Chapter 2

The night passed slowly and the storm seemed not to yield. In one of the rooms of the Lakewood mansion, a beautiful young woman with honey-colored eyes and straight brown hair, dressed in a delicate white nightgown, was admiring the darkness through the window. Behind her, a lit fireplace illuminated her dimly.

"Why hasn't he come back yet? He should already be here..."

"Don't worry. William is a very responsible man and as such he went to look for his capricious protégée. Don't see ghosts where there are not," replied an elderly woman, elegantly dressed, standing in the doorway.

"Mother! What are you doing here?"

"What? I can't come and say good night to my only daughter who hasn't married yet?" she answered, approaching and hugging her tenderly. "Let me enjoy these last moments with my darling little girl. Come, don't be angry with me..."

"But, mother, I'm not a little girl anymore...You scared me..." she said returning the gentle embrace, thus trying to avoid those thoughts which were not so pleasant at that moment.

"Do me a favor and try to have a little rest, all right? Madam Elroy told me about an old mansion that is in the forest. It's uninhabited, but seeing that the storm doesn't stop and knowing William, I'm sure that once he could find his protégée he would decide to spend the night there for the safety of both."

"Do you think he must have found her? He looked so worried when he saw she was not coming back..."

"I'm absolutely certain of that. Remember the unusual stories William told us at one of the parties we attended together..."

"Yes, I remember... 'William the vagabond'...That's what Mr. George called him when he heard that story..."

"William knows that forest like the back of his hand. Surely they must be in that old mansion now and they'll come back tomorrow morning. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

A little smile appeared on the lips of the beautiful young woman as she remembered that interesting part of her fiancé's past, but it lasted only a moment because a shadow darkened her eyes. "Why did she react in that way? Does she hate me that much or maybe..."

"I don't believe she hates you...It's just that...How can I say it...I think she didn't expect it. Come now, let's go to bed. Give me your hand; come...It's no use standing all night in front of the window. Tomorrow morning you'll have big dark circles around your eyes and we don't want that to happen, do we?"

"No, we don't. I want so much to be beautiful and radiant for him..."

With slow steps, the young woman let her mother guide her to the bed. Without the slightest resistance, she lay down, while the woman who had given birth to her twenty-five years ago tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.

"I only hope he'll come back to me...That's the only thing I hope..." And after a heavy sigh, she fell into a deep sleep.

The older woman, standing in front of the bed, looked at her sadly. Then she walked to the door and left, without making the slightest noise.

In the corridor, as she was going towards the room that had been assigned to her, she thought: I hope that too, Josephine; I hope that too...

…

….

A ray of sun fell on her eyelids, waking her slowly.

"Mmm...No, please don't...Close the curtains...Just five more minutes, please..."

It took her only a moment to remember that she was not in her room, much less in the mansion of Lakewood. It took her another minute to remember everything that happened the night before. And finally it took her a fraction of a second more to remember the fateful afternoon of the previous day.

"Phew...Yesterday was such an awful day..." she said trying to get up. And then she felt it: At least twenty drums resounded without stopping in her head, making her feel the worst headache she had ever felt in her life. Definitely, if there was a contest for the strongest and most unbearable headache, no doubt the winner would be the one she was feeling at that precise moment. She felt so bad that if she had to compare it with anything, she should say that it was as if she had been on duty all night at the hospital. And the most ironic part of the situation was that she remembered that this was exactly what had happened: She had stayed up almost all night. She didn't have the slightest idea of when she had managed to fall asleep, but she could swear that she hadn't until the birds had started singing.

"Growing up and maturing..." she said trying to stand up. "No... Growing up, maturing and on top of that experiencing an impossible love is pretty ugly..." Finally she managed to stand on her feet, although she felt a slight dizziness. "Ugly? It's completely annoying and definitely beauty-killing. I don't even want to think what my face looks like...And what about my hair? Oh, for God's sake! How could my hairstyle be?" she wondered in a sleepy voice, while she arched backwards and heard her bones complaining for the bad night they had spent. "There's no doubt about that...And nobody can dare to contradict me! All right?"

"Nobody can dare to contradict you about what?"

