A/N Hello! Sorry for the long wait, I have been busy. I managed to get into University which is amazing so I may not be updating too regularly due to sorting everything out. Anyway, thank you for all the kind reviews (50!) you have no idea happy it makes me to read your comments. I hope you are all finally ready for a bit of romance at last (muhahah). Hopefully this story will start to become a lot more romantic as it goes along, and I hope you guys will like it! If you are enjoying it, please don't hesitate to review as I love hearing everyone's opinions on how the story is going. Hope you enjoy this chapter and have a great day!
It was halfway through the ballet and Penelope was not enjoying herself, or rather she was not enjoying the present company. Lord Davis was still touching her and kept adding irrelevant comments in an attempt to make her laugh. The first couple of times these comments had been entertaining but now she had to hold her tongue in case she said anything which would cause offense. She was also starting to wonder what she saw in him in the first place. In her opinion, looks didn't mean anything if the personality was ugly, and his arrogance was beginning to look that way. It got to a point when she was about to rip her hand away from him and tell him to shut up when Lord Davis' butler, Dean interrupted. Dean, although tall, was quite the opposite of Claude. His eyes seemed dull as though there was no life behind them, and his greying hair was unkempt as though he had just given up. His glare however was enough to make Penelope shudder.
"Excuse me my Lord, but Lady Penelope's butler has arrived and requests to speak to her urgently" drawled the monotone voice which loomed from behind them. Victoria looked panicked and went to move but Penelope calmly shushed her and excused herself politely, finally allowing her to escape the confines of Lord Davis' crushing hand. She discreetly wiped her now clammy hand on her dress and politely smiled or rather grimaced as she walked past, regretting her decision to take of her gloves when she had sat down
The second she got out in the hallway and saw Claude, she had never been so tempted in her life to throw herself at him. She found it odd that her heart fluttered rapidly and she tried to suppress any thoughts of how handsome he appeared. Yet she did cock her head to the side at his hair which seemed a little more messy than usual. Ignoring it, she controlled the urge to jump into his arms and gave him her full attention. He bowed when he saw her and she inclined her head in response.
"What' wrong?" she whispered when he was closer. He looked not exactly nervous, but she could tell he was trying to find the right words, as he bit his lip for a second. Claude was in fact very relieved as he had imagined reaching her seat and finding them all empty and Lord Davis and Lucy kidnapping her. He had to bite his lip in an attempt to stop himself from just grabbing her and dragging her out of the building.
"Lucy was here after you. It would be best if you leave now for your own safety. There is also a very good chance that the person she has made a contract with is in this theatre right now and therefore they are after you as well". Penelope nodded and bit her lip, worried that she may be in danger. Although she hated Lucy, she had to give her credit for being so determined. She was about to ask a question when he stopped her.
"I will answer everything once we reach home, for now we will tell Victoria and Lord Davis that there is an emergency concerning a family matter and explain that a cousin has fallen ill and that we must wait at home for news of their health". She nodded and to his shock did not argue one bit. Turning around she nearly bumped into Dean who opened the door for her and she swore he shot her suspicious look. Ignoring it, she quietly conveyed the lie and was thankful that Victoria believed it. Lord Davis on the other hand began to whine like a child complaining that he had hardly been in her company. Deciding that he was not the only one who could play the theatrics card, Penelope began to quietly sob.
"I'm so sorry my Lord. I hope I haven't offended you but my dear cousin is deathly ill and I must be up to date on his condition as I could never forgive myself if he died whilst I was enjoying myself in your company". She cried quietly and grasped onto his waistcoat, looking imploringly into his eyes. Internally she wanted to just throw herself off the balcony seats they were sat on rather than cry to the fool, but desperate times caused for desperate measures. Her act seemed to have worked very well as Lord Davis pulled her into his lap and tried to calm her. With his hands, which were practically hidden underneath many jewelled rings, he patted her head in what he thought was a soothing manner. Occasionally he would forcefully tug his hand away since her hair kept getting caught in his eccentric jewellery.
"Of course you should go. You are so caring and kind. But you must promise to meet with me again". He cooed a little too loudly and she cringed when she heard some of the audience nearest their seats to shush them. Pushing herself out of his arms, she thanked him for his understanding of her situation and practically ran out to the hallway with Victoria following her.
Knowing that she still had to keep up with her upset pretence in front of Victoria, the minute she saw Claude she dived into his arms and wrapped her arm around his neck. He seemed shocked and wondered what had caused her to cry.
"Just go along with it, I will explain later". She whispered and he just pulled her closer. Victoria moved so that she rubbed Penelope's back in a motherly way and for a moment Penelope felt rather guilty for pretending since Victoria really seemed to care. Claude then turned his attention to Victoria and told her the carriage was waiting outside for them. Victoria looked as though she was going to hesitate but the look Claude gave her sent her practically running.
As they made their way down the winding corridors, Penelope for a couple of seconds stopped crying and allowed herself to relax into Claude's arms.
"Thank you". She whispered quietly knowing that he would hear her. Claude wasn't exactly sure why she thanked him but pulled her closer in a reply. It didn't take long to get outside and once they were all in the carriage and on their way home, Claude put Victoria asleep so Penelope could put an end to her soft crying. Penelope was starting to create a story about her cousin as she realised that Victoria would ask, but Claude's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"She is asleep now Penelope. You can stop pretending". He said and as though nothing had happened, she pulled back and gave a relieved sigh. Moving so that she could face him, she laughed lightly, wondering why she couldn't just have a normal life and enjoy a ballet like any other person.
