XVII. It’s not a date

Chapter 17

I let my eyes scan the whole field as I held the purple parasol closely and delicately for I am afraid I'll somehow destroy this expensive-looking parasol.

It was Judy who let me borrow her purple parasol. As soon as she ascertained that Augustus and I are going to watch this so-called-soccer game, she insisted on prepping me up.

Nevertheless, she instantly hands me the rose gold gown without any hesitations. Heck, I bet it's the only gown that is not in the color of yellow in her closet. Not too fancy but still beautiful, if you ask me. It has a matching rose gold hat and a purple parasol.

Judy, on the other hand, kept giving me funny looks as she brushed my dark hair.

"You're beginning to creep me out, Judy," I exclaimed as I look at her in the mirror. Still, I enjoy the feeling of the brush running through my hair.

"Oh, nothing, my dear. I'm just happy you're going on a date although I would've preferred if you're actually going with Raymond," Judy answered as she stopped brushing my hair for a moment.

For some reason, my cheeks turned red. "First of, Judy, Augustus and I are not going on a date. Second, I just don't fancy Raymond, okay?"

God knows how much I want to confess that Raymond is a good catch if you're only into looks and money. But if you're one of those women who strongly believe attitude is a must then you came to the wrong person, darling.

"Oh, come on, Clementine. Who are you kidding here? Why in heavens would he invite you to watch some silly yet expensive soccer game if he doesn't fancy you? It's a date, Clementine, a date," Judy insisted, continuing in brushing my hair. A bit harder this time, I have to say.

"Look, I agreed to go with Augustus because he's my employer which means I have to do whatever he wants. So, like I said, this is not a date, only a job. Heck, I would've look like some sort of his chaperone later, I bet," I uttered as I let out a soft sigh.

"Well, if that'll make you happy then fine, we'll go with your story. But let me ask you this, Clementine. If you truly believe this is not a date then why are you now preparing as if today's your wedding day?" Judy blurted out as she wiggled her brows.

And with that, my cheeks turned red. I bit my lips and hope he will not notice my crimson cheeks for I don't want to lose this argument. Blushing means Judy just won. Everybody knows that.

"Madame, do you want to proceed to the honeymoon basing on how hard you're blushing?" Judy mocked as she wiggles her brows at me again.

I just remained quiet after that, still hiding my blush as I wish Judy will finish whatever she's doing to my dark hair. Let's hope she will not transform it into a bird's nest but judging from Judy's beautiful hairstyles, I an certainly sure she got the style.

As soon as Judy is done prepping me. She stared at me, smiling broadly and said, "If ever I'm going to have a daughter, I want her to look like you,"

That made me look at her and asked, "Don't tell me you're pregnant," with that, Judy just let out a laugh and said, "My goodness, of course not,"

Judy continued staring at me and uttered the words that made me look at her in confusion. "My cousin Leo would've gone wild as soon as he saw how beautiful you look,"

Everything became worse when Judy snatched my hand then lead me to the living room where Augustus can be found walking like a fool, wearing a black suit. He kept brushing his blond hair out of frustration, I guess.

My eyes almost began to ache as I eyed him walk around the living room, his hands inside his pockets.

It was Judy who decided to give an indication of our presence. She cleared her throat. Very unlady-like, if you'll ask Miss Dolores or Martha.

As soon as Augustus heard her, he automatically shot his head up and when his eyes landed on me, he began to look at me like I am a prey. Those looks he's giving me is enough for me to call the authorities and let him rot in Bastille.

Just kidding, he's not giving me that kind of looks. I am just being assuming, feeling really fabulous with my hair tied-up and my beautiful rose gold gown with matching the rose gold hat and purple parasol.

But I swear, I saw him eyed me from head to toe enough for me to blush and look sideways. Confirmed, he really is friends with Leo a.k.a the awkward guy.

After a few seconds, Augustus began walking towards me and said, "You look lovely in black, my mermaid,"

Can he please drop this ''mermaid' thing? I mean, me drowning is totally an accident or perhaps planned by Miss Dolores.

As soon as Augustus uttered those words, Judy began giving me funny faces and mouthed the words, "My mermaid?"

I pretended to not see her reaction for I turned my attention to Augustus and gave him a slight smile as I accept his arm, slowly snaking my hands around his arm.

Augustus then nods to Judy who is still smiling at us. Augustus and I were about to make our way towards the carriage when Judy blurted out words that just made me want to die due to humiliation.

"Have fun on your date," Judy blurted out, her arms crossed. Augustus just replied a soft chuckle at her statement.

Ugh. This is not a date, okay?

As soon as we've reached the humungous soccer field, I cannot help myself from dropping my jaw because first of, this is going to be my first time to watch a game live. Second, I cannot help myself from admiring all the wonderful gowns the Victorian ladies are wearing. I can see every shade, you name it. Also, I was overwhelmed by their huge yet aesthetic hats.

