London (6)

Year 1863

The commotion around her suddenly disappeared when Kay left her.

Oh come on!

Thea didn't want to be left alone with this strange looking man.

"So you are Kyle's cousin?"

Thea furrowed her brows. Didn't Kay tell you that earlier?

"Yes," Thea still replied politely. After all, she was here on behalf of Thea Wilkess, the distant relative of the Earl. At least, Thea had to behave without embarrassing Blake or Kyle.

Rupert led her aside. Thea followed him reluctantly. Her body straightened. Thea's neck even stiffened. The summer afternoon wind could not ease her restlessness. Several people began to look curiously as soon as they arrived at a table full of pastries.

With her keen hearing, Thea could hear the people whispered about her.

"For you, my lady," Rupert raised a glass of white wine and handed it to Thea.

"Thank you."

Thea immediately took a sip of her drink.

Some of them are still staring at her. Thea was sure, they thought she looked strange.

Who wants to wear a high-necked dress on a hot summer afternoon?

"You look beautiful, Lady Wilkess."

"Thank you." Thea tried not to think about the meaning of their stare. She focused on the white man in front of her.

"So, do you want to tell me who Kay's ex-lover - I mean Kyle?"

They were strangers who didn't know each other. The only common thing they could talk about was Kay.

"Ex-lover? Did Kyle really never tell you about it?"

"As far as I can remember, he never mentioned a single woman."

As she predicted, they could talk smoothly with Kay as a subject.

Rupert chuckled softly. "I don't know why he kept it a secret. As far as I know, Kyle is quite popular among the women."

"Oh, yes?"

"Of course not as popular as I am," he whispered, then laughed. "I last saw him on a date with a female doctor in my ward."

Thea looked at Kay, who was busy chatting with the noble ladies. Suddenly, as if feeling her gaze, Kay turned around. He showed off his healthy teeth to Thea when their eyes met. Kay raised his glass and seemed to be saying 'cheers' silently. Thea was eager to run across the garden, grab Kay, and force him to talk about his former girlfriends.

But she couldn't do that.

The talks drifted from Kay to another subject. Rupert continued to chat without caring if Thea wasn't the least bit interested. She was getting restless. Standing among the crowd while the sun was still high give her a headache.

"Sorry, do you know where the bathroom is?" Thea put down the glass. She couldn't stand there any longer.

Rupert realized. "Oh! I don't know exactly. Maybe it's inside. I think you can– "

"Thank you."

Thea walked quickly across the garden. She had to get out of there immediately before vomiting. A servant led her down the hall when Thea asked him. She breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she entered the bathroom.

There was no better choice than to get out of the crowd.

It seemed that she had been there quite a while. Sitting on the edge of the tub waiting for the sun to dim. Thea looked around. The furniture was plentiful and almost as luxurious as the Wilkess mansion.

Thea was surprised. What's the use of this much furniture in the bathroom?

Thea stood up and drew closer to the mirror. She checked the neck of her dress before going out. Maybe Kay has start panicked looking her everywhere.

"… The police just found Mr. Mild's body."

Thea froze. Her hand stopped pulling on the doorknob.

Mild? I think the name is familiar.

"We're late. Shit! "

Thea squinted and peeked at the crack in the door. There were two people standing not far from where she was now. One turned away, the other stood in front of him cursing.

"And only that old geezer knows what McColleen's daughter looks like!"

Thea felt blood rustling down from her head. Her hand gripped the hilt tightly.

Impossible!

McCollen?

As far as she knew, there is only one family McCollen in this land. Nobody wanted to use that name anymore after the terrible massacre of ten years ago. Her brain suddenly stopped thinking.

No.

Wrong!

There is still one person remaining, as a descendant of McCollen.

"Damn it! As long as the child is alive. I don't think we will live in peace." The person who turned his back on Thea rubbed his head.

"Shhh! Are you sure the kid saw our looks? "

"We? Wasn't it you who used to say that kid saw you?" The person behind him has his hands on his hips.

"He only saw you! Not 'us'!"

"Good! Good! We better forget it first. I guess I've been worrying too much about that kid  since that old Mild became a corpse." The man turned around.

"It's been fucking ten years and it still haunts him? Should we leave him?"

Now both of them walked their backs to Thea.

Thea rushed out of the bathroom. She could not see their faces clearly.

"No. We can't do that. We better have fun as long as we can with his money. Maybe the child is death rotten like the parents."

Thea clearly understood who they were referring to. She tried to chase them, but her body didn't move. Thea felt her knees tremble. Her head throbbed. Her heart was beating wildly. Thea leaned against the wall.

She remembered the night before, Thea had visited Mild.

...

"Uncle asked me to take it to you, Mr. Mild." Thea handed Mr. Mild a bottle of red wine as soon as she was invited in. Mr. Mild greeted her happily. His oily face became even more shiny with laughter.

"Thank you!" he exclaimed. Mr. Mild immediately brought the bottle to the fireplace, wanting to see more clearly the year of manufacture. "Kekeke ... the wine sent by nobles is different!" The old man shook his bottle in front of Thea.

"Noilly Prat France! Even until I die, I can't imagine drinking it. " He stared in amazement at the bottle from fifty years ago in his hand.

"Thank goodness you like it." Thea smiled. "I'll leave after seeing you drink it, Sir."

"Too bad it feels like it has to be opened." His forehead creased, wondering whether it would be better if it was saved for a few more years. The longer it takes, the smell and taste will be more delicious.

"Well ... it's up to you sir. But I think uncle would be happier if I said I've seen you drink it."

"Ah, that's right." The old man crossed the room and took a glass. It felt like Thea almost laughed seeing him open the bottle carefully and treat it with affection. Mr. Mild raised a glass filled with some wine. A little, but enough for Thea.

"Cheers, young lady!"

Thea nodded. The old man drank his wine until there was no left. "It tastes really good." He tasted his tongue many times.

"Tell Earl Wilkess, I won't bother him anymore if he keeps on wheezing… right…" Mr. Mild dropped his glass on the floor, making a muffled cracking sound. Suddenly, he was short of breath. His eyes were bulging. His hand tugged at his collar of the neck which felt choking.

"Y ... you ..."

"Very well, Mr. Mild. I'll pass on your message. Good night." Thea turned around before the old geezer slammed into the floor.