Akira stared at Madam Matilda with uncertainty as she walked into the room

"Lord Arthur told me your dancing was perfect - I saw him leaving with Her Grace", Lady Matilda said with a smile, unaware of Akira's silence. "I think there is nothing left for me to teach you now. You are well prepared".

"Thank you", Akira choked out, unsettled by her own realisation. The idea that Madam Matilda might have liked her father settled in her stomach like a heavy stone making her feel incredibly queasy.

"Are you okay?" Madam Matilda asked, her brows furrowed, "You look rather pale".

"Oh, yes, I am fine", Akira quickly said. It would do no good to jump to conclusions. There must be more than just Lady Matilda whose name started with an 'M' and there was only one way to be sure. "Would you care for some tea with me?"

"I will have to decline that offer as I have a prior appointment. However, I am willing to attend tomorrow?" Lady Matilda said as she gathered her purse.

"Whatever is most convenient for you", Akira answered, feeling frustrated. The ball was still two days away so she would have to at least try and ask tomorrow.

"Well, I will be taking my leave then. Goodbye", Madam Matilda said as she pulled on her gloves and hurriedly walked out of the room. Akira started after her retreating back in confusion. What was the rush? This past week, Lady Matilda had stayed for much longer and there was no mention of leaving early today. Something was not right and it bothered Akira. Grandmother had also pulled Lord Arthur out to talk to him. Was there something being kept from her?

Akira took a deep breath to calm her rising pulse and left the room, heading for the main staircase that led to her bedroom. The house was eerily empty with not a single servant insight. Where was everyone?

The closer she got to the staircase, the more she was able to pick up a distant sound that sounded as if there was someone arguing in quiet whispers. As Akira walked with bated breath towards the sound, she noticed it was coming from the only room in the hallway whose door was closed.

"Your Grace, I do not see why we must hide this!" A man protested.

That must be Arthur which meant the person he was talking to was her grandmother. Akira pressed herself against the wall next to the door and strained her ears to hear more.

"Arthur, I will make myself very clear", Grandmother ordered, enunciating every word. "You do not say a word".

"But, she is Matthew's daughter! Your granddaughter! My conscience weighs down on me every time I think about it! This is not what Matthew would have wanted!"

"Well, do you think I wanted him to elope with that foreign woman? Did I want him to abdicate the dukedom? Did I want him to break that promise?" Grandmother snapped in anger. "We all must do things we do not want in life".

"Your Grace, this is different. I cannot be a bystander to this! This will change her whole life and not in a good way!"

"Well, then you can leave. What's done cannot be undone. The ball is in two days and it is unavoidable now".

"At least warn her. Let her know what she is to expect!" He replied, indignantly. "The younger generation is very different from us and this will be a shock to her!"

"No, because she will try to leave. I cannot allow that or the Astley reputation will be tainted forever. I have already been shamed once, the fool is me if I allow myself to be shamed twice!" Grandmother said, her tone rising.

Arthur let out a huge sigh. "She seems compassionate-"

"No, she is arrogant", Grandmother cut in. "Exceedingly so. My word is final, Arthur. You are not to return here until the day of her debutante. I cannot have you comprising this".

"I was supposed to go over the dances one last time tomorrow-" He argued.

"You've disobeyed me far too much today. Matilda told me her form is perfected so she can practise with anyone - the butler if necessary", Grandmother replied, scathingly. "Do not return. You can see Akira on her debutante and by then, she shall know too".

"Very well", Arthur sighed, the frustration evident in his voice. "I will take my leave then. Farewell, Your Grace".

"Goodbye, Arthur. Do not see me as some sort of villain now. I am doing only what is necessary for this family".

"I understand", he said, resigned.

"Good", Grandmother sighed. "If anything this is all his fault. Now, off you go. I shall see you at her debutante ball".

There was a moment of silence and Akira could hear her heart beating so loudly, she feared she would be caught. Her hands were clammy and her head hurt terribly so. She peeled herself away from the wall and tiptoed back to the main staircase where she half-ran to her room as she heard the door open and the voices grow louder.

Akira's suspicions had been right all along. There was a reason why her grandmother wanted her to stay. What, she was not so sure of but whatever it was would be life-changing as Lord Arthur said. It was definitely related to her father as well but there was nothing she could think of. What promise had her father broken?

Akira ransacked her room to find where her empty suitcases were stored and then hastily dug through her bag, trying to find a small discrete hidden compartment. Her fingers closed around a small solid object and she pulled out a spare burner phone, frantically dialling Bilal's number. Bilal had advised her not to use her normal phone as it could be tapped especially as her grandmother's servants had full access to her belongings and her things had definitely been rifled through.

The call rang and Akira clutched onto the phone nervously, growing more anxious with every second that passed.

"Bilal speaking". His calming voice resonated through the device and she took a deep breath. There was no time to panic.

"Bilal, this call must be quick as I fear anyone listening in. There is definitely something suspicious afoot. I overheard a conversation and my grandmother was talking about something that was to happen which would be life-changing. It has something to do with my father and a broken promise. Could you look into this too? Find out if my father had any debts or a scorned lover, an enemy or just anything. Find me something so I don't have to walk into my debutante ball unprepared, please", Akira whispered quietly into the phone, her voice almost sounding desperate.

"Yes, Miss. Shall I update you on the investigation so far?" He said, his voice coming out reassuring.

"Yes, please".

"I decided to investigate Peter Macoven - the man who came to read the will. When I watched the CCTV of him arriving in the house, he was clearly acting strange with fervent looks around the room, unnecessary sweating and stuttering so I thought he would be a good start for my investigation. I've managed to get access to his and the company's financial records but there was nothing peculiar about the company or his activities''. Akira heard Bilal take in a deep breath before speaking again. "But, what is odd is that a very large sum of money has made its way into a Switz offshore bank account that Peter Macoven opened a week before your parents had died".

"How much is a large sum?" Akira breathed out.

"Approximately two million pounds".

Akira took in a heavy breath. "God", she muttered. What the hell was going on?

"The government in Switzerland very rarely investigates matters like these. The only reason why a middle-class citizen like Peter would open an account like this obviously means that there is definitely something suspicious going, something definitely illegal. The one thing I can absolutely say is that there might have been bribing involved which would explain the large sum of money".

"Bribing? Meaning..." Akira trailed off, not wanting to think about what Bilal's words meant.

"Someone has paid him to change the will".

Akira stood in silence, absorbing his words. She had her doubts but it was different to hear them confirmed. It opened a can of worms that she was too scared to deal with.

"Thank you, Bilal. I'll call again soon for any more developments. Keep any evidence you find so we can build our case and take associates to court. Bye".

"Stay safe, Miss. Bye".

The line cut off, leaving Akira to fall back against the wall numbly, in shock. This Peter Macoven had been bribed as Bilal had said. Two million pounds was a lot of money. An awful lot. And the only person who would have benefited from the clause about Akira having to stay at her grandmother's was her grandmother. The only person who could afford a bribe this large was her grandmother. The only person who would have any kind of motive was the person whose house she was living in right now. All fingers pointed back to her grandmother.

Bilal had said the money has been deposited a week before her parents' death. A cold vice of ice gripped her heart. Had her parents' death been predetermined? Was it not a drunk driver but a man with intent?

"No, no, no", Akira said firmly, shaking herself out of it. "That could have been a coincidence. After all, why would Grandmother.... want to kill her own son?"

Dun dun dun...

Very dramatic.

Question for today:

What is your favourite season?

Xx