In the side, I caught a glimpse of children playing soldiers made out of tins. While some children who based on their attire belongs to the upper-class are waving flags on random soccer teams.

Augustus leads me to the side which gave me an amazing view of the field. I mean, I can see all the players from here who are all practicing in the field. Also, based on the minimal number here in our spot and on their fashion, I can tell this area is reserved for rich Victorian people only.

"Try this rice milk, the children are head-over-heels over them these days," Augustus said, handing me a cup of rice milk which I have to be honest, smells delicious which is why I immediately gave it a taste, earning a soft chuckle from Augustus.

"Excuse me, Mister Bennett, I cannot help but wonder if based on the choice of food do you think of me as a mere child because like you said, rice milk is the children's favorite," I humorously stated as I jokingly rolled my eyes.

Look, I am just expecting Augustus to somehow laugh at what I just said but instead, he raised his brow and stated the cheeks-burnings words, "I have no problems with you  being my baby and I being your daddy,"

After his joke which I hope is actually a joke, he let out a loud laugh which made other people look at us with raised brows.

When I looked at Augustus, his eyes are now wandering behind our back, his brows meeting. As if he's searching for someone behind us, when I turned around to look, I see zero familiar faces.

That's when I noticed that almost everyone is drinking something that smells a bit foul.

"What is it they're drinking, Mister Bennett?" I asked Augustus who is now taking a sip of his tea.

Not turning back, he quickly answered, "They're ginger beer. Almost all the men I know are quite addicted to them," shrugging.

All I can do is nod as I read the huge banner at our front that says, "First Ever Soccer League Competition: Preston North End competes against Monsay West"

I was about to ask Augustus regarding the game when the people including Augustus began to rose from their seats and whistled like there's no tomorrow. As if there's such thing as "Winner of the Loudest Whistle Ever"

Of course, I don't want to be a misfit, that's why I stood as well. Certain that I must've looked like a fool, clutching the purple parasol in my side.

After a few minutes, the game has begun. Soon, a leather ball is being passed from one another.

And since I have zero knowledge about soccer or why the people around me especially Augustus kept whistling and cheering even though nobody's scoring, I kept my attention on the very delicious rice milk.

I wonder what team he's supporting.

I was about to scoop a rice milk from the white cup when suddenly, I felt someone pushed me which caused me to spill the whole hot rice milk.

And you know what's more embarrassing is that the scalding rice milk was spilled into Augustus' lap which caused him to quickly rose from his seat and yelp.

I hurriedly stand up as well and began brushing his lap as I kept murmuring, "Sorry," over and over.

But I noticed that Augustus remained standing still and that's when I realized that almost everyone in the field is looking at us. Some are raising their brows but most are giving us a funny look while wiggling their brows.

The men, of course, are the ones who are giving us  I-know-what-you-guys-did-there look while the women kept their faces hidden behind their humungous fans as their brows are raised. Judging me horribly.

Oh, great.

What made it worse is when someone actually hollered, "Get a room, you hormonal kids," followed by few laughings.

Of course, my cheeks immediately became red. Thank goodness there's no such thing as kiss cam back then because if so then I would gladly kiss Augustus. Just kidding, guys.

To my surprise, Augustus gripped my wrist and forced me to sit down then turned to look around us. After a few seconds, the game continued and everyone has their attention back to the game.

"I-i am so so-sorry for my clumsiness, Mister Bennett." I apologized as Augustus slowly fished his handkerchief from his pocket and began rubbing it to his wet lap.

I expected Augustus to got angry which I know I truly deserved but to my surprise, he just let out a laugh and said, "Forget it, my mermaid. No big deal,"

Because of that, all I can ever reply is to bit my lips and tap my shoes continuously due to nervousness.

To somehow compensate, I removed Judy's rose gold hat from my head and laid it on top of Augustus's wet lap.

As soon as I did that, he automatically looked at me and asked, "What's this for?" his face between laughing and being confused.

"To cover your delicate wet lap, Mister Bennett. We wouldn't want Victorian ladies looking at a wet lap,  don't we?" I exclaimed, shrugging which earned me a soft chuckle from him.

"L-look, I said, it's okay. I have no problem with your rice milk spilling into my lap. I won't die because of that although you have a point, we wouldn't want Victorian ladies like you looking at a wet lap, don't we," He comically replied as he let the hat rest on his lap.

I just shifted my gaze somewhere due to his last sentence for I've noticed he emphasized the phrase "Victorian ladies like you,"

In my peripheral vision, I watched Augustus as he bit his lips and as he wiped his sweats in his temple. Probably from how hot the rice milk was.

