The Enigma of Albert Morris by Leo 9

 

 Episode 9

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Catherine was lying in her bed unable to sleep. The gift of Edmund was just staring her making her anxious. She finally got up and picked the red velvet box from the dressing table and sat on the stool. It was clear it was of a chain. She finally opened it and found something which made her sleep ran away. It was a gold twisted chain with with topaz in it. Her mother used to wear this. It was her heirloom. She couldn't wait for the morning to meet Edmund. 

''Lord lady Catherine has arrived.'' Edmund's butler announced. Edmund who was resting his legs on the table rose in an instant. 

''Escort my lady in with great respect.'' 

''My lady he bowed and tried to take her hand but Catherine didn't let him.''

''It is an honor to have you at my place..'' Catherine cut him off.

''Lord Edmund may I know from where you bought this present?'' she said throwing the box on the center table.

''You didn't like it?'' he narrowed his eyes.

''This is already mine. It belonged to my mother.''

''No actually I bought it from a local jewellery shop. I had no idea it was yours otherwise I would have sent the responsible to jail. '' he began pouring whiskey for himself.

''Never mind.'' she wore her cape and was about to leave.

''I know where the wealth of your family is. Marry me and you'll be the most wealthiest woman in this country. Those who took your wealth from you will beg for mercy. I will kill them all.'' he was all changed today. Catherine was really surprised to see him in this state first she used to wonder that people might have said ill things about him due to his stature but damn how right they were.

''Edmund I really thought you were a good person but now after witnessing your such state all I can do is pity you.'' she turned on her heel and went straight out. 

''This is your real place you destitute ignorant woman.'' 

 

It was time of the dreadful ball. Catherine didn't want to go not ever after what happened in the morning but she couldn't tell this to Victoria. So she had to put a stone on her heart on the other hand she didn't meet Albert today and se was dying to meet him and talk to him.

The palace was massive, many carriages were parked and people were coming out of them of all age groups. Young and old. 

Victoria brought her Uchiwa towards her face and said , ''Stay away from him even if he tries to talk to you just be quiet so he knows what is his limit. Another thing he has a talent of wooing women remember this.'' Catherine nodded in agreement,

''I cannot beat him aunt, if he talks to me I must reply with courtesy this is what I have been taught.'' she followed her in although she had searched for Albert everywhere but she couldn't find him. 

Inside the hall people were here and there. The butler took their coats. 

''Lady Victoria.'' Edmund took her hand and kissed it.

''A nice and quite massive ball lord Edmund. My niece Catherine Ayling.'' she raised an eyebrow unwillingly she had to offer him her hand.

''It is a pleasure to have you both here, in fact this whole gathering is for the two of you.'' Victoria laughed.

''You shouldn't bother about such timid things dear Edmund when you should look after your business more it is an advice which if you had obeyed would have brought you great many things.'' Edmund ignored her advice and began guiding them inside. Although he had sensed her tease.

The gallery that led to the hall had many colossal ancestral portraits and the hall had tapestries all over, and gigantic chandeliers which illuminated the hall. A long table had foods of all varieties and the servants were serving drinks of all kinds. Luxury sofas were situated everywhere and in the middle a women was playing piano. The carpets and curtains were all red and golden.

It didn't seem that he lacked wealth at all in fact from this ball it was clear that he had abundant to show off.

''That is my friend Patricia Hopkins I must meet her and you come with me. I'll introduce you to her.'' 

''My darling where have you been?'' Patrica the same age as Victoria and was fat as her dressed in a long floral gown kissed her cheeks.

''Where could I be, us old ladies are always either at weddings or in our drawing rooms.'' she giggled and looked at Catherine.

''Who is this beautiful young lady Victoria as long as I can remember you had no child than who is she?''

''She is my distant cousin's daughter, Robert Ayling you must have heard of him.''

''Ah, Robert Ayling the famous war hero. He was the only patriotic man in England the rest are always interested in making fortune or stealing it.'' she giggled again.

Catherine was bored. She was finding herself trapped in the people she didn't know and was not at all comfortable with. On one hand she was trying her best to escape from Edmund and on the other hand she had to accompany Victoria.

''That is Eleanor, daughter of Lord Simmons let us go and meet them.'' Victoria spotted another acquaintance.

Eleanor was a pretty girl with beautiful green eyes. She had worn a lace net frock and had her hair tied in a bun. Her hair were blonde. Beside her was sitting an old woman who looked just like Eleanor. ''She must be her mother.'' Catherine whispered to Victoria and she nodded.

And with that woman sat an old man with cigar in his mouth. 

''Lord Simmons , Lady Emma it is an honor to meet you all here. Although I had no idea that I'll see people like you here at Edmund's party.'' 

''Greetings to you and your niece we've heard about you and your niece and why we are here is because Edmund's father and I were close friends. I still am keeping up with that friendship.'' he took a puff.

