Love

An idea came to mind and she decided to speak, rather than wait for him to speak to her.

"Spending all your time at work isn't good Humphrey, you need to go out and get acquainted...maybe you might find someone to your liking."

She purposely added the last line to get a reaction from him and she did, his smile stretched and he looked at her briefly.

"What makes you think I haven't found a lady to my liking?"

He questioned her back and her heart skipped at his statement. He spoke so casually about it and it made her heart drown in fear that it might not be her.

"Are you serious?"

She couldn't help but ask to confirm what he said to be true. Humphrey nodded and she gulped.

"Instead of being worried for me, you should be worried for yourself Gladys."

"What makes you think I don't have someone on mind?"

She retorted and Humphrey stilled but it wasn't obvious.

"So who's this lucky young man?"

He decided to ask, wondering who it might be while praying internally that it should be him...but that wasn't going to happen, he thought to himself.

Gladys remained silent for a while, thinking of a way to answer him.

"I can't tell you."

He frowned but didn't bother her about it anymore, he was glad she didn't tell him. His heart was racing when she had said she had a man on mind.

"So who's this lucky lady?"

She queried and he narrowed his eyes at her and she chuckled.

"I can't tell you."

He used the same answer she had earlier used and she laughed but her curiosity piqued.

"Not fair brother, am your sister."

She tried to make a point so he could tell her who the girl was. Humphrey watched her keenly, trying to see if he could get a reaction from her he decided to say something.

"She goes by the name..."

He let his sentence hang midair which Gladys didn't appreciate, she narrowed her eyes at him and he laughed.

"Tell me yours first then I'll tell you mine."

He tried to bargain with her but she wasn't willing.

"He's a close friend with the king," came her surprising answer. But unknown to him she was talking about him.

"There are many people Theon is close with."

He probed but she wasn't willing to give more clue than that. Humphrey gritted his teeth and looked away briefly to get his composure back.

One the inside he felt really heartbroken by what she said. It disturbed him. Now he knew she didn't have feelings for him, they were just brother and sister, nothing more.

But come to think of it, Theon had few close friends apart from them who were his relatives.

"Is it Dylan Gevinson?"

Humphrey tried not to sound desperate but it disturbed him greatly and he felt like being alone to sober up.

Gladys' eyes lifted up to stare at him as they kept walking. She felt like crying when he showed no reaction of hurt or disappointment that it was someone else. She felt angry, and with difficulty she tore her gaze off him.

Her eyes glittered with tears but she blinked them back.

"Think whatever you want."

Humphrey frowned but he didn't say anything more to what she said. He clenched his right hand to fist in hurt and great disappointment. Now that was proof that she didn't have feelings for him.

"What about you brother, you didn't give me her name."

Gladys tried to act natural but her inside were in turmoil. She shut her eyes briefly, waiting for him to answer.

Feeling conflicted and still uncertain, Humphrey decided to just give out a name to see if he could get a little reaction from her, something that could tell him she was lying.

"Dinah, that's her name."

Gladys' eyes went wide and her jaw dropped in bewilderment. He mistook her reaction to be one of surprise and nothing more.

"Your trainee? Now I see why you always spend your time indoors." Gladys heart shattered and she felt like tearing up so badly. Of all people why does it have to be his trainee?

It became hard for her to breathe and she hurriedly thought of an excuse to escape from him.

"Let's get back Humphrey, I just remembered I have to see Theon," she lied so easily and it made Humphrey believe her instantly. But he got infuriated when a thought came to his mind.

What if she wants to meet Theon to talk about Dylan?

"Of course." He agreed to what she said.

*

While in the carriage, Gladys remained silent which Humphrey found very unlike her.

"Is something the matter Gladys?"

With difficulty she took her eyes off the window and turned to face him with a forced smile.

"Why do you think so?"

He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat, it suddenly felt so hard to talk to her. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her but will it change anything?

She already loved someone else.

"You've been quiet."

Gladys remained calm and had a good composure but her eyes were dull and tired.

"I want to be quiet."

Something felt off and Humphrey frowned, he could clearly see she wasn't alright.

Gently he took her left hand in his and stared right into her light brown eyes that glittered with unshed tears in them.

A gasp escaped her lips at his heart felt action, her heart cried out at his touch. It was so light and tender the way he held her hand in his.

Why on earth did he not have feelings for me!

A tear drop escaped her left eye and she quickly wiped it off with her other hand and let out a breezy snicker.

Frowning, Humphrey pulled her to his side, making her sit beside him. He hugged her and gently rubbed her back in a circular motion.

His actions made her burst into uncontrollable tears. It was so heartbreaking to love someone and find out he or she loved someone else. Her heart bled with so much hurt.

Humphrey became even more alarmed and surprised at her behavior, he wondered why she was crying all of a sudden.

She clung unto him, gripping his front shirt as she cried in his warm embrace.

Humphrey let her shed every tear she wanted. It was strange how she cried like a child.

When the carriage finally stopped in front of his work place, he helped her out and she followed willingly.

She wasn't ready to part ways with him, her heart yearned to be with him. In his strong embrace.

He led her to his private room and carefully put her to sit on a sofa. He took the handkerchief from his desk and wiped the tears off her face.

When he was done, they stared at each other. One with concern and the other with longing.

"Did I offend you?"

"No"

"Then what could be the problem?"

He was extra careful with his words, making sure he didn't upset her because whenever she got annoyed it was like the whirlwind.

"Does she love you the way you love her?"

Humphrey set his lips in a thin line, wondering how long he would keep up with the lie.

"I haven't told her how I feel...yet."

He answered while wondering what his love life had to do with her crying.

"It would be best you let her know now brother, because it would be hurtful to find out she loves someone else."

"The man you love didn't return the same feelings?"

He seemed to have found out the real reason behind her shedding of tears.

Gladys remained quiet as she stared into his dark purple eyes.

"Who is this man you so love?" Humphrey's eyes blazed with anger.

"And what will you do? Force him to love me?"

Her tone was hard and bitter which made Humphrey wonder who the man was.

"Sir Humph..."

Humphrey and Gladys' head turned to the door entrance to find one of his trainee standing there with an unsure look.

It was Dinah.

"I'll come by later, sorry..." She wanted to leave but Gladys stopped her.

"Don't worry Dinah, I was just leaving."

Gladys offered her a sweet smile which she returned back. Humphrey's eyes widened behind his spectacles when he realized what she planned to achieve.

"Don't worry Dinah, you can go, I'll come see you later."

He shooed her away which Gladys didn't like, especially when he even added;

'...I'll come see you later'

"I really need to go see Theon, you can talk to her." Gladys refused to back down but Dinah shook her head with a wave of her hand.

"Its nothing that serious lady Gladys, please take your time. Its good you're even here to see Mr Maynard."

Dinah spoke cheerfully and waved again at her before taking her leave, closing the door behind her.

Gladys then shifted her attention back to Humphrey who also stared back at her.

"She's really sweet Humphrey."

Saying those words really hurt her. She slowly stood up and so did he. He didn't want her to leave so soon.