ONDON LOOKED JUST as it had a moment ago; crowds of people milling about and the sky parade still in full swing. Nothing had changed, and yet everything had changed. Wylie couldn't remember a single moment in all the years she'd known Lady Judith when her friend had acted in such a way. A typical person perhaps would not think anything of it, but Wylie felt like she couldn't breathe. She turned to glance back up the steps, seeking out the window, hoping that she was being beckoned back inside, but the curtains were drawn and still. The house was as silent as a tomb from where she stood.
Oh Judith, what is it? What has happened? Her eyes began to well with tears. She could handle being alone, but not her best friend being angry or upset with her.
Stop overthinking it, Wylie, she tried to convince herself. The reminder that she still had a job to go to interrupted her thoughts. Yes, work. I must trust that Judith will find me and tell me what this is all about. She convinced herself to let that be enough, and with time slipping away, she hurriedly made her way to Lord Adrian's stables. She knew that the days she had taken off to bury her father would drastically affect her workload, and the last thing she wanted was to anger her employer.
As Wylie rushed to Lord Adrian's home, the sight of the tall wrought-iron fences were a welcome sight for her troubled heart. Slipping through the gate as stealthily as possible; she rushed straight to the stables. The smell of horse manure reached her nose before she was even inside, but even that was comforting to her. This was something she was able to fix. Something she had some control over, and the time she spent shoveling was a welcome break from the thoughts of her father dying and her friend's mysterious behavior.
After dunging out the stalls, and spreading fresh straw, so the horses had a comfortable place to lay down as the weather got colder, she grabbed a halter to put on the stallion, Chaos. By far the wildest and the least broke of the bunch, he was still her favorite. His jet-black coat always glowed after she brushed him, and for as long as Wylie had worked there as a stable hand, he had never given her a bit of trouble.
There was something in his spirit that she connected with, and she always gave him extra attention. She often brought him an apple or fresh carrots when her meager earnings would allow. She gently pulled the halter over his head and fastened the buckles securely. He nickered softly as she did so, nudging his head against her.
"Affection? Why Chaos, I've never seen this side of you," she joked, gently stroking his mane as he stomped his hooves in response. Standing on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his muscled neck, as if he were a dear friend she hadn't seen in ages. Then she let out all of her frustration and sadness in great wracking sobs that scared the mares as they all started whinnying and nickering in their stalls. Chaos didn't move, and instead, laid his head on her shoulder while she cried.
When she had finished crying, she wiped her eyes, grabbed the brushes, and began grooming him.
"Ahem," Lord Adrian cleared his throat behind her. At the sound, Wylie's face turned several shades of red, and she inhaled sharply.
"You couldn't have told me he was here?" she whispered to Chaos.
"Do not worry yourself, Wylie. Your secret is safe with me," Adrian said softly.
"What secret?" her cheeks went red with embarrassment. She hadn't meant to get emotional, and she surely didn't want Lord Adrian thinking that of her. She continued brushing the stallion's shiny coat.
"Exactly. However, I guess that answers my question." He crossed the stable floor, kicking straw out of his way as he approached her.
"What question is that, Lord Adrian?"
Coming up behind her, he laid a gloved hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. Her breath caught in her throat as even through leather, she felt the warmth of his hand there. She dared not speak, breathe, or even move for fear he would remove it.
"I desperately wanted to ask how you were doing... it turns out Chaos knows you better than I do, which, I have to say, makes me a bit jealous," he smiled sincerely at her. She couldn't bring herself to say a word. Has the whole world gone mad? When she didn't respond, he said, "That bad, huh? Can't say I blame you, Wyles. I don't know how you're managing. If my father passed... I would simply..." She saw by the emotion on his face that he couldn't bring himself to even think about it.
"Well, no worries about that, my Lord. Your father is as healthy as a horse," she joked, hoping to break the unwelcome sadness that had entered the conversation. Lord Adrian, his hand still resting awkwardly on her shoulder, used his free hand to grab one of hers.
