Chapter XI.

*Mr Theodore*

Leaving the Clarke residency, both Diana and Theodore entered their carriage that still awaited their return.

"Sorry for the wait, Mr Kidsman," Diana apologised as she climbed in.

And with Theodore's entrance right behind Diana, the carriage set off. "Homebound?" asked the coachman.

"Homebound," affirmed Theodore.

For the first few minutes of the ride, muteness filled the air within the coach between Theodore and Diana. But, not long passed before she was the one who decided to break it. "How was that for you, Theo?".

"Enjoyable to say the least..." he responded, keeping his eyes out the window of his side of the carriage. "And you?".

"Likewise... I feel something for the Clarke sisters. Some sort of a bond that... that I am unsure I felt before, I don't know what it is..." responded Diana.

To her words, though he heard, Theodore remained quiet.

And, not that he noticed, but Diana turned her gaze towards him a few times as a result of his silence. His wanting to leave as early as possible and then his silence wasn't like him.

"Are you sure that everything is okay, Theodore?".

He turned, looking at his cousin. At first, he nodded his head. "Yes, yes I am sure, Diana.".

"And then, per se, if something does go on to bother you, can I trust you that you'll tell me what it is?".

Theodore laughed at her words. "Diana, I don't need a babysitter, I am old enough as it is to take care of my own problems if they were to arise.".

"I am not trying to say that you need a babysitter...". Diana paused to let out a rush of air through her lips. "Look... I see you as my brother. Hell, you are pretty much my brother. The son of my mother's sister and I can't help but try to look out for you.". Once more, she paused. "And what happened today, that was not how the Theodore I know would act like... something bothered you while we were with the Clarke sisters.".

A lump began to form in Theodore's throat, but he tried to brush the accusation off. "I really don't know what you want me to say to that, Diana.". He paused. "Would you like me to agree with what you said? Would that in turn make you happy?... Nothing is wrong, everything is okay. Besides, I have some errands I must take care of when we arrive home, a reason for why I was in such a rush...".

He turned his face away from her and back out the window so as to not allow her to see the guilt expressed across his face. The words he just said to the person he had looked up to for so long were harsher than he intended them to be. He wanted to apologise, but he felt as if such words would cause a domino effect, resulting in the occurrence of something he'd want the least. For the time being at least.

"Also, I won't be here in 3 days' time..." Theodore spoke out. "Just thought I should let you know.".

---

*Ms Tamara*

Back in the Clarke residence, after the departure of both Diana and Theodore, the sisters cleaned up after their guests with the arrival of their parents commencing soon after.

In her room, Tamara found herself sitting on her bed, her gaze pointed out the window. And then, with her gaze retracting toward her bookshelf, an idea entered her mind.

She wanted to go back outside, just like a few days ago, but instead of walking, she now wanted to bring a book alongside her to read. Doing just that, she also brought a page or two with her in case she got a hit of inspiration.

Before her departure, she made sure to leave a note on her table, telling her sisters where it was she would be. A mere 5-minute walk from their house. A shelter made so by the trees. A clearance in the woods that had a perfect outlook of a field, a view - if looked at for long enough - would strike inspiration in any writer.

And also, this time around, even if it were to begin raining, she'd be given the chance to rush back home and not get drenched unlike a few days ago.

Finding her place and sitting down, she allowed herself to put down all of her things beside her before pulling out her book. Wrapping a blanket around her, she proceeded on reading her book where she last stopped.

It was in a few intervals that Tamara lifted her gaze from the book and out at the wide, green field, imagining how it might feel if she was to be a character in the book she held.

But in some ways, the main character, Portia, did resemble mere likeness to the life Tamara lived. Matthew's description of her day-to-day life with her brothers and sisters resembled that of hers with her dear sisters. Except not under the roof of her husband because unlike Portia, Tamara wasn't married yet - something she should take care of and soon...

It wasn't until she heard the sound of galloping that she stopped reading once again. Pointing her gaze out to the moving figure, she saw it make a circle or two around the field before the horse slowed its gallop to a walk. From the distance, she could tell that the person was a man. The way he looked, the broad frame. And then, coincidentally, when he looked her way, the masculinity she managed to make out across his face.

But what she also noted was that he was no one she knew.

She looked at him, the way he took off his riding hat and approached his worse. The way he petted it.

