Incantation

Chapter 1

1650, England

   Rozaline  walked down the cobble stone street of the market her white blonde hair pulled articulately into a low ornate bun, her head was topped by an expensive light pink hat that put the other women's to shame. In fact everything about her put other women to shame her sculpted features and  blue eyes pierced even the most stubborn of men and melted their inhabitation  with even the slightest glance.  Her frame was small and her waist was snitched with a corset covered by a light pink satin dress. Her cheeks had a pink flushed tone. She was beloved by many, known for her striking beauty and family's extravagant wealth, as well as her fiancés opulence.  Sullivan Grey was a rich successful business man and in prior years was known for being a bit of a dog with the ladies of the city, it was a rather shock to the community when he proposed to Rozaline but everyone was pleased none the less. That morning he had sent his beloved Rozaline to the baker to attain the bread for that evening's get together.

She greeted Mr. Warmwood the baker with a warm ",How do you do sir?"

The baker responded "Hello lady Grey," he says giving her a wink

"Not for another two months," she replies playfully

"Do you have the bread ready for the event sir?," she said in a gentle manner

"But of course my dear lady I have it all ready and packaged, " he said very proudly

" Lovely, how kind of you sir," she said reaching out for the package with one hand and handed him the two pond coins

"Have a lovely evening my lady"

She left the baker with the bread under her arm and walked briskly back to the manor . When she arrived at the large doors, she used the heavy iron knocker to alert the servants of her arrival; however, the servants did not come to the door and relieve her of her package as they usually would. She felt uneasy about such an event considering this was far from usual , she pushed the dark wood door and struggled with the weight of it before finally being able to open it enough to get inside.

"Anthony," she yelled from the foyer, Anthony had been her butler for many years and usually was the one to get the door. There was no response from anywhere in the house.

"Sullivan darling are you home?," she heard movement from upstairs and what sounded like Sullivan's voice

She ventured up the ornately designed, winding staircase the only noise she could hear was the clicking of her own heels on the oak wood floor boards. As she reached the top she turned the corner into the east wing hallway. About three rooms down she heard rustling and the sound of Sullivan's voice in mumbles  

"Sullivan my darling is that--" her voice trailed off as she entered his work office, the loaf of bread fell to the floor and her stomach dropped.

The woman was scrambled for her dress and pulled it over herself , dumbfounded, Rozaline dropped to her knees. Rozaline was quiet for a moment in sheer shock, Sullivan broke the silence knowing he was caught.

"Oh darling you are home so soon" he said rather nonchalantly given the situation

"Sullivan how could you, and— with her?," she said nauseated by what she had just witnessed. She couldn't believe he would cheat on her with her sworn rival. It was Lily Dashwood ere to the Dashwood fortune, but given her past she should have been ere to a brothel.

"Lily Dashwood? You insufferable harlot, get out of my house you whore,"  Rozaline said both heartbroken and angry. "And you Sullivan for the love of God get out of my house you bastard"
"Do you want the real reason I cheated," he said arrogantly
"Get out," Rozaline said trying to push him out of the room
"You dumb dumb girl" he said laughing
"The only reason I was engaged to you was for business, your family is broke without my father loaning your father money" he said pridefully and haughtily

"Your parents traded you for fortune they don't care about your future they care about their wealth, they married you off to my family to keep my father's loans. You were merely a bargaining chip, that's all you will ever be Rozaline" he said digging his words into her heart like nails in a coffin 

"Didn't you hear me Sullivan ? Get out of my house" she said without looking at him her voice at a low volume

"You are worthless without me Rozaline ,you are going to regret this" 

"Maybe so, but for right now I'm almost certain you are deaf ,get out of my house" she said throwing a small vase that was on the shelf at him. The vase missed and shattered all over the floor. He stared at her shocked

"Get out!" she screamed, her voice broke like gnashing teeth cutting through it.

As he fled she fell to her knees sobbing,  was it true her family was broke without his family? she came to the realization of just how betrayed she was , by him and by her parents. She pulled herself off the floor only to see Anthony at the doorway.

"Shall I cancel tonight's events miss" he said formally

She stood up straight and dignified while tears still filled her eyes however her expression was blank.

"Yes concierge, tell the guests we are terribly sorry but we must cancel do to a business endeavor" she said numbly.

"yes miss"