"Wylie, I don't want you to feel alone, because you're not. I still consider you a friend, and if there is anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask." Their eyes locked, and he stepped in closer. For a brief moment, it felt like he may lean in to kiss her, though she hadn't the faintest idea why. Not that I would stop him. He brushed the hair back from her forehead, and the moment felt magical. All the feelings she had been holding back because of his betrothal to her best friend, broke out of the carefully guarded recesses of her mind.
Dad blammit, Wylie. You warned yourself not to fall for him. You've been doing so well... why now? But there was no answer. She had spent many months worried about her father, barely able to pay for his medicine and put food on the table. All bets are off; just don't do anything imprudent, she warned herself. Not that she would do anything irresponsible, she would never do anything to hurt her best friend, but there was nothing wrong with allowing herself to feel something, was there? Especially if it meant that for a brief moment out of each day, she could be happy. It was perhaps the only happiness she had left.
Just as that thought crossed from her mind, Wylie caught movement out of the corner of one eye. She whirled to see Lady Judith, arms folded across her chest, standing in the stable entrance. In a panic, she stepped away from Lord Adrian, who bowed to her and then hurried to Lady Judith's side.
"My betrothed!" he exclaimed, his mouth turning up in a glorious smile. To Wylie's delight and dismay, Lord Adrian took Lady Judith's hand in his and raised it to his lips. "How is that I should be so lucky as to see both my good friend and my wife-to-be on the same day?" Wylie being referred to as 'friend' drew a look from Judith, but it made Wylie positively giddy. "What is it that brings you here today?"
Judith didn't seem in a hurry to answer that question and instead shot daggers toward Wylie.
"My beloved," she spoke to Lord Adrian. "I have private business with Miss Petford. Would you be a dear, and excuse us, just for a moment."
"Absolutely." He leaned in and kissed Judith's cheek, though the gesture seemed more of obligation than love or adoration. When he had left the two women alone, Judith was first to break the silence.
"Mind telling me what the hell that was all about, Wylie?"
"My dear Judith, you know full well I have never kept a thing from you, and I would never hurt you. You've known from the beginning that I adore Lord Adrian," Judith gasped in shock. "As a friend," Wylie added fervently. "Though he is lovely to look at. Please, I beg of you... give pause to what you think happened. He is a Lord, and I am a foul-smelling, stable girl. For goodness' sake, I clean up his horse's droppings.Surely you don't think he would be interested in me in the slightest?" Reason gave Judith the clarity she needed; Wylie saw it on her face.
"Nonetheless, you two were very close. Surely, you must not be that foul-smelling if he was able to stand being so near to you."
"My father did just pass away, and perhaps as he said, he does indeed see me as a friend, for he was asking me in the sincerest of tones, how I was dealing with my father's death. I have not lied to you, Judith, nor would I ever. Charming and handsome as he may be, my best friend is marrying him, and I couldn't be happier for you."
Lady Judith's cheeks glowed crimson. "Dear Wylie, I am so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Come here..." she gathered her in a hug and held her tight. "I've been so ludicrously selfish. Your father just died... I don't know what's the matter with me?" The smell of flowers wafted to Wylie's nose, and she welcomed it. She had been craving a hug from her best friend for several days; so much so that a lump rose in her throat, and tears threatened to spring up again, but she held them back.
"I've missed you, Judith. The ceremony was small but lovely. I wish you had been able to be there. How are you? What is going on? Why did you throw me out of your house so quickly, earlier?"
"Oh dear," Judith ended their hug by pushing Wylie in front of her. "Please don't hate me for what I am about to say."
"What? Goodness' sake, what is it, Judith?"
"It's my father. He's found two investors, and the three of them are planning to purchase Lugwallow Parish."
"What?" Wylie stared at her in dismay, but her friend just looked down at the floor in abject silence.