5. Chastising is the Best Way

I couldn't believe it. He was alive! He had never really died! I stared at the article which stated how he, Mr. Rikkard Ambrose, had gone to Africa to have men construct a canal. And I knew what that canal was.

The centre of the world. I thought. He had done it. Or was doing it anyway.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost did not hear the opening and closing of a door and then a sweet little voice calling out to me. Almost.

"Lilly? What happened? Why is your mouth opened like that? Is everything alright? Lilly! Lilly please speak to me!" I was being shaken then and the newspaper fell from my hands. I slowly looked up at Ella who was, in return, looking at me with fearful eyes.

"He's alive." I whispered.

"What? Who is? Lilly who's alive?"

"My.. My..." I faltered. "My lover." I winced a little when I said that. Ella on the other hand, took no notice. Instead, she clapped both hands over her mouth.

"Is he r-really?" she breathed. I nodded. There was a long silence in where Ella and I just stared at each other. And then she spoke up. "Why that's marvelous! What are you going to do now?" I looked away, out the window and thought about it. What was I going to do? It was late at night and I was supposed to be asleep by now. But...

An idea struck me. One that was a bit frightening yet completely worth the try. I stood.

"I think, that if I have read this article correctly, he is still in London. And I know exactly where to find him."

"You don't mean.. You're not possibly going to..."

"I am. And if Aunt Brank comes along for some reason, tell her that I have forgotten something in the park and that I cannot afford to look for it tomorrow." Which, technically, wasn't a lie. I was looking for Mr. Rikkard Ambrose and I could not afford to look for him tomorrow.

I left my room to a surprised Ella and I made my way quietly downstairs. I grabbed the parasol that stood there next to the door and I went outside. I'd forgotten my cloak again, but didn't really care. I walked around to the garden and entered the shed that I had avoided for two years. It was still in the same condition as it had been. There were no differences. I went over to Uncle Bufford's Sunday best and checked its pockets and my fingers clasped around something cool.

The ring of keys. The very same ones that he had packaged to me two years ago. He had trusted me with them and I still had each and every key. I checked.

Taking the keys and being extra sure that they wouldn't jingle as I walked, I made my way down the familiar path to the Empire House. I had thought that after not visiting it for so long, I would forget which way to go. But I didn't. I remembered every step of the way and felt quite proud of my memory. I kept a wary eye out on the streets and kept my parasol at the ready. I finally reached the building and looked up. Everything was the exact same as I remembered it. Everything. Nothing was out of place. Nothing was taken away or added onto. It was all as it had been.

And now came the moment of truth. Would any of my keys fit the locks? I faintly remembered that he had changed the locks of his office and my office after.. After...

I squeezed my eyes shut. Now wasn't the time. My fingers found themselves fumbling with something. Opening my eyes, I looked down and saw that I was fumbling with the ring that His Lordship gave me. The engagement ring.

I stared at it. It wasn't ugly, nor was it the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. And it was a bit heavy on my finger. Almost as if it were a reminder that I was.. Tied to him. I shuddered at the thought and let go of it. I squared my shoulders and marched up the steps leading to the front door. Already I was nervous, hoping and praying that I would be able to unlock the door. I inserted key after key into the hole and none of them fitted. That is, until I got to the last one. The key fit. I turned it and heard a click and let out a breath I didn't know I held. I opened the door and stepped into the familiar hallway that I knew so well.

Not bothering with anything else, I walked past the empty desk, the one that used to be occupied by... Who was it again? I racked my brains but found no answer. Ah well. I don't think he was that important anyways.

I marched up the stairs, my heels making click-clacking noises. With each step I went up, I was getting more and more nervous. What was I going to say? How was he going to react? I guess I'll just find out. 

I finally reached the top floor and found myself feeling nostalgic. I remembered this place so well. Nothing had changed. Mustering up my courage, but heart racing, I walked over to his office. Finally, after two years I would see him again! He'll pay for this! Keeping me awake with worry almost every night. Did he not know how many sleepless nights I had? I had not been able to grasp the fact that he was dead. I just couldn't. It was impossible. I never accepted the truth. If he's truly in there, then it'll turn out that I needn't have accepted the truth.

Deep breaths. You can do this! It's your only chance, you can't back out now! True, I couldn't. I had already made my way this far, and to back out now would make me regret it. Taking in a couple deep breaths, I stuck in the key to his office, and turned it. Click! Yes! I took out the key and  took a couple more deep breaths. I grabbed the knob, turning it with vigor and entered the room I had not seen for two long years. 