''What can we do? we have to accept the invitation when someone sends it.'' Emma replied and kissed her cheeks.

''Miss Eleanor although we are meeting for the first time but take me greetings.'' 

''Mine too Miss Catherine.''

''Although this party is for your honor as Edmund said in the invitation are you both marrying each other?'' Eleanor was a clever girl.

''I think there has been an misunderstanding. Edmund always is drunk to send a sober invitation.'' Victoria replied in a joke.

''Greetings Lady Catherine.'' Albert appeared from nowhere and then greeted Eleanor, Victoria and Emma and after that he shook Simmons hand. 

''Albert what are you doing here, the last time you and Edmund were together under one roof ended up in a death of a young guard. I'm an old man have mercy on me.'' John Simmons tone defined neither joke nor humor yet he tried to make one out of it.

''I assure you that we have come over that matter a long time ago.''

Catherine went away in one corner. Albert made an excuse and escaped the Simmons. Eleanor however wanted to talk to him but stayed quiet.

''Where have you been do you have any idea what trouble this Edmund has made for me, everyone is thinking that I am marrying him even he sent the invitations with this title enlarged.'' Catherine and he stood in one corner away from the throng.

''I am here for this reason why are you not enjoying, enjoy yourself today Edmund will hear such a surprise that he will no longer enlarge any title in his any invitations ever.'' he took a drink from the tray.

''Come with me I want to talk to you.'' he slightly opened a little door and took Catherine by the arm. It was a small room with only chairs. 

''Why didn't you come today do you know how long I waited. So many bad thoughts came in my mind.'' he kissed her. She kissed him back till Albert fell straight on the chair and she ended up in his lap.

''I know. What kind of thoughts.'' she smiled.

''Never mind. Where were you?'' 

''I had to go see Edmund.''

''What for?'' he got up as if electrified.

''You know what he gave me was my mother's chain.'' Catherine thought better to conceal the rest otherwise something might happen and Albert would definitely beat Edmund up and she did not want any fight. Neither did she want to be cause of one. 

''I'm sorry.'' he cupped her face in his hands.

''It's not your fault. I think we should go now.'' 

''But I had some other plans.'' 

''Albert.'' she warned and both of them laughed.

''Folks enjoy yourselves and now it will be a dance select your partners and lets begin.'' Edmund announced and signaled the lady at the piano who immediately began another waltz tune.

''Lady Catherine may I have the pleasure to dance with you.'' Edmund narrowed his eyes and ignored Albert standing with her.

''I'm sorry the partner is already chosen you can dance with someone else, Catherine come on.'' Albert took her hand and Edmund stood their in jealousy.

''Did you see his face?'' Albert laughed.

''He may take revenge on you.'' Catherine took his arm and they joined the circle.

Edmund took irregular steps and came in front of Catherine.

''I didn't invited him, did you?'' Edmund inquired from Catherine who was rather angry upon seeing him in front of her. ''Yes we were supposed to come together but he got busy with something. '' 

On the other hand Albert was confronted with Eleanor, ''Lord Albert what a surprise to see you here.'' she smiled at him.

''Indeed it is a pleasure to meet you.'' 

He changed his steps and quickly caught Catherine.

''Did he annoy you?'' 

''I'm tired of dancing like this when I don't want to.'' she made her way out of the circle. Albert left too Eleanor who was finding a moment to talk to Albert and wanted to dance with him stood their looking at Catherine with anger . The dance had provided that moment that both of them could be together but seeing him leave made her loose her mind. Edmund too followed them out of the dance.

''Ladies and gentleman, lords and ladies. You all have received some invitation with some false news, I want you to know the exact news which you all have no idea about yet you all are gathered here for this celebration.'' Albert made a loud announcement and the people focused on him only. Then he brought Catherine close to him.

''I'll like you to meet my fiance and future wife Catherine Ayling.'' he took out a ring from his pocket and wore it on Catherine's finger. Edmund looked at him in surprise. Eleanor who had seen and heard everything looked at them with opened mouth. Victoria had no idea what had happened.

Catherine herself looked at him with surprise and disbelief. She ran out of the hall. Albert was surrounded by people. 

''Congratulation Lord Albert.'' someone said shaking his hand.

''It's like the winner was someone and prize was taken by someone.'' a group laughed.

''Look at Edmund, he looks like he has seen a ghost.'' 

''What a grand surprise you have given us lord Albert.'' 

Albert smiled and made his way out.

He found her standing outside.

''This was your plan?'' she was angry.

''Didn't you like it?'' Albert frowned.

''You should have asked me first before making such a decision what is the difference between you and Edmund then.'' she sighed and looked at the emerald ring.

''Then go on inside I'm sure he'll approve it as soon as you say it to him.''

''We'll talk later I'm in no mood of a quarrel at least I should know that I'm not talking to the same childish person who just made me his fiance in the fear that I was being taken by someone else.'' she approached the carriage and sat in.

 

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