I don't know whether to feel pity towards him or laugh at how he is struggling to maintain his manly side. Pretending as if nothing's wrong.

And that made me stop, my blood began to boil remembering someone actually pushed me causing for the rice milk to spill.

When I turned around, I saw no one. The other people in this bench are few seats away from us.

And since I don't want to ruin my day-off, I just let this slide.

But what made both Augustus and I shocked was when a cute Victorian boy, probably around age twelve or thirteen, wearing middle-class clothes stood in front of us. His arms open wide which blocked our view of the game.

If you ask me, I have no problem with it for like I said, I don't know anything about soccer but it was Augustus who I am worried at for his expression immediately changed after that.

"Excuse us, kid," uttered Augustus at first, arms crossed.

But still, the Victorian boy remained persistent for he kept standing in front of us, blocking our view.

What made Augustus more frustrated was when the crowd went wild, deafening cheers can be heard but sadly, due to the kid's presence in front of us, Augustus didn't have the chance to witness what just happened.

"You wouldn't want to make me angry, kid," said Augustus. I can tell he's pissed.

That somehow made me salute him, I mean, I spilled a hot rice milk into his lap and he just missed whatever just happened in the game due to this strange boy but he's far from hollering like a madman and start beating random people due to frustration.

Thankfully, the kid slowly puts down his arms and I can tell he's about to walk away when suddenly, a ginger beer came out from his pocket and I don't know whether he did this purposely or accidentally but the ginger beer spilled right into my gown.

To be honest, the smell of the ginger beer almost makes me wanna puke for a thousand times and scream over and over again as I wrapped my hands around the boy's throat but since I somehow felt pity towards the boy, all I can ever give him is a surprised look.

The boy's expression remained the same. His face unreadable, his arms at the back.

I can tell Augustus was about to burst out when I immediately held him in his thigh and gave him a slight smile, "It's okay,"

because of that, Augustus remained still in his seat, my hand still in his lap as I shifted my gaze towards the boy and said, "Off you go, boy," with a faint smile planted in my face.

All I ever hope is for Judy to continue letting me borrow her beautiful gowns after this. After what happened to this rose gold gown that I very much love.

After that, when I turned to look at Augustus, he is raising his brow at me. Eyeing with my confusion.

"W-what? Perhaps, it's my karma because of what I just did to you, Mister Bennett." I uttered, laughing.

Augustus then turned to look at his lap and my lap and released a laugh and exclaimed, "Now we're even,"

All I can reply is a shrug and also a laugh. After that, Augustus turned his attention back to the game while I pretended to be interested in the game as I cannot help myself from thinking how strange that boy was.

Right after the game was finished, many Victorian gentlemen came to greet us, I mean, Augustus.

They kept asking about his father who recently just returned from a business trip.

All Augustus can reply to them is a faint smile, still charming though, if you ask me and said, "My father is still resting from his long trip especially the fact that he's no fan of the ocean,"

I cannot help myself from getting scared a little and staring blankly at the ground as they continued talking about the guy I must murder. Mister Douglas Bennett whose in love with the idea of violence...and expensive vases, I can tell.

Augustus then leads me towards one of the vendors at the side where a bunch of children can be found. I can tell some of them are happy at the new teddy bear with an embroidery of "Preston North End" right in the stomach.

While many fans are frowning, heck, I even heard children crying due to the lost of Monsay West in the soccer game. Many vendors who sell Monsay West merchandises are now packing their things.

Augustus surprised me by giving me a handkerchief with an embroidery of, course, the winning team. The handkerchief is in the color of blue with flowers around it. In the middle has the name of the team and a leather soccer ball.

"For remembrance," said Augustus, shrugging, giving me a wide smile. His right hand holding the rose gold hat that he used to cover his lap. While his left hand is inside his pocket.

"Well, thank you for this, Mister Bennett. I'll make sure to wash this every once in a while," I jokingly said as I caress my fingertips to the smooth blue fabric, tracing the embroidery.

"No problem, my mermaid. I, by the way, wanted to say thank you for coming with me to watch this first ever soccer game," Augustus uttered, shrugging.

After that, there was an awkward long pause between us. Only the noise of the crowd around us can be heard.

"Let's just wait for the carriage," Augustus exclaimed, breaking the ice. All I can ever reply is a nod.

Minutes passed but still, no familiar carriage came until Mister Thomas, Bennett's coachmen came running towards us, frowning.

"What's the matter, Thomas?" asked Augustus, eyeing Mister Thomas with confusion.

"I'm afraid the horse ate something that made him dive into a deep sleep, Sir," replied Thomas nervously. He kept biting his lips, his hands shaking. Probably scared Augustus will shout at him.

