Chapter 4
The wind whipped Luke’s hair as he rode full speed to the beach. In the Distance he could see a little dot standing under the pier. He slowed down to a trot so he wouldn’t scare the small man in the black suit. When he got close enough to see his companions face he saw his pudgy nose red with the chill the ocean wind blew in his face.
“You look cold Adam. How long have you been standing out here?” Adam jumped a little at the hint of another human being in the vast emptiness of this lonely beach.
“Do you have the intercepted papers?” Luke jumped lightly off his horse as to not bring attention to their hiding spot.
“Of course, why would you even ask of course I have them! Very interesting way I got them, but-”
“Adam I just want the papers, we need to hurry and figure out a plan.” Adam nodded his head and pulled some crumpled papers out of his pocket.
“You never have really been organized, have you?” Adam laughs at Luke’s teasing question and doesn’t bother to respond.
“Blast! These aren’t even the right documents!” Adam starts to wheeze and cough.
“It’s ok we can go get them at your house, I would love to see your wife and kids.” Adam moved his stare up to Luke’s eye and then back down to the ground. He hated needed help more than Luke hated being wrong.
“I don’t need help, I’ll just go home and get them. You can go to your dinner even though it starts in 5 minutes.” Luke looks down at his pocket watch and a frantic feeling started in his gut. he hopped on Peirce and raced back to his estate. He quickly took a shower and helped Stark pick out a nice suit to wear. When the were both finally ready they piled all their stuff into a pre-prepared carriage and started on the long ride to the mansion, where they would be staying the next 2 weeks. Luke pulls out a pamphlet that had all the information they would need.
“It appears, we will have the dinner tonight then a picnic tomorrow. With a night of entertainment to end the day off we have a day of whatever we like, nothing has been planned after that but I’m sure they will find something to do. The rest of the ride was bumpy on the way to the wade estate, Luke and Stark were already 5 minutes late and were still 20 minutes away. Luke tears his focus away from the frosty carriage window. He turns and meets Stark's lifeless look.
“Stark, you look worried!” Hearing his name Stark finally snaps out of his gaze and looked around to see who was speaking to him.
“Oh, just a little nervous.” His thin lips turned up into an insincere smile.
“I was imagining everything that would go wrong...” Luke started to snicker from across the carriage.
“I... I’m sorry Stark...” More boyish laughter
“It’s just... it’s a dinner party! It’s not like you're committing your life to a young lady!” Stark smiled, but didn’t look totally convinced.
“Trust me, my one and only friend, this next week we will be in good hands. This is the Wade family we’re talking about!” The color was finally returning back to stark’s face.
“Yes, I believe you’re right. I guess I was just over thinking everything!” Luke turns to look out the window again and sees a great big estate with great big trees surrounding it and a small wonderful lake behind it. The house itself was vanilla white and had little to no windows. It was a beautiful place to grow up in. The carriage finally came to a stop which meant they had reached their destination. Luke and Stark quickly got out and jogged to the front entrance. They bounded in almost knocking over some potted plants. Luke marched up to the dining room door and swung it open, a sign to everyone that they had arrived and was ready to eat. followed by Stark, he majestically pranced into the room. There were two tables, one where the family and close friends would sit and the other table for the other fancy dukes that had come from all over to join the party. Luke searched for a seat and found two empty seats next to dashing young lady. She had long auburn hair that was pinned to the top of her head in a tight bun. Her eyes were dark blue with specks of gold in the middle.
he found himself getting lost and needed help coming back to the dinner.
“Thank you all for coming! Now that our final guests have arrived, lets begin our feast!” There was something about Mrs.Wade, something sinister, maybe it was the icy look she gave Luke, or the fierce tone in her voice, but it scared him into wanting to know more...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There were two men that walked in the room that night. One was tall and had dark brown hair and emerald eyes that some how looked into your soul and saw all your fears, hopes, dreams, and weaknesses. His smile was cheesy and fake. Charlotte knew this man knew what he was doing-he was a greedy duke who was just here to keep his social status. The man that followed him in looked scared, uneasy, like he just didn’t belong. He was shorter than the other, and was very skinny. Both men were strong by the looks of things, but the first man looked better cared for. The skinny man looked exhausted like he hadn’t slept in three days. Charlotte turned to look at Maurie, but she didn’t look at her back she was too busy staring at the skinny boy with shaggy blond hair.
“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you like him Maurie!” Charlotte moved closer so she could whisper to Maurie without anyone listening. Maurie quickly looked at Charlotte with longing in her eyes.
“Why would you say that? That is ridiculous, and you know it! I don’t even know that boy and I’ve told you I have no means of having an immature man courting me” Although Maurie tried to sound convincing, Charlotte had known her long enough to know that she does in fact fancy Mr.Stark.
“Well now that everyone is here, we can begin the dinner!” Charlotte’s mother had stood up and informed everyone that these two men were the last visitors to arrive, and that they were late.
