Hidden

Dilemma

Tom dressed up after having his bath, sprayed perfume and came out of his cabin. He was going for a horse, holding a bag when he saw Gaius walking up to him.

“Good evening sire.” He greeted. “Madam seeks your attention in her chambers.”

Tom smugly grunted.

“Okay, Gaius.”

“I guess you were on your way to the farm.”

“Who told you that?”

Gaius smiled.

“It is just an assumption, sir.”

“Okay, Gaius can you do me a favor?”

“Sure sire.”

“I have an appointment now and must not be late. Tell her I just left but will be back soon.”

Gaius hesitated.

“Does she know I am around?”

“Yes.” Gaius replied.

“No one sees you talking to me now. I will mount my horse and take the side gate. Tell her you were told I just left and suggest if you should go looking for me. She would definitely say no.”

“Very good idea, sire.” He said. “Say hi to my uncle, please.”

“And who says I will see your uncle?”

“Tell my cousin to do that. You know I am always opportune to go out.”

“Your cousin?”

Gaius smiled again. “I see how she looks at you, sire and it gladdens my heart.”

“Come on Gaius, would you give madam the impression that I am seeing your cousin?”

“No. These rich people! She may want you to marry the daughter of a wealthy man like you.”

‘Come off it and mind you, your cousin does not like me.”

“Rose is a very difficult get to get talking to but I tell you, when she gets free with you, she is vivacious.”

“Okay Gaius I have to leave before someone sees us. Servants love to win the hearts of their masters with gossips.”

“Is that a biblical verse?”

“No Gaius.” Tom said impatiently. “I never knew you talked so much.”

“I do sir especially when I am excited. I wish you a safe outing, sire.”

He watched Tom mount the horse and ride away. He turned and went back.

Tom was riding so fast he had to caution himself to retard. He got to the farm within twenty minutes. He tied his horse to a tree and alighted.

The sunshine was mild and the weather was so favorable even though it was a bit cold. He took a short  walk towards the stream and sat on a small rock.

Would she come? He wondered.

She had not been so friendly and she acted as if he was forcing her to talk to him and he heated the idea of her talking to him simply because he was their boss. He did not want to take advantage of her but wanted real love. This made him wonder why men r**e women. He felt any relationship between a man and woman should be a mutual consensus. When he remembered men who patronized prostitutes, he remembered the word lust and that was a word he detested.

Detested?

What was between him and Isabella? Isabella may be in love with him but he was not and he was not just doing it because she was his caretaker, though that was part of it, but her voluptuous body was thrilling and now he felt ashamed of himself. He allowed the devil take hold of him and the conversation with Wellington did not only scare him but made him felt guilty. For the fact that Wellington was having s*x with another man’s wife did not justify him having s*x with his wife. That was a******y and it hurts but did Wellington not have sense of remorse? If he knew it was so painful for someone to have his wife, did he not feel for John?

“Good evening sire.” Rose’s voice took him aback and he turned swiftly. He had not heard her come but as he looked at her, he was surer that there was nothing he wanted more than her. Nothing! He always told himself this and he never got tired of saying that.

He smiled.

“I was not expecting you to come.” He said. “Good evening ma’am.”

“It’s Rose.”

“It’s Tim.”

“I can’t call you by your name?”

“Why?”

“Even my father addresses you as Sire.”

“That is because he yet to become my father-in-law.”

She gave him a quizzical glance.

“Your father in-law?”

“Yeah?

“And who is the daughter of his that you intend to marry?”

“How many daughters does he have?”

“One that I know of. Maybe he has some we don’t know about.”

“If he has, I don’t know about her or them but I know just one. The one that is literally the only one my heart is capable of loving. The only one for which I am living. The one my heart is giving, and my pains and bliss she is sieving. You are the only one my heart is believing and I come on my knees, please be the one I will hold because into the ocean of love I am diving.”

“You have rich girls at your disposal. Why this poor girl?”

“Poverty is what my heart is right now. Money can’t make it rich right now because with the whole money given to me, and you are out of my reach, then I am the poorest soul ever to live. Rose, I don’t know how to let you understand that you are my constant thought and If I have a wish, it is to be with you and that brings the rest of my bliss.” He went on his knees.

“No! Please stand up!”

“Rose.”

She covered her face with her hands. “Please stand up, I insist.”

Tom got on his feet.

“You said you never thought I would come, why?”

“Because I feel you –you don’t like talking with me or even seeing me.”

“”

He smiled.

“Excuse me for a second.” He walked to the horse and brought the bag he placed on it.

“Here, please take it.”

She looked at the bag and collected it, opened it and peeped.

“I will have to take my leave.” He said calmly. “Thank you for coming.”

He turned and started walking away slowly.

“Sire...” she called and he turned back. “You did not bring this just for me. Why did you change your mind?”

“Firstly it’s Tim, please. Secondly, yes you are right; I did not just bring them for you. I brought it for us. I wanted to spend some time with you. I meant it when I said I am lost and find it hard to fit. I feel trapped but you came and gave me hopes”

“Why are leaving? I did not ask you to leave.”

“I know right but you said something that made me felt uncomfortable. I quote Why should I hate talking to someone who was so kind to bring us here even before meeting me? You never knew I was coming. That means you are here simply because I was kind to you. You are right when you said I never knew you would be here before I helped out. I was just moved what Gaius told me but you came and I fell in love with you. But I do not want you to be here simply because you are appreciative. I don’t want to take advantage of you. I want to fall in love with someone who loves me too. Money can’t buy love that is an old adage. Rose, I rather let you go than be with you simply because I was kind to you.”

