Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 311: Celine Took Action

Chapter 311: Celine Took Action

"Fred? How did you sneak in here?" Talia’s voice became high-pitched seeing Arthur in his dress suit.

"Sneak in?" Arthur smiled pleasantly, but Talia sensed the anger beneath that smile and she slowly retreated. Although she did nothing wrong, she felt like she did something unacceptable. More than finding Arthur’s presence there as a pleasant surprise, she felt an unknown fear.

She knew Arthur doesn’t like her talking to Walter and now she had danced with him. She believed Arthur will get back at her somehow.

Arthur, who expected to see her usual surprised reaction was disappointed seeing her looking so scared. He was mad; but not at her. He was mad at Walter for still hanging on to her even after she properly rejected him.

Walter standing by the side, silently watched the both of them with pretty unusual expressions. He always knew there was something going on between those two. Getting married when they are pretty young and then announcing it was annulled... Something was fishy around them. She was dating other guys while he was wearing a wedding band saying he’s married. And she said she was in love with Arthur for twelve years?

He could understand there is some history behind them. And he really didn’t care.

"Why don’t you introduce us?" Arthur held her hand and stopped her from leaving.

"Sure!" Talia smiled with a nod, "Arthur, meet The Marquees of Rodenberg - Walter Trembley," She pointed at Walter and then introduced Arthur to Walter, "Lord Ashwood - Arthur Sinclair."

"You can call me Arthur," Arthur held out his hand for a shake and Walter shook his hand. "Walter is fine."

Talia standing in between them felt like her heart would burst with the amount of stress she’s in. She could bet she heard some cracking sound, like something had snapped and looking at the men still holding their hands firmly with no intention of letting go, she didn’t know what to do. Their hands had gone white with the force they used, and their eyes were fixed on each other. Talia felt like she’d receive an electric shock with the sparks created between their eyes.

"The next song is going to start. You two are not planning to dance together, are you?" Talia tried to dissipate the tension between the two. Seeing both men looking at her confused, Talia explained. " You two are still holding hands." She pointed making those two more embarrassed.

Arthur let go of Walter’s hand gritting his teeth while Walter embarrassedly ran his hand in his hair. Arthur was angry she is deliberately embarrassing him. Why else would she mention dancing with another guy?

Talia knew she had angered Arthur further and she decided to leave promptly. She felt like there were a couple of cameras following her every move and she didn’t want to create any rumours. "I’m going to find Celine." she excused herself.

Is she running away scared?

Arthur felt bad for scaring her when nothing is her fault. He had worked hard to keep his arrival a secret. And even after he came here, he hid himself trying to give her maximum surprise. He watched her going to the dance floor, and oddly, he didn’t even feel the urge to stop her. He was admiring how graceful she looked as she danced. Only when he saw that guy’s expression, did he want to interfere.

"My dance, Iris?" Arthur held her hand and Talia was jerked to stop by the pull of her hand.

"Sure," she shrugged and looked at him. It seemed like he had calmed down a lot as she saw the softness in his eyes and her smile returned. Both of them didn’t even notice the sad figure leaving the dance floor and watch them standing from a distance.

"You’re not mad anymore?" Talia asked as she was leaning on him.

"I never was mad at you...But you said I sneaked in and that did make me a little angry when I was properly invited." Arthur said with a smile. Her eyes were bright and cheerful and it gave him immense delight.

"I’m sorry... I was surprised to see you here and I... Fred, I’m really glad you’re here!" Talia held his hand tighter and moved a little closer out of habit. She forgot about the cameras around her.

"I’m glad too, Iris," Arthur looked gently at her.

Talia could see the little twirls of gentleness and abundant love in his eyes and couldn’t help but sink deeper in that emerald pool of seduction. Her heart started to beat faster and her breathing got difficult. How many women in this world will get a man who looks at them like Arthur is looking at her now? And how much more love can I take?

Arthur leading her in dance, while looking at her in his eyes, could see her eyes turning so seductive and soft with a glaze of tears making it so alluring. The gems embellishing her tiara couldn’t hold a candle to her lively eyes - the eyes that are always filled with love for him. Her cheeks gradually started to turn pink, her lips were parted a little and seemed to be wanting something and he felt like his entire being is for him to dance with her today.

Both of them had tried to hold back their feelings in public for long and after a while, it had become their burden. The more they tried to put a lid on their feelings, the more it overflowed. And this time it had broken the floodgates and gushing out, without both of them realising it.

Walter watching from the distance could see by the way those two were looking at each other that they are in love. He could see other people around them noticing what he could see too. There was no need for keen observation, those two had made it fairly obvious.

"Whoohoo...What is that? Isn’t he already engaged with someone else?"

A gossipy lady whispered to her friend and Walter fisted his hands as he got angry. It is not their business to discuss others personal life. But then... what could he do about it?

Walter relaxed his hands and walked to the big balcony. Thick drapes separated the exuberance of the dance hall and the peaceful silence of the outside. Leaning on the marble railing, he looked at the bright moon silently hanging in the sky and took in a deep breath. Although the insode of the hall was well illuminated, the balcony wasn’t that bright and his long shadow from the moonshine fell on the marble floor, making him seem so forlorn.

I must get over her, right? I must!

He was startled when he heard a ruffling noise from behind him.

"Celine?" He walked to the figure now trying to sneak back in. "Stop!" Even in that little light, he could sense it was Celine and he caught up to her.

"Walter!" Celine smiled fixing the bunch of hair on her cheek that was merrily dancing to the tune of the breeze.

"Were you crying?" Walter asked as he sensed her voice was nasal.

"Oh, no!" Celine shook her head. " I came out to get some air, but it is so chilly out here. I didn’t expect that," she tried to smile.

Yes, she was crying. She dressed up prettily for Walter today and when she noticed his eyes on Talia entirely, her heart broke. As if that was not enough, her brother pointing out the obvious didn’t help either. Still not willing to lose hope, she wanted to start conversation with Walter herself. And she could see in his eyes how differently he looks at her and Talia.

They noticed Arthur Sinclair in the dance hall, talking to The Dowager and the King while skillfully avoiding Talia. It looked like he was trying to play a prank or that he was trying to give Talia a surprise. Watching that, Walter said that he wished to know if he still has a chance.

’Ask her for a dance and she cannot reject you today. If Mr. Sinclair feels jealous and interrupts you, know that you don’t have a chance. You take that as your get-over-dance and move on. If not, you might still have a chance.’

She with her big mouth, blabbered unnecessarily. Who asked her to? Stupid! Stupid!

But at that time she thought that this would make Walter get over Talia for good. She believed that Arthur would definitely interfere, but who knew he’d just stand and watch? She couldn’t hold back her tears as she realised that now Walter will think he has a chance with Talia. So she ran up here, to cry privately.

But who knew he’d come here too?

She felt cold, her sinuses had clogged because of her crying, and her head hurt. Hugging herself, she rubbed her arms to warm herself up. "I’ll go-" her voice got stuck in her throat as she felt a big, warm coat, laced with the scent of the man of her heart, enveloping her.

"I don’t understand why you women insist on not wearing dresses for the climate," he complained.There was a childishness in that tone that he rarely lets out . As the warmth from the coat spread though her body, her heart warmed.

This man...He gives me his coat again...

Celine looked at the man, tall as an oak. Standing on her tiptoes she wrapped her arms around Walter’s neck.

Her buttery soft lips pressed on his cold lips.