Music Recommendation: Phone call- Stuart Earl
In Vincent's office, Eve stood in front of the book rack looking at the name of the books she had never come across. She asked him,
"May I take a look at the books here?" Coming from a place like Meadow, she didn't have access to the books that only the high society did, and this was the council.
"Go ahead," Vincent responded from the bathtub, and he watched her through the gaps of the wooden carvings of the divider. The young woman's fingers touched the books as if they were gold, and he noticed the fascination her face held, similar to most women of high status whose eyes fell on rare jewellery. He asked, "Was it your aunt who taught you how to read and write?"
Eve turned to look in the direction where Vincent was, and even though there was a wooden divider hindering them, she could still see him. She nodded,
"Yes, it was Aunt Aubrey who educated me. She taught me everything I needed to fit into the middle-class family."
Her late mother, Rebecca was an illiterate woman who didn't have the opportunity to see her daughter be educated, as people didn't want to acquaint themselves with her or her daughter. Even though she wanted her daughter to have a better life than she lived, to see her climb out of poverty, as she didn't have money.
Eve pulled one of the books from the rack and read the title 'Invaders of Sins'. What an interesting title, she thought before opening the book and reading it.
During that time, Vincent got up and out of the bathtub. Water dripped down his firm body, sliding in trails before falling next to his feet. At the same time, someone knocked on the door. Eve, who was engrossed in reading the book, tore her gaze from the pages.
"Tell the person I am busy and to meet me later," said Vincent, picking up a fresh towel and drying his body with it.
When Eve noticed a naked Vincent standing behind the wooden divider, she turned away. She placed the book on the desk without closing it and made her way towards the door without opening it. She informed the person on the other side of the door,
"Mr. Moriarty is busy. Please come back later," her voice cracked at the end, and she coughed to clear her throat.
Whoever stood behind the door didn't leave as the door was knocked again, and Eve sighed.
When she opened the door, she felt her heart skip a beat on seeing Noah standing in the corridor. It took her two seconds to realise this was also where the Duke worked. Everyone worked for the council, directly or indirectly.
As Noah stared at Eve, a deep frown marred his forehead.
Hearing the rustle inside the room, Eve turned and saw Vincent step away from the wooden divider. The vampire had wrapped a towel around his waist that hung low, and it looked as if his upper body was tapered down near his waist. The water on his body glistened under the candlelight, and she heard Noah speak to her,
"Are you alright, Genevieve?" Noah's eyes moved behind Eve to see the room while able to hear movements.
Coming back to her senses, Eve quickly stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, so that Noah wouldn't see Vincent in just a towel. The last thing she needed was to build any sort of misunderstanding. She offered a polite smile to her friend.
"I am," Eve nodded, but Noah noticed her skin had turned warm and she wore men's clothes.
"I just heard that you were in the Ravens dungeon. How are you?" Questioned Noah with genuine concern, while the frown on his face deepened.
Looked like word spread too fast in here, thought Eve, and she gave him a sheepish smile. She had hoped for Noah not to find out about something so shameful. For a woman to step foot in the dungeon and spend inside the cell was equal to a woman's image being tarnished. Society was harsher toward women and judged their character, unlike the men, who could salvage it.
Eve's eyes had lowered and she shook her head before explaining, "It was a misunderstanding, and bad timings that I was there. But I am good now," she assured him.
Though the wounds she had received from the head guard's whip were hidden underneath her clothes, the swelling on her face hadn't disappeared yet.
Noah asked, "Are you in pain? The physician here is good if you need any help." He felt awful for not knowing what had happened to her and not being there when she needed help. He was furious and if Eve were to look down at his hands, he would have noticed the man's hands turned into fists.
Eve offered a soft smile to the Duke, and she said, "Mr. Moriarty called her in earlier to take a look at me and she gave medicine to apply. It should get back to normal in three-four days."
The smile that Noah often wore was missing, and there was a serious glint in his eyes. He apologised to her, "I am sorry for not coming to help you sooner," even Eve could hear regret in his voice. "I am glad to see you safe. I was worried when I heard that you were the one who had been accused. Forgive me for not being able to help you."
Eve quickly shook her head and said, "It wasn't your fault. How would you know that I was caught up in...something so bad. No one knew about it, and Mr. Moriarty found me by sheer luck as he visited the Dungeon for work. Else I would still be ther--"
Noah suddenly surprised Eve by closing the distance between them, and he wrapped his arms around her. As if he had been worried until seeing her and wanting to protect her.
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