"You have no idea how happy I am that, that ordeal has finally ended". She was still in his embrace as she spoke and used her hands to rub away the fake tears. As she rubbed her bare hands against her tired eyes, she suddenly realised that she had forgotten her gloves. Looking over at the sleeping Victoria, she let out a sigh when she realised that they were hanging out of Victoria's clutch purse. Relaxing once more, she glanced at Claude as he began to speak.
"Did you not enjoy yourself tonight?" he asked politely, though Penelope swore that she could hear satisfaction laced in his voice.
"If I have to sit though Lord Davis' company for even another minute, I will literally give up the will to live. I even had to practically beg him to let me leave and it was unbelievably embarrassing. Although I'm quite proud that he fell for it." She replied with a laugh, but Claude could tell she was irritated. Deciding that it was not the right time to look happy at her misfortune, even if he was overjoyed at her displeasure towards the young Lord, Claude tried to cheer her up instead.
"I see we have our own little actress in the making" he commented which rewarded him with a laugh.
"I wouldn't do that even if I was paid!" she exclaimed and then yawned tiredly. It seemed as though the events of the night was catching up with her. She was about to relax back into his embrace when she looked down and saw blood on her dress.
"Oh my God! Are you bleeding?" she nearly shouted and tried to get off him, fearing that she was causing more damage. He didn't get chance to pull her back into his embrace as she was already sat next to him and moving his tailcoat out of the way. He used his hand to slow her movements and Penelope in response just batted his hands out of the way.
"Did Lucy do this? Of course she did, that was a stupid question. You shouldn't have carried me considering how much you are bleeding. If you stop moving, I can see what the damage is" she spoke hurriedly and internally regretted not being interested in the lessons Lucy had taught her about medicine. She had managed to unfasten the ripped waistcoat and was beginning to pull his white shirt out from his trousers when Claude stopped her.
"You seem to forget that I'm not as fragile as humans. It is nearly healed anyway, so please stop your worrying". As he spoke, she gave him an uncertain glare demonstrating that she didn't believe he was fine. Giving up, Claude let go of her hands and gestured for her to continue.
"If you don't believe me, by all means, please continue" his voice carried a certain amount of arrogance causing Penelope to roll her eyes. 'Only Claude could be bleeding and still act the same' she thought with a shake of her head. Taking him up on his offer, she calmly unbuttoned his shirt and gasped at the incisions to his stomach. With wide eyes she watched as a trickle of nearly black blood made its way down his porcelain skin and stained his dark trousers. The cuts didn't look too deep but they were enough to make her wince. Noticing her reaction, Claude tilted her head up so she was looking directly into his eyes. As he looked into her green orbs, he was shocked to see a few tears run down her cheeks.
"Why am I the one crying….when you are the one who is hurt?" she asked in a hushed tone. It was at that exact moment when Penelope realised how deeply she cared for Claude. 'Perhaps this is love' she thought, hoping he couldn't see her internal epiphany. Claude was also feeling an overwhelming amount of emotions and his control was starting to waver. She was brought back to reality when Claude carefully took her hand and positioned her hand so her index finger was pointed out.
"I assure you, I feel no pain" he replied and before Penelope could react, Claude grabbed her finger and pressed it along the cut, causing blood to dribble down her finger. She was about to question him, or rather shout at him, when he suddenly pulled her hand up and seconds later she felt her finger being enveloped by a mixture of warmth and wetness. His eyes were closed and she watched with deer like eyes as he sucked hungrily, yet gently on her finger. He hummed quietly and in response Penelope felt heat pool in her stomach. Clenching her legs together at the unusual feeling, she tried to distract herself from the feeling of his tongue circling her digit sensually. However, she had to bite back a moan when she felt his sharp teeth scrape against her finger. Lowering her eyes, as she felt her cheeks heat up, she gasped again as the cut that was once there had completely disappeared. Looking back up, she jerked back when she realised that his eyes were glowing. He released her finger with a pop, and smirked, allowing Penelope a glimpse at his shark like teeth.
"I am perfectly fine" he breathed and Penelope shuffled back as he moved his body so he was only inches away. Penelope found his actions odd as his usual calm nature had suddenly become the complete opposite. Behind his glasses, his eyes held a mixture of various emotions, some Penelope didn't quite understand but she could comprehend were powerful. She moved back again but gulped when her back hit the wall of the carriage. After all, carriages are not that big.
"You don't look fine" she replied, attempting to prevent the tremble of her voice going noticed. Instead of moving back, Claude turned his body and placed both hands at either side of her head, effectively trapping her. Glancing down, Penelope had to admit that the position looked inappropriate as his clothes were half done and she was practically beneath him. If this had happened a few months ago, Penelope was sure she would have kicked him and slapped him, in an attempt to regain his senses. But now, Penelope felt her curious nature taking over. Carefully, as not to startle him, Penelope placed her hand, the one he had been previously holding, on his forehead and pulled back quickly. She bumped her back against the carriage as she did so.
"You have a fever" she squeaked, unsure if he was actually ill. Penelope thought back to the other day when he collapsed and began to panic. 'What if he is really ill?' Placing her hands at either side of his head she looked him dead in the eyes.
"Did you actually rest today as I instructed?" she snapped, already feeling annoyed that he disobeyed her. For a few minutes he didn't respond, and Penelope slowly started to wonder if the obvious fight he had been in with Lucy had caused any other damage. She was about to ask if he hit his head when he moved forward.
The only thing she could feel was his lips against her own.