Chapter Five- A Different Kind of Mourning
"Be sober, be vigilant… as it sayeth in the book of Peter, chapter five, verse eight… because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.." Reverend Steenwyck said solemnly.
Clara bowed her head and stood with her brother. She heard whispers about the young Constable and bit her lip; yes, he was handsome, yes, he was a beautiful, interesting human being. But this was her father's funeral.
Clara bit her lip even harder to halt the tears that were threatening to spill over and grimaced as a single tear fell. The young woman wiped the tear away quickly, frustrated. She was supposed to be strong for her brother, he couldn't see her cry, nobody could.
Ichabod stood observing everything. He saw Theodore looking longingly at Clara and saw Brom holding Katrina comfortingly as the young woman wept.
That's what Ichabod didn't understand. Katrina was weeping, yet her best friend had only shed a single tear. Looking around again, the Constable saw Theodore giving him a distasteful look before going to put an arm around Clara; and that bothered Ichabod. He didn't know why, but it did. What's more, he felt a sort of satisfaction when the young woman shrugged her fiancé off, but quickly pushed those feelings aside. There was no time for feelings; Constable Crane had a murder to solve.
He had his arm around her waist and tried to hug her close, but Clara wouldn't allow it. She didn't need anybody hugging her other then Daniel, and having Theodore latched onto her like some hungry parasite was starting to annoy the brunette. In fact, Clara would've gone as far as to say she was feeling claustrophobic.
She shrugged him off.
By now, Steenwyck had just finished the sermon and Daniel had run off somewhere, Clara gave Theodore one last shove, his iron grip loosened. "Clara I don't-"
"Just leave me alone." She murmured timidly.
The young man placed his arm around her yet again and she took it off, annoyed. "Clara, I think that we should move the wedding up, what d'you think?" He whispered in her ear.
Clara thought about this. Her father was gone… so what was stopping her from happiness? She had never spoken to her father about Theodore so technically she still hadn't received answer….
"No." She muttered.
"Pardon, love?"
"No." She stated sternly. "I will not marry you."
"Clara, you've had a very trying day and it's clear-"
"I am not delusional, Theodore. I simply won't marry you… I'm sorry."
"This was your father's wish!" He insisted.
Quite the persistent little thing. "My father had many wishes, I do not think he would mind if I didn't honor this one." And with that, she swept past him.
He grabbed her arm tightly.
"It's because of that Constable, isn't it?" He spat viciously. "He's polluted your mind!"
"Let go!" Her voice was raised now.
Theodore let her go and Clara tumbled to the floor in a messy heap.
As she lay on the ground, Clara Masbath found herself wanting to cry all over again.
"Mister Constable, sir!"
Ichabod turned around.
"You are Young Masbath…"
"I was Young Masbath, but soon the only one. Masbath at your service, in honor bound to avenge my father." Daniel said confidently.
"Well soon-to-be-one-and-only Masbath, I thank you. But your mother and sister will need you more than I."
"My mother is in heaven, sir, she has my father to care for her now… And my sister is to be married within the next month. But you have no one to serve you, and I am your man, sir!"
"And a brave man too, but I cannot be the one to look after you. I am sorry for your loss, young Mister Masbath."
Daniel nodded his head solemnly and moved towards his father's grave, upset.
The Constable turned around and was almost hit by a flurry of black; it was Clara Masbath.
"Clara…?" He whispered to himself.
"Constable…" Philipse muttered.
"Mr. Philipse?" Ichabod asked curiously.
Philipse looked around anxiously.
"…Something you should know. Jonathan Masbath was not the fourth victim, but the fifth!"
"The fifth?" The Constable asked, confused.
"Aye." Philipse muttered. "Five victims, four graves…"
"But who…?"
And Philipse was gone. Ichabod looked to young Daniel Masbath.
"Young Masbath! Find a place in the Van Tassel's servant quarters. Wake me before dawn. I hope you have a strong stomach."
"Thank you, sir." Daniel said gratefully.
And now to find Miss Clara…
He's gone, now we have no one. I'm in no state to raise Daniel, in fact, I don't think I can take care of myself at this point... We have no means of receiving money other then my healing business, and that can't support us! I should've just accepted Theodore's proposal and stuck it out… I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye to my father properly.
Clara sat at Jonathan Masbath's murder site in the Western woods; crying. Her black lacey mourning gown was crumpled and full of dirt, her hair let loose from the strict bun she had confined it in. She wore no make-up, but her eyes were red and swollen, her cheeks a rosy pink from all the crying. Her handkerchief had long since run out of use and she was now resorting to wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Ichabod traced her footsteps to the murder site.
"Okay, Clara. Get it together. You have to be strong for Daniel, so just… get up and walk right back into town…"
Ichabod frowned. She has to hide her tears?
Without the young Constable's consent, his feet moved from behind the tree.
"Miss Clara?"
She looked up. Her eyes were red and her clothes were filthy, in short; she looked a mess.
There he was, right in front of her… and she was on the ground; crying. This is not the way to impress him. She inwardly groaned.
"Oh, um…" Her tongue was tied. Ok think rational thoughts Clara, make a coherent sentence. "Constable, what brings you here?"