She was startled when she heard that voice. She didn't expect to see him so soon, much less that he would witness one of her many morning monologues. But now that she thought about it, it was obvious since they were alone in that place and the chances of them meeting were so many.

"Eh? No, nothing...Have you been there long?"

"No, I've just come, so you can calm down..." answered Albert with a naughty smile, winking at her. "Good morning, Candy."

"Good morning, Albert...Are those my clothes you're holding in your hands?" she asked hopefully, as she was getting a little tired of the robe she was wearing.

"Yes...Yes, here you are. They are completely dry, so you can get dressed..." he said giving her the clothes he was holding in his hands, delicately folded.

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome..."

That look again...What are you trying to tell me with that look, Albert? Enough is enough. You're making me uncomfortable...Candy thought, trying in vain to hide the intense blush that was starting to spread on her face.

"Can you go out, please?"

"Oh, yes...I'm sorry...I'll wait for you outside and we'll leave for the mansion. We mustn't be too late; I'm sure they'll be worried about us."

"Oh, yes, of course...I'll be ready in a moment..."

To go back they had to ride together on the thoroughbred on which Albert had come there last afternoon. When she got dressed, Candy left the mansion and walking very slowly, she had the pleasure of admiring a little her beloved prince who was saddling the horse at that moment...

What a beautiful scene...He is so handsome, and definitely he looks much better with his short hair...

"Quiet, Janto, quiet..." Albert was murmuring gently to the beautiful black animal, softly caressing its back.

When she got near the horse, Candy, who hadn't slept well, had very little patience as to obey all the protocols of high society, so she jumped nimbly on the imposing animal, placing one leg on each side of it. As she did so, her dress went up a bit, revealing part of her white thighs.

Albert was observing her in silence, spellbound. He loved Candy's ways, her carefree and graceful spontaneity. Then, with an agile movement, he also mounted Janto, placing himself right behind her. Without asking for permission, he held Candy's waist with one hand and with the other he took the reins of the horse.

"Are you ready?" he whispered in her ear.

"Yes..." she answered nervously, feeling a little shudder run through her body. Something inside her was telling her that this ride they would take together wouldn't be easy, but there was no other way. She was too tired to walk.

They began their way back in complete silence. Both felt that the discussion of the previous night was more than enough for the moment, and now they simply wanted to enjoy the ride...

The rays of the sun illuminated the wet leaves of the trees, while the cool morning breeze enveloped them gently. In the distance they could hear the lovely melody of the birds which were singing and fluttering playfully in the clear blue sky, and on each side of the small path they could admire the beautiful flowers of the season...

Yes, they did want to enjoy the ride but also they wanted to enjoy each other's company...Yes...Because, despite all the discord that might exist between them, neither of them could deny that what they loved most in the world was to be like that, together, as before, as always...

Candy, letting herself be carried away by the magic of the moment, laid her head on Albert's shoulder and slowly closed her eyes...Feeling her so calm as she was lying on him, he couldn't contain himself any longer, and loosening the reins a little, he hugged her tightly around the waist. Candy, feeling those strong arms, was startled, but she didn't open her eyes. She just let herself go...She felt so nice being like that, and she wished with all her might to feel him even more...

Albert began to gently caress her waist, while with the tip of his nose he was brushing her delicate neck, inhaling deeply her scent.

Feeling those caresses, she took a deep breath. A shudder ran through her body again, ruffling suddenly her skin. That didn't go unnoticed by Albert, who was encouraged to continue, with his heart beating like crazy.

Candy didn't want to think; however, her traitorous mind proved completely the opposite...

What is happening here? Why is he caressing me like this? Does Albert feel something more for me? But he's getting married...To another woman! But this feels so nice...It's incredibly pleasant...I'd love to stay like this forever...The weather is so much like spring, although there are still two months left until that beautiful season comes, and along with it my independence...My independence...Yes, that's what I have decided for my next birthday...Even though I know it will cost me horribly to be separated from him, I already have decided...Haven't I...? Yes, yes, I have certainly decided. I'm leaving on my next birthday...I know that the only way to be happy one day is to be separated from him...To be separated from him...No, I don't want that...I just want to feel him like this, forever...To caress him, to kiss him...

