Estimated reading time: 2 – 4 minutes
“What? No. You’re not serious. After the way you’ve treated me tonight. Crazy. You can leave now.”
“Lily.” Her spoken name halted her in mid-stride. She stood there, stretched between her adored mother and her un-adored foe. “Sit down.”
Julian patted the seat beside him, his smile dripping with charm. He waited until she reluctantly sat before clasping her hand in his.
“Lord Douglas, if you wish me to take your suit in consideration then I will. However, I need you to answer me honestly. Are you prepared to do so?”
It unnerved Lily to hear her mother speak so formally. It seemed very much at odds with the woman who had flashed her just this morning.
“I am. Please allow me to allay your concerns in any way you deem respectable.”
“Very well. I know Lily and Ian were very close. I also know you two are not. You can imagine this request is unusual from my standpoint?”
“You are correct. I haven’t been cordial to Lily. I even took out an Order of Protection against her.” His devilish smirk slid over Lily for a moment.
“Really? Is this why my daughter dragged herself home last night covered in blood?”
“Yes.” He faced Rachel fully. His eyes were twin points of unerring contrition. “I planned on killing her, Mrs. Walker.”
Rachel blanched. Lily leaped to her feet only to have Julian yank her back down. “Forgive me on two counts, Mrs. Walker. The first being I’ve chosen to use force with your daughter just now. As you’re aware my…species…is different from yours. We uphold our Elders implicitly and as you’ve instructed Lily to sit I am not willing to allow her to disobey.”
Julian continued speaking only after Rachel nodded in mute acceptance. Lily’s whispered curse went unheeded by both.
“Second and most important, I beg forgiveness for my hideous purpose. I tell you bluntly of my previous intentions to kill Lily because I believe we can only move forward with honesty. I detest lies, Mrs. Walker. I refuse to sully myself or those of my acquaintance with their existence.”
Rachel swallowed her initial reactions. She sat quiet until composure softened the hard glint in her stare and pinched set of her mouth. She shut Lily out; not sparing her a sliver of sight even though her child strained at the chains of courtesy.
“You wanted to kill my daughter last night.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’ve hated what Lily has represented for me. I was…maddened…to say the least. I remembered every moment that had passed between us. I loathed being under her thumb and suffering the emasculation she served daily.”
“I never did that. I loved you!”
Ian regarded her shattered composure. His voice softened. “Not me. You couldn’t love me because neither of us were real.”
Lily’s mouth quivered. Her eyes looked overlarge for her small face.
“Lord Douglas?”
He squeezed her hand once. Julian responded, “Yes, Mrs. Walker?”
“What now? You wanted to murder my daughter last night. Tonight you don’t. What will tomorrow bring?”
I’ve missed Julian & Lily as well. I’m...
4 Comments
Indeed! What will tomorrow bring? Damn, I’m so addicted to this, it’s pitiful. *snicker*
Thanks for leaving your mark, RG. Too tickled in reading about your addiction. I find myself wanting to write solely this more often than not. Then the other WIP start whispering in my ear. Guilt springs forth. One day I will have to make order of my house but until then…
Ok, I think he just about killed me with his honesty!
“Ian regarded her shattered composure. His voice softened. “Not me. You couldn’t love me because neither of us were real.” —- WOW!
I know! I’m so glad you liked it and you’re sticking in there with me. I’m going with the flow, letting him take me where he wants despite being unsure. As odd as it sounds, I’m able to trust Julian because he is so honest. Strange? I know.