To my surprise, Augustus let it slide, saying, "That's okay, we can rent one. Just stay here with the horse, Thomas. As soon as me and Miss Wright come home, i'll send someone to fetch you and the horse,"

Right after Augustus said that to Thomas, Thomas' face automatically turned from worried to relief.

"G-got it, Sir," replied Thomas, now smiling broadly.

Thomas then eyed me and murmured the words, "You're in-charged of Mister Bennett, Clementine. Take care of him or else Mister Douglas would be furious once again,"

I hurriedly gave him a nod. After a few minutes, Augustus and I are now in a small carriage. Our knees touching each other.

"What a crazy day, don't you think so?" uttered Augustus during the long ride to Bennett's manor.

"Indeed, strange as well, Mister Bennett," I replied, shrugging as I eyed him as he frowns.

I wonder why he's frowning. Is it because I spilled a hot rice milk to his lap? That some peculiar child prevented him from seeing the highlight of the game? And that the horse that we're supposed to use is now fast asleep.

"To tell you the truth, I should've brought you to a carnival or somewhere, I don't know, not boring to you?" Augustus said, his eyes outside. His hands on his lap.

I cannot help myself from getting confused. "What made you say that, Mister Bennett? I mean, I had fun despite the strangeness of today's events," I replied.

"Well, I do hope you're saying that not because I'm your employer," he quietly replied as he let out a soft sigh then frown.

Suddenly, I felt really bad for an unknown reason. "Really, Mister Bennett, I had fun. If I have to be honest with you, no offense, by the way, any activity that doesn't involve your household is fun to me,"

For that, Augustus released a laugh. A genuine laugh and uttered, "I seriously don't know whether to feel happy or sad about your confession,"

After our conversation, we began talking about his passion on medicine, his hopes on becoming a well-known doctor, not a businessman. How his room is secretly full of medicine books for his father does not approve of this.

As soon as I got to the maid's chamber, I went straight to my bed and lay there as I think about how Augustus isn't really the conceited guy I first knew.

I was about to change my clothes and head downstairs to wash the dishes when the door flew open and there stood Judy, her smile wide.

Before I have the time to react, she hurriedly closed the door and sat with me on the bed and asked, "How was the date?l"

Of course, I rolled my eyes heavenwards and insisted, "We didn't go on a date,"

In order to annoy me, I guess, Judy then rolled her eyes heavenwards and exclaimed, "Yeah and the earth is flat,"

—————

Leo is laying in his bed. His hands behind his head as he stares at the beige ceiling.

Leo cannot help himself from feeling so stupid. He is the epitome of stupidity.

First is because he can't believe he actually did stalk Clementine and Augustus in their date.

Oh, how he hid behind the two of them during the soccer game.

Leo is just thankful for all the military training he went to. That when hiding, one should not leave a clue.

But Leo has a strong feeling that Augustus has somehow caught him.

Oh, how Leo planned on destroying their date to the point where even though he knew it's wrong, he pushed Clementine so that she'll spill the hot rice milk to Augustus's lap.

He knew Augustus. He hate it when that kind of things happened to the point in where he doesn't hesitate in firing the maid who does that.

But that's where Leo's wrong. Augustus wasn't furious instead, he was kind of happy about it for Clementine showed a bit of her kindness to Augustus.

On the other hand, Leo cannot help himself from frowning because of that. Oh, there's no way he'll give up easily like this.

The second foolishness he did was by giving a random child a cash for just standing in front of Clementine and Augustus.

Heck, Leo really felt bad when Augustus' favorite team scored. He didn't know the team will score while the boy is standing there.

Leo knew he really is stupid for all the things he had done especially when he gestured the child to spill the ginger beer to Clementine.

Leo's no stupid. All Victorian ladies loathe the smell of ginger beer, even he but there's no way a girl like Clementine would actually walk-away from a date just because of the smell of ginger.

But there's nothing wrong with trying, right?

And finally, his last plan, as soon as the game has ended, Leo immediately went straight outside and bought a sleeping liquid from one of the vendors and feed it to Bennett's horse.

But no worries, Leo made sure he bought a non-toxic sleeping liquid. He doesn't want to get the horse to die.

To ease his stress, Leo got up from his bed and was about to grab a random book when suddenly, the door flew opened and there stood his friend Augustus. His brows meetings, lips into a thin line.

"What were you thinking, Leo?" Augustus angrily blurted out. His fists want to kiss Leo's face so hard.

——

Uhmm, hello, guys! Good day!

Thanks for reading it even though I know the story is getting more and more boring. To be honest, I am losing interest in writing for I don't know what will happen next. I tried reading books to get some inspiration but still, it didn't work.

Anyways, I'll do my very best in uploading another *crappy* chapter next week. :)

Like I said, thanks for reading, please do leave a comment and a vote.

Also, as part of my summer goal, I strive hard to finish reading The Bible. :)