“Pamella, please sit down, it’s not ladylike to keep prancing around.” Lilian said between gritted teeth as she grabbed her cup and took a sip.

“But you said we’d go see him.”

“And we will. I’m just as excited as you. Marcus has been gone for months, I haven’t heard from him in just as long as you.”

Pamella’s steps took a pause, her hands fidget while going down to pull at her dress, “Actually I got a letter from him the other day-”

“What did it say?” Lilian’s eyes shot over to her, her knuckles turning white wrapped around the cup that ever so slightly clanked against the table, the liquid inside sloshing around spilling onto it.

Pamella’s cheeks flushed, “He said he brought me a gift, and that he was excited to see us.” She wrapped her hands around herself, jumping slightly, “I’m just so excited to see him.”

Eyes watching her skip about in the garden while Lilian sat under the shade. There was a lot you could tell from looking at them. Pamella pranced around grabbing flowers as she twirled around picking off petals one by one. All while Lilian’s finger danced on the brim of the cup, her eyes drifting to the piled up deserts on the table.

The evening was interrupted when a maid walked up to them, keeping her head down as she addressed Lilian, “The carriage is ready, the coachman is on standby.”

Lilian nodded, waving her away, “Pamella, we’re going.”

Pamella turned on her heel, unable to feel the floor under her before her face did, pulling herself up just as quick, “Well let’s go, he’s probably been waiting a while now.”

From the seat to the carriage time seemed to fly, Lilian stared at Pamella seeing how her cheeks had been flushed red not just from anticipation but from hitting the floor. 

“You might need to put some ointment on that.” Lilian uttered watching her stare out the window before she stared off into a different direction, words unheard by her. The view turned from a familiar estate to the trees and onto the streets, a place with memories stretching far and wide.

The door to the carriage was opened but Pamella was out before the coachman had a chance to help her down. Barely getting a moment to move out the way as she dashed past him. Looking up at his lady, Lilian rolled her eyes as she took the coachman’s hand and got out.

Right before her eyes was Marcus, the friend they missed so dearly… wrapped tightly in Pamella’s arms as he hugged her back. His face smothering her neck, arms so gently pressed against her dress.

He looked up to see Lilian waving at him, letting go of Pamella as he smiled back at her, “Lilian! It’s been so long!” He walked over and hugged her.

Her hands trembled slightly, hesitating to move them upwards and keeping them on her sides in the end. It was so quick, just a couple seconds as he let go.

“Marcus, you’re as charming as ever.” Lilian said, signaling over to the coach who’d been waiting holding a small box. Handing it to his lady as Lilian in turn held it for Marcus, “I’ve brought you a small welcoming gift.”

Marcus’ smile made his eyes look ever so slightly closed as he took the box, opening it to see a rare pink diamond. His eyes went wide looking from the diamond to Lilian, “I can’t take this-”

“Sure you can, you already have it in your hands.”

“It’s too much-”

“What kind of merchant are you then? This is hardly a good gift for someone I hold so dear.”

She insisted as he closed the box back up and put it in his pocket, “Well I got you a present too.” he said, turning as they entered the theater.

The place was bustling and lively, young men held their lady’s hand, the show on for today was quite the romantic one. Walking closely the three entered a room.

“You always do reserve the best.” Marcus said, holding the door open.

“Best money can buy.” Lilian retorted, “… father likes it when I keep up appearances.”

Pamella followed sitting besides Lilian who sat in the middle, looking at Lilian as she spoke, “I don’t think your father is too happy seeing you mingle with a Barons daughter-”

“Or a merchant.” Marcus cut in sitting on the other side of Lilian, “Does he still even bother?”

Lilian didn’t look at either of them, her face forward watching the play start, “Father loves me, he has no reason to doubt the people I choose to ‘mingle’ with.”

Marcus chuckled, reaching to his left and grabbing two boxes he stood back up, standing in between the two as he handed them both a box.

“Well, this is a little something from me, personally selected by yours truly with all the care.” Marcus grinned as they both started to open them.

Pamella looked to see a strawberry themed necklace and handkerchief, tucked away in the corner as a strawberry cake sat in the middle, she squealed. Picking up the necklace and holding it up to her dress.

Lilian opened the box to see a pumpkin themed handkerchief and necklace, a cake sitting in the middle, her face held still not changing. Feeling eyes on her and straightening up to see Pamella staring.

Lilian took a deep breath before she turned to Marcus, “I don’t like pumpkins.”

