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"Ah! Mrs. Barker, you're back."
It was the beadle- the right hand of the judge- who opens the door for Lucy. He gives her a malicious smile then opens the door wider and gestures for her to come inside.
It has been her second time in the house and yet it still amazes her. Opening the door there's a hallway that contains different kinds of paintings and portraits but, what's prominent in this hall was the big chandelier located at the top- it has intricate designs. There is an isle connecting the hall to the rear side of the house. Traversing the isle, at both sides, there were different rooms facing each other. At the end of the isle there's a grand stair case leading to the second floor.
She follows the beadle's lead. The beadle says something about the library and Judge Turpin being there so she guesses that's where they are going. They stop at the third door on the left. The Beadle does not bother knocking and just enters. Upon entering she sees Judge Turpin on his desk- writing something.
The beadle clears his throat and announces her arrival "My Lord, Mrs. Barker's back."
Judge Turpin stops writing then looks up to Lucy. He gives her a welcoming smile then motion for her to sit by the chair near his desk.
"Have you considered my offer, Mrs. Barker?" he asks "It was a great offer. You see… you'll just go with me in my business trip as my secretary- for a week. I'll pay you immediately once we got back here." He shakes his head the sighs "I don't see why you still have to think about it."
She is still hesitant but she knows that if she does not make a decision soon, the Judge will look for replacement. "Well, that's why I'm here sir. I've decided that I would accept your offer."
The judge beams at this. He holds out his hand for his new secretary to shake. She takes his hand and shakes it- he gives it a little squeeze.
"We will leave tomorrow morning at 5 O' clock. Don't be late- I'll meet you here."
She nods then stands up, exiting- the beadle escorts her outside.
Once she was out of the mansion she starts walking home.
She does not expect that they would leave so soon. Now, she was thinking of how she will tell Ben that she will be gone for a week. She has not mention to him that she is looking for a job- he would not agree. She has to think of an excuse to leave. She cannot just simply tell Ben that she found a job and then leave tomorrow- he would not understand.
She does not want to lie to him but, it's better for the two of them if he does not know- even though it pains her in doing so. She's only keeping it from him because she knows that if he finds out then he would not let her come- especially if he knows that she was travelling with a man whom she just met. 'But it was the judge- he can be trusted!' she reasons to herself.
The truth is: the only reason that she went out and looked for a job is because she really wants to bear a child- to start a family. Ben says that they can't for now; because, they still need to earn money. So, if she can help in increasing their incomes and savings, then why not? She would not wait too long to have a family of her own.
She also knows how much Ben wants a child; it is for their own good. She's doing it for both of them. She shakes her head then sighs. No matter how much she says to herself that what she's doing is good for them she still knows that she should tell it to her husband- he deserves to know everything. She thinks it's unfair because Ben is honest to her- he does not keep secrets from her.
She is so deep in her thoughts that she does not notice that she is already in Fleet Street- exactly in front of Mrs. Lovett's bakeshop.
She does not want to see her husband yet so she decides to go to Mrs. Lovett's shop- to pass time. She is about to enter the shop but stops when she sees that it was full of customers. She does not want to disturb the baker. She has no choice but to turn around and go upstairs and face him.
Reaching the top, she peers inside the barber shop to see if her husband is shaving a customer but he's not. She sees Benjamin standing by the window looking outside the streets. She slowly opens the door- careful so that he would not notice her. She slowly walks towards him then stops behind him- he still has not notice her. She puts her hands on her eyes to cover it.
"Lucy?" he asks as he pries her hands away from his eyes but she does not remove it.
She changes her voice so that when she speaks it would sound like a man "No, it's… Colin."
Ben chuckles and plays along "Oh. Colin… do you mind taking your hands off my eyes?"
"No. but, you have to promise me a free shave." She says continuing to speak like a man.
"Okay, sir. I promise."
She removes her hands then he immediately spans around and tickles her to the stomach. She runs away from him and he chases after her- they are both laughing so hard. He corners her- her back was pressed into the door; he was firmly holding her waist- trapping her. Their laughter starts subsiding and soon there is only silence between them.
