The Villager

2

THE VILLAGER
ʚɞ Timothy ʚɞ

"Cheers on your engagement with Miss Lumpkin, we are happy for you, Timothy," Jaxson says, raising his glass of whiskey in the air.

Ugene and Bridger sit around the table alongside me with their own glasses in the air. Leaning back in my seat, I hold a smile but it does not meet my ears. I was not truly happy with this engagement, but I needed a viscountess on my side.

"Thank you, gentlemen," I tell them before knocking the drink back.

Bridget eyes me across the table, sipping on his drink. "Wow, you look excited to become a husband."

"We have much to celebrate. This is not only my time to shine either, Ugene here is the almost married man tomorrow. How does it feel?" I dodge Bridger's words by shining the light on Ugene whom leans back into his seat, eyeing me. His eye twitches, and I can tell he is trying to read through me.

"It truly feels good being with the one you love the most in this world. I never understood that feeling until now."

"Such a poet, you are, Ugene." Bridger sighs in awe.

"I am good with a sword, Bridger," Ugene mumbles into his cup.

"So am I." He knocks his glass with Ugene's before drinking the rest of his drink with a smirk. Bridger has always been a cunning man ever since knowing him.

Truly knowing him and not just through Serena.

"Let us not get too drunk or we shall have our heads pounding before reception." Jaxson is filled with laughter and I can tell he is on the edge of being drunk.

"How is little Miss Lumpkin? How come we have not heard of her?" Bridger begins to badger me with questions about the little blonde I am to wed.

My mind never stops running about thoughts of the lady whom I ruined until she could no longer show herself to me any longer. Until she was faced with marrying someone other than me and it was all of my fault for pushing her out of her limits. She was now married to another and there was nothing I could do about it but marry someone else too.

Some part of me wished to wait to see if she would come running back, but I have not seen her for years on end and I knew I would never see her face again which only has me pouring myself another drink or two so I could contain a drunk to forget.

The gentleman around the table wait for my answer and after I soak my tongue with more whiskey, I answer. "She is beautiful."

"Beautiful? Only beautiful?" Bridger laughs which has Jaxson hitting his shoulder. He coughs now. "My apologies, but for someone whom wishes to marry, and I am assuming you love her, correct?"

My silence takes over the room and I cannot give them a solid answer. Bridger gulps. "You do love her, right?" Again, my silence and the gentlemen look at each other with concern.

A slow whistle leaves Bridger now whom leans back in his seat. Jaxson leans forward in wonder. "Does the lady know of your feelings?" My silence only has them pouring themselves another drink of whiskey, and downing it. Me too.

"Congratulations, Ugene," Jaxson utters out, raising his glass and the two other men raise their own.

ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

Giggles form in the candle lit room as the ladies and I prepare for Josephine's wedding. We all sit in an open circle with glasses of wine, Serena applies a special mask over Josephine's face and Arabella applies it over her face that contains avocados and honey.  Serena promises it is good on the skin, and shares that she applied it on her before her wedding night and she glowed.