Wistcoástia (On Hiatus)

Chapter 14: The Red Queen

Sean: I didn’t expect her to be that great. She’s amazing. She’s really admirable.

“Do you want me to introduce you to her?” Duke Vandale offered.

“Is it alright, my Lord?” I ask while I see my sister give a big sigh. I ignore her. I don’t care what others will think. I just want to talk to her. Man, what’s happening to me? This is the first time I badly wanted to meet someone.

“Don’t worry about it.” Duke Vandale said. “Come on…”

We follow him walk through the crowd until we reach the small circle that have formed around her. She is surrounded by a lot of young men. But I can’t blame them though because who wouldn’t be attracted by her presence? I admit that I also want to join their circle but as a member of the duke houses and as a future soldier, I need to exercise constraint and proper dignity.

I catch some of their conversation while we slowly neared.

“My Lady, can I have a chance to dance with you?” a young man said.

“Excuse me, I was the one who asked her first.” Another man interfered. I recognize him as the youngest son of the Earl of Warwick.

“Would you like a glass of wine, my Lady?” another offers but I see her shaking her head.

“Then can I get you something to eat?” he asks again.

“No, thank you.” She says.

It is not only her face that is beautiful but also her voice. Umm…will she agree to dance with me, I wonder?

“Where do you live? Will it be alright for me to escort you home?” a gentleman asks.

“No, thank you.”

“Can you tell me your cell phone number?”

“No…”

“I want to introduce you to my parents.”

“I do not want to…”

As far as I heard, she keeps getting attention and I don’t see that she hates but she rejects all their offers. Why? This woman is very hard to please. I smirk. I love challenges. I like her and her attitude.

Duke Vandale clears his throat and all the gentlemen turn and bow to him.

“Good evening, Duke Vandale.” They chorus. The duke nods in acknowledgement and says no more but he maintains the smile on his face. He stares at her and she quickly understands what he means.

“Gentlemen, I apologize but can you excuse us for a while?” she asks them.

There are faces of disappointment among them but they oblige. She gives them a brilliant smile in thanks and the men nearly stop in their tracks. Even I am caught by it for a while.

She curtsies to us.

“Good evening, Duke Vandale.” She says pleasantly.

“Bridgette I want to introduce you to some of my friends.” He gestures to us. “This is the Duchess of Aros and her son, Sean and her daughter, Reena…”

Mother extends her hand towards hers and she takes it.

“I am honored to meet you, Duchess Brightnott.” She says politely. “I’m Bridgette Xaltaire…”

“It’s been a while since I saw a member of your family.” Mother says.

“Ah, yes…as you know we rarely attend public gatherings. I apologize.” Bridgette says.