The Villager

21

THE VILLAGER
Third Person

"Lady Hampton, how good it is to see you again." Mrs Myers and Lady Hampton bow to each other before they take their seats at a local shop in the city of Lockwood.

Mrs Myers knew she could not let her daughter in on what her plan was. She had to do this. For her daughter. To keep him out of her life. For good.

Hot tea sits in their glass cups, Lady Hampton knew what this meeting was about. She was not a fool. She loves her son, adores the ground he walks upon and she would not disappoint him this time around. Lady Hampton could not be compared to Mrs Myers, she had more class than the lady who chased after riches when Lady Hampton allowed the riches to chase after her.

She could not help but still see the woman whom almost destroyed her marriage. Mrs Myers knew what she had done. She would not escape that from her life. Both of their loves had died, and both of them were left on opposite ends with the same feeling.

Grief.

Hatred for each other.

Though Timothy, Lady Hampton's son was in love with her enemy's daughter. She had to wave a white flag to this lady in front of her in hopes of giving her son what he wished for.

"How is Ruth?" Lady Hampton starts, sipping on her tea with a proper smile. "I heard about her divorce, my sorrows go to you all."

"It was not Ruth's idea, the Princess did not like the match together. Who was I to say no to that?" Mrs Myers hates the fact she started off with talking about her own daughter. They both know why they were called to this meeting. Mrs Myers' laughter dies down soon enough and in comes her frown. "I heard about Timothy's engagement being called off. He isn't too upset, is he?"

"He isn't." She smiles. "A simple agreement between the two. They both realized they are at different times in their lives and wish for different things."

Didn't he always? Mrs Myers thought, but would never say aloud as she sips on her tea.

"What is he up to now?" She hums out another question.

Lady Hampton eyes her. "What is it that you really wish to know, Mrs Myers. I am no fool. I know you did not wish for tea and a good chat between the two of us."

Now she was truly annoyed at Lady Hampton. She bites her tongue from responding so harshly. "What is your son doing in the village around my daughter?" Oops. That was harsh.

"My son is a grown man, I am afraid, Mrs Myers. He is the Viscount, after all. They were childhood friends-"

"They were not," Mrs Myers interrupts as she closes her eyes in anger. "They were not. I did not wish for my daughter to be around him, but your son forced his way in."

"I will be honest.... I was not too happy to know they were friends either, but I have a change of heart now."

"Why? Why now? Has he not hurt my daughter enough?"

"Because I saw how much my son loves your daughter." Shock radiates off Mrs Myers and that has Lady Hampton nodding along. "Are you not tired of fighting it anymore? These are our children, we should allow them to be happy."

"She will be happy." She nods. "Just not with your son."

Lady Hampton frowns, her heart squeezes for her son.

"I will never allow it. If they shall wed, Lockwood will know their marriage was unwanted by me. People talk, stories about them will rise and how they will feel Viscount Hampton was such a disrespect to Lockwood."