Chapter Eleven ~ Rainy Days
Mr De Noir lead us inside the castle and I could see Uncle and Mrs Heliotrope gazing around it in wonder. They hadn't been to the castle at all. We headed into the great hall where changes had been made to the lay out and the furniture.
Instead of the long wooden table from before the dining table was large and round, taking up the centre of the room. It seemed that all the dark tapestries had been replaced with brighter ones, and most of the darker furniture around to room had been changed for a lighted edition. This all gave the room a much brighter feel, then the dark and mysterious feel as before.
"So you've finally decided to get rid of all the awful furniture in here, Father?" Loveday spoke, admiring the room with satisfaction. "It does look better, I must say." Mr De Noir seemed to grimace slightly and before he could answer, his brother-in-law did for him.
"The room was much to dark and dreary." Mr Cunningham nodded. "I thought some changes were in order and think I would gone insane if every room in this God forsaken place was like this." Loveday and Mr De Noir shared a look. "No wonder your children ended up like they did, William." Everyone in the room went silent as Mr De Noir turned to face Mr Cunningham.
"And what do you mean by that, George?" He challenged, his face hard. Though Mr Cunningham didn't seem to notice as he just walked past him and made himself comfy at the table.
"Well," He began. "Your daughter was a traitor, and don't tell me that was a misunderstanding, because I am not stupid. She fell in love with that Merryweather over there," He pointed a stubby finger at Uncle, who was positively shell-shocked, much like everyone else in the room. "And dishonoured our family." Loveday opened her mouth to say something though her father raised a hand to silence her.
"That issue was nothing to do with you, George." He spoke firmly. "What happened between my daughter and I is no concern of yours." Mr Cunningham didn't seem affected by any of it. "And she did not dishonour our family."
"Whatever you say, William." Mr Cunningham shrugged. He beckoned for his son Henry to sit down, who obliged happily. "But don't get me started on your son." He spoke suddenly. Mr De Noir's face seemed to turn to stone as the words came out Mr Cunningham's mouth.
"What's wrong with my brother?" Loveday asked for her father when he didn't seem as though he was going to speak.
"Do you want me to write you a list?" Mr Cunningham chuckled, nudging his son. The pair seemed to laugh at some private joke.
I defiantly had lost any respect I had for Mr Cunningham.
"I'm joking, William." Mr Cunningham said finally, when he recovered from laughing. "I apologise for my actions." From his face, I could tell he didn't mean it. "Come, let's eat. That's what we're here for aren't we?" Loveday turned to her father and raised an eyebrow, letting him make the decision.
"Of course." Mr De Noir nodded. Loveday's face showed that that was not what she wanted to hear. Her father ignored her and headed to the table. "Let's eat."
Dinner was an odd experience.
Loveday remained silent, a sour expression on her face, sitting as far away from her family as she could possibly get. Uncle and Mrs Heliotrope sat either side of her, both of which seemed shocked by the previous conversation still. Mr De Noir sat next to Mr Cunningham, his eyes were sad, and he picked carelessly at his food.
I guessed then why Mr De Noir had not stood up to his brother-in-law. Like Robin had told me, he felt guilty for his wife's death and felt like he had a duty to be civil with her brother. I could tell though, that what Mr Cunningham had said about his children had affected him. When Mr Cunningham said all the stuff about Loveday, his face was full of anger, as any parent would in that situation. But when Mr Cunningham spoke about Robin, Mr De Noir seemed to remember his guilt and did not say anything. This just added more to his guilt, not standing up for his son. His mood at dinner was because of it.
Though I wasn't sure if my thoughts on the interaction before were correct, I took them as the truth. I was usually right with things like that.
What confused me the most about dinner was Robin's absence. I was afraid to ask his father incase it made him feel even worse than he already did concerning his son. So I didn't say anything.
Though he seemed just as arrogant as his father, Henry tried his hardest to keep the mood around the table positive. He would ask people questions and show interests in what we said. Maybe my first impressions were wrong about him, though I wasn't going to make any rash judgement's just yet.
Henry was talking to Mrs Heliotrope about London when the doors to the great hall burst open.
"Father." Robin's voice rang out. He walked in, soaking wet, his 'gang' trailing after him. They were all equally as wet. He paused slightly once he realised there was a gathering.
"Robin?" Mr De Noir frowned at his son. "Why on earth are you wet?"
"Because I thought I'd bathe with all my clothes on." Robin shot back sarcastically. His friends sniggered. "Have you not seen the weather outside?" His father's frown seemed to deepen.
"It was fine when we were out before."
"Well, it isn't so fine anymore." He shivered slightly. Mr De Noir regarded him for a few moments before chuckling and turning back to his food. He scooped up a forkful before he spoke.
"You found anything when you were out on patrol?" He asked. Patrol. There it was again. I really needed to ask Robin what was going on.
"Maybe." Robin nodded. He turned to his friends and grabbed the arm of the blonde one, pulling him forward. "Luke thinks he saw something." Mr De Noir stopped eating and turned to face them.
