The Enigma Of Albert Morris By Leo 16

 Chapter sixteen:

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He brought her to his mansion. The mansion didn't seem old at all. It was like all other mansions Catherine had already seen. It resembled both Victoria's and Edmund's palaces. Only one big difference it had, the palace had thick forest like orchards covering it from all sides yet at the front a orchard in shape of a maze was built. Finely trimmed bushes covered with flowers, lilies, roses and tulips.

A cupid shaped fountain in front of the maze's entrance.

''Are you not coming in?'' Albert asked and she brought her gaze back from the maze to him.

''Albert do tulips grow on bushes?'' 

''Nice question genius, our gardener has planted some separate ones and connected them with the bushes. Come inside I would like you to meet someone. My Uncle, I was orphaned when only 8. My mother died and my father soon afterwards. My uncle brought me up. If you see me as the Albert today is only because of him. He made me what I am.''

Albert led her from the gallery which was decorated with expensive furniture and walls covered with colossus canvases to the main hall. He tapped on the stained glass doors. They seemed as if made of gold.

''Come in'' a heavy voice came from behind the door.

''Uncle Catherine.'' 

A tall man dressed in formal clothing of white and black was sitting on a behemoth kind of chair. A cane in his hand.

''Lady Catherine Ayling, daughter of Robert Ayling. Your mother Amelia was a great woman. I once met her in the party given by her father when she was a young maiden. Pleasure to have you here in our humble home.''

''The honor is mine Sir.'' Catherine stood there didn't move.

Theodore got up.

''I am Theodore Morris. Albert's uncle and his parent. I am sure he must have told you about me.'' he took Catherine's hand and kissed it.

''Yes he has a lot.'' Catherine lied perfectly and Albert was surprised.

''Yes I know how much he would have told you about me. He just told you now when he thought that you should meet me, after all you both are getting married. Albert you should be proud of yourself to have such a lady as a wife. Now I can state that the fuss in the town about you both is none mockery nor a joke. Edmund was at his right to burst in flames after you both got engaged in front of him in his own party. Let all this be my trouble and you both enjoy yourselves and merry as much as you like. This is your house Catherine. Go on give her a tour and I shall order a great dinner in your honor. You will dine with us tonight. Don't worry about Victoria I'll call her here too.'' he turned around and sat on the chair and rang a bell.

A servant hurriedly appeared  and he began instructing him about the dinner.

''Thank you Sir.'' Catherine said before leaving.

''This is the dining hall, that is the drawing room. The rest is above.''

He took her upstairs. The stairs were all golden and it seemed that they were made of gold the carpet running over the stairs was red and golden and it seemed as if gold was weaved in the carpet. The walls were all covered with portraits. Right above the stairs were two huge portraits, one of a man and the other of a woman.

''They are my parents, my mother and father.''

The lady had green eyes and golden hair, she was really pretty and Albert had her eyes. The man resembled Theodore a lot. It seemed as if Theodore's young version was in front of her.

''You resemble your mother more than your father.''

''Everyone says that. Come on let's go up if we kept going on this speed dawn will fall.'' 

''Alright let's go.''

Above there were doors left and right and another staircase that led to the third story.

''There are many rooms in this house all are locked except for mine and uncle's. His room is downstairs mine in the last door. Third story leads to the balcony and attic and a special secret room of mine.''

''I'd like to see that special room and what exactly do you do in that special room?''

''Nothing just spend some lonely time thinking about you.''

He took her to his room. It was rather simple than the other rooms. What was special about it was that from it's window you could see the entire palace. The maze was right in front of it.

''Someone surely crafted this with an art.'' she said placing her palm on the window. Albert placed his hand over hers.

''There is something strange about this maze I don't know what why don't you remove it.''

He looked at her, ''If you don't like it I'll have it removed anything else my lady.''

''No nothing.'' she smiled.

''Let's go check your special room.''

The third story's attic was divided into two portions one was the attic the other was Albert's special room. It had a couch and a chair. One rug and nothing else.

''It's so pretty and peaceful.'' she sat on the chair.

From the narrow window she could see the evening sky and stars still dull clearly.

''No wonder it is a special room, now I know.'' 

he came closer and kissed her. 

''What do you think about in this special place of yours?'' she smiled and rocked the chair.

''Whatever a man in love thinks about.''

''And what does a man in love thinks about?'' she was smiling.

''You are still a naive little girl and have to learn many things don't you?'' 

A servant arrived and knocked on the door, ''Sir wants to talk to you he's calling you down.'' 

''I'll be back in a moment.'' he said and left with the servant.

''Damn these fools they will never let you have some privacy.''

 

Catherine looked around. There was a bookcase in one corner with things piled up untidily as if no one ever touched it. As compared to the whole room only that corner was messy. She took out a cover. She blow the dust away and opened it. It contained cuttings from old newspaper. 

