The masks she wears...
She always wore a mask. Playing with others or afraid to show her true self. He knew which one was for when.
The mask she wore before him was the strongest. Was so etched onto her face that he had his doubt to ever could cut that out from her face without hurting her. Pretending to hate him. Pretending to love him. Pretending to be with him on the earth. He knew she was far far away from him. From everyone. She was in her own world. Without any gate or window. Without having something to give. She had nothing for him. Without any feeling. She felt nothing for him. He dreaded seeing that world in her eyes. The eyes that no mask could hide them.
He wanted and not wanted this mask.
The one mask that she distressfully wore was when Charles introduced him to his sisters. To Caroline. Showing surprise and ignorance. He was afraid she would give away their secret. She did well.
He was the one who nearly gave it away
She was so sophisticated before the ton. Not one mistake one could find in her manner. She was a lady through and through. She, herself, said how she was adept at wearing this mask. But she didn't believe in herself being a lady, a wise one at that.
He disagreed. She was everything.
She walked before men as a seductress. A femme fatale. No one could assume her as a simpleton naïve girl. She believed this mask religiously was the real face of her. Could tempt men and leave them high and dry.
He thought otherwise. At least, not him.
And this one. The one she was putting before her family. Praising and following him. Making him play in her game. Smirking when knowing they did not watch her. And now, making him pretend to look out the window, but watching her every movement. She loved this mask so much to the point she wore it most of the time.
He hated it. More than any other mask of hers.
He wanted to reach out and tear that damnable mask out. To reach her and keep her by his side. Showing their secret to her fool of a brother. Showing she was his Caroline. His and his alone. She didn't need all this humiliation. She already had him.
He put out his cigar and turned around, looking at Caroline. Not at Charles nor Hursts.
She knew he was finished with the game.
"I shall stay with Caroline. You can go to the assembly by yourself."
A deadly silence lingered between all the occupants of the room.
He continued looking at her. Her mask cracked.
He would break all of them. One by one.
He would unmask her. He would have her. The pure Caroline. He would find a way to her world. A window. A gate.
If not he would be her world.
Hi old sports!
Thank ye so much for your heartwarming comments. A few of your reviews are so good that make me blush in a good way! :)
Joy and peace for all!