Unrequited Love

“I have to go into the village,” Sian repeated.

“Go and tell Frances to get me some bacon and eggs, and some beef,” Wilhelmina ordered.

“Father has told you that we don’t have bacon and eggs for breakfast. Frances is under orders from father not to cook it. If you don’t agree then you should take that up with father.”

“Do as you are told,” Wilhelmina snapped.

“I am not your servant,” Sian retorted coldly. With that, she too slammed out of the room.

Seconds later, she was hurrying down the driveway toward the village. Sian forced herself to slow down because the sooner her trip was over the quicker that she had to return to the house. As far as she was concerned, she didn’t care if she didn’t go back until dusk. Consequently, her walk turned into a saunter until eventually, Sian forgot about the house of chaos she left behind and began to revel in the peace of the blooming countryside surrounding her. All about her a variety of flowers sat in bud, threatening to burst into life as the spring season progressed. The breeze teasing the edges of her thick shawl wasn’t as sharp as it had been this last winter. Consequently, with the sunlight now shining down upon her, Sian’s walk through the countryside really was rather pleasant.

“Hello.”

Sian’s heart flipped in her chest. She jerked and turned to look at the owner of that voice.

“Hello.”

Ryan Terrell was by far the last person she wanted to see right now. He had the ability to haunt her thoughts and had just stolen her peace and quiet. She knew now that while she might have been able to leave the house and its problems behind, she would never be able to out-run the problems Ryan brought her.

Ryan studied her and felt that now familiar gulf of difference open between them. With a sigh, he contemplated just asking her if her father was at home and going on his way, as he usually would.

But then I am never going to be able to resolve this need I have to see her. I need to find out where it is going to lead me, and if it is an infatuation that I must do something about.

Without another word, Ryan dismounted.

Sian blinked at him. “I am just going into the village,” she explained, knowing that was the direction he had just come from.

Regardless, Ryan fell into step beside her.

“How are you?” Ryan began.

“Fine, thank you,” Sian edged. When she looked up at him her gaze fell to a figure walking down the lane toward them. “Oh no.”

“Do you know him?” Ryan asked having caught her moan and found the cause of it.

Sian felt her cheeks heat. She coughed when she realised Ryan had heard her and was now waiting for her to explain herself.

“Yes. He is a friend of my aunt’s. Her friend’s so

n, apparently.”

“He seems determined to catch up with you.”

“I know,” Sian whispered in a voice rich with disgust.

“Do you not like him?”

“He is friends with my aunt.”

“Oh?”

“Wilhelmina.” Sian watched Ryan blink and then turn a curious gaze upon Cedrick. “Ah. Is your father quite well?”

“They – Wilhelmina and Cedrick – turned up at one o’clock this morning, quite unexpectedly. There has been a fire of some sort, I don’t know,” Sian explained.

Ryan nodded, but sensed from the sharpness in her voice that she wasn’t happy about it.

“He seems a decent chap.”