LOST

CHAPTER TWO

“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them”

WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

GUINEVERE

I woke up to a splitting headache and the angry voice of my papa echoing all over the house and trust me it was a big house.

I pretended as though I was still sleeping because I did not want to hear what he had to say to me, it would mainly be him scolding me for drinking and any other thing everyone in the party did wrong. If I wasn't sure my mother wasn't some whore, I would think my father did not birth me as he had never said a kind word to me since I was a child. I had grown used to it just as I was used to the face that he adored my little sister, I adored her too but she was too much of a spoilt brat always requesting for things and sulking whenever it wasn’t done her way.

I made sure to keep my eyes closed even when my mama came into the room to feel my head and also when my sister also came in the rummage through my things and steal my jewelry thinking I wasn't seeing her, I did not want to have to face my papa until he had gone out so I kept my eyes closed and even drifted off to sleep at one some point.

I dreamt of the duke sweeping me up in his arms and planting a very deep kiss on my lips, I dreamt that it was our wedding and he had asked my papa for my hand in marriage, I dreamt that and so much more it was a wonder I did not just stay in the dream and leave the reality behind.

I woke up again to the voice of my mama

"You are awake, your papa is waiting for you in his study. You will freshen up and meet him there." She told me in a stern voice

"Mama, I can't deal with papa right now. I have a splitting headache." I whined

"That is what you get when you go to a ball and get drunk, Guinevere."

"I went for a glass because I was parched, I have no idea what the barman gave me mama. You should have him quartered for thinking he could drug me and if it wasn’t for my swiftness in locating you, Lord knows what he would have done to me"

"Locating me? You don't know what happened after you passed out?" my mama asked, taking a seat

"Passed out? What happened mama?" I asked confused

"Just go and meet your papa, I cannot deal with you today."

I wondered what she meant by after I had passed out because I could not recall passing out although some of the events of the previous night were still blurry in my head but passing out?

I got up from my bed and went to take a bath, freshened up and prepared myself for the yelling I knew would come from my papa. He was never a patient man and people avoided him in the ton. I walked into his study after giving a sharp knock and announcing my presence to see him sitting by his desk obviously lost in deep thought. I stood awkwardly wondering if I should make my presence known again or just wait for him to awaken from his thoughts, I chose the latter.

"What were you supposed to do when you went to the ball Guinevere" My papa asked

"Keep by mama's side and watch my sister"

"And what did you do?" he asked, his voice rising a notch

"I went to fetch a glass because I was parched papa..." I started

"What did you DO!?" my papa bellowed

"I wandered off and got myself drunk papa" I sighed dramatically, telling him what he wanted to hear

"You did not only get drunk, you passed out and of course fell into the hands of the one person I asked you to stay away from."

"I don't understand papa"

"Get out of my sight because I am suddenly having the urge to kill you" My papa bellowed again, staring at me like he always did… like I was some mistake.

I hurriedly left the study, the wheels in my brain whirring with unanswered questions, who had I fallen into, the only person that could come to my mind at that point was the duke. He was the only one papa had given instructions never to speak to. I was ecstatic, it meant that the duke had indeed helped me when I passed out and he had caught me meaning he had touched me. I hugged myself trying to smell him on my body which was not possible at all but throughout that day I was singing to myself, sometimes humming tunes to the anger of my mama who wondered what I was happy about. They did not understand that for the duke to have caught me, it meant he must have been watching me which gave me butterflies in my stomach. I wanted to see him again and thank him personally for protecting my virtue. I wanted him to touch me again just like he had done nine years ago when he patted my head and told me that I was beautiful.

My mama had a function between married women of the ton and so she went out but not before instructing me on what to do and how not to get in my papa's way as he was still stewing over how he had come to owe the duke a favor for saving his daughter due to my carelessness.

I sat in lounge room twirling my fingers and that was when I heard a knock on the door, my mama did not tell me she was expecting anyone to come over while she was away and I wondered who it was.

My sister got to the door before me, her gasp was what alerted me that something was off

"Who is it, Emma? Do I need to get papa?" I asked her from where I sat

"Yes you better get papa" she squeaked as she opened the door wider for the intruder to come in.

Standing there in our living room, tall as ever was the Duke of Valestead! Breath rushed out of my lungs at the sight of him and my legs refused to move.

He looked over to where I stood staring up at him in abject wonder

"You should get your papa, little Guinevere." His deep voice caressed me, teasing my senses and then he smiled and I knew I was lost