Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 61: Alone For Eternity Without Her.

Chapter 61: Alone For Eternity Without Her.

Afternoon.

Theodore Mansion.

Critic Arley, Critic-Ishire.

***************

Joyous in her famous hurried yet calculated walking steps approached Lydia who just come back in from Hound’s cottage with her husband who had gone somewhere else in the building.

"The Carpenter is here" Joyous announced with a bend of her head.

The carpenter is right in tow, he is wearing a brown overall today, with a small bag slung over his shoulders. He walked hastily towards Lydia, his smile small, his body agile.

He bowed. "Good afternoon Lady Theodore before you say a word let me explain" he said with a raised index, his voice husky and warm.

"I had to help my neighbour gather her sheep that had scattered around the locale" he sighed, his face getting warmer, his eyes held content.

"Magaret will not accept you because of her sheep’s Solo stop trying too hard" Theodore teased Solomon the carpenter from behind Lydia with a straight face.

She shivered.

He always does this. He sticks his nose and voice into her conversations.

She turned to glare at him. It is playful.

Solo shrugged his eyes on the lady.

"What are you starting with today?" she asked.

He dropped his bag "The library, I shall have the shelves up and made today" he declared.

"That is brilliant, my books are getting musky, full the room with racks please" she added, her body instinctively relaxing on her husband’s chest, attracted by his warmth and smell.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, his chin on her head, she wasn’t wearing heels anymore.

"Mira get him whatever he may need" she instructed the maid who had stood watching the calling for awhile.

"Yes, Lady Theodore" Mira the maid agreed with a practised smile.

"I’m working with two boys let them in when they reach with the planks" the carpenter added.

The mansion got busy after the boys came and then sounds and dust flew around the vicinity, the maids ran around making food as Hound was absent there was no leader and the Carpenter had an appetite.

"What is happening with my mansion?" Theodore grumbled as he watched more outsiders flooding into his serenity.

Lydia hooked her arms with his, resting her head on his arm "It is just for awhile, Theodore, just focus on me" she whispered.

He smiled. "I’m only letting people in because I’m completely focused on you, Gooseberry" he growled bringing her to his front.

He gazed into her bright orbs, his deep ones warm. "If you weren’t in my life, I would rather be alone for eternity" he vowed.

"My heart, Theodore" Lydia purred, her eyes welling up.

Theodore is truly smitten by her as the dressmaker had said at the beginning of their union.

She placed her soft, slightly cold palm on his cheek, there was a hint of stubble on it.

She then rose on her tiptoes and dropped a kiss on his nose, he blinked before smiling with his lips.

Kisses like this bring him to his knees.

*

* *

*

"What happened to you?" Lydia asked Dorothy with a frown

"He scratched me" Dorothy explained as the cat rushed into Lydia’s feet, jumping and meowing, she bent and picked it up.

"Red what is happening with you?" Lydia asked as she ran her palm over its back.

Theodore had left home with Blanc earlier he had a call from the viscount, their monthly summit is soon to be held but if the viscount thinks they need to have a talk first then it must be important.

Lydia didn’t know much about cats, she had never had a pet, to begin with, and only horses had been the animals she knew back at home, now this tiny bundle of fur has gone through a lot since her husband gifted it to her. He slept anywhere before she set a temporal place for him, the carpenter will be sure to make a resting place for it in all the room she frequents. He then got lost and spent days probably scared and hungry, she sighed now he must feel guilty about Hound, it doesn’t matter that it is an animal, they also feel their owner’s emotions and hers was drenched in guilt, which was why she is going to see him again, now that Red is becoming aggressive she shall take him to see Hound too.

"I’m sorry, maybe he ate something bad" she added, the maid merely nodded as she looked shocked.

"Why are you being so aggressive today mmm?" she moulded him under her breast as she turned to Mira, as Dorothy had left to tend the scratch.