Before Marcus even had a second Pamella’s brows were furrowed, “Marcus, Lilian is allergic to pumpkins.”

Stuck between the gaze of the two he stumbled, “I’m sorry… I forgot.”

“I noticed.”Lilian snapped, closing the box.

Pamella smiled awkwardly, “Well you can exchange it with me, I love eating pumpkin.”

“Don’t be ridiculous Pamella, your favorites have always been strawberries.” Lilian said, her hands on the armrest so still trying not to move.

“But-”

“The play is starting, you should sit Marcus.”

The scenes drifted one by one, and instead of romance all she felt was tension, her shoulders were soar and she could feel Pamella’s eyes on her on occasion, in the middle of the play Pamella had taken the box from her lap and set it to the side. Ordering a couple drinks, stepping out of her spot.

As the play came to an end and people started getting up and leaving Lilian’s hands had already dug into the armrest. As soon as she stood up Marcus opened his mouth.

“I’m really sorry Li-”

“It’s fine.” Lilian said, “I’m just glad you’re back. I hadn’t heard from you in so many months, I don’t blame you for forgetting.”

“Well I do.” Pamella snapped, “We’ve been friends for years. If I was Lili I’d consider this attempted murder.”

Marcus frowned harder, “It’s not like-”

“You should be ashamed for even smelling like pumpkins Marcus.” Pamella continued, “Now Lili and I will be going, you’ll have to see us later at the next dance, and I do expect you to make up for this.”

Lilian grabbed Pamella, “Alright then I believe we should go Pamella, before you make a bigger fool of ourselves.”

Moving rather quickly together Pamella only had a couple seconds longer to glare at Marcus before they were gone. Having left both gifts on one of the seats as they got on the carriage.

Lilian was quieter than usual and Pamella’s feet kept fidgeting tapping her foot, “Marcus was-”

“You know I like him.” Lilian said, her voice having a shake to it.

Lilian’s head fell, staring down at her skirt, “I know.”

“And you know I really don’t like pumpkins.”

“I know.”

Lilian’s lips quivered, the words that had been building up in her all day finally spilling, “Why didn’t you tell me he’d been sending you letters?”

“I just.” Pamella hesitated, feeling a knot on her throat, “I didn’t wanna hurt your feelings.. I never replied to them… I only sent letters when you did.” Her voice was getting lower like whispers to an ear, “I don’t know why he bothered.”

“Because he likes you stupid!”

Pamella jumped back, pressed back against the seat, her hands tightly held on her lap as her eyes looked ahead at Lilian who glared, “he-”

“Yes he does.” Lilian snapped, “…” Lilian broke the stare when she looked out the window, “Father… he said I’m getting married next summer… I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

You could only hear the horses outside, Lilian’s cheeks were flushed red struggling to swallow, her eyes looking from outside to her hands, she stared at the door counting down the seconds. Taking slow deep breaths, her nose becoming stuffy while Pamella tried looking elsewhere. Finding herself staring at Lilian and seeing her eyes welled up discreetly pressing her hand against her face.

“…” no words would come out as Pamella kept opening and closing.

When the coachman opened the door Lilian was the first one out, stopping in place once she was down, “Take Pamella home, her father must be wondering where she’s been.”

The coachman closed the door and headed on his way while a maid walked besides her all the way back.

“Did the lady say anything wrong?”

Lilian shook her head “No, she didn’t do anything.”

“Did Marcus do something?”

“No… yes… well Clio, it’s hard to explain.”

“And do you want to talk about it?”

Lilian shook her head again, “Where is father?”

“The Duke is in his study with a guest. Should I inform him of your arrival?” Clio asked this while keeping a close eye on Lilian’s expression.

Her cheeks were ever so slightly red, all while the sleeves of her dress were wet, “No, I was just curious.”

Clio pressed her hand on Lilian’s back, “Might I remind you I was there when you were born… if somethings bother you, you can tell me.”

“…” Lilian’s steps were slower, her arms moved to either side, holding herself, “Do you think I could run away, get married some place far away… and father would let me be.”

Clio’s silence was damping, “The man your father has chosen is not all that bad, it-”

“But I don’t love him.”

“Well maybe you will, your mother after all-”

“She’s dead and he replaced her.” Lilian’s knuckles turned white her steps stood in place, “She would have protected me…”

Resuming the walk past the doors and to her room Clio opened the door, “Your father loves you… he’ll protect you no matter what. Just like I would.”