Aromantic Desires

V

"Well, my night was very eventful, don't you say Frisella?" Daisy playfully purred.

It was the morning after Audrey's peculiar encounter with the devil's advocate.

"I- Well, not quite the same, darling. My little bean has been keeping me up all night."

"If you do insist on ly–"

Daisy was interrupted by Audrey clearing her throat.

"Could you certainly be more obvious, Daisy. I told you I will talk to her. You don't need to be pushy and rude."

Audrey told her sister to not mention anything that she herself could not handle. Again, this was Daisy and Audrey knew that she would not let this go. Though she enjoyed it.

"What is the matter with whispering?" Frisella asked.

Indeed, the sisters had joined an esoteric group, excluding their cousin. Daisy glared at Audrey, who sat opposite her cousin with an uncanny look, plastered on her face.

"Daisy, I need to speak with Frisella alone."

"I followed you to the village and I saw everything."

"What do you mean you saw everything?" Frisella asked, pulling her hands away and folding them.

"Well, I did not exactly see anything but I did hear the conversation. Might I add the tavern party was marvelous, though I merely was in. There were cheers, and screams but not the horrific ones. And music that I had never heard before."

Tears rolled down Frisella cheeks as Audrey's eyebrows creased.

"Oh Sella, What are you to tell Aunt Rose and your husband?"

Drops of her tears rained on the wooden floor as gasps and sniffles had overtaken her will to speak.

"Audr– I– Made a terrible mistake! What am I to do?"

"You must tell them soon or that peculiar man will. Do I not know him, Frisella?"

"I do not know. He does seem to know you, I must add."

"How on earth-"

Audrey could not shake the feeling of knowing that man. His voice is familiar but out of reach. When the time comes and things go south, she will have no choice but to find this mystery man herself.

After many crying sessions later, the evening approached. Audrey and her sister were informed that the Bainleigh's will be attending supper soon. This made Audrey's blood boil.

Why is this man so obsessed with me? He's so annoying I cannot stay in a room with him.

All this circled through her head as she looked at her mother, the one who brought such terrible news. What she was about to hear really upset her.

"Mr. Bainleigh wrote that he wants to make an announcement tomorrow night as well."

"Sneaky little scoundrel," Audrey said under her breath. Kenneth was a sly fox and Audrey was the trap. She knew that he must have an unfathomable agenda hidden just to get under her skin. Though, this drove her to curiosity and she could not complain.

The next day was quickly run through. Frisella was in her room as Audrey and Daisy attended piano lessons their mother forced them to play. Audrey was actually not bad at it. She just hates sitting still and playing the same notes over and over to the instructor and her mother.

Nonetheless, The evening was drawing in as Audrey was playfully styling her hair. She looked at her reflection and wondered if she had done enough.

"Do try to be good, Audrey. No one wants to marry a foozler."

"Yes, mama."

Her anger was shown on her face. This man really knew how to get under her skin. First he was at their ball, then he asked for an evening to tease her and now? An unplanned and unknown announcement that she had no clue about. Very infuriating.

At the table, Audrey and Daisy sat silently, waiting for the Bainleighs to arrive. Sipping her wine, her cup shaking from what was her nerves.

"Kenneth!" Victoria purred as she curtsied gracefully.

Audrey sucked her teeth, watching her mother gloat and giggled at the man she despised. He certainly wasn't a man if you care to ask.

A mere child in a grown man's body.

After Victoria exaggerated Kenneth's welcome, everyone at the estate came to have supper. Audrey's aunts and cousins chatted, while her uncle and father spoke about the estate business. Audrey sat there with her head in the clouds, manifesting a way she could see a tavern party again. It was truly a breath of fresh air for her. Something new perhaps. Something other than her mother pushing her to marry, her father speaking so highly of her to all his partner's sons and most of all, Kenneth. Kenneth Bainleigh. He was a large torn on her side that had to be picked out. He was exasperating. He brought out the worst in Audrey and that drove her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Premstone, I would like to request Audrey to join me outside, as I have something to ask of her," Kenneth asked, fixing his cravat.

"You are excused, my dear man," Phillip replied, glancing over to his wife, with a smile.

Audrey watched her mother. Then at her father. She sighed and kicked her foot back to bring herself and the chair out of the table, yet Kenneth was right behind her, with one hand out and the other behind him. She hesitantly placed her hand in his and rose, walking outside and leaving behind murmurs and laughter.

"A fine evening as this one is to be savoured, Mr. Bainleigh," Audrey quipped, fixing her glove.

"Well, it was my intention to do so."

"I meant with someone meaningful."

"Ah, so she's back from hiding I see?" He teased, walking towards her. His jaw became more visible, as he smiled.

"She was always here. You seem to bring out the worst in me, my dear Kenneth."

"Calm down, darling. I asked you out here, to simply talk."

"Well. Do so. What's stopping you, Mr. Bainleigh?"

"Promise to me you won't cause a fit. I need to say what I have to say without interruptions."

"Yes, yes go on."

His chest became heavy. His eyes were lost in the sky. Kenneth knew what he was about to say would cause her to drift further from him. He still has to try. Bringing his hands in hers, he opened his mouth. Nothing. Nothing was coming out. It was like he became dumb right there and then.

"Au-Audrey, my mother wants me to marry."

"And what is my matter with you marrying," she snapped, squeezing his hands, as his eyes narrowed.

He pulled her to the stone seat to sit. She gazed upon him, waiting.

"Mother wants her son to find a wife. She wants me to court a lady. Some- someone I know. I know of no one else here. Only a few ladies I met at a ball. Others from a tavern."

"Certainly. What is my place in this-"

She halted, her eyebrows creased. Her pupils darted left to right, looking for Kenneth to say something other than what she thinks he will.

"Audrey, You are my closest companion. We have known each other since we were children. We shall birth fine heirs, darling. Do you not agree? Would you accept my courtship?"

Silence. That's all she could hear just after Kenneth asked. The night's wind rushed behind her ear, causing shivers down her spine.

"Ken— I"

Never in a million years she would have thought it would have come to this. She won't back down as her heart was on the line. No. Too late, Kenneth.

"I'll accept," she replied, folding her arms.

Her mouth twisted. Kenneth jumped up from his sitting, his hands still in hers.

"Audrey! You don't know how delighted I-"

"-Until hell freezes over!"

She screamed at him, causing him to change his posture. She looked at the floor, as her feet could not support her to stand. Kenneth dropped her palms and sighed walking opposite from her.

He sighed ever so quietly and then urged.

"Mama. She's taken I'll as well. She was my only living parent. Kate and I lost one parent years ago in spring. I can't afford to lose another. This is what she wished for."

"Surely, there must be another-"

"Mama wants to prepare a ball in England. She's a lady after all. I would like to take you there with me, Audrey."

"I do not wish to be w-whatever you wish me to!" She demanded. Audrey twisted from him then standed. Her eyelids blinked as she swallowed.

"I- I cannot! You left and my life was a nightmare. No more Kenneth."

Audrey basically ran back inside, leaving her guest with little to think. Leaving Kenneth with little hope. The little hope he believed would allow him to be with her once more, even if she hates him. Till his last breath.