There he was, standing behind his desk, staring at me. A jolt of pain shot through my chest as I took note of how he had not changed in the slightest. Nothing about him had. Not his height, nor his hair, nor his perfectly chiseled granite face.  

And upon seeing him look so slightly surprised at seeing me, also sent a slightly strong surge of anger through me.

"You! You foul, inane, chauvinistic son of a bachelor!" I said, marching to him. "Do you know how long you've been gone for!? Two years that's how long! Two long years have I waited for you to return, two years have I had restless nights wondering about you, if you were alive or not, two years have I been at a loss for what to do except look for you! And blast you, the men who tried to help me, failed! Where the bloody hell have you been?!" I was standing in front of him now and I had grabbed onto the lapels of his sleek black tailcoat. 

"I-is it really you?" He stuttered. I blinked once but I didn't acknowledge it. Not yet.

"Yes, damn you, it is! Now do you have an answer to my question?"

"Err... What question?" I shook him angrily, glaring at him.

"Where the bloody hell have you been!?"  I repeated infuriated.

"Africa..?" He answered as if it were a question. Was he alright?

"Argh, I know that already! It was in the newspapers! I meant before! I meant before you went to Africa and after you left me!"

"Places."

"Do you care to elaborate!?" I asked shaking him again, and taking note of how I shook him closer to me. Funny how that happened. My brown eyes bored into his sea-green ones. Oh how I had missed them! It was a relief to see them again, full of life and vigor.

"I would if you would let go of my tailcoat! It's even older than the one two years ago! And it's-" I cut him off with a slap.

"I don't care dammit! All I care is why the bloody hell you never sent me a letter! Or, or..." My vision was being obscured now, obscured by hot, angry tears. Tears of frustration.

"Or what?"

"I don't know!" I wailed, flinging my arms in despair. "You blasted man, you should be lucky that I dropped my parasol at the door and that I'm too lazy to get it!" I walked over and sat down at the visitor's chair, the one I used to sit in so often. Another pang of nostalgia hit me and I shuddered.

"Um.. Here." I looked up to see him holding out a handkerchief at me, eyes averted. With a shaking hand, I took it and dried my eyes. I then blew my nose and clutched onto it, trembling slightly.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you do anything to tell me?" I asked, my throat dry. I looked up at him and his uncomfortableness left him and he stood straight as a rod. His face was emotionless too. Just like it'd happened two years ago. Although this time, the setting and cause was different.

"It was the only option I had. I didn't want to put you in harms' way anymore. You and I have already been through things that are normal for me, yet... Not as such for you. I had been meaning to get you back in my employ again... But I didn't know how to find you. Now that the danger has passed, I am wondering if..." He trailed off. I stopped trembling and felt my heart clench. He wanted me... Back? Was my first thought. My second thought was about him putting me in harms' way.

"Why is it that you don't understand that I don't care if I get hurt!? The bigger worry is if you yourself get hurt! What if you had been shot that day!? What if your plans had failed? What if we hadn't been able to escape the mine? What if.." I could've continued but I didn't.

"I'm the one who cares if you'd been hurt! Had you been shot, things would've been a different manner! Had you been shot, the whole plan would have been postponed to who knows when! I need to make sure that all my employees are in fit and healthy conditions, not ones where they are wounded in some way or another! I had only been protecting you!" He was out from behind his desk and in front of me at lightning speed. 

That let out a noise is derisiveness out of me. "You are still the same chauvinistic bastard that you were two years ago, aren't you?" I got up from the chair and pointed a finger in his face. He didn't flinch. "Listen here, you. I am twenty one years of age and two years ago I would have still been able to take care of myself. I'm not some damsel in distress! I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, thank you very much!" He wasn't looking at me though. His attention was on my knuckles. More specifically, on the ring. Blast!

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OooooOoooooOoOOoooOOoOOOoOoOOOOoooooooOOoOo!

YOU'VE DONE IT NOW LILLY!

ahhhhhhhhhh diddly darn it you. xD

BUT HE'S BACK!

MY BABY'S BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

(:

i bet you're waiting in anticipation for that miser's reaction to the ring.

more specifically to when he finds out who it's from ;]]]]]

surprise mother9ners (it's an inside joke that legit no one will get (': lol)

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!! THANKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ShadowhunterCindy THANKS AGAIN FOR THE MINIMAL BUT USEFUL HELP! lmao

See you later!