The first dinner ended and after the introductions to the extended circle of art friends Mr. Howard had invited from London to Stanley Hall we moved in to the drawing room and the weather was much warmer than we expected and the heat in the house was enough to open the windows, the guests took off their shoes and most drank unabashedly while dancing as if we were in the tropics.

"Will you sing?" Joseph kindly asked me.

"Well..." I was about to respond when Cynthia answered in my place.

"Oh I already asked Lady Lilly to sing us a tune I hope it is alright," Cynthia smiled at Joseph.

"The next one perhaps?" Joseph rolled his eyes clearly not a fan of Cynthia as his stepmother and Cynthia dragged Lady Lilly over to the piano forte.

Cynthia played proficiently but when Lady Lilly was complimented by the guests she quickly found an entertaining story to draw people's attention away from Lilly, she could not help herself, she could not see another shine. Cynthia acted as though by putting out another's light she would finally become bright but it was not so for she would always find someone else to compete with.

"So are you looking forward to the Earl's private art showing?" One of the men from London asked me.

"Yes quite expectant," I said politely though still bitter from our fight.

"Yes your grandfather owned a small prized collection of the Earl's art right?"

"Yes there are three of them, one in my country home and two in London."

"That is a lot when it comes to his art, I've only had the pleasure of getting one so far, when I heard news that he would be announcing a new collection I wrote to him to ask about it."

"And what did he say?"

"The Earl said it was his biggest collection so I immediately jumped at the chance to buy it but he said the art was to travel for showings the next year so if I wished to buy one of them I would have to talk to the men who are now in possession of them for he no longer holds any right to sell them."

"So he sold them as a collection?"

"Yes."

"Wow that is unusual."

"Yes but once he told me the name he had dubbed his latest work I understood why more people needed to visit this collection instead of hiding it away in our wealthy homes."

"Oh and what is the name?"

"He calls it La Promesse."

"The Promise?"

"Yes and with him being engaged I cannot wait to feast my eyes on what I have no doubt will be the most sentimental set of art he might ever make."

"Yes of course, I cannot wait."

Discouraged by the talk I looked to retire to my chambers after I left Edna to go get ready to sleep I saw Mrs. Hall coming out of one of the chambers no doubt making sure all the guests had what they needed.

"Mrs. Hall!"

"Child, you have come again" she said but not with enthusiasm.

"Yes I have," I held her hand "would you walk with me?"

"Yes... What is it dear?"

"Well did you by any chance see a letter I had delivered to Mr. Howard?"

"Ah yes I did."

"So he read it?"

"Yes I can say he did and right in front of me too, he crumbled it up and threw it away."

"He threw it away?"

"Yes, he was very angry he even shouted with all his might, how dare she!"

"Of course he did, silly me thinking he would respond kindly."

"What did you write to him in the letter to make him so angry?"

"I wrote to ask him for forgiveness, after we last met each other for he told we could no longer be friends."

"Ah I can see why he would be angry."

"You do? Because I'm at a complete loss as to why he is so ugh..."

"Well it would have been easier for the master to stay with that friend of yours who just bought us these new uniforms, what do you think?" Mrs. Hall made a face at Cynthia rearranging them to her likes.

"I believe nothing shall dampen your fortitude not even this gray uniform."

"This is the reason why I wish you had never left us," Mrs. Hall hugged me, "and I bet it is also the reason the master is doing everything in his power to think he was right in acting so uncivil towards you."

"Wait what are you saying?"

"He harbors feelings for you my child without a doubt, but you are still engaged to Mr. Henry and I understand him but I do no side with him, the master has been most ungrateful of the fact that a sweet girl as you would ever love a man as complicated as he is."

"He sold William to a stranger Mrs. Hall, how could he do that?"

"I told him, I warned him, I said when Lady Alice hears of this she will never wish to look upon your face but stubborn as he is, he only replied, good then let them take him."

"Oh I have no more patience for this, I love him but I am not sure if we had the chance that we would ever be happy with this stubbornness of his."

"Yes well so is that why you are still engaged?"

"Uh no, not because of that I have other very serious reasons to be so, but I think I may have found a friend who may help me derail the engagement since I cannot do it on my own."

"A friend?"

"His name is Sir Holloway, he is a close friend of the Duke in London."

"Sir Holloway? I never heard of him."

"No he is more of a shadow than a public person."

"And this Sir Holloway why would he do this?"

"Welll because he wishes to marry me."

"Marry you?" Mrs. Hall's eyebrows raised looking at me, "and you?"

"I have nothing to say on the matter yet Sir Holloway has been a gentleman, he has been everything I wished Mr. Howard was towards me."

"So you are considering it?"

"Maybe but mostly I believe if my engagement were to be broken I would wish to remain as I am, it is less troublesome to the mind."

"Who else knows about this offer?"

"Uh no one but Edna."

"Right well then learn from your mistakes my dear, learn from them."

"I am trying to so what will you do once Cynthia becomes the Lady of Stanley Hall?"

"And who can say for sure that she will?"

"Mrs. Hall? Are you planning something?"

"I have plenty of experience on how to get rid of unwanted parasites that wish to prey on the master Lady Alice and I have no fear."

"Mrs. Hall I should warn you then; Cynthia was the one who led Lydia to me in the house where I was attacked."

"What are you saying my child?"

"She even paid Lydia to get rid of me, Lydia could have escaped to America but she chose not to."

"Then why is she still here? Under the same roof as us? Engaged to Mr. Howard no less..." Mrs. Hall was rightfully afflicted by the news.

"I am not sure why but any day now Cynthia will be called to testify her side of the story so whatever you have planned I beg you do not put yourself in harm's way."

"I must show the master who that girl is before it is too late."

"Mrs. Hall maybe it is better to let justice deal with this one."

"I swore to protect the master and I have to keep my promise so tell me now what are her flaws, what does she hate? Show me her weaknesses and I will send her running as far from Stanley Hall as she can go."

"Mrs. Hall."

"Tell me now child for the master deserves a good pulling of the ear but for that he must be alive and if Cynthia attacked you we have no idea where her limits are or who she might turn on next."

"I... Oh I hope you are wise about this but Cynthia hates to go unnoticed, her mood changes whenever she is passed over for another."

"Right what else."

"Well she competes with other women, she loves to tell sad stories to put herself in the good graces of others, and if you disagree with her then she sees it as a personal attack, you did it solely against her, it is her against the world."

"Yes and who does not love a victim? It's how she's poisoning him against you."

"Yes but please Mrs. Hall be careful."

"I will but remember I have survived years of nightmares in Stanley Hall and yet here I am." Mrs.Hall said with a boisterous tone but as for me I was going to take precautions in case Cynthia was reckless enough to attack me in Stanley Hall since Lydia could no longer take the blame for the act or be the prime suspect in attacking me.

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No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.