Red Roses - Part 29 i

 stared at those blue eyes. They shined and reflected hope of new life. I looked down shyly. What will he say if I tell him that I was ready to accept his offer? What if he mocked me or slam the door at me ! 

I searched for words to explain the reason I was here. I was embarrassed. "I am here to accept your offer.", I said meekly. My voice was soft and low for him to hear. " I am here to accept your offer,mister. I thought that this was fine opportunity for young women like me. Please accept my apology for my ignorance and rude behavior.", I repeated the words in firm tone this time.

He smiled. It was an evil smile that shook my soul inside. " Lucianne! Oh my dear Lucianne! You didn't have to walk many miles to tell me this. You could have sent someone to inform me and I would have readily offered my carriage to get you here.", he said.

He held my hand and pushed me closer to him. I could feel his heart beat. It was like drums making a symphony. At once I  felt happiness knocking at my doorstep. My dreams became clearer. I was alive again.

I didn't regret of becoming his  mistress. I had chosen this. He would shower me with luxuries that I had only dreamt. The only thing he wanted from me was my gracious company.  Yes! I also got the scornful looks of people , nasty rumors about me stealing Dutchess's man and remarks about my character. But people do speak about you even if you do good or bad.

I didn't care. I was happy that I could enjoy life with no expectations. Being wife had set of expectations while the mistress had no such expectations. But every happiness came with a price.

( To be continued)

Red Roses- Part 29 h

I looked around. His mansion was huge. It looked more like a palace. It was surrounded by garden area that was too big to call it a garden. I walked about a mile to reach my destiny.

The main door was wide open. There was no one to guard the house except I saw few house keeping workers running  the errands. I stood at the doorstep , waiting for someone to greet me. But no one seemed to care.

I raised my hand and knocked the door. Nobody responded. I called one of them, loud enough for them to hear. But everybody pretended as if I wasn't there.

I waited for sometime until my patience died. Hopes of new life vanished too. I turned back to the future and walked back to my past. Sometimes life has it way of presenting opportunities. When you loose slightest bit of hope, a glowing light emerges from some corner and awakens within you , new desire for life.

As I walked out , I heard familiar voice calling me from behind. I turned and saw it was him. I bowed as gesture of politeness. He reciprocated it by raising my hand to his lips and kissing them. I blushed.

" What makes you come here, my dear Lucianne?", he asked. I was deeply moved. He had called me by my name for the very first time. I blushed again and raised my head, gazing at those light blue eyes.

( To be continued)

Red Roses - Part 29 g

I sulked. I Cribbed. I poured out my grief in company of beer. But nothing worked to reduce my lonely heart. I had freedom to do anything I want. Unfortunately my finances had dried. I had nothing except my soul to sell which I would never ever think of parting with.

I drank my last sip of beer. I looked outside. It was raining. The plants in my garden glowed as the raindrops fell on them. They seemed to enjoy few minutes of blissfulness unlike me.

I walked haphazardly towards the kitchen to pour myself another drink. Alas! My only companion had also left me to myself. I thrashed it in anger. I could barely stand when my legs gave way.

I dropped to my knees and started crying without any reason. I felt miserable at my condition. I thought deeply, " Was this an end to life I dreamt of?" A inner voice said no. I got up to my feet. Everyone deserved the best so do I. Why should I sit and cry for no reason when I have an opportunity... His offer was still open. I just had to be his mistress.

There was nothing wrong in that. I wanted money and he needed my company. I bid farewell to my goody two shoes and dressed my best to meet the devil.

After three days of hardships in the journey, I arrived at his place. I was tired. The freshness and glow had drained after that long dreadful journey. I looked for solace in duke's palace. I was hopeful that he still carried that offer.

( To be continued)

Red roses- Part 29 f

Who was this man? He had no right to invade my privacy. My anger was at the peak. I didn’t care where he came from. I only wanted him out of my house.. life. I stomped towards the door and showed him the way.  "You can leave me alone."I said rudely.

