Chapter Eighteen ~ Snow Is Falling

Being home again after such a long time was weird. The first full day back I spent the day wandering the house, getting used to it all again.

Loveday didn't stop pestering me about my birthday. She dragged me into the main sitting room the next day and told me everything she had planned for the party I may or may not be having.

I still hadn't decided yet.

She seemed more hyped up about my birthday than I was.

"You know a lot of people in the village, don't you?" She pressed. "You could invite a few of them. What about some of your old friends from London? You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Loveday, I haven't agreed to anything yet." I sighed. I stared longingly out the window. I wanted nothing more than to go outside and explore the grounds again.

"I'm thinking in advance, Maria. If you do decide tp have a party then we need to be ready."

"You said I could think about it."

"Yes I did. Though we'll need to tell your friends in advance if you want them to come." I only shrugged and let her continue planning. It was going to be like last year all over again.

But worse.

The first snow this winter fell later that week.

I woke up one morning and carried on about my normal daily routine when I caught a glimpse of the world outside my window. Snow had coated the ground over night and sent the world into a beautiful white.

I ran downstairs in my night dress, grabbing a robe before I left. I pulled it on in a hurried fashion as I skipped down the stairs. When I past the breakfast room, Wrolfe leapt after me and followed me as I ran for the entrance. I opened the two large wooden doors and took in the new snow.

It had been untouched so it was a perfect blanket of snow. The trees looked like something out of a fairytale with their snow covered branches. New snow flakes were still falling and I stared up a the white sky as it fell.

It was all so beautiful.

Wrolfe jumped past me and dived into the snow, seemingly wanting to be the first to walk in it. He ran around in the same manner of a dog, the old side of him coming through his lion exterior. I grinned and joined him.

Mrs Heliotrope came out after Wrolfe and I had played in the snow for most of the morning, with a worried look on her face. She told me to come in as she didn't want me to fall over and hurt myself. I could see her eyes watching Wrolfe with suspicion. This was nothing new, Mrs Heliotrope had always feared Wrolfe.

I followed her inside and was made to go upstairs and change out of my night dress, which was now ruined from falling in the snow, making snow angels.

"I hate the stuff." Mrs Heliotrope complained, staring out the window. We were sat in the smaller sitting room with Loveday. Uncle was down in the village with Digweed for the day so it was just us women in the house. Apart from Marmaduke of course.

"I love snow." Loveday disagreed. "I think it's beautiful." I agreed with Loveday. "I wish it would of snowed on Benjamin's and my wedding. It would of made the day even more perfect than it already was." She smiled to herself.

"Well, I'm quite glad it didn't snow on mine." Mrs Heliotrope shook her head and then grimaced at the thought. "Weddings should be confined to summer, where the weather is warmer and less snowy." Loveday and I shared a look and grinned. I added snow to the mental list I had of things Mrs Heliotrope hated.

"I think a winter wedding would be beautiful." I began. "All the snow would be amazing."

"We know when to set your wedding date for then." Loveday pointed out, her grin widening.

"Yes but that will all depend on who I marry." I began. "I mean, what if I marry someone who does not like snow? Like Mrs Heliotrope."

"I'm already married, my dear, but thank you for the offer." Mrs Heliotrope said. We all laughed.

"Well, as far as I know." Loveday began once we had recovered laughing. "My brother doesn't have a problem with snow." It took me a while to realise what she meant. When I did, I threw a cushion at her. It didn't phase her and she continued to tease me. "Just think, if you had this big party, I can make sure my baby brother gets so drunk and confesses his love for you. Then you can realise what a fool you're being." I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Isn't getting Robin drunk taking advantage of him?" I asked. She shrugged.

"He would thank me for it the next day." She simply said. I aimed another cushion at her and it hit her head.

"Can we move on?" I asked. Loveday and Mrs Heliotrope shared a look and the conversation on Robin ended.

Though Loveday didn't stop with the hints.

Whilst Loveday and Mrs Heliotrope were discussing their husbands, I made a swift getaway and headed out into the snow. Wrolfe was already outside, rolling around on the ground and having the time of his life.

"You're a true dog at heart, aren't you Wrolfe?" I laughed, patting his head.

"Is that a lion?" A voice cried from behind me. I spun around and saw Henry standing a few feet away, staring down at Wrolfe with a completely baffled expression on his face. I frowned at him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. Wrolfe stood up and growled at Henry, who took a few steps back. I patted the lion's head to tell him it was fine.

"You said I could visit." Henry replied, eyes still on Wrolfe.

"He won't hurt you." I explained. His eyes flickered up to mine but then back to the lion next to me. "Unless you hurt me." Henry chuckled slightly.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He said.

"I should hope not." I narrowed my eyes. "How did you get here?"

"I flew." He grinned. "I walked." He told me when he saw my expression.

"You walked?" I cried. He nodded. "You walked all the way here?" He nodded again, an amused look on his face. "On your own?" He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off. "How do you know where I live and why on earth did you walk here when you knew that there's a creature out in that forest, killing?"

"Cousin Robin showed me the way." He said. I looked around for Robin.

"Where is he then?"

"Tracking. He and his friends 'escorted' me here then continued tracking the creature." I found it hard to believe that Robin would show Henry the way to my house when days ago he had shown his dislike towards Henry spending time with me. "Robin didn't want to do it at first, but Father and Uncle William convinced him to do." That explained a lot.

"Oh." I nodded.

"I can tell my presence is unwelcome." He said slowly, looking slightly embarrassed.

"No you're very welcome to be here. I'm sorry." I said quickly, attempting to smile at him. "Would you like me to show you around the house?"

"I would love that." He grinned. He then held out a hand, which I guessed he wanted me to take.

