Clockwork City (2)

Esmeralda rushed inside of the Dynevor's Estate, hurrying to find her mother and show her the dresses she had bought just to make her happy.There,she found her mother filling her mouth with biscuits.

"Lady Georgina,here are the dresses I selected." She said,laying them on the chaise.

Lady Georgina examined closely,running her fingers over the fine fabrics."They're lovely my dear.You do have a great eye for fashion."

"Tell me mother,why did you call Penelope to come all the way from Eldoria to have her measurements taken instead of asking me directly? The bust was really tight."

Lady Georgina looked at her,sipping her tea and filling her mouth with the biscuits."I sent her to get her measurements taken because I thought your bodies were the same.I didn't know your bust had been that...fed.And you wouldn't have accepted my proposal had I asked you firsthand to go to the modiste."

Esmeralda tsked."I knew you would never change.Typical Lady Georgina."

Lady Georgina put the biscuits down,turning to her daughter with a frown."You have stopped calling me mother."

"Really?" Esmeralda bluffed."I must have gotten used to people referring to you as Lady Georgina,the tigress of the Dynevor's Estate."

"But try calling me mother sometimes,else I may be forced to give birth again to prevent loneliness." They both laughed.

Distracting herself the whole evening was a difficult task.Her curiosity was piqued and she desperately wanted answers to old Davington's tiresome clock. The clock like any other was meant to tell the time,but there was something more to the hour hand and second hand of that clock.

It moved faster compared to the people's usual clock and both hands were designed in weird ways,as if directing her to something.

Many people had come to Clockwork City to buy a clock,but she knew none had had the strong urge to buy it as much as she wanted to.No one,but her was able to see something concerning the clock and her best friend,Eloise wouldn't even tell her.

If there was someone who knew something old Davington wasn't going to let out,it was probably going to be Eloise,her cousin. She had been sent off to old Davington by her parents when they discovered how interested she was in making clocks.

Like any other hypercritical people,the maidens of Britannia had mocked her for her weird addiction to decoding and clock making.The fact that she always dressed in a boyish state more often than a girl added more fire to the insults.

"Clockwork is for boys only.You are a lady.Behave like one," the people would say and even go to the extent of insulting her parents for allowing their daughter to engage in clock making.

But what could she do?She was not the least interested in the telltales of the people of Britannia and was not ready to stoop too low and impress them.

She liked Eloise for that matter and their friendship had bloomed over the past few years making her come off as a best friend more than a cousin.

Esmeralda knew she had to sleep and fish out the answers the next morning.With that,she quickly retired to bed.

The next morning,she could hardly wait for anymore time to pass.She had to meet old Davington and find out more about the clock.

She even forgot to join her family for breakfast.

"Esmeralda,fetch me some flowers from Ms.Primrose." Penelope had yelled as she saw her rush out like a thief.

The carriage came to a halt in front of Clockwork's massive building.Her ears began ringing,she was getting close to the answers she sought.As she approached the door,the familiar chime of the clocks greeted her.

"Good morning,sir" she said,stepping in."I was hoping I would find something to pique my interest today."

Old Davington peered at her over his spectacles."I hope you are not here to talk about the old clock."

Busted,she smiled."I guess you have caught me.Since you already know why I am here,why don't we get straight to business?"

She quickly dug her hands deeper into her satchel,placing five bags of gold coins on the table.Old Davington adjusted his glasses.

"See? Here are five bags of gold coins.Now tell me,will you sell it or not?"

"I am sorry my dear, but that piece is priceless.I still need it with me." He replied,pushing the bags of coins into her hands.

"I can make one befitting your status if you would like."

"No!" She interjected."I still want the old piece."

"And why do you want it? It's old and dusty.It could harm you my dear."

Esmeralda looked at him, thinking he was talking about her respiring the dust.

"I breathe just fine.Everything goes." She commented, sniffing in the gold coins."See?"

Old Davington laughed."That is not what I meant.It would do you no good and put you in a lot of trouble." He turned over to look at the clock,a sad expression on his face.

"But I still want it."

"No dear! I cannot give it you"

"Then when will you give it to me?"

Old Davington realized he was getting nowhere with the stubborn young lady."Fine! I will pass it to you when I part with it."Esmeralda smiled warmly.

"See? It wasn't that hard."

With the reassurance that she would have the unique clock in her possession,she decided to go in for the flowers her sister had asked for.

The bustling street was filled with carriages and people moving in and out.Her eyes were looking around like a fool, admiring the view of people buying and selling.That was her first time out alone and she had to make it worthwhile.

Distracted,she bumped into a passer-by who annoyingly dragged a handkerchief to wipe off his coat.

"S-sorry" She turned to look at the pale faced man,cleaning off his coat with her hands.

"Just stop it will you?" A raspy voice startled her, stopping her midway.

She looked up and her eyes met the Duke's.

"Y-you??" He said pointing at her.

"I-I am really sorry.I didn't mean it."

"Are you trying to get my attention?"

"No! It's a mistake.I didn't mean to bump into you.It was an accident."

"Was it?" He furrowed his eyebrows looking at her with displeasure."Make sure never to touch me with those...hands of yours."

"You mean this one?" She teasingly stuck out her right hand close to his face and he moved back.

"It's enough,you!" A lady in a peach gown approached them with a tissue, linking her arms to his and cleaning his coat.

"She didn't disturb you darling,did she?" The duke shook his head, turning his attention away from Esmeralda.

"We can leave now." She smiled at him,and they both left, leaving Esmeralda stunned and jealous.Before leaving,the lady shot her a dirty glare as if to warn her from something.

"She can take him for the time being.It's just one day left and we'll get married.I'll see who she'll call a disturbance.Hmph!" She hissed.