Shattered Glass

2. Party or Charity

William is wearing his navy blue outfit, crisp and clean. The earl's house is located a bit further away from the main town, meaning that he has to ride for a considerable amount of time to get there.

Once he arrived, the atmosphere suddenly changes. The dark wilderness changes to a lively aura with many well respected noble wearing their best outfits.

"William, how are you?" The earl waves at him.

"Good-good." He sits next to the earl, at that time, almost all guest at the main table has arrived with their partner.

"Oh duke, how are you? Where is the Mrs.?"

"How are you?" Wil shakes his hand, "she can't make it today." He answers, feeling bitter.

"Ooh! That's too bad, let's get someone to entertain you tonight." One of his friend suggests. "Maria! Maria! Come here darling, let me introduce you to William."

The blue-eyes blonde is surely breathtaking. Her hair is put into a low bun, decorated with red flower and matching ruby earrings.

"Evening Duke, nice to meet you." She smiles sweetly.

"Nice to meet you to Maria."

"So, I heard that you just opened a new steel factory last month, how was it?" She starts to rubs on his thigh under the table, clearly wanting it.

"Yeah, fortunately everything went well."

"Oh really, that's too good!" She says, moving even closer to the duke. She bits her her plump red lip seducingly.

Will scoots away from the young lady, removing her hand away from his thigh.

"Oh Ben, I think our duke here is not interested in the bloodie, you should have find him a brunette or something!" The host teases his taste, clearly referring to the duke's wife.

"Ck, stop it."

"You are so lame, look at how beautiful Maria is, and how lonely you look." Ben says while hugging his mistress.

"Yes, you are too proper, a duke as successful as you should have at least 3 wives! That's what's life is all about!" Hendery raises a toast, followed by the other noblemen laughs in agreement.

"And a dozen mistresses! Hahaha! Come on, you have had 5 kids with her, it's time to have a change of scenery." Another one joins in the peer-pressure.

"Maria is an open minded woman, she will be down for a one night fun." Ben advertises.

The party goes livelier as they drink and chat, rounds and rounds of wine is being offered like a never drying fountain. At the corner stage the best opera singers dressed up in their best outfits, imported from a foreign land.

William always liked this kind of party. No, not because of the pretty ladies that try to seduce him, also not because of the delicious parfait that was always served. It's because at these parties he can meet with his next business partners.

"Sir Thomas, nice to meet you." He walks over to the older gentleman.

"Duke, what a pleasure to meet you." He shakes Wil's hand. "How was your recent business venture?"

________

William was 14 when he fell in love for the first time. Her round face is covered by blood and dirt, she had just fallen from a tree.

"Oh my goodness, are you okay?" He pulled her up, trying to wipe away the dirt.

The girl just sobs.

He is panicking, there are no adult in the whole field. And the servants are busy making cold beverages for them at the main house.

"Don't cry, you will be okay." He says, washing her face with his drinking water.

Her big round eyes are staring at him, clearly hoping that he can take away the pain.

"Here too." She points at her knees.

"Sure.." he cleaned the dirty part, but not sure how to treat wounds.

"Hop on top of me, I'll carry you home." He squatted. And the girl hop obediently, she is just happy that she doesn't need to walk all the way home.

He blamed himself for not protecting her enough.

But she fell because of her clumsiness.

"I promise that I will protect you from now on, I won't let anything like this happen again." The young boy says to the girl he is carrying on his back.

And she hugs him tighter.

________

Bree is entering the cream colored stone building with her famous pecan pie on hand, her hair is put up simply and her dress is rather plain when compared to the ladies in the party that her husband attend. But this is just a small charity event, not a party.

The attendees are no more than 10 people, a friend group.

"How are you today Bree? I heard that your husband just came back?"

"Oh yeah he did, thankfully everything went well." She answered shortly.

"I brought this wine from our winery, it has a smooth taste, try it" an older lady suggest, she is the queen of winery.

Well surely it is smooth, Bree is already on her third glass, and she still feels great.

Or so she thought.

Because she can't hear what the host is saying, she massages her own temple, trying to feel better.

"You okay? You look a bit pale." A guy asks.

She looks up and faced with the most gorgeous deep blue eyes, and suddenly she is sober.

"Yes, of course I am sir." She says, still staring at his eyes. How come his eyes is so beautiful, as vibrant as the ocean during summertime.

The guy is smiling at her, and those dimples are to die for, paired with a welcoming and sweet smile, she has never seen a smile as alluring than the man in front of her.

"Douchess Gabriella?"

"Bree it is."

"Bree it is." He smiles. "Do you care to share a dance with me?"

She takes his hand, and his offer. Dancing with the soft waltz music in the background.