7 Roselle Tea

Could not understand his intentions, Catherine decided to shut her mouth and drink the tea silently. Albert, on the other hand, did not mind being ignored and just looked outside the window. The silence went from seconds to minutes, until the tea Albert ordered came up. He smelled it first and smiled. Seeing his reaction, Catherine tried to appear nonchalant while watching his reaction.

In all honesty, Albert already noticed her stare. He just pretended not to notice it or he really didn't care either way. However, the way she tried to appear indifferent to his action, the more amused he became. And so, he took a sip and tried to keep his face expressionless. The tea didn't have that much depth in flavour that could make anyone smile or laugh, it is just that, in Albert's point of view, Catherine appeared really cute, especially on the way her eyebrows raised up when he drank the tea earlier. Couldn't hold back, Albert burst into laughter.

Catherine, shocked at the scene in her front, Asked Albert in a cautious manner. "Are you alright? Is there a problem?"

Albert calmed himself before replying. "I'm alright Lady Catherine. It's just, your reaction made me laugh so hard. You should have seen your face, it was so priceless. It seems like Milady is so curious about my opinion about Roselle tea that your eyebrows raised high up, so high it might go above the roof." and another round of laughter, however, only this time, it was muffled by his hand.

Catherine, after hearing what Albert said, blushed so hard, her face redder than blood. "Is it that obvious? I'm sorry. It's just so new to me that a man, such as yourself would drink a fruity tea such as the Roselle tea."

"Well, I do like adventures. And that includes on what I eat and drink too."

"Oh… I see"

Catherine remembered something and called the waiter nearest to them. She ordered a set meal to be taken out later and thanked the waiter with a tip. The two chatted once more in a relaxed manner until it was nighttime. Albert insisted on footing the bill in which Catherine reluctantly agreed to after countless persuasion words from Albert. The two walked towards the exit with smiles on their face.

"Will there be a carriage that would pick you up, Milady?" Albert asked while waiting for the Moriarty carriage.

"Ah… no. I'll just hail a cab. I actually move out from the family." Catherine replied in a sheepish tone.

"Oh… I see. I didn't know, I'm sorry. But please, I insist on taking you home, it's very dangerous for a lady such as yourself to ride home alone." Albert offered a ride just in time for the carriage driven by Fred to come to a stop in their front.

"Wouldn't I be imposing on you?" Catherine asked.

"Not at all. I do not have any plans for the rest of the night, and a journey with a beautiful lady such as yourself is an honour of mine." Albert extended his hand towards Catherine and waited patiently for her reply.

Catherine just nodded as a response and accepted his hand. She climbed at the carriage after Albert guided her and sat across him.

"Since you've said a while ago that you're no longer living at the Faucigny Residence, where would you want to be dropped off, Lady Catherine?" Albert inquired after settling down.

"Please, just send me to St. Mary's Hospital. I still have to take care of my brother." Catherine replied.

"Oh yes, I've heard about what happened to your brother. How is he? Is he alright now?" Albert asked.

"Yes. Thank goodness he's alright now. He's currently unconscious due to the anaesthesia." Catherine replied with a smile. Albert just nodded in acknowledgement. They chatted for quite a bit until there was a knock on the carriage's door and Fred's voice was heard.

"Lord Albert, We have arrived."

Realizing that they have arrived at St. Mary's Hospital, the two reluctantly ended their conversation. Albert, without waiting for Fred, assisted Catherine in stepping down from the carriage.

After fixing herself from alighting the carriage, Catherine turned around to face Albert.

"Thanks for the ride, Lord Moriarty. It was fun chatting with you."

Albert replied with a smile. "Please, it was no bother. However, Lady Catherine is too polite, please just call me Sir Albert or just Albert."

Catherine smiled. "But, wouldn't that only be applied to friends and such?"

"Then, shall I personally asked Lady Catherine to become my esteem friend?" Albert alighted from the carriage and asked Catherine in a serious manner.

Catherine was shocked by what she heard and couldn't speak for a moment. Albert just waited patiently with a smile. After recovering from the shock, Catherine asked Albert in a serious tone.

"Are you serious, Lord Albert? This is a matter that should be taken into a lot of consideration, although, your'e the head of the Moriarty now, I am now considered to be a working middle class. After all, I have revoked my Aristocracy."

"I will say it once again." Albert paused for a moment before closing their distance and continued in a very serious and determine voice with eyes full of blazing emotions.

"I am taking things very seriously."

Catherine just gazed at his eyes with unexplainable emotions surging within her. She felt like the eyes looking in front of her is sucking her to an unknown dark world, an abyss that is unthinkable, yet she felt no fear, rather it was comfort and assurance.

With a hazy and floaty mind, Catherine replied with a smile, mirth filling up her eyes. "Yes. I'll gladly accept your proposal to become my friend. It would be an honour to be your close acquaintance, Albert."

Albert, who was gazing at her intently, felt infected with her emotions. He felt an indescribable feeling when he heard Catherine called her by his first name.

"An honour for me too, Catherine." the two stared at each other for a few minutes until Fred's reminder was heard.

"I'll get going then. See you again, Catherine."

Albert went back inside the carriage, waved at Catherine and instructing Fred to start driving. Catherine watches the carriage until it was no longer in sight before walking inside the hospital building. As she walked towards her brother's ward, she greeted her fellow co-workers with a big smile, sending them into shock, causing them to be scared by her. Some experience Doctors only shakes their head and return her smile politely. They could see at she was ecstatic about something, yet they have no time to asked nor inquire about it. As long as it doesn't get in the way of work, they have no problem about it.

Arriving at her brother's room, she paused, arranging herself first and checking the food before entering. What greeted Catherine was her brother's hard stare. Catherine just chuckled after seeing him. Hendrix, on the other hand, became like a detective and asked in a resolute and authoritative manner.

"Where have you been? Who's with you?"