Ben looks at Lucy's lips then back at her eyes- Lucy does the same. Wanting his husband's lips on hers she does not wastes time and slams her lips into his. He was unresponsive at first but soon responds with full vigor. Their kiss was gentle but passionate. She opens her mouth allowing him entrance. Soon their kiss was increasing in intensity- he bites her lower lips then pulls it a bit, she moans in response. In return, she sucks and nips at his lower lips eliciting a grunt from him.
His hands are now exploring her body- while her hands are entangling on his hair. He starts undoing the laces of her dress and she- the buttons of his shirt. He is about to take her dress off when someone knocks on the door- they both jump- startled.
Lucy immediately runs to their bedroom- holding her dress. Benjamin buttons his shirt and combs his hair using his hands- hoping that he looks presentable enough. He was still panting when he opens the door and let the customer in.
The man looks at him with annoyance. 'Maybe, he knows what we've been doing.' He thinks 'Of course he knows! You're doing it by the door, if you remember.' he blushes at this and bows his head in shame.
He mixes the lather and after that he applies it to the man's face. He finishes shaving his customer in less than two minutes. He makes it extra quick because of embarrassment- he knows that the man knows what he and his wife has been doing.
It is now time for dinner. He closes his shop early because… well, he was excited to continue what he and Lucy were doing before they were interrupted by one of his customers. He is sipping his soup when Lucy suddenly speaks.
"I received a letter from my sister. His husband died and she wants me go to the funeral. She also wants me to stay with her for at least a week."
Lucy prepares herself for this- she has been thinking all day of a great excuse to leave for a week. She knows that it would be a big problem if her sister decides to pay her a visit. But, for now she has to convince her husband to allow her.
"When are we leaving?" he asks saddened by the news. He only met the husband of his sister in law a few times but he still considers John- the husband's name- as his friend. He is very kind and friendly and they get along very well.
"Well… my sister told me not to bring you. Wait before you protest. She told me that she missed me and that she wanted to spend time with me. She told me not to bring you because she wanted my full attention. Also, she said in the letter that you should not worry about me because she will take good care of me." She was cringing inside at how these lies easily come out of her mouth. She feels really guilty for lying, especially seeing her husband's worried look.
Ben was silent- he does not want his wife to travel alone. He trusts her but he does not trust the people of London. It was dangerous out there; but, he does not have a choice. He cannot stop his wife from going there just because he cannot come with her. 'But, there's always a way' he thinks.
"How about… I travel with you then once there I will stay in an inn then you can go to your sister and do whatever you want. We'll only see each other again at the train station when we leave to go back here." He says hopeful that his wife would consider his bright idea.
"No Ben. Don't get me wrong- I wanted to be with you but, it will be a waste of money. Please trust me. I'll be fine."
"Your safety is more important than money Lucy." He says matter of factly.
She grabs both his hands and intertwines it with hers "I know… but please- you- trust me. Benny, please." She says pleadingly.
He cannot resist the look that his wife is giving him- she is pouting and she is fluttering her lashes at him. She knows what to do to make him agree.
He sighs "Alright. When are you leaving?"
She stands from where she is sitting and hugs him from behind. This makes Ben smile. He reaches for her face then caresses it. Lucy goes back to her seat then answers him.
"I'll leave at 5 O' clock in the morning, tomorrow."
Ben just nods and does not question his wife any further. Although he knows that it is too early for her to leave- he trusts her. 'She is just excited to see her sister.'
After they are done with dinner they head to their bedroom to turn in for the night. Ben thought that they would be able to continue what they were doing a while ago in his shop but Lucy immediately falls asleep. It is still early- 9 O' clock- the time that he closes his shop. He does not want to sleep yet so he decides to visit Mrs. Lovett.
The baker is now washing the dishes- she just finishes cleaning the tables. She is looking forward in having to finish the book that she is reading: Romeo and Juliet. But, it looks like it would take long for her to do that because she really has a lot of things to wash. For the mean time she would just settle with imagining her wedding with Benjamin Barker.
