Meia had nothing more to do but wait. After a while, her wandering eyes fell on a cluster of people at the edge of the dance floor. She only noticed them because a whole group had just joined them. With the crowd pushing, she could make out between their heads what they were there for.

~Mr. Monet!~

He was the centre of all the people. He was talking to them, or rather, he was talking and they were listening to him. But why had he not come to her, as he had said? Had he not had the time yet? Were people not letting him through? Or was he ignoring her as well? If he did not come to her, should she go to him?Meia took a few steps on the spot.

Meia took a few steps on the spot. Again and again she looked at him, but he simply did not notice her. He was only concerned with the guests and made no effort to find out where she was. Had he already forgotten her? Did he no longer care about her?

Meia took several deep breaths.

One last time she looked at him, but even now nothing had changed.

So she started walking before she could change her mind.

The people she passed were talking about all sorts of things.

"... This wine is also rather ..."

"... so good that I bought all the rolls ..."

"... later you'll tell me ..."

"...wasn't the right one either..."

"... Arvis ..."

On hearing her surname, Meia immediately turned her head towards the voice.

The person could not be made out. There were too many people here.

Had it perhaps been the clingy woman who had spoken? While Meia was thinking this, she felt a jolt to her upper body. All at once she lurched forward.

Her foot had stepped on the hemline of her dress. Due to the distraction, she had no longer paid attention to the fact that it was too long.

She quickly jerked her arms up to break the fall, but dropped the plate. She hit the hard stone with her forearms. The heel of her hand and her sleeves scraped open.

The plate shattered with a clang on impact. The shards slid up to the guests' shoes.

Meia was on all fours on the floor.

Everything went silent.

The stares stabbed her in the back.

The giggling and whispering began.

Meia no longer had the courage to look up. At least she was hidden from view behind her hair. It was too much. She could no longer manage to pull herself together. Why were people like this? No one bothered to catch her. Someone had even decided to give way to her fall. Was it so the others could laugh at her better? Blurred, Meia saw her tears seep into the stone.

Suddenly the giggling died away, as if it had stuck in people's throats. From one second to the next, it was silent. Not even the normal conversations could be heard any more. Only the music continued to play softly. Sure footsteps lay beneath the strings. The tempo was normal. The person was in no hurry.

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The footsteps came right to her and only stopped in front of her head. Two black shoes came into her view.

A hand rested on her shoulder. The touch was gentle but not intrusive. It was not an invitation. It was a declaration.

"Miss Arvis?"

Meia recognised the voice immediately.

When she looked up, she saw Mr Monet.

"Have you hurt yourself?" he asked with worry.

To ease his worry, Meia shook her head.

Immediately his expression lightened. For a moment they looked at each other, then he smiled and held out his hand to her without letting go of her shoulder.

Meia accepted the offer.

Standing up, she looked around cautiously. Normally she would not dare to do so, but the silence was too suspicious. When she saw the first guests, she was astonished. Everyone had turned away. Everyone was pretending to be busy. Even now, very few were talking among themselves. No matter where Meia looked, no gaze met hers. It almost seemed as if they were afraid. In the whole courtyard, there was only one person looking at them - Mrs Monet. Meia could not interpret her expression. It seemed meaningless, but perhaps annoyed. After a moment, she dropped her gaze as well and finished her glass in one go.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

Maintaining eye contact was too difficult. Meia looked down at her hands again and at the hand that was holding her.

"Forget about the plate. It does not matter."

Had he misunderstood her look? Was it to comfort her? Or did he understand her? Was he trying to create an excuse to give her chance to act normally?

Meia swallowed her fears and looked up again.

"Follow me, please."

After she nodded at him, he let go of her hand but put his arm around her waist.

Meia let him lead her. Her path led to the middle entrance of the house. Meia did not want him to see the tears. It was already too late, of course, but nevertheless she dabbed them away with her sleeve as inconspicuously as possible.

They entered the mansion through the double doors. The hallway was dark. Generally, there was hardly any light in the house. Probably so as not to disturb the atmosphere in the courtyard.

Meia felt her heartbeat quicken. Cautiously, she dared a glimpse at him.

At that moment his arm left her and they stopped, in the middle of the hall.

He half turned to her. His expression looked thoughtful.

What was he thinking about? Why were they here?

She could still feel the place where his arm had been. No man had ever touched her so tenderly. The order she had received from her father at noon today ran through her mind. On her lips she still tasted the tears. Her heartbeat went up to her throat. What should she do? Once she pressed her lips together.

With all her courage, she took the step towards him.

He noticed and turned completely towards her.

Meia remained almost still, but kept lifting her face up to him. Almost on tiptoe, she closed her eyes. Had it really been the right decision to kiss him? Had she not just given herself to her saviour in the end? But he had been nice to her all day, even though he likely had no reason to be. And even if he did have one, he could have just taken what he wanted without asking her. She was just trash. Still, he had gone out of his way to treat her like a human being. He had even protected her from people. He had probably upset everyone by doing so. What if that would come back to haunt him? Afterwards they would still make fun of him behind his back. She did not want to cause him any harm. Should she stop after all? What was right-

The decision was taken from her by two hands on her shoulders.

"That's not a good idea," he said coldly.

It was as if suddenly a mirror had been broken. Meia did not know what to say or what to think. Why had he stopped her? Had she got it all wrong?

"I'm sorry, my plans have changed. That's all. - Nicolas, you drive her home."

Only now did Meia notice the man who had followed them into the darkness. It was the butler. He nodded, then took the stairs upstairs.

The awareness of his presence was only a casual perception. Mainly, Meia was trying to comprehend what he had just said to her. She should leave? Had she done something else wrong? Why did he want her to leave? Actually, she was supposed to stay for two days? Meia had brought extra stuff in her suitcase. Was it all for nothing?

Motionless, she stood before him and only when he grasped her hand did she regain consciousness.

"Here, put-" He wanted to say something, but did not. "Goodbye.", he only said, nothing more.

Mr Monet walked back alone. His black silhouette in the light cast a cracked shadow on the white floor. With each step of hers, the shadow grew longer and stronger until the silhouette was lost in the white. The man disappeared into the light. Meia was left alone in the darkness. No one heard and no one cared that she was crying.

When her gaze finally fell, she noticed something in her hand. Before he had left, he had placed it in hers.

Opening her hand, she realised what it was.

A handkerchief.

.../ End Part