The Abandoned Lady

Chapter 12

Oscar watched as the handle of the clock approached 7 minutes past 7. He didn't want to be on time. He was a nobleman and nobles always had the fashion of attending later than usual. He had shaved his chin and picked out a smart outfit for the dinner tonight. He wondered if Lady Pierce was actually going to dine with him. Although Oscar hated to admit it, but he had a nagging feeling that she may not. Oscar felt stupid for telling Harry to tell Lady Pierce to come, it would be humiliating if she didn't and the servants would probably laugh at him and his ridiculous behaviour. Oscar needed to pull himself together and be the man he was; calm, confident and languid. Not tense or stiff like he felt the very moment. HE took a deep breath. Who cared if he was going to be on his own? It was his house and he'd do as he liked.

Oscar stepped out of his room and his eyes immediately deterred towards Lady Pierces room. There was not a sound coming from there and he could see no shadow of light sinking under the door. Well, it looked like she was already there. Good! Oscar smiled to himself. This was going to be easier than he had imagined. It looked like she was still intrigued by him.

Oscar knew from the day from the first day he had set eyes on her, during the ball she had been told of by her ghastly aunt that she liked him. It was the same look as every other women, who he had tried to court for marriage. The way their eyes glowed and their blushes creeping up on their faces and the way they would divert their eyes when he'd catch them staring at him. It had been the same for her, but he hadn't really looked at her since he had been surrounded by other delicious looking women. But now, it felt different with Lady Pierce especially since her reaction was indifferent towards him. Nonetheless, he would seek to change that.

Oscar opened the door of what he thought was the dinner room, only to find it to be a dark and not the dinner room. Why was there a need for 3 rooms for the 3 meals of the day, He didn't understand. Women! he thought and their need for specifying everything.

'The dinner room 3 doors down My lord.' A servant said bowing.

'Oh- I was...er just having er look around. Everything's so different.; Oscar said.

'Of course my lord.' the servant said smiling and hurrying away. Oscar wondered why the servants were so open in addressing him. Before, the servants only spoke when they were addressed. It wasn't the same here. they just spoke whenever they wanted even if they were helping him out. The abnormal fact was that they smiled! he never knew that servants smiled at their master, maybe amongst themselves but never in front of the masters. Even in America, which was known to be more carefree, the maids and servants didn't smile.

Oscar casually opened the dinner room door, only to see the waiters rushing around preparing the table. There was nothing on the table but a few bowls and spoons scattered all over the table. He was now 15 minutes late and the table was still empty.

'My Lord, your early.' a waiter said gesturing towards the seat at the head of the table as cutlery was quickly placed there and filled with red wine.

'We'll just inform the cook to hurry up a little.' The waiter said with a look of panic on his face.

'Thank you.' he said frowning. Why wasn't the table ready for eating and why was no one here?. Harry had told him dinner was at 7.

By 7.30 the table was in perfect order. Oscar had watched the preparation of a table for the first time in his life. that was fun, Oscar thought sarcastically. A huge lamb sat in the middle of the table, along with mashed potato, gravy, and different types of vegetables, and soups. The food smelt mouth-watering and Oscar couldn't wait to start eating. He glanced at the opposite end of the table and another persons cutlery had been placed. Oscar suddenly felt glad that Lady Pierce was going to be joining him.