Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 61

"Em? Hello?"

I snapped my brows together, trying to hear Emerson. Michael put his phone on speaker.

"Michael -- she's -- don't want to -- teatime -- Grandmama -- she hates -- swimming!"

"Lady C hates swimming?" I asked incredulously.

"Shh," Michael said. "Emerson's line's broken."

"I can see that," I scoffed.

He merely grinned at me.

Meanwhile, Emerson was still blabbering. "Can't let -- not make her stay -- she's with him -- he's okay -- I hate her -- Grandmama's getting evil again -- she's --"

Beep.

The line went dead.

"Wonder what's wrong," I mused.

"Whatever it is, Emerson's unhappy about it." Michael stood up. "Still in pain?"

I tested my legs, feeling suddenly better. "Hey...I can move my legs again!"

Michael chuckled. He reached out a hand, helping me stand up.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked, picking up and hugging the dowager's diary with my left arm.

"Two hours." He smirked. "Just to let you know, you snore."

I gaped. "I do not!"

"You wouldn't know that since you were asleep, now, would you?"

"Shut up," I mumbled.

"Don't worry," he soothed, kissing my forehead. "You snored gently; nothing more than that. Besides, you were adorable."

With that, he let go of me and tried ways to bang the door open. It took a while.

^^^^^

Michael and I rode Onyx. I was in front, while Michael guided me from behind. The stallion cantered and jumped expertly over logs. My legs were starting to ache again after a while, but I ignored it, leaning the back of my head on Michael's chest. He seemed to like it very much, because I felt his lips brush my hair.

When we reached the stables, Michael got down and helped me, giving the reins to a stable lad. I saw Tessie and Gabrielle safely tucked away in their respective stalls.

We walked to the mansion in silence but I couldn't help it. I placed my hand in his. Michael looked surprised although he eventually smiled and squeezed my hand in reassurance. That gesture made me feel better.

By the time we entered the main hall, looking dusty, muddy and disheveled, Michael asked the rather surprised butler where his sister was.

"Lady Emerson is in the drawing room with the dowager and the duke," Humphrey said. "Would you like me to prepare a bath for the two of you?"

I blushed; Michael laughed.

"Where's Frederick and Viv?" I demanded, feeling concerned for my best friend. I knew she was in good hands, but still.

She stood up -- Versace spring dress and Armani pumps and all -- then walked toward us. She looked like a freaking Victoria's Secret Angel!

"Natty..." Michael muttered, blinking.

Natalie greeted me with air kisses, then she turned to Michael and gave him loud smacks with her lips on each cheek, hugging him tightly even if he was dirty and she smelled like a Ferragamo perfumery.

"So good to see you again, darling," she told him, closing her eyes.

But that was before I saw how her cold blue eyes sparked as she looked at me with a smirk and a wink.

Everyone was in the blue salon -- this kind of drawing room lavished in robin's egg blue wallpaper and white and gold accented furniture -- and I just wanted to say that I was not enjoying every second.

On top of that, Natalie went on and on about the wedding and how excited she was. This was the most vexing time of my life.

"Anthony and I thought it best we arrive here early to spend more time with the family and to help with the preparations for the ball," the witch explained graciously, crossing her legs in her seat, making them glow better than ever in the sunlight slanting through the floor-to-ceiling window.

"We know," the dowager snapped, thumping her cane on the white and blue Aubusson carpet to prove her point. "You already told us that before my grandson and his fiancée arrived."

If Natalie thought Lady Cutting was being incredibly rude to her, she masked it well; I had to give her credit for that because most people positively quivered in her presence. The model merely blinked. "Oh! I apologise, Lady C," she said with an rueful smile. "I just wanted to tell Michael and Keller again so that they'd know why we're here early."

"I know another reason for that," Emerson muttered, crossing her arms.

"What was that, Em?"

Emerson looked up with wide eyes. "Nothing really. Just talking to myself again. Silly me!" she giggled absently, waving a hand. "I was just thinking about what gown I ought to wear on Saturday. Engagement ball, you know."

"I'm sure you'll look absolutely smashing in anything, Em!" Natalie took a scone, neatly eating it without getting crumbs on her impeccable dress.