London (5)

Year 1863

She almost screamed.

Thea gripped the perfume bottle tightly behind her. Her body stiffened.

Did Kay knew what she's been doing? She never said about her dirty work at all.

Never.

Was she caught?

Thea felt her knees weaken. Blake always said she shouldn't be caught by anyone and Thea agreed. Even though the world was collapsed, she didn't want to look any different in front of them. The one who should not know what her did is Kay, and it turned out that this man ...

"Why is your face so pale?" Kay approached her.

"Ka, you said ... I ... am a murderer?" Thea's tongue suddenly froze when she stared at Kay, who nodding firmly.

"Of course. You kill me in every game we play. Horse racing. Archery. Shoot. Play chess. Fencing… Oh! I forgot. A few days ago I was—"

Thea's body almost slumped to the floor if Kay didn't catch her. She, who suddenly short of breath for a moment, rushed to take as much air as possible. Her floating soul returned inside.

"Are you okay?" Kay asked, worried.

His hand immediately touched Thea's forehead and neck pulse. The first thing he did when he examined his patients.

Thea who felt silly and stupid shook Kay's hand, angrily.

"I am alright. My corset is too tight," she said in frustation.

"Do I need to loosen it?" Kay offered his help.

"No." Thea scowled.

He raised an eyebrow and pretended not to notice the change in Thea's face. "Good. Then, are we ready to go? "

"No."

"Oh come on! You've been dressed so pretty. It will be a waste if you don't show this to those gentlemen."

"You have to remember the purpose you came to this party, Kyle Wilkess."

Yup, looked like Kay has made Thea angry.

Thea walked ahead leading out of the room. It seemed that the longer she listened to Kay, the more she would think nonsense.

***

The carriage carried Kay and Thea down to town. This was the first time Thea walked along the River Thames during the broadlight day.

The trading activities was clearly visible along the way. Kay gazed at Thea who had been looking outside with great interest. The distorted face earlier has disappeared out of the window.

"What do you think?" Kay asked, curious.

"What?" Thea asked back without looking him, annoyed.

"London during the day?"

"Crowded."

Kay guessed what Thea would say next, but the girl said nothing until they got to Mr. Lutz's house.

The large pale yellow courtyard of the building was already filled with several horse-drawn carriages. The driver dropped them off right at the entrance. Kay got off the carriage reluctantly.

He smoothed his clothes then reached his hand. Thea gave him a doubtful look. It seemed no less reluctant than Kay.

"Are you nervous?" Kay felt her arm gripped tightly.

"Nervous? Me?" Thea turned around awkwardly. "No. Not a slightest! You should be the one nervous, not me."

"So? Yes, I guess you're right." Kay smiled a little.

He led Thea to follow a servant who greeted them earlier, through a long hallway full of paintings to the backyard. There were already many people gathered at the garden. Most of them consist of old aristocrats and their children. Some of the distinguished nobles sat around the white tablecloth. The younger nobles chose to stand on the side – near a table full of food– while chatting casually. Kay recognized almost the entire people.

"Hey, Kyle!"

The two of them turned their heads at the same time. A young man in a white tuxedo walked over. He stretched out his hand as soon as he arrived in front of Kay.

"You came too, huh."

"Yes, I can't miss this opportunity, right?" Kay let go of his handshake when she heard Thea grunt.

***

Thea dragged her feet with a heavy heart. She hated being in this situation. Her body suddenly stifled when she saw the crowd of people in the middle of the garden. Kay continued to hold her hand without caring that her arm was almost crushed. He walked casually to the middle of the garden, towards the people. Thea reflexively held the nape of her neck when someone called Kay and approached them.

A man in white raised his glass to them.

This was the first time Thea saw nobles dressed all in white from top to bottom. The completely white tuxedo with the same colour as the necktie. White shoes. White hat.

What a strange taste.

"You came too, huh." They both shook hands.

"Yes, I can't miss this opportunity, right?"

Thea snorted. Can't miss it? As if! He dragged Thea to come with him just because he can't miss it!

Suddenly the man glanced at Thea.

"I didn't know you had a new companion, Kyle," he said. He punched Kay's arm.

Thea looked at him suspiciously. Kay? New lover? That means he has been with women before? Kay cleared his throat, nervous.

"This is my cousin, Thea. Thea, this is Rupert." Kay introduced them. Blake adopted her on the pretext that she came from the Wilkes distant-branch family, not from an orphanage.

"Hello, young lady. My name is Rupert, Kyle's best friend from the west hospital." The man took Thea's right hand, took off his white hat and kissed the back of Thea's hand.

"Nice to meet you."

Thea nodded slightly. "You're welcome, Sir. Nice to meet you too."

Rupert stared at her then turned his eyes to Kay.

"You never said you had a cousin this beautiful, Kyle!" his tone sounded sulky.

"Oh, yes? maybe I forgot," Kay laughed.

"Did you forget, or did you do it on purpose so that no one could approach her?"

Kay punched him softly, still laughing. "I told you, this is my cousin, R. Watch your mouth."

Someone called Kay's name and waved at him.

"Well ... then I have to be there immediately."

Thea felt her back pushed slowly. "Have a good talk you two."

...or not.