Chapter 3

A full night of sleep had given me the strength I needed to face the day-Even after my birthday ball from hell. And there was only one thing to do to get my mind off bad things. It's archery time!

I pulled the bow back as I aimed for the target, sending the arrow straight towards the bullseye. I was letting my rage fuel my aim today. However, as I went along, my aim got more and more sporadic. I was no longer hitting dead on like I usually did.

Dante: Shit!

Kitty: Er, sorry.

Dante: trying to get out of our engagement so quickly?

Kitty: Evidently. Speaking of which, have you figured out a way to get us out of it?

Dante: It's not a walk in the park, Katherine. Anyway I think of either ends up with one or both of us ruined or exiled to France.

Kitty: Clearly, I should have gotten fake engaged to someone else.

Dante: If all else fails we can just have a really long engagement. You only have a tear or two, though, before you're on the shelf.

Kitty: Hush!

Dante: Kidding. Whoever thought women couldn't get married after four and twenty or whatever age is now as moronic.

Kitty: That was...quite original of you Lord Radcliffe.

Dante: But I am no doubt interrupting your archery. I will let you get back to it. May I call on you this week? Perhaps I can take you for a walk?

Kitty: Good day, Lord Radcliffe.

I say as I walk away to my room.

Anne: Katherine, come here!

Oh, brother. I think while face palming.

Kitty: Yes, Mama?

Anne: Where have you been?

Kitty: Practicing my archery, Mama. What i always do on Saturdays.

Anne: A good wife does not shoot bows and arrows like a wild woman. You should practice more refined skills, such as piano. At least Emilia has yet to fail us.

Kitty: Then maybe Emilia should marry Lord Radcliffe. After all, she's not the 'disappointment'.

Anne: Enough with the attitude, Katherine. Now go practice your piano.

Kitty: Mama, no...

Anne: Go along now. Those ballads wont learn themselves.

Truth be told, I adored the piano. It was a nice break from having to talk to people, and indoors work was nice at times. I only ever pretended to not like it so my mother would continue to send me to the music room for her little punishments. Now, lets practice a happy song. This song was whimsical and happy, always lifting my mood- Even from the lowest of places. After playing the song, I walked to my room to have a good read of my normal rom-com books. Somebody knocked on my door pulling me out of my reverie.

Kitty: Come in!

Angelica: Excuse me, Miss. Kitty. I have a letter for you from Lord Radcliffe.

Kitty: Throw it into the fire.

Angelica: I don't think your mother would appreciate that.

Kitty: Perhaps not.

The letter read so:

My dearest Katherine,

It is with anxiousness that I invite you for dinner and a walk with me in a week's time. The dinner will naturally come after the walk. I find I need refreshment after exercise. Even that which isn't vigorous. I would give you examples, but I trust you're still pretending to be a fine lady.

Yours, Dante.

Angelica: In three...two..

Kitty: Dinner?! I suppose dinner wouldn't be too bad. I do enjoy food.

Angelica: You aren't upset?!

Kitty: Why would I be upset over free food?

Angelica: I have to get back to work, Miss. Katherine.

Kitty: Of course.

After a while, I heard another knock. Seriously?! Cant I have a me day in my peace?

Emilia: Kitty, can I came in?

Kitty: Come in!

Emilia: At least you're in a pleasant mood!

Kitty: Ah, yes. Absolutely delighted. Nothing says fun like my life at the moment.

Emilia: Have you figured a way out pf your engagement yet?

Kitty: Not yet. Dante swears he's trying though.

Emilia: What a shame. By thw way, I must tell you of what I've seen here at night lately. Oh, I'm almost afraid to even speak of it! A ghost! Kitty! I am most sure!

Kitty: Oh?

I quirked my brow as she spoke, wondering if her spectre could be the sae on id seen wandering the halls the night before.

Emilia: I fear I might be going mad.

Kitty: You're not going mad. I saw it too.

Emilia: You did?!

Kitty: Yes!

Emilia: Do you think they'll return?

Kitty: There's only one way to find out.

Emilia: I always see it disappearing towards the servants' quarters.

Kitty: Then I think we know where to start.

Emilia: Do you think we'll find anything here. Do ghosts eat people?

Kitty: I don't think so, Em.

Emilia: What was that?

Kitty: Probably a beetle.

Emilia: What kind of beetle clangs?!

Kitty: You're so jumpy tonight, Emilia.

Emilia: Don't act like you're not afraid too. You admitted you saw something too.

Kitty: Knowing my luck that was probably just a figment of my imagination.

Emilia: Sigh.

Kitty: Come on, I don't think we're going to find anything here.

Emilia: Maybe they went home?

Kitty: Do ghosts have homes?

Emilia: Oh, what if it doesn't have a home?!

We saw a hand travel towards us, the owner hidden in the shadows. it was the same masked figure from before! We screamed loudly!

Dante's POV

My head spun as I paced the fields. Katherine had been at earlier that day. Had she received my letter? Did she care? I ran a hand through my hair as I eyed the target in the distance, half-tempted to take it home as a token.

Gerard: Come along, Lord Radcliffe. It grows dark.

Dante: Coming, Gerard.