Courting Trouble

Hard to Get.

|Hard to Get.|

“What are these?” Malisha grimaced as she stared down at a bouquet of white peonies standing in a vase. Her eyes lifted and there they were, more peonies dipped in water filled crystal vases and covering every remaining surface within the Lenton living room.

“Flowers of course.” her mother interjected off handedly.

“I can see that mother. Are we now moving your garden into the house, or do you have some secret admirer that you are not telling us about?”

“Don’t be absurd Malisha. These are from your fiancé!" she riposted handing over the card that had until then been concealed in her blouse pocket.

“For the last time mother. He is not my fiancé!”  Malisha grumbled before snatching the card from Sally Lenton's hands.

It was a pink slip of paper, trimmed with gold and embossed with a special type of caligraphy just for her.

I am sorry. Please forgive me. Please..

The message was short, simple and precise. She considered it for a moment, mulling over the words that were penned delicately upon its velvety surface and shook her head. No, she was supposed to be angry, very angry with him and still unrelenting.

Quickly Malisha grabbed a pen from her younger sister Mishpa, who protested greatly the rude disruption of the flow of her crossword puzzle before settling down to stare at her elder sister with a frown. She watched and slowly the frown transformed into a smirk as Malisha angrily blotted out the original message and replaced it with of her own.

You threatened to take my son away!

“That ought to show him!” the older girl remarked while the younger succumbed to a fit of laughter.

"I retaliate my earlier sentiments. This here is much better than a crossword puzzle." Mishpa remarked even as her inner voice resurfaced.

"It's not caligraphy, but I guess it will do."

Pleased with her handiwork, Malisha smirked and folded the card before placing deep within the bouquet that her mother was now holding.

“Alfred. Is it?" She turned to address the valet who had just walked in with a group of handymen who were carrying in a fresh set of flowers. Malisha smiled sweetly as the elderly man acknowledged her with a nod and a hint of laughter in his wise eyes.

"I am sorry for the inconvinience, but you will have to take all these back.”

“What?” Mrs Sally Lenton exclaimed.

“I asked him to send them back.” the girl repeated innocently before turning round to prop herself in the sofa next to Mishpa.

"Malisha Kristina Lenton! That is hardly proper!"

"Mother, since when have I ever been proper?" Her daughter scoffed.

The mother huffed while her daughter pulled on a most devilish grin, clearly enjoying her mother's discormfort immensely even as she made herself comfortable to watch a movie on the wide TV screen. She switched on the television set and began flipping through the channels. After a while, she stopped and groaned her ire slowly rising.

"That annoying man wasn't kidding." 'Kristina' the voice in her head said and Malisha had to agree with her.

The man had not been joking and now almost every news station in the country was running a piece on their supposed betrothal. The Betrothal of their country's Phaedra to a yet to be disclosed person.

Some even went on to air their viewers comments on the issue and it was just amazing how large the man's female fanbase was. Many speculated with the worst of these hypotheses being that Genevieve Mathers, her arch nemesis was the supposed lucky girl and for some reason these sentiments irked Malisha.

She could not understand why she felt this way especially since she had always believed that those two belonged to each other. They were very much suited for each other, but it still bothered her and slowly her once chipper mood turned into a sombre one even as she slowly worked herself into a silent fit.

“If only they knew.” she muttered angrily to herself.

“Pardon?” her mother swiveled around from her present activity to face her.

“Nothing,”

"I thought I heard you say something."

"It was nothing okay!" the girl snapped back, her moodiness getting the best of her.

“She’s just jealous!” Mishpa suddenly intoned from the blue. How she even came up with the idea, Malisha could not even tell. However, she was the youngest and according to her family, being obnoxious seemed to be part of her job description.

“No, I’m not” the older sister responded glaring daggers at her.

“Yes you are! You used to like him, Remember?"

"Whoever told you that?"

"Minerva!”

"Minerva told you?" The outrage on Malisha's was unmistakable.

"Yes. She said that you two used to be a thing and you kind of liked him." Mishpa added smugly.

"He he he..."  'her inner voice chirped in too happily and Malisha blanched at the two of them unable to respond.