"…I wanted to examine the murder site again." He said while walking towards her.
She swallowed thickly. "I… I see… and have you found anything interesting?"
Ichabod smirked.
Stupid! Of course he hasn't found anything yet! He's just arrived! Bloody Hell!
"Sorry." She muttered. "Stupid question."
"… Are you okay, Clara?" She nodded, her eyes boring into his.
This time, it was Ichabod's turn to draw a blank. He smiled at her and again, his feet moved on their own accord. He sat down beside the young woman.
"I… know I've said this… many times, but I truly am sorry for your loss…"
"It's alright, you had nothing to do with it." Clara said shortly while staring blindly in front of her.
Ichabod turned her head so she was looking at him, a tear slipped down her cheek and the Constable wiped it away nonchalantly. His hand then took on a life of its own and cupped her cheek, it slid down to her neck and slowly made his way to her shoulder before his other hand busied itself with wiping away another stray tear. Both adults were looking at each other intensely and Ichabod's wandering hand opened and traveled to Clara's back so that his arm was around her. The young woman's tears were now flowing more freely and she took the liberty of softly wiping them away herself, yet she did nothing to stop Ichabod from helping her.
She chuckled good naturedly. "I'm sorry… for all of this. I'm not- I'm not usually like this."
"Nonsense." The Constable murmured soothingly. "I'm honored that you think me worthy enough to witness such a spectacle."
Clara smiled before hugging him and kissing his cheek.
"Clara, I don't seem to-"
"I felt you worthy." She answered softly.
Ichabod smiled back at the innocent, child-like creature before him. He was tongue-tied again. "I… I…"
"You're scared of me." The brunette laughed.
"N-no. Not scared-"
"Intimidated." She corrected playfully. "Intimidated by beautiful women."
You have no idea. He thought grimly.
"…Let me help you." She murmured.
"Beg pardon?" He asked, completely taken by surprise at the random sentence that tumbled from her lips.
"Let me help you solve this mystery, Constable."
"Clara, I cannot-"
"Do you know what the last thing I said to my father was?" She asked quietly. "…I hate you. That was the last thing I said to him before he died… I want to help you, Constable. I need to avenge my father."
"Miss Masbath, I offer you my sincerest sympathies, but I cannot let you help me. It is too dangerous."
"…I see. Well, I should be getting back to my brother…" She said disappointed.
She began to walk towards the village but was stopped by Ichabod's hand. She marveled at how soft and gentle it was compared to Theodore's. The young man leant down and pressed his lips to her hand sweetly and Clara parted her lips. "I…- Thank you again fer everything." She smiled politely before running in the direction of the village, Ichabod murmuring her name softly soon after her departure.
Clara walked back to the village quickly, her mind reeling. It was no wonder when the young woman bumped into her best friend. Katrina immediately turned around and enveloped her friend in a crushing hug.
"Oh goodness, Clara! You gave us all a terrible fright! Nobody could find you… we thought you had…"
"Katrina, I'm fine!"
"So… where's Ichabod…?" The blond teased, her eyes then widened. "You two weren't… You didn't…"
"Hush, not so loud!" Clara hissed. "No, we didn't do anything you thought we did!... He consoled me and, he just… he's wonderful, isn't he?"
"Quite." Katrina smiled.
And then it all sunk in. "Katrina…" The brunette started out uncertainly. "I may have done the most stupid thing in my life; I rejected Theodore's offer."
All Clara's friend could do was smirk.
"What's so funny?! I might've just ruined my life and you're-you're…!"
"It's because of Constable Crane… isn't it?"
"No, it's not because of Constable Crane… is it?" Her eyes widened. "I-I didn't do it while thinking of him… at least not consciously… What if I did?" Her voice was now a whisper. "Katrina, I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life."
"No, you didn't! You just-"
"But I did!" Clara interrupted. "I threw away a comfortable life with a man I don't love for a life I hoped would include the man that I-I… I'm very attracted to… Ichabod Crane."
Katrina sighed. "Oh Clara, that's terribly romantic."
The brunette shook her head. "No.." She whispered. "Because he is by no means attracted to me in return, this story won't have a happy ending, Kat." She held her head in her hands. "I'm such and idiot!"
Katrina once again hugged her distressing friend. "I think you made the right decision." The blond murmured.
Clara laughed mockingly at herself.
"For what it's worth, Clara. I don't think that you should marry Theodore… because in the end, you won't be happy."
"And when does happiness have anything to do with marriage?"
At that, Katrina rolled her eyes. "It doesn't. But just because it doesn't, that doesn't mean it shouldn't… You know what I think?"
"What do you think, Miss Van Tassel?" Clara murmured while groaning inwardly, sometimes Katrina's ideas were crazy… and Clara was not about to go and confess her feelings to the incredibly handsome Constable.
"I think you should stay with us."
"What?! No, I couldn't-"
"Oh come on Clara! Your brother is staying in the servant's quarters to help your dear Constable and you seem to have a lot on your mind…"
A half hour later, Clara was given a room in the Van Tassel household.
Sarah and Daniel entered the room just as the brunette was getting ready to leave.
