Storm and Silence(60)

‘Ella, my love,’ he called in a damnably audible whisper. ‘Oh, how it fills my heart to see you!’

‘And mine,’ sighed Ella. Then she hesitated. ‘I mean my heart is filled with joy from seeing you, not from seeing myself. That would be silly. I see myself every morning in the mirror.’ She brightened. ‘But now you are here!’ She exclaimed. ‘I have been waiting all day to see you!’

‘Your words make my soul sing, Ella. Please, step closer, into the moonlight, so I may behold your lovely face.’

‘I will. But first… first I have to tell you something, Edmund.’

‘What?’ he asked, his breath catching.

‘It is the strangest thing,’ Ella muttered. ‘I would not even mention such a strange, trivial occurrence if not for your words yesterday, but…’

‘But what? My words yesterday? What words?’ Now I could hear a distinct note of anxiety in Edmund’s voice.

It must have shown on his face, too, because Ella smiled at him hesitantly, caught off guard by his expression. ‘Well… what you said about the flowers. You remember? You told me to tell you if Sir Philip sent me any more flowers.’

I glanced at the young man. Now the expression on his face wasn’t simply anxious anymore. It was panicked.

‘Yes, and? Has he sent you another bouquet?’

‘One?’ Ella giggled. ‘No, not one. I tell you, the man must be very eccentric, I cannot otherwise account for his behaviour. He sent me dozens of bouquets. I had no idea there were that many flowers to buy in the whole city of London. I…’ She broke off when she saw Edmund’s face.

‘Edmund? Edmund, what is wrong? What ails you?’

‘My heart is breaking,’ he answered tonelessly, staring into the distance with empty eyes. ‘That is what ails me. It is as I thought. I am doomed.’

I leaned forward, resting my head on my knees. This was good. Better than the theatre, except that I couldn’t throw peanuts at the actors. I doubt Ella would have appreciated that.

‘What is the matter?’ My little sister wrung her hands in sudden desperation. ‘Oh Edmund, reveal to me this terrible secret you are carrying! What is it about those flowers that makes you fear them like death itself?’

‘Worse than death,’ he mutters. ‘A thousand deaths and the tortures of hell.’

Dear me! That fellow had definitely read too many romantic novels. I considered interrupting and telling him he was overdoing it.

But then, on second thoughts, maybe I’d rather not.

‘Tell me, Edmund! Tell me, what are they?’

‘The flowers are a sign of affection,’ said Edmund, his voice as hollow as a drainpipe through which all his hopes were flooding away. ‘Sir Philip wishes to seek your hand in marriage.’

Ella stiffened. All colour drained from her face. I covered my eyes with my hand and let it slip down my face. Good God in heaven, she was actually surprised.

‘No!’

‘Yes, he does.’

‘No, Edmund…’

‘And who can blame him?’ he continued. ‘You are indeed a fair maiden, Miss Linton. Every gentleman in England should be seeking your hand. You…’ his voice broke, and after a moment he continued: ‘You are far too good and beautiful for common folk.’

‘Edmund! What are you saying?’ She cried out.

‘I am saying goodbye, Miss Linton.’

‘Goodbye? Edmund, why do you torture me so? And why so distant? Why call me Miss Linton?’

‘You are right,’ he said in the same hollow voice. ‘I should call you Lady Wilkins. For that is who you soon shall be.’

Apparently, I had been wrong before: Ella had still some colour left to drain from her face. It vanished at Edmund’s words, plummeting towards the earth’s core.

Suddenly not at all amused by the scene, I sat up straight, staring whole arsenals of daggers at Edmund.

What was that bastard doing? Was he so heartless that he could just stand there and hurt my little sister? He should be pulling her into his arms and telling her all would be all right! After climbing over the fence, that is.

‘I will never marry Sir Philip,’ Ella proclaimed. ‘Never!’

‘But why not?’ Edmund asked, his voice still as hollow and dead as an entire graveyard. ‘Is he not a most eligible match?’

‘I do not care how eligible he is,’ sniffled Ella, taking two rapid steps towards the fence. Edmund stepped back hastily as she stuck her hand through the poles, trying to reach him. ‘I… I…’

‘Yes? You?’ he inquired and his voice wasn’t quite as dead as before.