"Nellie." She gives out a startled jump- she almost drops the plate that she was holding.
Ben laughs at her then puts his chin on her shoulder "I can't sleep." he whines.
Mrs. Lovett just continues on with washing the dishes. She pretends that his chin was not her shoulder; his breath was not tickling her neck, his… 'Damn this man! He'll be the death of me.' She is blushing; she is thankful that it's dark and he cannot see her.
"What do you want me to do?" she asks while setting the clean plates aside to dry.
He turns around then starts pacing- thinking of what they could do. He stops pacing "let's go for a walk."
She faces him- hands on her hips. "May I remind you that it's already dark outside and it is not safe to venture out there? Besides, my feet are aching- I just want to collapse on my sofa and read."
She walks past him and starts to head towards her parlor with Ben trailing behind her. Arriving at the parlor, she grabs something from the small drawer at the corner of the room and takes a seat on the love seat. Ben sits beside her.
She lays what looks like a book on the table in front of them and opens it. It turns out that it was a photo album- it is her wedding album.
The first picture is a photo of her and Albert. She is wearing a wedding gown and holding a bouquet of flowers while her husband is wearing a formal suit- he is standing behind her- his hands are possessively around her waist.
Ben notices that although the baker is smiling in the photo her smile does not reach her eyes. He also notices that she is very stunning in the photograph- her hair was pulled in an elegant up do, her gown accentuate her slim figure and ample breasts, her make- up was light and natural. It is his first time seeing her wearing white- she always wears black dresses. Although white looks good on her he still thinks that black suits her more.
He cannot take his eyes off the picture. He traces her face on it- starting with her brows down to her lips.
The baker is just looking at Ben while he admires her wedding photo. She does not know why she shows it to him. Maybe she shows it because… she doesn't know, to have something to do? She can see him tracing her visage and she wants so badly to know what he was thinking of.
He looks at her then he slowly reaches for her face. Lifting his hand he traces the outline of her face. She closes her eyes and savors the sensation of his touch. Using his thumb he smoothes out her eyebrows. He then lays his palm flat on her left cheek and then on the other. Lastly, he ran his finger on her upper lip all the way to the bottom.
She feels like she's in heaven. His touch is so gentle- she feels like he is memorizing each part of her face. Her eyes are still close though he is no longer touching her. She slowly opens her eyes- she's in daze. She sees him looking at her and she can tell that he also looks like he was in a dream.
He entangles his hand in her wild tresses and slowly brings her face close to his. She complies in what he wants to do. She waits for the blissful moment to come. She knows that she should stop him but she thinks it's about time she gives in to him. She has always been stopping him and each time she always feels regret in doing so. Now, she's going to grab her chance and seize the moment.
She closes her eyes but at the exact moment that his lips touches hers images of Lucy pops into her mind. She feels guilty- she can't do this. She opens her eyes and gently pushes him away from her.
"Lucy." She whispers. It's funny how she is the one who is s thinking of Lucy instead of him.
He turns away from her "I'm sorry." He stands up and turns to leave.
She grabs his arm to stop him. He stops but he does not turn around to look at her.
"Stay." She says softly and he does.
They continue to look at the photo album. There is a tension between them at first but it is cut off by the baker's constant story telling- stories about what happens during her wedding day. According to her it is the worst day of her life- having to marry the man you do not love. Ben teases her whenever he sees a photo of her and Albert- she smacks and pinches him in return.
She lays his head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around her. He takes the album and places it on his lap; he uses his other hand- that was not around her- to flip it. They are both comfortable with their position. The two of them are happy- they are secretly hoping that there would be more nights to spend like this.
Sorry if this chapter contains a lot of Lucy. but, we have to get rid of her for at least a week, don't we? ;)
Guys, you have to remind me that Nellie's pregnant- I always forget. -.- haha.. silly me :P
well... hope you enjoyed this chapter and please, leave me a review :D