And then, suddenly, a string of chuckles caught her attention from behind. Turning around, now she recognised the man who stood behind her. Pavel.

"We've got to stop meeting like this, in the fields," he spoke out, his voice deep and soothing, matching the colour scheme of his outfit.

Clumsily allowing her book to fall to the ground, she stood up before greeting Pavel with a courtesy. "Mr Pavel...".

He replied with a bowing of his head. "Ms Tamara.".

"W-... what brings you out here, Mr Pavel?".

"Fresh air really..." he replied. Then, pausing as he peered at the clutter that Tamara brought with her, "I suppose you were reading here then? Did I interrupt you?".

"Yes... I- I mean no.". She paused. "Yes, I was reading, and no you didn't interrupt me, Mr Pavel..." she offer clarity to her answer.

A pleasing smile stretched across his lips. But, it started to recede a mere moment later, and Tamara noticed this.

"Are you planning to continue reading?" Pavel further asked.

To such a question, Tamara responded with a shake of her head.

"Because I would like to show you something...".

"W-what, where?" Tamara asked. She had in mind the note she left with her sisters. She told them that she'd be here.

"It's not too far away. But if you wouldn't like to come, that's fine with me," Pavel responded.

A small, sheepish smile appeared across her lips. "I... I did tell my sisters that I would be here. If they come looking for me and... don't find me here...-".

"I understand, Ms Tamara," Pavel began. "I should have probably made some sort of an arrangement prior to asking you, rather than inquiring you about such a pursuit with me so out of the blue.".

"I sincerely apologise, Mr Pavel..." replied Tamara.

"No, no. There's no reason for any apologies, Ms Tamara. Perhaps next time then?".

To his question, a smile evolved on Tamara's face.

"I'll take that as a yes then!...".

Pavel was about to turn when he stopped in his tracks. His gaze travelled back to Tamara. With that, she advanced a step or two towards her. "Until next time then, Ms Tamara...". And picking up her hand, he kissed the back of it, just like on the night of the ball some time ago.

Turning on his heels, he proceeded his way through the woods as Tamara was left alone, gazing into his broad back until the trunks of the woods took him away from her view.

Lowering her gaze down to the blanket around her, she tightened it around her body before she proceeded on walking her way back home.

---

Reaching a clearance and soon after the gate which led to the front garden of the house, Tamara stopped in her tracks when she spotted a carriage by the front door.

'Could it be Abigail??'. Tamara rushed to the front door of the house before entering, there, right by the door of the living room, she found her sisters and mother by it, as if trying to hear what is going on by the other side of the door.

Ruth turned to Tamara before putting her index finger on her lips, showing her to be quiet.

Approaching Eileen, Tamara asked, "What is going on?...".

Excitedly, Eileen replied with a whisper, "Gertrude is being asked for her hand in marriage!".

It took a moment for it to sink within Tamara. 'Gertrude getting married?'.

A mixture of happiness, joy and sadness churned within her.

"Will she have to leave the house?..." Tamara asked.

Such a case is more than likely for Gertrude. The bride was supposed to join the husband's household, and vice verse was practically unheard of.

The smile on Eileen's face receded ever so slightly, with it being replaced by a smile of sympathy. "Tamara... I am sure she'll visit us often... She's our sister, our blood.".

"But look at Abigail...". Slight tears began to form in Tamara's eyes. "She's our sister, our blood and yet... only a little bit ago did she begin to come back around for visits...".

"Tamara..." Eileen's voice trailed off. "You should know that... that the conditions Abigail married under... they caused her to fear coming back home. And by the looks of it, I don't think Gertrude's proposal nor marriage will be like that...".

Feeling a lump forming in her throat, she knew her sister was right. She also kicked herself for letting her emotions get the best of her. She knew why Abigail could not come back home, yet she allowed herself to proceed with assumptions she assumed at that moment in time. "You're right... I'm sorry.".

It was those words that broke the barrier and caused her to turn around before she broke down into tears. The sisters that noticed approached their sister in the hope of trying to lul Tamara all while Abigail stood at the end of the hallway. A frown on her lips, though they were whispers, they were still audible.

But, she knew what she had to do. She walked over to her sisters who all had their arms around Tamara and she joined them.

"My beloved Tamara..." Abigail began. "I am sorry... I- I am so, so sorry...".