It was One Night Only

® HER ROYAL HIGHNESS

©SWIFTPEN 123

“You are welcome to your new home,” Noah said when he opened the door to his house that I was a few months ago. Who knew that I would end up here months later? Destiny really paid itself.

“Thank you,” I say as I enter the house.

“I will show you around the house and Pat will put away your things,” he said and suddenly a woman came out from the kitchen with an apron and towel in her hand.

“Mr. Lorraine,” she said when she met him halfway. “Welcome back,” she said to him and he nodded at her.

“Thank you. This is my wife” he said gesturing to me. “Tomorrow introduce her to all the staff,” he told her and she nodded at him.

“Welcome home Mrs. Lorraine,” she said and I smiled at her. She had a welcoming aura surrounding her.

“Just call me Rachel,” I said, and as soon as she was about to smile Noah spoke.

“Address her as formally as possible,” he said and she nodded at him. “Come on Rachael let’s go,” he said. He had been behaving so weirdly and unlike himself, since he spoke to his mom a few hours before we left.

Usually, he was always full of life and speaking to me but now he was so quiet not speaking and just acting so strangely to me.

“This is the living room” he motioned to the door “And this door leads to the terrace where we had dinner the other day” he showed me the door. His pace quickened as he moved on. “This is the movie room,” he said pointing to another door. “And the library,” he said pointing to another. “This is the music room,” he said pointing to the last door on the ground floor. He took the flight of stairs up. “All these are rooms” he motioned down one side of the hall of about four doors. “And that way leads to the master bedroom,” he said. “Through the kitchen, you get to the garden, and from there you can get to the staff house,” he said and then proceeded to enter the master’s bedroom.

Do I follow him there I don’t know what to do about him. He is acting so cold to me.

“Noah,” I said when I finally stopped my internal debate and entered the room. He didn’t respond he just turned to me. Probably a sign of talk. “Are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?” I asked frustrated at his attitude to me.

“So do you think you have done anything?” he asked tilting his head to the side.

“I don’t know and that is why I’m asking you,” I said and he frowned. “So did I do anything?” I asked and he turned from me.

“You haven’t done anything,” he said.

“So why are you so cold to me?” I ask him even against my better judgment not to.

“Cold?” he asked a dry laughter escaping his lips.

“I know that we aren’t married on best terms but that doesn’t mean we should treat each other badly,” I say to him because I can’t live with hostility. I don’t really need that with me now.

“I’m just tired,” he said before going into the bathroom.

Maybe he is just tired and I’m being so paranoid about nothing. I see my bag sitting in a corner. Do I unpack? I should probably wait for him to finish before I unpack. I leave the room and go downstairs to see what is happening there.

I enter the kitchen and see Pat cooking the food.

“Can I help?” I say catching her attention when she doesn’t notice me.

“O no I can take care of this myself,” she said and I smiled before going closer to her.

“Let me help,” I say and she shakes her head.

“I can not allow you Mrs. Lorraine-” she started.

“It’s just Rachel,” I say stopping her speech. “And I want to help,” I say finally before picking up the vegetable and cutting it with her.

“Thank you,” she said before turning to check the rice that was on the stove top.

“You are welcome,” I say and she just continues to do her work. “Is Noah usually grumpy?” I ask her curious as to what type of person he is.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Mr. Lorraine?” she asked and I nodded at her.

“He is usually in high spirits. But I don’t know about his mood these days because I just came back from leave” she explained.

“And I don’t pay you to allow my wife to work and then gossip about me” a voice came from the doorway and the spoon that Pat had been using fell to the ground. “Rachael you would want to go freshen up,” he said not looking at me.

Pat on the other hand looked as if she was going to be offered as a sacrifice on an altar that would be prepared by Noah. “I will just finish cutting this vegetable before I go,” I say turning the carrots to cut it.

“That’s her work,” he said sternly.

“And there is no harm in me helping her,” I say already feeling angry that he was behaving like an ass.

“I pay her for that. Go freshen up” he said as if he was commanding me.

“I’m going to go when I’m done,” I say cutting some lettuce too.

“Don’t get on my nerves” he said his voice coming out so strained. I dropped the knife mad stormed out of the kitchen upstairs. I feel him walking behind me.

As I get upstairs I go to my bag and pull it with me thank God I didn’t bring so many clothes with me.

“Where are you going?” he asked me with a pissed expression.

“When you calm down and untangle your panties then I can be in the same room with you,” I say clutching the hand of my suitcase tightly. “Noah let me through and show me where I can stay,” I said gritting my teeth. This time trying to keep my self from crying so hard.

He moved out of the way and took me to one of the rooms opened the door and pushed me inside the room.

I entered and locked the door from inside. I just heard as his footsteps retreated from me. What was his problem? He didn’t even bother to check on me. That night and the next day. When I had gotten down for breakfast Pat said he had left already. What is wrong with him?