Chapter XXXI.

The ground beneath them both still contained the remnants of the harsh Winter that was now behind them. At least until next Winter.

The sun hid in frequent intervals behind the cottons of clouds that sailed across the sky, with the bright blue of the day managed to peer its way past the breakage of the clouds.

"It's a beautiful day..." Pavel began, remaining by Tamara's side. Even though he was taller than Tamara by half a head, he made sure to match his walk with hers.

"It is," Tamara affirmed, letting her voice trail off. She noticed her breath condense into a mere cloud of mist.

For a second, muteness descended between them both, the quiet between them filled with the singing of the birds and the rustling of the leafless branches in the wind.

"Thank you..." Pavel broke the silence.

As his voice gained Tamara's attention, she looked his way.

"Thank you..." Pavel repeated. "Thank you for giving me a little bit of your time today...".

Tamara couldn't help but giggle ever so slightly at his words. "Don't be ridiculous, Mr Pavel... There's no need to thank me for such.".

With that, another mere moment of silence spread between them both as they continued their stroll.

At some point, Pavel cleared his throat before speaking up, "Let's turn here... there's something I'd like you to see, Ms Tamara.".

Following his footsteps, they passed a mere wall of loose shrubbery, which Pavel cleared the path for both Tamara and him.

On the other side, they were greeted with another dirt road, Pavel led the way as Tamara kept closely behind him.

"We won't get lost, will we, Mr Pavel?" Tamara inquired, fear becoming all too conspicuous in her voice.

"You mustn't worry, Ms Tamara. I know these roads like the back of my palm.". And just as Pavel spoke of such words of reassurance, they proceeded to turn onto a thinner dirt trail and walk through another section of greenery. However, this time, it was the beginning of a forest.

"Mr Pavel... where are you bringing me?" Tamara raised a question of similar concern to her last. She couldn't help but chuckle in slight diffidence, whilst deterring the remaining branches that perforated the path ahead of her.

"I'm afraid I can't say, it's a surprise. But I hope you'll like it..." Pavel began. "And I give you my word, Ms Tamara. I will bring you back home in one piece.".

They walked for a few more seconds before reaching a clearance in the forest. From the mere cluster of trees and bushes, they walked onto a vast landscape where trees stood meters tall, piercing their branches into the sky.

With a separation of a few meters between each tree, their visibility ahead grew clearer.

"Wow..." Tamara whispered her awe under her breath. "Beautiful...".

Hearing her words through the mere singing of the birds, Pavel smiled. "Yeah, it really is.".

Their walk continued for a few more minutes before they reached a small burrow of land. Climbing up the small hill, it uncovered a view like no other. A broad lake that seemed to separate the land ahead of them.

With the water still frozen, some of the wildlife sought refuge in the trees around them. Some birds, with their attempts succumbing to failure, tried to land on the water only to slide across the ice before taking to the skies once more

A tree or two shot up from the lake, the ice and into the sky.

Ascending down the slopped landscape, Tamara was mesmerized by the view before her. She walked until she reached the beginning of the icy lake. There, a broad smile took place on her lips.

Pavel followed behind her, keeping his hands behind his back. He watched Tamara, the joy that surrounded her, and it made him happy. It made him happy to see her that way.

Beside him, a few flowers caught his attention. So, picking them up, he returned his hands behind his back as if to keep them a secret - a surprise.

With that, he began to approach Tamara who still had her eyes out the frozen lake, and when he reached her, he called out her name, "Ms Tamara.".

Turning, she found herself looking into Pavel's eyes. Immediately, her eyes looked down at what Pavel offered her. Flowers.

"Oh my... Mr Pavel..." she started, taking the flowers into her hands. "They are beautiful... Thank you.".

"Winter flowers," Pavel began. "A pity they'll start to die out in a few week's time when Winter comes to an end...".

"Yeah... but they'll grow back next Winter?".

Pavel chuckled ever so slightly at Tamara's question. "Yes, yes they will.".

From the flowers, Tamara looked up at Pavel who had his gaze down at the flowers before looking back at Tamara.

"There's something I wanted to ask you, Ms Tamara..."

Slightly puzzled, Tamara kept her eyes on him. "What is it, Mr Pavel?".

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Pavel showed hesitancy, which in turn caused Tamara to feel a mere churning in the pit of her stomach.

Taking a step back, Pavel cleared his throat, interchanging his soft glances between Tamara, the flowers in her hand and the ground below them.

With his hands begin his back once again, he proceeded to clear his throat. "Ms Tamara, I wanted to ask...". Pausing for a second, Pavel kneeled down on one knee.

Keeping his gaze on Tamara, he continued, "I wanted-... well, I want to ask if you will marry me, Ms Tamara?".

---

In the Oxford residency, Victoria and Elisabeth sat in the dining room with Marissa and Diana. All the while, Theodore was in his room.

"When is it you're due to go back again, Elisabeth dear?" Marissa asked, watching as both her daughter and Elisabeth nibbled upon Marissa's homemade cookies.