"Change its sleep setting for me please, let me check on the physician again" she ordered the maid, Mira bowed before turning to carry it out.

As the lady of Critic Arley stepped out of the mansion a cold breeze welcomed her, her slightly sweaty palm became colder but she held a warm creature so it felt better, there was barely snow in Critic-Ishire but the cold was always unbearable.

Red snuggled into her, his fur relaxed and it even purred. "Now you’re all behaved? Did you just want to be in my arms?" she heckled.

"You know Theodore won’t like it if he finds out you’re being this clingy" she scolded with a smile, she didn’t mind Red being cute and clingy but she was going to see a sick man.

She balanced it on her arm before sliding to the side of the mansion, she walked the same path she had followed with Theodore earlier, the area was across the lake and everywhere seemed far from the mansion when you walk and then she saw it lodged at the side of the mansion is Hound’s eerie cottage emerges and this time Lydia notices its details better. Its walls are draped in ivy and moss, its glass windows aren’t clouded with dust but still not see-through. A solitary lantern flickers as the door creaks due to Lydia pushing it open. She gulped.

The cottage is hushed and after crossing the threshold a diminishing scent hits her, why did she not notice all this the last time?

Theodore, her mind whispered.

"Excuse me" she whispered more to herself because Hound was still unconscious.

She walked further in, her arms clutching the cat tighter, it didn’t complain. The dim light reveals a room dominated by a beautiful bed, its ornate frame standing in stark contrast to the cottage’s strangeness. The bedspread is clean and white with boasted intricate patterns. His curtains are tattered lace hanging loosely and dancing with the wind. His worn floorboards creaked as she stepped closer.

On the bed laid a pale Hound. Lydia sighed and just as soon her eyes caught a figure.

"Who are you?" she breathed a question, her eyes shifting from Hound to the stranger, he was short and with too much hair on his head despite its short length.

"Hello, Lady Theodore" he acknowledged, his tone slimy. Whatever that is.

Her brows furrowed "I have seen you before" she said.

"Yes, I did not have enough time to introduce myself the day you arrived because of my master" he explained, his black orbs intelligent.

Lydia’s eyes widened "You are the shadow" she pointed out, and he looked up as though honoured.

"Yes, I am Shade" he confirmed.

"Your name is Shade?" she asked with a curious smile.

He places his left palm on his chest over his heart "Yes, Lady Theodore at your service" he bowed.

"You are the one who has watching me all this time" She narrowed her eyes.

"Forgive me if that upsets you Lady Theodore but that is my job" he confessed with a darkened gaze.

"Why did you let me see you today?" she raised a question out of suspicion.

He could have gone the way he used to but he had chosen to stay, there must be a reason

"Because you have finally acknowledged my presence" he admitted, that was his reason.

"What are you?" she asked calmly.

He blinked "I am a gift from Lord Theodore’s mother" he said.

"Tell me about... Red!" Lydia yelped startled as Red suddenly jumped on Hound, out of her hold swiftly, as she hurriedly attempted to get it off the sick man Shade raised a hand indicating for the Lady to let the cat do whatever.

Red started to screech as it angrily scratched Hound’s chest. His shirt obstructs Red from whatever he had planned. So the cat started to tear the shirt with its teeth and help from its nails, Lydia stood with a frown, her eyes wide. While Shade watched curious.

Red tore the shirt apart leaving Hound’s chest bare and immediately Red landed angrily on the bare chest above Hound’s heart, he scratched it twice and Hound twitched.

Lydia’s eyes widened while Shade gazed at the dark blood oozing out of Hound’s chest.

Red slices Hound’s chest one more time and that pushes Hound back to life, he gasps and immediately a fit of cough attacks him.

He woke up looking emotionless. No frown of confusion, no uncertain eyes, or a creased forehead. He looked serene and then he met Lydia’s eyes, guilt clouded her eyes while emptiness enveloped his.

Hound is back.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.