Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 375: Angry Arthur

Chapter 375: Angry Arthur

"Where am-" Talia looked around. It took her some seconds to realise she was in her room.

"Iris?"

"MaryAnn!"

The pain in those familiar voices made Talia remember the situation she was in previously. She sat up and frowned as she saw Lambert by her foot.

"The orang-utan woke up. I told you she just passed out drunk, Louis! Yes... I handled-" he walked out of the room giving a disappointed glare at Talia.

Did I really pass out drunk? Or is it a cover-up for what happened with Natasha? By the way, what happened to Natasha? Everyone’s fine. So what she had was not a bio-weapon?

"Grandpa, I’m fine. I’m sorry I drank too much," Talia comforted her grandpa first. She felt an unusual coldness radiating from Arthur and she decided to handle him last.

"No, lie down and rest." Jerome Brunton stopped Talia from getting up. "Grandpa will leave now."

"Okay grandpa. Good night." Talia gave a brilliant smile and her grandpa looked at her like he was judging her making Talia shrink. She knew she’ll have to listen to a lecture on how drinking responsibly in a formal party is a good quality.

But she was not put through a lecture. "Good night, my sweet child." Her grandpa left after kissing her forehead.

"Fred," Talia squeezed out a smile at the tall figure who looked like he is about to end the entire world. He was still in the suit he was wearing for the party and it looked a little soiled. "Give me a hug." She held out her hands for a hug.

"You seem fine," Arthur said plainly and turned to leave.

Is he that mad at me for drinking a little too much?

"Wait, where are you going?" Talia got down from the bed. The sudden rush of blood to her brain made her stagger, but the familiar strong arm prevented her fall. Talia was made to sit on the bed by Arthur.

"I’m going to take a bath. Stay in the bed until I return." Arthur showed her his back.

"I want to take a bath too," Talia got up and followed him.

She didn’t want him to be mad at her and wanted to calm him down.

"Mrs. Grey wiped you before changing you into your nightwear. Just lie down and sleep. Ask the kitchen to bring you something if you’re hungry. There is hot water in the flask-"

"I still want to take a bath," Talia interjected him. Although his words were filled with care, his tone was indifferent.

"Whatever!"

Arthur walked to the bathroom and Talia followed behind him with her head bowed. She wanted to ask him what happened with Natasha, but sensing his rage, she decided to ask about it later when he calms down.

Arthur stopped at the door and Talia who was following him closely ended up banging her nose on his muscular arm.

"Hess," Talia rubbed her nose. Thankfully it didn’t hurt much.

"What are you doing?"

"...bath..." Talia pointed at the bathroom and her eyes filled with tears looking at the enraged face of Arthur.

Why is he this mad at me?

"Go to your green bathroom," he said and walked inside the bathroom.

The tears in Talia’s eyes were about to fall down as she bowed her head. She couldn’t understand Arthur’s sudden indifference towards her.

What did I do wrong? Why doesn’t he want me near him? Usually he’d be begging me to take a bath with him, but today he is asking me to leave?

As she pondered, she realised that that day was a pretty tough day for Arthur and he even expressed he was a little uncomfortable.

Maybe he wants to have some solitude after being surrounded by people for an entire day? I sometimes feel that way. Maybe he feels that way too and that’s why he doesn’t want me take a bath with him.

Having arrived at this conclusion, Talia decided to leave him be until he’d be open to discuss things with her.

Idiot! Can’t he just say that he wants to be alone for some time? Must he act like a spoilt brat? Look at him already naked... Dummy! Ah, why is he so handsome... sigh!

But then he is angry at me for some reason...

"Have a nice bath, Fred," Talia said with a smile and closed the bathroom door and turned to leave. She decided to ask Lambert about Natasha.

As she turned to leave, she was yanked by her waist and she felt his firm chest hitting hard at the back of her head.

"Where are you running to?" as he hissed, Talia felt her body getting hot.

"I thought of visiting Lambert. You can join us after your bath," Talia tried to escape from his hold. She knew he was mad at her and she wasn’t feeling brave enough to face his wrath now.

"Where are you taking me?" Talia struggled to get out as she was dragged in.

"Didn’t you say you wanted to have a bath? Let’s have a bath." He was still angry.

"Let go, Fred! Weren’t you the one who asked me to leave?"

As she was speaking, he started unbuttoning her PJs and Talia who tried to be calm till then snapped.

"Let go, Fred." She stopped him from unbuttoning her further. "I agree I drank a little excessive tonight enough to pass out while the party was still going on. I get it! It would have been humiliating to explain to the guests why I wasn’t at the party. But forgive me for wanting to get drunk, okay? It is not every day I want to get drunk willingly."

Arthur let go of her and watched her as tears started to drip from her eyes. He wanted to interrupt her when she thought he was angry about her drinking, but then he felt like she’s been swallowing some grievances which made her drink and he let her speak out her mind.

"Forgive me for wanting to forget that the past few months I’ve been doing supererogatory acts. I thought I’d be helping in making you feel comfortable accepting the role as the next Lord of this Castle since you still believe this all belongs to me. Or maybe I was thinking about the public opinion and not about you at all... I don’t know..." Talia rubbed her forehead. "I feel like cr*p putting you in an uncomfortable situation for an entire day just so some people will be convinced that my grandpa and I are not unhappy that you’re going to be the next heir. I’m sorry for shouting at you. It’s not your fault for not liking what I put you through. It was entirely mine and-"

"You thought drinking would make you feel better? You dumb woman! You thought of worrying by yourself this much for something so trivial that I accidentally spoke out? You thought this Bear King cannot bear being in the spot-light for a day and went on hurting yourself? What made you think that this Investiture you arranged putting all your efforts would make me feel anything but happy?"

I’m glad I didn’t tell you about that tumour, sweet Iris! You’d be worrying unnecessarily.

"I..." Talia let out a deep breath. He was just telling how he actually felt and was not complaining. But she had made it a big deal in her head and now he will think twice before telling her anything.

"I would literally walk through fire for you. You think I was traumatised by a ride in a carriage? Idiot! And I will consider myself as a Lord from now on if you’re that worried about it. I agree I acted a bit reluctant in taking upon that role unlike taking the leadership of the company. I- I did feel a bit unsuitable and inferior to take this role. I thought I didn’t earn it." Arthur kissed her forehead and turned to fill the bath.

"I’m glad, Fred. You’ll make the best Lord. And everyone inherits these titles by birthright; even my grandpa. You can become worthy of the title by being righteous though," Talia was happy seeing him nod with a smile accepting her words. "So, you were not angry because I got drunk?" Talia felt stupid for worrying too much. She could see he really didn’t consider that at all. So what else was he mad about?

"I’m mad now because you drank to drown your sorrows. Talia, please don’t learn that habit, okay?" Arthur hugged her and Talia patted his back.

"I know... I was wrong."

"Now that one issue is cleared, do you have a guess on why I am mad at you?"

"Why can’t you tell me?"

"Think, dear."

Arthur led her to the tub. Both of them sat at the opposite ends of that big tub making some water spill out. Talia thought hard as to why he might be mad still.

"Natasha?" That’s the only thing she could come up with and she could see Arthur’s face stiffening up.

His anger is something related to this issue then.

"I didn’t invite her. And I didn’t know Edward was having her when I followed him. By the way, what happened to her?"

"She’s dead."

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