"Thursday, Ms Marissa," Elisabeth responded whilst looking at Marissa's way before glancing at Victoria who only gave her a bleak look.

"And you, dear Sister?" Marissa asked again, shifting her attention toward Victoria.

"I am leaving with Elisabeth on Thursday also, Sister," Victoria responded, keeping her gaze on her plate. "We'll be leaving as soon as we wake up as the journey back to Veursau is long and tedious. I am sure Elisabeth knows all about it...".

Hearing Victoria's words, Elisabeth kept her eyes down also, feeling a slight lump grow in her throat.

All of a sudden, one of the housemaids walked into the dining room, holding a sealed envelope. "A letter for Ms Victoria..." she spoke out, handing the letter to its recipient.

Surprised, Victoria took the letter before immediately opening it up. Her eyes traced through the letters. The letter wasn't long, but its contents made her eyes widen as she placed her hand on her mouth. "Oh... oh my...". Immediately, she stood up.

"Sister??" Marissa began. "What is it?".

"My... my Gabriel!" Victoria shrieked.

"Gabriel??" Marissa exclaimed. "What happened??".

"G-Gabriel... I... I must..." Victoria continued, not acknowledging her sister's question. Leaving the letter on the table, she continued, "Oh... I-... I must... I must get Theodore. We must go to Verusau...". Not being able to process her thoughts well, Victoria rushed out of the dining room.

There, Marissa took the letter into her hands and read the horrible news that, only seconds ago, was sealed by the white envelope.

Reaching the staircase, she immediately called for Theodore, to which - sensing the urgency in his mother's voice - he responded by rushing out of his room and down the stairs. There, by the staircase, he saw his mother in tears. "What's wrong?".

"Theodore... it's... it's your father... it's my Gabriel. We have to go, we have to go right now!".

"What happened?..." Theodore asked, surprised at the fact that he even felt something.

Through her teary eyes, she looked at Theodore. "He suffered a heart attack... he was found dead, Theodore... Y-your father... my husband is dead, Theodore...". She hugged her son before breaking down once more.

Theodore was dumb-found. His father passed away. He was no more. Regardless of their past, his father's absence, he felt his heart drown ever so slightly. 'My father died...'.

Diana and Marissa emerged from the dining room door and rushed over to Victoria. Kneeling beside her, Marissa reported to one of the housemaids in the hallway to get a carriage ready. "We're going to Verusau... Theodore, Victoria and I...".

---

"Ms Tamara... will you marry me?" Pavel inquired, his gaze grew softer the longer he kept his eyes on Tamara. "I-... I am well aware we are not very much acquainted with one another, but I'll be willing to get to know you more, Ms Tamara...".

"Mr Pavel... I-..." Tamara tried to formulate any words but failed miserably. She felt a lump grow in her throat as her stomach churned with a sensation stronger than ever before. "I- I am flattered, Mr Pavel, truly. Taken back even...". She paused for a moment as her eyes travelled down to the flowers that were given to her.

All the conversations she had with Pavel. And those she had with Elisabeth too, they all came back to her. They all dwelled on her mind for a mere moment. Leaving a bittersweet taste in the back of her mouth.

She knew what she had to do. It was what Elisabeth told her to do. But was that what her heart wanted? But accepting the proposal of a man who made her feel half the way his nemesis did, was that what her heart wanted?

"It's not in my nature to cause anyone pain... heartache. And you know that yourself, Mr Pavel..." Tamara began. "So with me saying that... I cannot accept your proposal of marriage.".

Hearing her words, the softness in his eyes slowly began to drain, as did the colour on his face. And seconds later, he stood back up onto his feet as his gaze pointed down toward the ground.

"I- I'm sorry, Mr Pavel... I really am..." Tamara spoke out as she felt her eyes fill with tears ever so slightly. "My heart isn't letting me accept such a proposal of yours...".

It took a moment for Pavel to comprehend Tamara's words. But clenching his jaw for a second, he looked back up at Tamara.

"I'm sorry..." she apologised once more.

To her words, Pavel let a small smile grow on his lips. "Why apologise, Ms Tamara? There's no need for such...". Pavel paused for a mere moment, in the hope it might cure the slight lump that began growing in his throat. "I can see it in your eyes, some other man has your heart. And I'll admit, I am jealous, but I can only be thankful to you for being honest. I want to see you happy and not by my side, rather than seeing you miserable and for there to be nothing much I can do...".

His words caused her heart to sink that bit more, she felt guilt. But she also felt relief for being honest about such a life-changing question.

"Should we get going then?" Pavel asked, trying hard to not let Tamara's rejection break the smile he had on his lips.

Standing there with a little bit of confusion, Tamara felt the feeling in her stomach return as Pavel offered to walk her back. Even after her rejection.

She looked at him as he began his back up the slight hill. And when he looked back, he saw Tamara standing in her place. "Ms Tamara, you may have rejected my proposal for marriage. But I did say I will get you back home in one piece. And I am a man of my word.".