Rose said nothing a few seconds, pepped into the bag again then looked at him.

“May we sit down, please?”

Tim was silent too, trying to assimilate. Without a word, he came back and sat down. She sat close to him and removed the contents of the bag.

It was roasted turkey, red wine, snacks and cooked fresh fruits.

‘I thought the rich only take cooked fruits.’ She said with a smile.

“Yeah but I prefer uncooked fruits though.”

“They say it is bad for the health.”

“I don’t believe that. I get the real taste of fruits when they are fresh and nothing feels better than fresh.”

“We have never eaten turkey until we got here. I heard about it and dreamt about it. I saw it once in Syrusis,”

Tom wished he could tell her that it was everywhere in his world.

“I am glad we are going to enjoy it together.’ He said.

They enjoyed the meal but could not eat it all. She said she would take the remnant to her younger brother but that was a lie. Everyone in the house was going to have a piece of turkey

“I am sorry I made you felt that way. I am really sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry.” He said. “I understand.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You judged me wrong. I am not here because I am just appreciative. I don’t hate talking to you or seeing you. I am just skeptical and somewhat paranoid. I just wonder why me. Like, I am scared of getting used to you.”

“why?”

“I don’t know. I just feel it will be euphoria. Tim, I don’t think it will last and what happens after that? One or both of us would be hurt.”

This made Tom think twice. What if he left this world and go back to his world? Was it possible to take her along? That did not sound realistic. But he was not ready to leave her for anything. He was here on a mission and that was a family mission. His father had spent millions to get this on even though he came accidentally. Tom did not know that he was set up by Phil. To him, it was an accident or something he did not do right.

What would happen now? He wished there was a way to send the information back to his world and remain here with Rose. Yet, if he stayed here, he would still think about his family and the mission.

Damn! There had to be a way out.

The meal was over and they sat talking. She told him more about Yorkshire, Salvar tales and he was glad when she said they were not biologically related to Salvar.

‘I got something I want to show you.” He said, “come here.’

He held her hand and pulled her up. They walked away from the stream and found themselves between rows of crops which made the place so beautiful.

“We need to do this before sunset.’ He said. She wondered what it was. He brought out his phone and she looked at it with astonishment.

“What is this?”

“It’s called a phone.” He said. “My little secret. I don’t want anyone to know I have this.”

“What is it used for? Oh my God! It is so beautiful.”

Tom put it on, went behind her and extended his hand upwards in front of her for a selfie.

He took a some shots and she seemed to wonder what he was doing. After different shots, he showed her the pictures and she opened her mouth.

“Oh my God! Is this a magical box?”

“No baby.” He said. “It captures images and see something else it can do...”

This time, he shot a motion picture of them and the environment. Rose was so astonished and mesmerized she screamed out of excitement. Tom saved them. He did not know what lay ahead but he was saving these for memories.

Tom looked up and saw the sun setting.

“I think you have to go back home before it gets dark.” He said. “Come on, let me walk accompany you.”

They walked side by side, went and picked the bag containing the food and they walked slowly towards the quarters.

They stopped a few hundred yards before the quarters They now stood by some tall trees.

“Thank you for honoring my invitation, Rose.” He said.

“The honor is my Tim.” She said, “Bible-Tom.”

He chuckled.

“This is an evening I will never forget, Rose.”

“Why?”

“Because it is my best evening so far.”

“Now you make me blush.”

“And you make my blood rush. You supersede a crush; you are someone I love and make my fears flush. When you speak the rest must hush. You appeared and penetrated my heart body and soul faster than flash, and your absence is to my life a crash, and your tears is to my bliss a smash; when you blink I see the movement of each eye lash.”

She blushed.

“Tim, you have a way of making me feel elated, and I am totally exhilarated, and our hearts are suddenly immensely related. My heart was like an organ sedated, but you let it free and now I feel every stimulation and delectation. You bring me alive and I thrive. You are my drive and you fill my love archive. I don’t know if this is happening so fast, but I want it to last and never come to a blast. I don’t understand how I feel so loved as I stand. I feel loved and I feel love. I see love and you win my love. I don’t know that which is hidden, but I know I have fallen. Change my name from the maiden and let me bear your name which is written on my heart and customized, and not merchandized. I am ready, to stick to this through thick and thin even when the world yell or sing a sweet melody. Thank you because I feel love hitting me so steady and you are nothing but a remedy.”

They stood in silence, and the words sank into them.

“You said the best words in my whole life and it is so hot and you fill my heart it and no more slot. I love you Rose.”

“I love you too Tim.”

They kissed and it was longer than they had anticipated.

“I need to go. Mama may begin to wonder.”

“I understand.”

“Take care.’

“I will and keep Rose safe for me.”

She smiled.

“I hate to say goodbye to you.’ She said and turned to walk away.

“Same here my love.”

He stood and watched her walk away. He felt as if a part of him was leaving him and fought the urge to run after her.

He watched her until she reached the door. It was like she knew he was watching her because she turned, smiled and wove at him before she went inside.

He turned and walked back to where his horse was. As he mounted it, feeling so blissful, and everything seemed to be perfect. Now he was not even thinking about the mission, or the way to leave this world. Damn everything! He was going to be here for the rest of his life. If at all he found the missing parts he was asked to come and get, he would find a way to send it to his world with a lovely letter telling them he was fine and happy.

But immediately he got home, and opened the door into his cabin, he saw Isabella sitting on a sofa waiting for him.

He felt his heart sink and she took away all of the reveries he had vanished.

“Welcome back my love.” She said. “I wonder where you went to. I have been here for over an hour. Where have you been?”