"We're here," said Albert in a hoarse voice, when they arrived at the stables of the mansion in Lakewood. He slowly got off the horse, and, like a gentleman, he extended his hand to Candy, helping her dismount.

"Thank you..." she replied nervously, blushing intensely.

"Candy..." said Albert, slowly getting closer to her, while at the same time she was moving a few steps back. "You know something? I'd like to join you later..." She kept stepping backwards until a pillar made her stop. Albert continued to walk forward and stood right in front of her. Confidently, he laid a hand on the pillar while with the other he touched gently one of her rebellious curls that fell on her face. "I think there are many things we need to clarify and talk about...Would you agree, Candy?"

"Yes...Yes...It seems nice to me...I also want to talk to you about certain things..."

"Do you? And what do you want to talk to me about, Candy?" he asked, delineating softly her face with his fingertips. The distance between them was increasingly shortened, until they could even hear the frantic beating of each other's heart. Their breaths began to be blended while the warmth of their bodies was becoming more intense...Both closed slowly their eyes, while their lips, attracted as if by a magnet, began to approach...

"Willie? Where are you, Willie?"

"Willie?" asked Candy in surprise, seeing that Albert was startled.

"Willie, I have found you at last! You came back!" exclaimed a beautiful young woman with brown hair and honey-colored eyes, throwing herself effusively to the neck of the young blond man with the blue eyes.

"Josephine! What are you doing here?" replied Albert astonished, while he was gently trying to detach himself from the arms of the young brunette.

"Aren't you glad to see me, my dear William? The gardener saw you coming and I wanted to come and look for you..."

"What are you saying, Josephine? Of course I'm glad to see you...I'm just a little surprised and worried...You're going to get yourself dirty in this place..." he answered, observing the impeccable white dress Josephine was wearing, his gaze stopping for a moment to a few drops of mud that had splashed mercilessly on her thin and expensive shoes.

"But, dear, you know I don't care about that. I just wanted to be the first one to greet you...I've missed you so much..."

"Have you? Well...I've missed you too..." Albert was extremely uncomfortable because of that situation. He was constantly shifting his gaze from Josephine to Candy, and from Candy to Josephine. He knew things were not all right with Candy, and that it had to do with his imminent marriage with Josephine...Although he didn't understand the real reason for that displeasure, he suspected it...The scene that had just taken place plus the jealous look in Candy's eyes at that moment confirmed it.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll leave. I don't feel well at all and I'm going to have a rest," Candy interrupted them. The night she had spent had been bad enough; she didn't want to witness a romantic demonstration between "her Albert" and his fiancée.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Candice, I didn't see you. Good morning," Josephine greeted her with a badly feigned kindness, doing a small curtsy. "But, my dear girl, what an appearance! Oh, my God!" she exclaimed, bringing her hand to her chest. "What happened to your hair? And your dress is so dirty!"

"Good morning, Josephine...I'm glad to see you too..." replied Candy sarcastically, doing also a small curtsy. The tone of her voice sounded defiant. After a couple of years she had spent with high society, she already knew perfectly well the poisonous comments of its "charming" ladies. But that didn't bother her; she always knew how to deal with them. Besides, for several years she had promised herself not to waste a single glance to that kind of people. "I've just had a bad night...Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go...Goodbye, Josephine, 'Willie'..."

"Goodbye..." they answered in unison, seeing her walk away with a firm step.

"She doesn't like me at all, does she?" whispered the young brunette, looking at Albert with an innocent expression.

"No, I don't think so...It's just that...She didn't expect our wedding..." replied Albert, while in his mind he was desperately trying to join the pieces of that puzzle, which in just one night had been dismantled disastrously. "But let's not think about that anymore. I'm a little tired and I'd like to have some breakfast and then have a little rest."

"Oh, of course, darling. You must be very tired. Let's go to the mansion..." answered Josephine, hanging on his arm and trying to convince herself that her crazy theories of the previous night were just that: crazy theories.

Albert, however, felt more and more strongly that ray of hope which began to resurrect in his heart...

Candy, you and I are going to talk seriously, and this time you won't escape me...Yes, this time you're going to listen to me...