It was to be another two days before Emma ventured forth from her room again. Ever since that episode on the balcony that night, Emma had gone reclusive, not leaving her room even for meals, which Jordan brought to her. As her room at Brandeworth Manor was connected to a bathroom ensuit, there was no need for her to leave even for that, and Jordan did not at all mind doing the small favour for his sister. On Emma’s part, she did not really seem to notice whether or not food was brought to her at all, and seemed quite content to simply hide away.
It had gotten to a point, however, where Jordan was no longer content to simply bring her meals and sit and talk to her. Emma hardly seemed inclined to talk at all anymore, and he sensed that, far from being simply depressed as he had initially thought her to be, the problem ran far deeper.
In truth, Jordan was quite at a loss as to what to do, and when, after two days, Emma had shown no inclination whatsoever of recovering her spirits, he brought in the cavalry.
And thus it was that that Sunday, at eight-thirty in the morning, Jordan and Luc banged on Emma’s bedroom door, demanding to be let in.
“Go away!” Emma said blearily from her bed, her voice muffled by the pillow she had pulled over her head. “Sleeping.”
“Emma!” Luc and Jordan’s voices hollered in unison.
“Go ‘way!” Emma answered.
“Emma, if you don’t open this door, I’m calling James,” Luc threatened. “He has a key, you know.”
Emma made an incoherent sound of disgust and sat up, treading to the door and flinging it open. “What?” she demanded crossly.
“Good morning!” Jordan said brightly and skipped into the room, plunking himself down on the bed, making himself at home. He eyed with distaste the various items of clothing strewn about, seemingly debating with himself whether he dared to risk Emma’s wrath by cleaning her room. No, he decided finally. Better not risk it.
Emma, meanwhile, was regarding them both with something akin to murder in her eyes. “This better be good,” she said darkly. “Or I’ll make you both pay.”
“I hear you’ve been a bit of a hermit these days, Em,” Luc said with studied nonchalance, leaning against the wall. “Have another spat with James, did you?”
“Here now,” Jordan said, eyeing her curiously. “What’s this about?”
“I did not have a spat with James,” Emma said frigidly.
“Ah,” said Luc wisely. “A lover’s quarrel, then?”
“No!” Emma exclaimed, exasperated.
“Emma!” Jordan exclaimed at the same time. “You and James? Why the devil didn’t you tell me?”
“Because there’s nothing to tell!” Emma said angrily. “We’re not lovers! He’s nothing to me!”
“Aha!” Luc exclaimed. “There, you see?”
“Oh for the sake of the lord, Luc, if you’re going to be an ass, go away.”
“Alright, alright,” Luc conceded. “I’ll stop. You’re sure that there’s nothing going on there, though? James seemed quite… proprietary… with you the other night.”
“Nothing,” Emma said coldly. “Nothing at all.”
“All right,” Luc said, though clearly still disbelieving.
Emma sighed. She could see it was going to take some convincing to persuade Luc that she and James were not… lovers. He couldn’t be her lover if he’d forced her, could he? No… They were nothing to each other… nothing… Somehow, the thought didn’t bring as much comfort as it should have.
“Luc,” Emma said suddenly. “Do you remember that little plan we had – the one we decided on a few days ago?”
Luc regarded her with perplexity. “You don’t mean to go through with that, do you Em? Especially in light of… you know.”
“I do,” Emma said firmly. “I think it’s a perfect idea. In fact, we should put it straight into action right now. Can we leave today?”
“Well,” said Luc doubtfully, “I don’t know…”
“Please Luc,” Emma begged. “I really need to get out of this place.”
“Well, I can’t say I mind being used as an excuse,” Luc said with a grin. “But are you sure this is the best way to go about it? If you and James have had a falling out, then isn’t it better to stay and resolve things?”
Emma gritted her teeth. “We have not had a falling out,” she ground out. “We never had a ‘falling in’. I just want to leave, that’s all.”
Jordan was watching the both of them in fascination. “You’re serious, then, Emma?”
“Yes,” Emma said firmly. “As of now, Luc, we are engaged. We’re leaving tonight, and we’ll break up in a month, due to personal differences. You can break it off if you like.”
“Er -” said Luc.
“Excellent,” said Emma, “Its settled then.” And beaming, she danced into the bathroom. The other two, one her brother and the other her friend, exchanged glances, shook their heads in unison, then resignedly, walked out.
James was the only one in the morning parlour when she skipped down half an hour later, fresh and cheerful from her shower. She took one look at his grim, unsmiling visage, which was currently frowning at an unfortunate plate of bacon and eggs, and skipped right back out again. By this time however, James had, of course, noticed her, and his withering glower made her stop in her tracks and reluctantly walk in, forcing a semblance of serenity onto her features. She could hardly walk right out after he had seen her, could she?