“I did not.” she finally spoke up, losing twenty years of her life even as she did so.

“Yes you did.”

“Did not”

“Did!”

“Girls!Girls! Stop it.” their mother intervened rubbing her temples that were pounding from an impending headache.

“She started it.” Malisha intoned pointing an accusing finger at her sister Mishpa.

“Did not.” the 'urchin' responded grinning back sobinsolently and the two older females groaned in frustration. With the nineteen years she claimed to have, she certainly did not show it, neither did she behave like it and would usually give toddlers a run for their money whenever she so pleased.

“Mishpa! Quit harassing your sister.”

“I was just stating a fact mum.” she replied before poking her tongue out at her sister, an action that caused her to earn a glower and an even more piercing glare from their mother.

Malisha smirked at this. It was a small victory despite worthy of a smile despite the fact that her life was running ahead of her and turning more chaotic by the minute.

“Uhm Malisha?"

"Mmh?" She responded with her eyes still glued to the television. Something about Genevieve Mathers not being the one had caught her eye and she was relishing the prognosis.

"I almost forgot. A dinner invitation  came in for you earlier today." The girl muted the volume and turn to face her mother, her forehead furrowing with the beginnings of a frown.

"From whom?”

“The Phaedra, of course.You are supposed to have dinner together with him and his mother today in the evening.”

"How convenient. I bet that means that I am not allowed to decline?” she added sarcastically.

“Malisha!” her mother thundered and both daughters flinched somehow aware that Malisha had finally done it. She had gone and made their mother angry, something that rarely happened in the Lenton residence and if asked, all the residents would say that that was a good thing. As her anger rare as it was transformed the kind woman from a quiet, mellow and sweet person that they all knew and loved into a totally different being. One that no one would even dream to cross.

“I am tired of your terrible attitude Malisha! Stop this your whining and think about someone else other than yourself for a minute!”

Is it me or did she just use Duke's line on you?

“Mum...”

“Do you even stop to think about the implications of your actions? The consequences and how they affect the other people around you?” Malisha opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off once again.

“Malisha Kristina Lenton, my sweet dear daughter. Are you so dull that you cannot see what is clearly before you?” Malisha's eyes moistened. Her mother had just called her dull and that more than anything hurt her the most.

“Mum...”

“No! I am not done yet. I am done being quiet though when all you do is let your ego and foolish pride do the thinking for you. That man loves you and everyone can see it! Everyone but you!"

Malisha's jaw dropped as she stared back at her mother shocked.

"We can't be speaking about the same person right now. That man abhors me. He insults me, mocks me and threatens me at every turn. Surely, that cannot be love, or can it?"

Sally Lenton saw the confusion that was now in her daughter's eyes and her gaze softened even as she took a seat beside her. She reached out a hand to take one of Malisha's hands in her own, before addressing her little girl like a wayward toddler who needed the simple basics of life broken down and explained to her.

“My sweet girl, my dear sweet Malisha. Jealousy is a very powerful emotion and when combined with frustration, it can make any man behave quite irrationally."

"I'm not sure I understand you mother." Malisha shook her head still looking dazed.

"I assume then that you do not know what brought them here that other day?"

“No,"  she shook her head again as her curiosity mounted. "Why were they here?” 

“The Phaedra and the Domina were here to apologise for the scandal.  We were trying to find a way to fix your reputation when you stormed in like a raging maniac and assaulted that poor young man.”

"What?" her mouth hit the floor even as she gawked openly staring at her mother like that was the most insane thing that had ever left her mouth. "I am not sure that I heard you right. You mean to say that Duke came here to our house to apologise and set things right?"

The woman nodded.

The truth being what it was, was too much for Malisha to bear and with guilt now weighing heavily upon her, Malisha finally cracked under the pressure and the first tear fell.

“Excuse me.” she mumbled softly as she stood up. Her legs quickly found a way outside and in the open air she started running. Her feet kept moving her eyes blinded by her tears as she moved in and out of the wooded area. Finally she reached the meadows, and her form crumbled into the soft grass where she broke down into a river of tears.

