°~1 Week Later~°

(Y/N POV)

Darling Olivia,

Hath not I engrossed myself with such digressions, my days would tire past me with the forsaken thought of you. I'm growing desirous, Olivia, and I cannot persuade myself to marginalize these feelings. I attend church daily to rid myself of these salacious thoughts victimizing me. You damn woman have bewitched me, but I shall find it in my honour to pardon you. It is, besides, in a woman's nature.

In any matter, godforsaken tragedy has struck for poor Valentino. She began her regular menses on the weekend and pleaded me to tell only but you. Unfortunately, I hadn't much of the ability to help her; if only you were here and I could have towed you into this. Alas, I had to inform Mrs Taylor. No young lady should endure such a struggle alone.

I work for Mr Mulligan weekly, filling in primarily for his son. Though do not fret, Miss, I am not involved in some disreputable love affair that would tear me away from you. As a professional, Mr Mulligan takes the measurements of the men and women. I advise on satisfactory clothing of those in need, though if measurements are required, I am only permitted to the men.

It's peculiar, truly. Mr Mulligan had authorized me to you that once with no misgivings. He must suspect of us, although you could state that it is long-established now. I would gladly spend an eternity with you; I would shelter you from harm; I would gift you with the greatest pleasures. Perhaps I could tutor you on the refinement of the Spanish language.

I wish you well, Señorita. Eres el tesoro eterno de mi vida.

- C. Fernández

"Well, embrasse-moi doucement, Señor Fernández~" Lafayette teased in a mixture of French and Spanish. He was unknowingly perched behind my shoulder and silently read the letter.
"GO AWAY!!" I shoved him aside and hid the letter face-down.
"I see now why you enjoy him so much!" he exclaimed.
"You shouldn't be nosing into other people's business!"

He chuckled and took a seat. "He certainly does remind me of Alexander. They should co-operate with one another."
"They exchange letters..."
"You're already introducing him to his father-in-law? Excellent, mon am-!"
"Who said I was marrying him?!"
"He seems to imply it."

I flipped it over and read again. '...it is long-established now. I would gladly spend an eternity with you...' His father's methods had appeared to work. It was hard to believe that he was aristocratic once, with every luxury. And still, he was taught to find a kind, attractive and devoted wife, not just a woman he thought he could start a family with. Each partner had to be happy, and I suppose I was. But marriage?

I loved him... And I understood now. I'd shaped history so much that it wouldn't even matter if I married him. I was just committed to stick to my word. I knew nothing about timelines, or about why I was here in the first place. How had a mediocre ring brought me back 243 years? Why did it present itself to me and my sister, out of everyone in the world?

Most importantly...

...How did Grandma know?

"Well we're not marrying."
He chuckled. "You'll see." He paced the room with a small grin on his face. "I'm going into town today. Would you care you join me?"
"Do I have a choice?" I joked.
"Non, not really. You can afford anything you would like. How about a souvenir for Mr Fernández~?"
"Oh shut up."

~

"Extra, extra!" A boy waved a newspaper in the air, a stack settled beside him. He wore a brown flat cap, face covered in sweat, a tight jumper strangling his throat.
"Poor boy." I sighed as we wound our way past him.
"Yes, well... He should be receiving substantial pay, to the least." Lafayette predicted.

"Afternoon, Miss!" an old man chirped from behind a stall. It looked like he sold antique items, perfect for if I did want to find Charles something.
"Good afternoon!" I exclaimed, hauling Lafayette over.
"Lik'n anythin' you see?" he questioned. Mainly, he sold clocks and pocket watches, but there were also  mini statues made from glass and-

"Would you happen to know how much for this?" I presented to him a tiny globe, about one foot in length:

"Aye, Miss, used t' be me mother's. Worth a shilling, I reckon."
"Charles always wanted to travel the world!" I giggled to Lafayette. "Not anymore, for he deems too ill. He could do it from the comfort of his own room! How much is a shilling?"
"Not an expense, here." Lafayette tossed the old man a shilling.
"Thank you, Sir!"
"G' day, M-!"

He glanced to Lafayette's side in distraction. A skinny boy, reaching the height of Lafayette's hip, rummaged desperately through his pockets. "Boy!" Lafayette stumbled back by my side and threw the child's hand away. He stared back and forth between the two of us, suddenly scampering off.
"HEY!" The old man tried to intrude, but I held out my hand.
"No, he didn't take anything."

A crowd engulfed us. "Children, eh?" Lafayette spoke to the old man.
"Aye, they're a nuisance. Hoverin' around like little pests, they are."

I peered over in the direction he had fled, finding that he was at the end of the market, staring. And it wasn't just at anyone: it was most definitely me. He flicked his head to the side, trying to gesture at something. I checked back to Lafayette, busy in a conversation with the old man. Slithering myself away into the crowd, I decided to follow him.

He couldn't have been any older than six. Much younger than the newspaper boy, who just so happened to pass by. I reached closer, yet the child bolted off. "Wait-!" I followed behind, dodging through a pathway with an army of hedges on either side. He waited for me at the opening of other end. "Wait, please-!" I repeated exhaustedly.

He did not.

I was centimetres from his reach when he turned. I scurried through the opening and turned in his direction once more.

Gone.

He'd led me to ambush of trees with a giant pond in its centre. It was too late to flee now; two men were present. One kneeled and washed his hair in the pond, shirtless, whilst the other stood about the grounds. I screted myself to the oak tree in front of me, praying that they wouldn't exit this way.

"And tell me, what is it that you said to her?" The voice was immediately recognised.
"I told her to bugger off! She's a fallen angel, I tell you, brother!" Brother... That had to have been Cedric.
"Not much of a ladies' man are you?" Eric chortled.
"On the contrary, I'd rather be me than you, Romeo."

"You suggest?" Eric stood up. Water faintly trickled down his chest.
Cedric tossed him a towel. "You're the delineation of a Shakespearean tragedy!"
"Oh! How so?"
"You want to run away with that girl, and don't tell me otherwise!"

Eric sniffled and viciously rubbed his hair. "I do not want to run away with her."
"Hmph. Have you evaluated the question of her being-"
"Yes, and I anticipate that I am certain of it now."
"What a possibility!" Cedric laughed.

Were they talking about me?

"Yes, but brother, have you not seen the beauty in her eyes?"
"I'd wish not to. She's yours, after all."
"And a free woman... A free woman!"
"Soon she'll be on her death bed whilst you drink the poison to accompany her into the Heavens..."

"Is it not perfect?" Eric tackled Cedric's shoulders. "Think of the prosperity, Cedric. The reputation."
Cedric stole the towel back, folding it up in his arm. "Quite."

He abandoned Eric to his confinement, trailing towards me. I scooted around the right side of the tree. Nonetheless, it didn't help. To inspect his departure, Cedric glared right back at me. Neither said a word, and I held my breath still.

Taking another glance, he briskly made his retreat.

If they were talking about me, which I dearly hoped not...

...Was I brought here as a warning?

~~~~~~~~~~

Ohhh Chriiistmas treeeeee ohhh Chriiistmas treeeeee

I don't know theee reeest of the words

Let's see if you can spot the cat 😂