He didn't leave. He smiled and said, " Why are you running away from me,sweet pea? You know the benefits you will reap out of my company. You act like you are an angel but you know that you are no angel. Why would a woman like you kill her beloved husband?” I looked shocked. How did he know that I had murdered my husband?

“ I don’t understand! How dare you accuse me of killing my husband?", I yelled at him. " You are young. You like to live a life filled with fun and frolic. There are rumours that you despised his company. You were puppet in his hand who wanted to be free.", he said.

The truth out of his mouth pricked my heart. It was bitter and painful. My fury knew no boundaries. It was going to burst any moment, burning everything in it's way. "I want you to leave this very moment!", I screamed as I slapped him hard on his face.

His face was red. It was partly due to anger and partly due to embarrasment. He didn't wait and simply walked out, putting back his hat. He almost reached the gate when he turned to see me. " You are not thinking clearly now. But time will come when you will come at my doorstep. Don't worry my love, I will accept you with open arms.", he said.

I didn't respond, knowing that this will not end. Silence during these situation is the best. I banged the door. I stood , watching at the vacant space called my house. It was empty. I was the only thing.. living one that this house had. There was no laughter.. No chattering of people.. The only thing that existed in the house was the golden silence that had engulfed me into the life of loneliness.

( To be continued)

Red Roses - Part 29 e

That was awful. How could anyone be so judgmental at the first meet itself?  I detested him though I was attracted to him. How could you hate a person but at the same time like them? I wanted him out of my house at this very minute. He saved me from the detective and his shooting questions. But I didn’t want him here.

“ I don’t need to prove my self righteous image to anyone.”, I said , showing him the door. He waited for sometime until he thought it was best for him to leave me.  Days passed and I didn’t see him or Charlie bothering me. Maybe I was too harsh to him or he must have understood that  I was not the type of lady whom he could toy with. The righteous part in me still existed though evil was growing in me.

I was consumed with the daily activities. The parties and other social gathering had become part of my life. With my new found wealth, I was spending it royally on clothes, fine dining and everything that enhanced my status in society. Money is renewable resource like water only if you have source that helps you to increase it. Well! I didn’t have any source of increasing my wealth other than my late husband’s leftover.

My resources were dwindling and I was getting more addicted to this newfound life filled with crazy mixture of rich and high profile life. But I didn’t care until I was hit by the brutal reality. I had no finances. My wealth was not sufficient enough to support my addiction. I was severely dependent on my friends for money, making false promises of paying them back.

One fine morning, I woke up to shrill noise of the bell. The house was empty now. I had relieved my servants and furnitures to pay off old loans in order to take new one. So I rushed to search for few shillings to pay my debtor. After bringing the house down, I found a coin. I walked to the main door and opened it to see him standing at the doorstep.

I opened my mouth to say something and closed it immediately. “ Good morning, Mrs Gilliard”, he said. I tried to bang the door at him but he was already inside the house. “ What do you want?”, I screamed. My voice echoed. “ Nothing! I only need your graceful company by my side.”, he replied politely. I glared at him with disgust. He didn’t say anything wrong. But the evil in me had just woken up. The angel within me still existed somewhere in my heart.  

( To be continued)

Red Roses- Part 29d

His very presence made my heart jump every second. His voice was rough and rude. He stared at me with contempt. In his eyes, I was already the killer. “ Mrs Gilliard, you say that you didn’t listen to slightest hustle. How can this possibly be?  You were few yards away from the place where your late husband was found.”, he said.

I was searching for words to decorate my lie. But how could I tell him that I killed my husband because I lost control over my emotions and I was bored being his arm candy. I tried to find some lay excuse but nothing struck my mind. “ Ummm.. I … I …”, I stammered nervously.

“Mrs Gilliard was with me. She was tending to my needs.”, a voice said. Our heads turned towards the direction where the voice was coming. It was the same mysterious man whom I had met last night. What was he doing here at my small abode? I was startled and so was detective Charlie. He walked towards detective Charlie and gave his hand for shake as token of gratitude.

