Chapter 106: WITHHOLDING THE TRUTH
"Have you tried calling Mrs Fay again? Maybe she’s on her way," Alice questioned her dearest friend, sharing in her worry.
"I did. She’s not answering. I even sent a text. I don’t know, Alice. If sir Ace finds out that Mrs Fay went out on her own; especially after that encounter with her aunt’s husband, he’ll be furious!" she said a little louder than she wanted, and instantly bit her tongue, as if it would take back the words she had just spewed.
"Who would be furious?" The door swung open, and Ace walked into the living room, with Leighton by his side.
"Sir Ace!" The both won chorused in unison.
His troubled senses swiftly began to tingle. Alice was usually preparing dinner by this ti, and Alice would be on her eleventh trip around the house to ensure everyone was doing their jobs properly.
The fact both won were in the living room at the sa ti, talking about soone getting furious, was sothing to raise one’s brow.
"Marilyn, Alice?" He called their nas one after the other, and they both stepped forward.
"Good evening Sir Ace," Marilyn said, and smiled.
"Good evening sir Ace. How was your day at work?" Marilyn followed right after.
"It was fine, thank you," his eyes narrowed so more, as he threw them a suspicious gaze. "But why are you two so glued together? What is this?" He asked, pointing fingers between them.
"Nothing sir," they said in unison again.
Leighton watched the display before her in amusent. It was clear these won were pretty special to Ace. She knew there was a clear class barrier if you actually knew them, but as a stranger, this just looked like a family gathering.
It was cute, but also funny to watch. And oh, she could totally tell they were hiding sothing. She only wondered if Ace would be able to tell too, or give up on his investigations.
He looked at them for a few more seconds, still far from convinced they were not keeping secrets. But too tired from a stressful day in the office to push it, his shoulders slouched in temporal surrender.
"Do you rember Doctor Leighton?" He asked.
"Of course I do. She’s from the hospital. Mrs Fay’s friend." Marilyn bead.
"Doctor Nice like little Sophie called her," Alice added.
"I’m glad you rember. She’s here to see Fay. Could one of you please take her up?"
"Oh," they both exchanged discreet side eye glances, as Marilyn stepped forward.
"Please co with , doctor Leighton. I’ll take you to Mrs Fay’s room."
Mrs Fay’s room? Leighton thought in her mind.
She would assu married couples shared a room. Perhaps they were one of those couples who believed in having separate lives.
Not trying to judge them or anything, but she could never live that way. Whoever she ended up married to would just have to live with the fact she loved to be sandwiched to her partner.
"Please, just call
Leighton," she said, really tired of being hit with the doctor title.
It was fun to think about back in school. But now that she had conquered, it had gotten a little tiring to hear.
She followed Marilyn who led her up the stairs. As she walked behind her, her eyes rotated around the house.
The inside was even more a designer’s masterpiece than the outside which she had considered the best display of architectural mastery she had ever seen.
It was minimalism, and classic in the most passionate mix.
And not to forget the sll that waffled through the air. It was Lillie’s, and a little bit of lavender.
So fresh, and so alluring. It made you just want to keep on sniffing the air.
The older woman suddenly stopped by a door, and when she lifted her head, she watched her pretend to knock before opening the door, and stepping inside.
Confused, Leighton followed in her footsteps.
Imdiately she entered the room, the door closed behind her, and Marilyn jumped in front of her.
"Please doctor Leighton, you have to remain in the room and pretend Mrs Fay’s here with you. Truth is, she went out earlier today with Sir Ace’s grandmother, and she hasn’t returned yet. Sir Ace doesn’t want her out and about, well because—-" she bit her lips not exactly sure how to explain that part.
When it suddenly occurred to her that this was Fay’s childhood friend, and she could probably understand the dynamics, words started to flow out of her mouth again.
"Well, she was accosted by her aunt’s husband so days ago, and it left her really shaken. That’s why he doesn’t want her going out without protection. He’ll be really mad if he finds out she’s not yet back by this ti."
Leighton took a few seconds to allow the words to sit in her head. She vaguely rembered Fay’s uncle. Although she never saw the man, as rumor had it he left before Fay joined his family; she knew there was nothing good ever spoken about him.
She could understand Ace’s decision in having her stay in the house. Especially if the man was lurking around, disturbing her.
What she couldn’t really place her head around was the worry now, when Fay was with her husband’s grandmother.
"Are you worried she wouldn’t be safe with his grandmother?" She finally asked when she found her voice. "If yes, shouldn’t we be about searching for her?"
"Oh no, she’s very safe with the matriarch. It’s not sothing I can really explain, but we promised Mrs Fay to keep her whereabouts away from Sir Ace. We don’t want any trouble please." She squeezed her feet as it tingled from the weight of her desperation to get Leighton by her side.
"And by we, I’m guessing you and Alice?"
"Yes doctor Leighton."
"Just Leighton please."
"Yes Leighton." She hastily corrected herself.
"Well if you’re sure Fay is safe with his grandmother, I’ll help you keep her secret. I guess I’ll just have to wait here until she returns."
"Thank you so much, do— Leighton!" She grabbed the doctor’s hands, and squeezed it.
Leighton smiled. "You’re welco."
"Do you want anything to eat or drink?"
"Water would do."
"Okay. I’ll be right back with a bottle of water."
She turned around and hurried out of the room. Now that one part of the plot had been settled, it was ti to plan the other. When Fay ca in, they had to find a way to sneak her in without noticing.
She was so invested in cooking up various scenarios in her head as to how to help Fay in, she didn’t notice Ace.
His hand reached out to her shoulders before she could bump into him.
"I’m so sorry sir." she quickly bowed.
He rolled his eyes, but kept his gaze on her. "Lift your head, Marilyn," he dropped his hands off her shoulders. "Why are you so invested in your mind? Are you sure everything’s fine, Marilyn?" He asked, his earlier suspicion creeping into his voice.
"Everything’s fine, sir. It’s a beautiful evening. The birds are chirping. The fountain is flowing. I can perceive the aroma of Alice’s best pasta recipe. Everything’s great!"
Ace eyed her as she kept on going on about nature, and every other thing but what he actually asked her.
He had known Marilyn long enough to know when she was keeping sothing from him..
Good thing about secrets was that they almost always ca to light.
He wasn’t planning to worry about it for too long. When the ti ca, there would be confessions.
"Why are you just coming out of the room? Did they ask you to get sothing?"
"Yes sir. Mrs Leighton asked for so water."
"And Fay?"
She suddenly began to cough.
"Are you okay, Marilyn?" He was behind her in a split second, tapping her back as she crouched from the weight of the cough.
"I’m fine sir," she lied through her teeth. "I guess Alice is frying so spicy sauce. You know how sensitive my throat is to plenty of spice."
"It is? Didn’t you once go on a long rant about the importance of plenty of spices in als?"
The strength of her cough increased, and he was forced to continue patting her back.
"You choose now to listen to my rants?" She thought as she kept on forcing the fake cough out.
"Do you want
to bring you so water?" He asked.
She quickly lifted her body, and smiled. "No, I’m fine. See, it has passed. Turns out I really like spice, and it may just have been sothing else. Excuse
sir, I need to go get a bottle of water for doctor Leighton." She hurried out of his presence, leaving him more confused than before.
"But she was just—" his head turned around, as he pointed in all directions, trying to wrap his head around what had just unfolded before him.
In the process of turning his head, his eyes caught Fay’s door. Two whole days without seeing her.
Subconsciously, he began to walk towards her room.
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