Strange Game

Chapter 3

The earl of Lanchester sat on his favorite chair watching his friend playing card and talk of what the men aren't allow to talk in the ballroom. It has been years he is back at home, and his sister took the golden chance to hold a dance for him, in the most subtle way forcing him to get leg-shackle. Meddlesome sister but he loves Cecil- or known as CC in the family- for being meddling. His little sister, Viviane 10 this year has balk not being able to attend the party as long as she is not presented to the court, while his younger brother, Henry rather be somewhere else at the moment than dancing or being aim by eager mama. The door suddenly open and they all look at the door, seeing a lady in a vision of royal blue dress. They all shot up from the chair in her presence, cards and glasses in hands, even the tipsy one looks steady on his feat.

"Oh dear, wrong room. Back to your game, gentlemen." She closes the door and they all sigh, settling in their chair and their games. Several minutes later, the back door open and there she stood again, looking bewildered and annoyed. They get up again. "Sorry, wrong room, again. Where is the restroom?" She closes the door and someone threw down his card and murmur spread out through the room as heated talk ensues.

"God, now I've no interest to keep playing the game."

"Hey, I'm winning there."

"Couldn't someone help the lady? She seems lost."

"Is that Lady Alistair? I heard she's back to town."

"Couldn't be, I heard she's in the country visiting Hamilton."

Hughes turns towards his friend and raise his brow. "Who are they talking about?"

"Lady Alistair, the heartbreaking lady who lost her elderly husband five years ago."

Someone adds, "We all know they dote on each other, we rarely saw them apart. She broke down like hell the day the old Alistair died, poor chit."

"She is still young, too bad it happen to her."

"But he left her being a rich widow, and she's still pretty."

"I say someone should really go and help her. You go Lanchester." Hughes frowns and turn to the fellow who suggest it.

"Why should I?"

"Well...this is your house, your party." Annoyed that the fellow is right, Hughes heave himself up and strode out of the card room, seeing the lady in question is busily poking her head into any door she came into. She stops in front of the tall window where beams in, lighting the hallway with its eerie light moonlight. But as the moonlight cast on her, gone the eeriness and there stood the vision of ethereal being. She looks at the moon and sadness fills her exquisite face.

To Hughes eyes, Lady Alistair looks like she wanted none of the excitement in the ballroom and rather be in someplace quiet. And she is beautiful, more in the way of exotic looking, with her dark wavy hair adorn with flowers instead of fashionable gemstones. In conclusion, Lady Alistair looks like a summer day in autumn reason. The lady in question moves again, heading towards the kitchen and Hughes watch her look around the busy kitchen like she belongs there. She even helps the Cook taste the meal and the hard woman Hughes knows as his Cook actually smile and offer a snack. He step forward and the kitchen stop in motion, all eyes on him except of Lady Alistair as her sight is focus on the tart she received.

"Lady Alistair, what are you-" He stop talking at once to catch his breath as Lady Alistair eyes turn on him. He thinks his heart had stop and drop to his feat. The lady's green eyes bore on him intensely, as if no one is there but he and he knew everyone that she awarded by looking at the eyes, feels the same way.