"Clara!" Her brother exclaimed as he jumped into her arms.
"Daniel." She whispered breathlessly. "You know I was just coming to find you?"
The young boy smiled as Clara ruffled his hair, Daniel immediately scowled.
"Clara! I'm too old for that now!"
She smiled and looked to Sarah. "And how are you doing, Sarah? Enough adventure and mystery to keep you occupied?"
The young maid laughed. "I'm well enough, Clara." She mouthed the words: I'm sorry. Clara nodded her thanks and Sarah left the two alone.
Wonderful smells wafted from the Van Tassel's small kitchen and Ichabod decided to take a break from working on the murder to get a bite to eat. Imagine his surprise when he walked in on a singing Clara Masbath preparing dinner:
The rose is red, the grass is green
The days are past that I have seen
And there is another where I have been
Sweet William's a-mourning among the rush.
Close in them arms I would embrace
The door should be locked and the key in the chest
Sweet William's a-mourning among the rush…
I wish I was where I love best
The young brunette danced around the kitchen, her soft melodic voice crooning to any man close enough to listen. Clara didn't think anyone was listening though, she believed herself to be all alone. Which was most likely why, the young woman stopped abruptly when she heard footsteps.
Frowning, Clara took the spoon full of cookie batter and placed it behind her back. She crept to the source of the noise and raised her weapon above her head. "Hello..?" Nobody answered. The young woman slowly walked through the doorway and squeaked in surprise as her eyes fell on Ichabod Crane.
The handsome Constable laughed at the sight before him: There was Clara, brown eyes as wide as they could possibly be, holding a spoon covered in chocolate batter over her head like a weapon. Some of her hair fell into her eyes (she sported a bun to keep her locks from getting in the food), and flour was smeared on her left cheek and apron. She looked absolutely hysterical.
Clara glared at the brown-eyed man before her. "Don't you ever do that again! Constable or no, you've no right to eavesdrop on me!"
Ichabod thought her glare made her all the more humorous. "It's not funny, Ichabod." She growled dangerously.
She rolled her eyes as the young man tried to form a sentence through his chuckles. "F-forgive me…"
"Do you happen to enjoy biscuits, Constable?" Clara asked sweetly. Ichabod stopped laughing at once, the tone she was using was much too sweet for his liking.
"Yes.." He began carefully. "Why do you-" In one swift movement, Clara Masbath had taken some of the batter on her spoon and put it on his nose.
He gaped.
She simply shrugged and popped some of the dough into her own mouth, she smirked before returning to the kitchen.
"You can eat it you know, it's not poisonous. I haven't put the eggs in yet, so you won't have to worry about getting sick." Clara called.
Ichabod could only stand there, dumbfounded. That annoyingly beautiful woman had just put cookie dough on his nose. Hesitantly, he too popped the chocolate dough into his mouth. The sweet mixture danced on his tongue before he finally swallowed, it was good, but he wasn't about to tell her that. So with confidence in his stride, Ichabod marched into the kitchen… with chocolate on his nose.
Clara smirked as he entered and motioned for him to go to her. She was surprised when he obliged. He stopped a few feet in front of her and Clara rolled her eyes again, she took his hand gently and pulled him closer. He frowned in confusion while Clara took a dish towel and turned to him, she started to languidly clean the chocolate off his nose. Clara noticed that Ichabod was tense and smiled after she had finished. "So.. What brings you down from your mysteries , Constable Ichabod Crane?"
"I happened to smell something wonderful coming from this very room, Miss Masbath."
"Ahh, so you smelt my new perfume, then?" Clara joked.
Ichabod smiled and Clara felt herself smiling as well, she looked into his mysterious eyes and soon found herself a lot closer to him then she was before. Upon realizing this, her cheeks burned crimson and she looked at her feet.
Ichabod thought that Clara looked sweet with a blush decorating her cheeks and tilted her face up to see her in full. She had beautiful soft features, her eyes were filled with innocence and curiosity and her lips were extremely inviting. Both their breathes mingled now that they were so close and Clara's eyes were half closed, Ichabod wasn't far behind. She felt her lips graze his and jumped back, breathing heavily. "I… I'm sorry…" She murmured. "I don't know what came over me-"
The young Constable silenced her by gently pressing his lips to her cheek. It was a sweet gesture and Clara felt her whole body become warm. Ichabod smiled at her shyly before turning on his heel to leave, but he didn't make it far.
"Ichabod?"
He looked at Clara through some of that hair that was in his eyes.
"Here." She held out a plate with some cookies and a glass of water. "Dinner's not for a while and you shouldn't work on an empty stomach."
Ichabod nodded his thanks and took the food and beverage while grinning at her. Clara's heart launched itself into a complicated dance with her stomach, it made her feel uneasy. But Clara smiled anyways and gave him a friendly peck on the cheek before he had the chance to leave. Her lips were close to his ear and the young woman took advantage of her position.
"Turnabout is fair play, Constable."
She heard him gulp and take a deep breath, unconsciously inhaling her scent. His nose touched her neck and goosebumps immediately covered the area. As Ichabod left the kitchen with food in hand, one thought went through both their minds: This is not good.
Hope you liked!