“ But Mrs Gilliard didn’t mention anything about you. She had told me that she was home alone.”, curious Charlie said. The mysterious man didn’t bother about Charlie’s remarks and said, “ She is shy and didn’t want anyone prying over our hidden affair. You know the society. They have silly habit of making rumours about two people in love.”

Charlie didn’t seem to be satisfied with the reason. “Well! I think I will bid my farewell for now . I will get back to you later, Mrs Gilliard.”, he said and left me in company of Mr.mysterious. I must say that I wasn’t comfortable with him here. “ You can at least say few words of gratitude. That would be grateful of you.”, he said. “ Thank you, Mister. But I would like you to know that I don’t entertain strangers at my house.”, I said in firm voice.

“ You are an interesting woman, my lady. You amaze me and disappoint me at same time.”, he said. “ Disappoint! How can an interesting woman disappoint you?”, I asked. “You had opportunity to tell the truth to that man. But you didn’t. You pretend to be a saint in front of me but to people, you display your tainted side.”, he said.

( To be continued)

Red Roses - Part 29 c

I took too many deep breaths before I turned around to see who it was. It was him- the mysterious guy in the ball. I was struck by his presence. " Yes!", I asked softly with my head bent. Our eyes didn't meet.

He came closer towards me. I felt his cold breath. " Hello my lady! I was wondering if I could accompany you to your house. ", he said politely. His thick English accent reminded me of his status in society.

"Thank you. But I prefer to walk alone. I don't like to be accompanied by stranger.", I declined his offer. I headed towards my way home. " You don't like being accompanied by strangers but you like dancing with one of them.", he said. I stopped mid way and turned to look at him.

His eyes were brown and green. He had charisma that attracted any girl he wanted towards him. He wore Regent hat that made him look taller than his actual height.

" You dragged me into that dreadfull dance.", I accused him. He smiled and said, "Ah! But you enjoyed it. Everyone witnessed it." " Pardon me! I need to leave. It is getting late.", I said as I walked away from him.

Next day I woke up , expecting for sunshine. Unfortunately detective Charlie was at my doorstep. My heart was thumping. I tried to be better host when my whole mind was engrossed into what was happening in his head. I didn't want him to sniff the ugly truth out.

(To be continued)

Red Roses - Part 29b

People called me names. Black widow was popular one. I didn't care. Mostly women preferred to call me that. They were jealous.. more precisely insecure or I could say they didn't trust their men. Infidelity was a taboo those days unlike what it is now. People still believed in true love and family.

The story of murder of my late husband was disappearing in thin air. That's what I assumed. But detective Charlie didn't want it the story to end. He was sniffing the evidences. I had to do something soon before he finds out truth. At last I found my way.

Hope never dies. It is glowing within you and it depends on you..solely you. I never lost hope. Maybe that was gift within me. I saw him at the ball organized by Countess on the eve of New Year. I was dressed in black lace gown. I wasnt 't the only pretty girl in the ball but his gaze made me special. His mysterious eyes drew me towards him.

As the main dance started, he whisked me into the crowd. I didn't realize the close proximity between us. He had taken my hands in his hands and waltzed me through the crowd. I followed his footstep. Everyone stopped dancing and looked at us. We were oblivious of the people's judging gaze. The only thing that affected us was the soft music playing and the dance.

When the music ended, so did the dance. We separated. I was back to my group of friends and he was back to his social group. "Who is that noble man?", I asked one of my friend. My friend, Lizzie was amazed at the question I asked. "He is a relative of Countess. There is petty rumor running down the mills that he is having secret affair with the Dutchess of a small province.", she whispered carefully into my ears.

I stared at him one last time before I made my way out to home. I was tired and had long way to go. While I was walking down the street at the wee hours during the night, I felt a presence following behind me. I didn't turn. I walked quickly. But it didn't seem to stop. I had heard about the rumors of infamous Jack the ripper. My life was too precious for me and I didn't want it to end too soon.

( To be continued)