The rest of the way back to the manor was peaceful. Silas tightened his hold around her but said nothing more after his last suggestion.
Arabella tossed and turned the question in her mind, debating whether to simply agree and give it a try or to take her ti like she’d requested.
On one hand, it was an experience that intrigued her, but it scared her all the sa.
Allegra t her by the door to her room upon returning. She curtsied before Silas then turned her attention towards the young woman.
"I’ve got a bath and tea ready for you," the vampiress cracked a brilliant smile.
"I’ll await you," Silas started walking away, "Co when you’re ready,"
With that, he left her in Allegra’s care. She took her by the hand and guided her inside.
"Co! You must be dying to get out of those clothes," she chirped.
"Not really," she shook her head, "They are quite comfortable,"
"They do not look so comfortable to ,"
Allegra’s hand went for the brooch on Arabella’s chest, but the young woman reacted without thinking things through, flinching back, clasping the brooch with both hands and turning away from the vampiress, "No! Not this! I will take it off myself," she grimaced what looked like a smile to the best of her abilities.
"I didn’t an to scare you," Allegra took her hands back, "I simply wanted to help,"
"Please forgive , Allegra," Arabella’s traits llowed, "I didn’t an to be unkind. It’s just that, I’d rather no one but touches the brooch or my pendant either if that is alright,"
"Yes, of course I understand," Allegra pushed an awkward chuckle, "I should have asked for permission in the first place. It was my fault,"
"Thank you," Arabella muttered, looking down at the floor.
"Co now," Allegra cleared her throat, "The bath is ready for you,"
The vampiress helped the young woman out of her outing garnts in complete silence with neither knowing what to say after the sowhat heavy mont they had prior.
Although, it seed Allegra quickly found a new topic to broach.
"Katherine told she’d inford you of what happened," she kept her tone ta.
"She did," Arabella murmured, "I couldn’t bring myself to ask about it, but how are you feeling, Allegra?"
"I am alright," she took the outing clothes and threw them in a basket as Arabella slipped into the bathtub, "She’s gotten a lot weaker, you know,"
"You an physically," Arabella half asked, bringing her knees to her chest.
"Yes, so no damage was done," she grinned.
"Still...," the water stirred, leaving ripples across the surface, "It must be hard to go through such an experience,"
"Yes, it’s unfortunate Mada Morgana can’t co any earlier,"
"Did Silas inform you about that?"
For a fleeting mont, Allegra’s figure froze in place, but then her smile returned, "No, but word spreads like wildfire around the manor as I am sure you are aware,"
"Right," Arabella chuckled, "Of course," another pause was made before she spoke again, "Have you seen Ada earlier?"
"Yes, she was about to run you a bath but I sent her on her way," Allegra nodded jovially.
"I wish she stayed. I need to speak with her,"
Once more, Allegra’s deanor dimd a little, "I can summon her if you wish,"
"No, no, no! I will see her tomorrow,"
Silence crept in between them after that. Arabella played with the water and spilled it all over her shoulders while Allegra prepared a clean dress for the young woman.
"Arabella," the vampiress stopped her doings and turned to Arabella in a bit of a sudden way.
"Yes?" she perked up.
"This may be an odd question but... Do you not enjoy my company?" she stared at her unblinkingly, dead in the eyes.
"Wh...?" Arabella seed at a complete loss of words. Her mouth opened and then closed a couple of tis before anything else ca out, "What makes you think that way?"
"No, it’s just that you look more scared than happy in my company, that is all,"
"No! Of course not!" she sat wide eyed in the tub, solidified in place.
"I am sorry, I didn’t an to put you on the spot like that," Allegra smiled and shook her head profusely, "Silly ! I just utter what goes through my mind most of the ti, and I don’t think things through," she chuckled.
"It’s absolutely alright," Arabella stared down at the water, at the reflection that looked back at her.
"I struggle to share my peace," Allegra sat down on the stool that lurked behind her, "I am not like Katherine. We are about the sa age and yet everything seems to co so easy to her, words included," she took a deep breath, "She always knows what to say in almost every situation and then there is ... I just grin and chuckle through things,"
"But what makes you think such things right now?"
"With her out of the picture for the past few days, I realized how much I was lacking... How much she has to deal with on a daily basis,"
"Yes, she has a lot on her plate, doesn’t she?" Arabella mumbled.
"I honestly don’t know what to do," both hands fell to her sides, "I don’t even know where to start,"
"It doesn’t have to happen in one day, you know," Arabella half asked, tilting her head to catch Allegra’s eyes.
"I know that," she shook her head, gaze soldered on the floor, "But...," she finally made eye contact with Arabella, "Would you help with it?"
"Yes, of course! How can I help?" the young woman’s face lit up.
"I’d like you to be honest with ," she bit her bottom lip, "I’d like you to always let know whenever I make you uncomfortable. Would you do that for ?"
"I think...," Arabella nodded, "I think I can do that, yes," she smiled, her eyes glistening with life.
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