"Dear  God, why is this happening  to me?"

"Why now?"

"I know that I am not perfect, but I try and if this is punishment for how I have lived my life, then I am sorry. Please forgive me."

"I do not know what else to tell you, but I try and try to be good, but it always never seems to work out. Somehow it always ends up into a big mess and you know that I am not lying."

"Oh Lord, is this your way of punishing me? Using Duke? Please Lord, please say something."

She stayed that way for the entire afternoon. In a heap, crying and trying to reason with her God, to find meaning in her sorrowful existence. Eventually, she run out of tears and her eyes drifted shut even as she drifted off into slumber upon the soft grass that was beneath the shade of an old willow tree. She slept the entire afternoon and when she finally woke up, the sun was no longer up. It was already setting and the air was no longer warm enough to allow her continue lying on her grass mattress. So she finally pulled herself to her feet and started walking back to the house, slowly unrampling her dress and removing grass and twigs from her person as she moved along.

She still do not have her answers. However, an overwhelming sense of peace seemed to have washed over her, settling deep inside her and somehow, inspite of everything that had happened, Malisha knew that things would turn out okay. She just had to wait.

Soon enough, the mansion came into view and Malisha dragged herself in through one of the many side doors. She did not want to capture attention especially in the state that she was in, covered in snort and grass stains. So she walked straight into the shower and start preparing for the dinner.

As soaked in the warm bath, Malisha mentally flipped through her wardrobe, knowing fully well that she had nothing decent to wear to a formal dinner. What she had would have to do she thought wrapping a gown around her before moving to her closet to physically rummage through her entire collection.

She had nothing and frustration began to set in even as she held up the only thing that she could find. It was old and simple. A black chiffon, empire waist dress, that was so frayed up and out of fashion.

“Is that what you are going to wear?” Sally Lenton frowned, her nose turned up with disgust at the sight that was before her.

“Why?” Malisha responded before turning to face her, "Doesn't it look good on me?”

“I think the white lace would look better...”

“What white lace?” she furrowing her forehead even as tried hard to remember what it was that her mother was talking about.

“You mean you did not try on the dresses that I got you the other day?”

"What dresses?"

Sally went into the back of the closet and came out with five dresses still in their black plastic bags. She unzipped one of them and brought out a white lacey, A line dress that went up to the knees and her daughter shook her head a big no.

"Mum, I am not out to look bridal."

Her mother looked like she was ready to argue, but then she thought otherwise and unzipped another bag, revealing a turquoise, floor length, organza dress with some serious beadwork.

“Mum...?” Malisha protested again.

“Fine...” her mother said as she delved  back into the closet and rummaged some more before bringing out a dark blue pouf dress with a diamante yoke.

“Seriously, mum?” this time Malisha looked back smiling.  “What else have you been up to behind my back? ”

The girl took the dress from her mother's hands and walked towards the mirror still smiling at the delicate fabric and gems that were glinting in the over head light. She was impressed and no matter how much she tried she could not hide the excitement that was now threatening to overtake her.

“Not much. I noticed what was lacking and did something about it.Oh and wear that with your diamond studs. No necklace, just the earrings and the watch.”

“Mum, I am quite capable of dressing myself.” her daughter retorted but continued smiling despite herself.

“Yes, but today is different. I will not have you sabotaging this dinner and disgracing me in the process.”

“Thank you mum. For the vote of confidence. I can really feel the love.” her daughter told her on a light note, and she dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

“And by the way Malisha, the Phaedra called. He said he will pick you at seven, so hurry up."

Malisha quickly glanced at her wallclock and blanched. It said six forty five. She quickly grabbed her dress, a pair of silver heels and rushed back to her room to dress. Quickly, she released her hair from the towel and blow dried it before putting it up in a high messy bun. She allowed some curly tendrils to fall back on her face and finished off her look by applying a light coat of mascara, eyeliner and a dark red lipstick.

A grey twede coat went over her dress and she carried a medium sized silver purse to match with her silver heels.

Three minutes past seven. Malisha was running late. She rushed out of her bedroom and headed down the flight of stairs, dashing down to the floors below.