"What did you see?" He asked the Luke boy. Luke glanced around the table at us all. A question in his eyes.
"Father, do you think it's best to speak in front of everyone." Robin spoke for him. Mr De Noir paused and murmured something to Robin before turning to face us all again.
"Loveday?" He asked his daughter. Loveday seemed to know what it meant.
"Maria, dear." She smiled at me. "Do you think you could show Mrs Heliotrope around a few of the rooms for me?" She glanced at Mrs Heliotrope and nodded once. I knew what she wanted. They didn't want me to hear what everyone was planning. I glared at her and stood up.
"Fine." I mumbled. I didn't want to make some big scene right know. I will wait till I get home. Mrs Heliotrope stood aswell and I marched out the room. Mrs Heliotrope scampering after me.
Instead of showing Mrs Heliotrope around, I decided to go check out the rain Robin had spoke of. We stood at the doors of the castle, completely dazed.
Before the sky's were dry and clear, now rain fell hard, drenching anyone who was unlucky enough to be caught standing outside in it.
I didn't speak or look at Mrs Heliotrope. I was too frustrated with being excluded from everyone. Though I may have not been the only one. Loveday may have wanted Mrs Heliotrope to leave for a reason too.
"Do you know what they're planning, Mrs Heliotrope?" I asked coldly. There was a short silence.
"Yes, my dear." Okay, so I was the only one. "But please, do not be angry. It is for your own good, I assure you."
"You sound like Robin." I muttered. Mrs Heliotrope sighed.
"If I could tell you, I would."
"Who said I can't know?" I demanded, turning to look at her. She didn't say anything and just pursed her lips. "Tell me."
"Young Robin may have said something about leaving you out of the know." She said so quietly I had to listen hard to hear her. But I did. I laughed without humour.
"I am going to kill him." I muttered gravely, grinding my teeth together.
"Do not think badly of the boy, Maria." Mrs Heliotrope said softly. "He is just looking out for you. He cares for you." I nodded.
"He just doesn't trust me enough to tell me thinks." I replied flatly. This wasn't the first thing Robin had been keeping from me. There had been Jude, his apparent piano skills and now this. Whatever it was.
"That is not true, Maria."
"That's what it looks like from here." I looked up at her and raised a challenging eyebrow. I shouldn't take it out on Mrs Heliotrope, but I just couldn't stop.
"I don't think I'm the best person you should talk to about this, Maria." She said quietly.
"No." I agreed. "But the only person who I should be talking to is planning and scheming without me."
"They're not scheming, Maria."
"What are they doing then?" Silence.
"Excuse me, Maria. I'm going to go find my husband. Keep him company while he waits with the carriage." She pulled out her umbrella and walked down the stone steps and out into the rain. Her umbrella didn't seem to work very well, but it was evident that she didn't care. She disappeared off in the direction of the stable. Sighing I sat down on the first step, so I was out of the rain.
I debated whether I should head home now, I didn't care much about getting wet. Though the rain seemed to fall harder and I decided it was not one of my best ideas.
Slow footsteps on the floor behind me. They stopped next to me and I heard someone sit down. I didn't look as I was too intrigued with the rain outside.
"You're mad, aren't you?" The voice seemed to rekindle my anger from before and I turned to the person next to me.
"Shouldn't you be planning without me?" I spat, allowing myself to glare at him.
"I told you, Maria." Robin began. "It's better if you don't know. Trust me, we're only trying to look out for you."
"Don't you mean you are?" I asked. "You're the one who doesn't want me to know, after all." Robin chuckled slowly and looked down at his feet.
"I knew you'd find out about that sooner or later."
"And when will I find out about all that?" I nodded in the direction of the great hall. "Sooner or later?"
"Please don't be angry with me, princess." He begged softly.
"Don't 'princess' me." I muttered, looking away. There was silence between us. Then I saw Robin reach out and grab my hand. I pulled it out his grip immediately.
"Don't do this, Maria." Robin said slowly. He knew now I was angry. Even when I had was angry with him before I would always allow him to hold my hand in a moment like this.
"Don't do what, Robin?" I demanded, turning to face him now. He watched me, warily. "I'm sick of this!" I didn't realise I was shouting until now. I never shouted. "I'm sick of you keeping things from me and going behind my back."
"I'm not…"
"Yes you are!" I cried. "I thought we were best friends?" Robin frowned.
"We are." He said quietly.
"Best friends don't keep secrets from each other." Neither of us said anything, we just stared at each other. Robin's face went hard for a few moments as he was thinking then it fell soft again. He turned towards the rain.
"There's something out there."
"What?" I asked, unsure if I had heard him. He exhaled deeply before speaking again.
"There is something in the forest." He said slowly.
(A/N) Another chapter for you all to stick your teeth into! Hope you enjoy it!
Nothing much to say really... other than the usual. Keep those reviews coming! And I shall be back soon with the next chapter! :)
-jemlou-