Chapter 2

Screech.

"Oh my! My apologies madam!"

Cecilia just blankly stared into the void, not making any effort to respond. 

Ruby looked scared out of her wits. Figures, Cecilia probably looked like death right now. She certainly felt like it. 

"Are…are you alright my lady? Would you like some water?"

A barely there nod. 

Ruby hurriedly got to fetching a jug of water. Pouring it in a glass she served it. However, Cecilia made no move to drink. After a few moments, Ruby timidly brought the glass to her lips.

Only after the first gulp did Cecilia realise how parched she was and practically inhaled the whole glass in one breath. 

"M-more" She croaked out. Ruby swiftly complied. 

For a few minutes, Ruby just stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do. Lady Cecilia wasn't making any move to go to the dresser to get ready for the day. She remained rooted on the exact spot Ruby first found her in. The maid suddenly realised the lady was in her previous day clothes rather than her nightgown, her hair not in the braid she slept in and she was wearing jewellery. It was impossible for her to fall asleep if she was wearing any sort of jewellery, especially a necklace. Had she slept at all?

Feeling skittish, she grabbed a comb to at least do the lady's hair. Minutes passed in silence where Ruby gently combed through cecilia's hair. 

Not being able to take the suffocating silence anymore, Ruby asked

"My lady, are you not well? Could you not sleep?"

No reply.

"My lady…You know you can entrust me with whatever is troubling you right?"

Cecilia just kept blankly staring into space, her eyes devoid of any light.

"Should I call his grace for you?"

Abruptly, the air shifted. Cecilia's body trembled, her bottom lip quivered, eye brows pinched together as if in great pain.

"I'll -I'll go get chamomile tea for… for you" 

Cecilia shut her eyes trying to breathe evenly and suppress the oncoming panic attack. She didn't notice that the retreating maid had tears streaming down her face.

Hours just passed by with Ruby trying her best to take care of the lady. She kept up with random chit chat to fill the silence, smiled and giggled talking about her younger siblings shenanigans. 

Pretty shades of orange slowly took over the blue bathing everything in a golden glow. 

"My lady, how about we take a walk outside? It's stuffy being cooped up in a room all day"

To her surprise, Cecilia wordlessly got up. Ruby guided her to her favourite place, the garden, hoping it'd make her feel better. There was no visible response, but she was sure she made a mistake bringing the lady here.  

The wind kissed celicilia's face and ruffled her silky black hair as if trying to soothe her sorrows. The leaves swayed in harmony, birds flying above, leaving for their home. The calm and peace perfectly contrasting the chaos in her heart. She couldn't cry, she couldn't scream, it was an eerie numbness that had filled her. 

They didn't notice a figure entering the garden.

"Cecelia!"

Ruby turned towards the voice and couldn't stop the disgusted frown that marred her face. Peter flinched, any other day the maid's head would be dissociated from the rest of her but her insolence would be overlooked today. 

"Leave us" He commanded sternly.

Ruby left with her head down.

"Cecilia….please love, Look at me"

As expected, there was no response.

"There's no excuse for what I've done, I wanted to be faithful to you…. I failed. Please, believe me! There can't be anyone worse than me. So please, Please scream at me, curse at me, hit me. Remove all your anger and- and frustrations….Cecilia! I don't want to lose you!"

Finally, Cecilia met his eyes.

"I'll never …ever, look at her, be in her presence, I promise you Cecilia. There won't ever be a time where you'll have to go through this again, I'll make sure of it"

Peter slowly closed the distance between them, and clasped her hand.

"Forgive me, Cecelia" They just stood there staring at each other. Peter patiently awaited a response from his wife but she just looked away as if it was hurting her to even look at him. He knew he deserved it.

"It's time for dinner. Let's have ice cream for dessert?" He smiled nervously and led her to the dining room.

Cecilia allowed it. It was tough to process everything he'd so passionately laid out in front of her. Forgive him? No, she didn't have it in her…but…but … 

A lavish feast laid out in front of her, It seemed Peter was busy. Everything was her favourite, from the salad to the main course.

Noticing her just silently sitting, Peter scooted his chair next to hers and brought up a piece of meat to her mouth. To his surprise, she parted her lips. 

He couldn't help but smile victoriously. A small progress but progress nonetheless. He happily spoon fed her small chunks of meat.

Whatever tranquility had befallen the room soon shattered. A frantic guard arrived announcing that Lady Julia Rosen wished to see the lord. 

Peter slammed the spoon on the table. 

"Why would you disturb me after having CLEAR orders to not let her in!?"

The guard visibly sweated.

"My lord, she's adamant. We've been trying to fend her off for about an hour now!"

Just then, Julia dramatically burst in through the doors. As soon as she located Peter she went off.

"You dirtbag!"

Everybody gaped at her.

"You thought you'd try to be chummy with your wife and cast me aside? How dare you deny me entry!"

Seething in anger, Peter stood up. 

"You're shameless! To have the audacity to even show your face here shows what a low life you are!"

"Oh you will be seeing a LOT of me! I'm pregnant you asshole!"

Colour drained from Peter's face as his mouth hung open, unable to form any words. 

The silence that followed was deafening, everybody struggling to breathe. A scrap of the chair was heard, Cecilia quietly got up and left the room.

"CECILIA!" Peter's shriek was blocked by the door closing.

Peter glared at Julia with crazed eyes.

"YOU WENCH"

They shouted and hurled insults at each other while the servants panicked at the sidelines. Just then, a shrill cry pierced the air. A beat later everyone scrambled to the source.

Ruby was bawling her eyes out in front of an open window, its long curtains quietly moving with the wind.

Inching forward they made their way to the window sill and what they saw made their hearts drop to their stomach.

Cold, lifeless eyes stared up at them. The once gorgeous blue of her eyes, unseeing and blank. Face pale, lips devoid of any colour, her body cocooned in blood. So much blood.

Cecilia.