I hesitated before taking it.

I showed Henry around the house. He seemed extremely fascinated with it and expressed that he'd much rather stay in Merryweather Manor than the De Noir castle which he was staying in at the moment.

When we met up with Mrs Heliotrope and Loveday, Henry explained to them both what he had told me. Mrs Heliotrope welcomed him with open arms, where Loveday regarded him with irritable eyes. I guessed she didn't appreciate her cousin being in her home.

"Henry, this is Marmaduke." I introduced him to the tiny chef, who beamed up at him. Henry stared at him with reluctance then shook his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr Henry." Marmaduke said, shaking Henry's hand so much I though his arm was going to fall off. When Marmaduke released his hand, Henry cradled his hand.

"Marmaduke is the best chef in Moonacre." I said. "And by far makes the best food I've ever tasted." Marmaduke smiled, proudly.

"Well, looks like I'll have to taste some and see for myself." Henry laughed. Marmaduke stared at him with a grin. A challenging look in his eyes.

We spent a considerable amount of time in the kitchen, trying whatever Marmaduke conjured up for us. I had already tasted his food, but I didn't deny a chance to feast down some of Marmaduke's amazing cuisine.

Henry was impressed. Eating up everything Marmaduke put in front of him.

"I must admit," Henry began. "You are an exceptionally good cook!" Marmaduke bowed.

"Thank you, Mr Henry."

Next on the tour around Merryweather Manor was my study room. I showed him inside and he seemed very interested in the piano.

"Do you play?" I asked. He didn't answer, he just walked over and sat down on the bench. The noise he produced from the piano was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I couldn't deny he was the best pianist I had ever listened to.

It seemed like everyone could play piano.

"I wrote this song myself." He said, almost arrogantly. I ignored his tone as what he was playing had completely stunned me. He was amazing. I sat down on the bench next to him and watched him play. "It's a love song." It took me a while to realise he was staring at me. When I did, I gave him a small smile.

Why was he looking at me in such an odd way?

"Do you believe in love at first sight, Maria?" He asked. I shook my head slowly.

"No I don't." I remembered the time I sat in the forest reading Romeo and Juliet. I debated in my head about love at first sight then. "I don't see how you can fall in love with someone just by looking at them. Falling in love takes time. So you truly understand the person and feel comfortable around them." Henry nodded slowly.

"Interesting logic." He agreed. "Though I think that you can fall in love with a look. You could feel completely comfortable around them straight away. Understanding them can be found along the way." He grinned at me.

"I still think it's ridiculous." I shrugged.

"I suppose that's where we differ than." Henry nodded. "Have you ever been in love, Maria?" The question took me completely by surprise. I stared at him for a few silent moments.

Have I ever been in love? I was only 14 years of age. Surely I couldn't be capable of love yet. I wasn't sure how to work out if I was in love anyway. I guessed it was a different kind of love that you have for family, but I didn't know how I could tell the difference between that kind of love and being in love when it came to it.

"I don't think so." I answered honestly. "Have you?" I regretted asking the question as he gave me a look that made me uncomfortable.

"Yes I have." He said, his eyes burning into me. Suddenly there was echoing cough and we both looked around. Robin stood by the entrance of the room, leaning casually against the wall. His face was unreadable as he watched us.

"Sorry, I wasn't interrupting you both, was I?" Robin asked, flatly. I heard Henry chuckle.

"I was just showing Maria the song I wrote for her." My eyes widened.

This song was for me? But he said it was a love song.

"I can see." Robin said slowly, regarding his cousin darkly.

"How long have you been stood there?" Henry asked. Robin's eyes met mine and didn't look away.

"Long enough." Why was he looking at me so accusingly? "We need to get going, cousin." He said, bluntly, releasing the hold he had on me and looking up at Henry. I heard Henry stand up and make his way around the bench. He stopped in front of me. I felt obliged to stand up

"Thank you so much for today, Maria." He smiled. "It has been truly enjoyable." Without warning he kissed my cheek. With one last smile at me, he headed over Robin, who was now glaring at us both. "Where are your friends?" Henry asked his cousin, brightly.

"Outside." Robin replied, not even glancing at Henry. He was staring at me again.

"I'll go say goodbye to Loveday and meet you out there." Henry nodded. He grinned over his shoulder at me then left. His leaving footsteps felt extremely loud in the agonising silence between Robin and I.

"I better leave you to your thoughts." Robin muttered finally. I hurried over to him as he turned to leave.

"Robin, don't go." I grabbed his arm. He wrenched it out my grip immediately. The action hurt me. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Robin asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I don't know, but you're mad at me so I thought…" I was cut off by Robin laughing humourlessly.

"You know what," He began. "I don't care anymore. You can go ahead and be all lovey-dovey with Henry because I can tell my warnings have been completely discarded. Go ahead and spend all the time you want with him, because I'm through with caring." He turned to leave. His words had confused me.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, standing in front of him so he couldn't leave.

"Don't play dumb, princess, it's not becoming." The way he said 'princess' was so arrogant and mocking that I stepped back a few steps.

"What on earth have I done to anger you so much?" He glared at me before shaking his head slowly.

"Forget it, Maria, just forget it." He pushed pass me and I heard him leaving. I spun around and stared at his retreating figure.

"Please don't go, Robin." I called. He stopped but didn't turn around. Finally he glanced over his shoulder at me, his face wasn't glaring, it was soft. He shook his head and then left without another word. I could have run to catch him, but I didn't. I was rooted to the spot.

What on earth had just happened?

I didn't realise I was crying until I felt salty tears on my tongue.

(A/N) Chapter eighteen is up and I hope you all liked it!

Again, not much to say so I'll leave you and hopefully see you next chapter. :)

-jemlou-