'Morris family under suspicion.'' a headline said.

The other was about a girl's murder.

The newspapers dated back almost a hundred years. She put it back and found a frame turned down. She took it out from the shelf. It was a girl's portrait. It was so old that the face was blurred. She put that back and came out on the terrace. It was a cold evening and the terrace was on top. She felt chills. She sensed as if someone was watching her. She turned around but no one was there. She felt a hand over her shoulder and trembled. 

''Hey, it's me. Why did you come up here all alone.'' Albert smiled and curled her in a hug.

''Nothing I felt someone else, was watching me.''

''If you had taken one more step you might have killed yourself look down.''

They were standing at verge of the fence. The fence was broken and she could have fallen down straight from the that height.

''Let's go down.'' Albert took her down.

 

''The fire has spread rapidly more rapidly than I had imagined. We must get both of them out of London for sometime. Maybe they can marry in Scotland.'' Victoria said after finishing dinner.

''I am too thinking the same but Albert will never agree.'' Theodore lit his pipe.

''They are children Theodore. Make them understand.''

''We were also children when we first met yet we never argued on that matter.'' Theodore looked directly in her eyes and it seemed as if a trance had taken them in another world. 

''We were an older and wiser generation that is all I can say.'' she looked away and watched Albert and Catherine chatting in the yard from the window. 

''It's late we must get going now.'' 

''Sit Victoria let them have some fun. Maybe this won't last long.'' Theodore held her by the arm and she sat down.

''I have no idea what he is doing. Maybe he knows.''

Catherine giggled.

''The way you smile makes me feel like I should lock you down somewhere special where only I can see this smile.'' he kissed her.

''Then lock me. I myself want to be near you feel you all the time everywhere. It's hard for me to be alone now.''

''Tomorrow I have a special plan for both us. Be ready I'll come to pick you up.''

''Are you kidnapping me now?''

''Maybe.''

 

                                                    

 

''Eleanor I don't like you having any connection with Edmund or George.'' Emma said removing rulers from her short hair which were more shortened due to the curls.

''He's just a friend mom nothing else.''

''He shouldn't be you know who's coming to the ball tonight. Raymond. He is in search for a bride and he's a great match for you. Now you put something nice and be a good girl I don't want what happened before to happen again. You understand me and your father have already approved of him.'' she was now applying powder on her face.

''Mom is it really necessary when I told you I don't want to marry right now.'' she sighed and hid her head in her knees.

''Why? I was much younger than you when I married your father. This is a must for you. The English society's norms are as such.''

''I don't care about norms.''

''Is it still about Albert?''

''Yes it is and Edmund is helping me and one day I will marry him. And no one but him.'' she stomped out of the room shutting the door behind so hard that rather slamming it.

''Poor girl. Albert you'll pay for this.'' she said to herself and began with her makeup again.

 

The ball was in their own house and Eleanor as being the daughter of both the hosts and an only child had to give in. 

It was crowded. Her eyes awaited Albert but he still hadn't come. 

''Did you invite Albert or you just lied straight to my face.'' she asked her mother who was greeting every woman with a distant kiss halfway below the ear and smiling.

''I did but he won't be alone she will be with him.'' she smiled again.

''Lady Emma, lady Juliet.'' Raymond bowed for the ladies and kissed their hands.

''Lord Raymond what a pleasure it is to have you here with us.'' Emma smiled again.

Eleanor knew she would have pain in her cheeks.

''Lord Raymond we are delighted to have you here.'' she replied courteously.

The party was enjoyed and food was served. Albert didn't come. Eleanor rather confused ate her dinner with everyone. After the dinner Raymond approached her.

''Lady Eleanor will you take a walk with me?''

She remained quiet but she had to come up with something.

''Yes sure.'' they both came out while the others were singing and drinking in the drawing room.

''I am sure your parents would have told you about me and my intention of coming here.''

''Yes they did.'' they kept on walking slowly.

''I am not good at this but I must say that I really liked you and enjoyed my evening with you. If you approve of me let me know so that further arrangements be carried out.''

Eleanor stopped and looked at him from head to toe.

He was a medium height and not that good looking. Rather a simpleton from both looks and talks. Nothing in him gave her the slightest feeling of attraction rather she pitied him in her heart that he didn't know how to interact with a woman decently.

''If my parents were to trade me for fortune they should've at least come up with someone who was at least a little competitive with Edmund and Albert. '' she said to herself.

''I know I'm not that smart. I might not be suitable match for you but do consider about me. I had seen you once in a party before and since then I've been trying to have contact with you. You can decide and take as much time as you want I am in no hurry.'' he took out his pocket watch.

''I must be going now.'' 

Juliet stood there watching him leave she felt relieved. 

''Catherine I'll make you regret every day of your life that you live.'' she said to herself and started walking back home. 

 

#mystery #romance 

 

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