Bambi And The Dukee - 68 Stranger in the crowd- Part 4

“Hello,” she turned completely to see him stare at her, “How is your leg?” she asked bending slightly to meet his height.

The boy looked down at his leg and then at her, nodding his head.

“It’s alright?” she asked him to see him nod again. Her brows furrowed remembering how his leg had healed miraculously in a span of few minutes. It was something that still lingered in the back of her mind, “I’m glad to hear that. Hmm?” she saw the boy put his hand in his pocket for something before he pulled out to give her a bright yellow flower. It was a daffodil.

“Is this for me?” the boy nodded to her question. Touched by his gesture, her hand reached to take it, “Thank you. It is lovely,” the scratches on his hands arms didn’t go unnoticed by her when she took the flower from him.

The scratches were light red marks on his tanned skin and she doubted it was from a cat. Did he perhaps receive it while picking out the flower? Daffodils weren’t freely available in and around the town. Though it was a sweet gesture which she hadn’t expected, Vivian felt guilty if the boy did receive the red lines because of her. She wished she could make the scratch like marks disappear.

She bent down to meet his eye, taking hold of his hands in hers to speak, “Thank you for the flower but I hope you don’t trouble yourself the next time to bring something to me as thanks,” she raised her brows waiting for him to react. Seeing the boy nod once again but this time being slow she smiled.

“Who’s this little boy?” the maid who had gone to buy other items came by to see Vivian sitting on her knees talking to a boy, “Someone you know?” she asked.

Vivian smiled at the boy to say, “Something like that,” she then said to the boy, “I need to head back now. Be careful,” the boy nodded again, waving his hand he went on his way.

“How rude. He didn’t even say a word,” the maid murmured looking at him go.

“He can’t speak,” Vivian said as they picked what was provided in the gunny bag.

“Oh,” the maid gave a sad look which stayed for a while as they walked through the crowded streets of the market. People were always quick to judge others without any absolute reason, it was always like that, wasn’t it, thought Vivian to herself.

With their carriage parked as usual outside the market area, it was a long walk for the maids. On their way when Vivian was carrying the bag, managing it in her arms a fat woman who was chasing her hen that was running away from her stumbled right in front of Vivian making her stumble and lose her footing.

Right before she could fall, she felt arms catch her, steadying her with one hand and using the other hand to support the gunny bag she had been carrying.

“Careful with your steps lady,” it was a man who had covered his face with a hood and once he had steadied her, he left without another word.

In the beginning, Vivian felt something odd about that man as he had only whispered in the loud market which was hard for her to pick up until she realized whom the voice belonged too. Her head quickly snapped around to see where the man was but he had already disappeared in the throng of people.

“Where are you going leaving the bag in the middle of the street?!” the maid asked when she saw Vivian drop the bag on the ground with her eyes that search for the hooded man.
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“The man who was here, did you see him?” she asked the girl, her voice frantic.

“Which man are you talking about?” the maid asked confused. They were in a bustling street and people walked back and forth to remember who had passed by.

“The man in the hood. Please bear with me!” Vivian sounded apologetic before she completely let loose of her grip on the bag.

“Wait!” she heard the maid shout but she was already long gone, searching for the man in the hood. Where did he go?! How could she have taken so much time to notice but then it couldn’t be and maybe it was only a mistake, thought Vivian to herself.

The man sounded just like Paul.

Her eyes searched everywhere but it wasn’t easy to spot people and she knew her search would be futile. Yet, there was a tiny hope to find out. It took her some time to realize that she had seen Paul die right in front of her eyes. Paul had been hung in front of the entire town for being found guilty of killing Mr and Mrs Carmichael with other few family members. How did she forget that?

The memory was still fresh. Him walking on the dais. The noose being tightened around his neck before the handle was pulled. She closed her eyes feeling the pain that began sinking into her mind. Paul was dead. He had been executed and her mind had conjured the random man just because the man sounded the same as the previous housekeeper of the Carmichael’s.