Dinner parties & Secret affairs Solo Closed

The dark bedroom was filled with the sounds of the rain pouring down outside. Heavy drops could be heard hitting the windowpane over and over again. The sound was almost entrancing. Blaire rolled over in her bed, facing the door that led out to the hallway. Shutting her eyes tightly she tried to focus all her attention to the weather outside. For inside the manor, came the soft distinct noises of a party being held downstairs. The clink of crystal glass wear. An occasional pop of another champagne cork. Delicate laughter, and the soft mummer of voices. Her parents were hosting yet another holiday soiree.

Blaire hoisted herself off her bed, stretching out her limbs as she crossed her bedroom. Reaching out she laid her palm flat against the cold glass window. Glancing down, she looked across the darkened grounds. She could count at least ten cars, neatly lined up in the drive. Flicking her eyes up to the sky, she watched as lightening came crashing down in the distance, followed almost instantly with a roll of thunder. Her desk lamp flickered ever so slightly, and a shriek and cackle of laughter could be heard from bellow.

Turning her attention to her desk, she walked over, and picked up the book that had been left open upside down. Depositing herself into her desk chair, she absentmindedly flipped through a few pages. Her mind wandered to the conversation she had overheard her parents having earlier that day. They had been arguing loudly, leaving the door to her father’s study open for the whole house to hear. Apparently, her father hadn’t come home again last night. Theo had tried to sneak in early this morning, thinking his wife would still be sleeping off her hangover.

”You were with her again weren’t you?” Beatrice hissed, emphasizing her. She had pointed a long, manicured finger towards her husband. Theo had been leaning against his desk, his hands massaging the side of his temples. He raised his face to meet Beatrice’s, eyes narrowing. ”I told you I lost track of time. The business dinner went late, so I crashed at a friend’s afterwards. I didn’t think you would notice anyways. It sounded like you were already four gin and tonics deep when I called.” Beatrice scoffed, laughing sarcastically. ”Never in my wildest dreams, did I think you would sleep around on me with a muggle.” After that Theo lost his temper and began shouting at Beatrice. Blaire escaped the hostility by spending her afternoon outside in the garden.

Blaire had always somehow known her father wasn’t faithful to her mother. It was hard to feel bad for Beatrice though. If she wasn’t busy pouring herself another drink, she was finding something or someone to yell about. Blaire tended to keep out of her mother’s sight, for fear she would be screamed at. Beatrice had been unnaturally kind though, ever since Blaire returned home from school for winter break. Finding this extremely odd, she still hid whenever she caught the faint scent of Channel ‘No 5.

A low grumble came creeping out from Blaire’s stomach. Her mother had sent her to bed without supper, complaining that her guests would be there any minute, and she should have eaten earlier. By now, the party guests would all be mingling in the parlor. Far from the kitchen. If Blaire moved quietly, she could sneak down the servant’s staircase that led into a small hall behind the kitchen. Leaving the quietness of her bedroom, she crept out onto the landing of the main staircase. The hall here was bright enough for Blaire to see all the way across. Making her way to the door that concealed the smaller staircase, she entered silently, closing the door behind her. It was a lot darker in here, and the stair case wound down in a spiral. Moving silently Blaire reached the bottom. Stepping out into the hall, she felt along the wall for a light switch, but quickly pulled her hand back.

Blaire could hear noises coming from the opposite end of the hallway from where she stood. Creeping farther into the shadows behind her, she tried squinting into the darkness. At the other end Blaire could make out two shapes, moving ever so slightly. Blaire’s heart quickened a little. As her eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, she realized at the other end from her were two people embracing. The sounds she could hear were them kissing. As for the man, Blaire had no idea who it was, but the woman was unmistakably Beatrice. Sucking in air, Blaire turned and hurried back up the way she had just came. Her appetite disappearing instantly.

Once Blaire was safe, back in her own bedroom, she flung herself onto her bed. Her mind raced with a thousand questions and thoughts. Who was that man? What exactly had she just seen? Where was her father? Would he even care if her knew his wife was also having an affair? Did he already know? One thought though stood out in her mind from all the rest, Blaire felt absolutely no remorse for her mother whatsoever now. Everyone in this family had secrets and appeared to only care about themselves. Blaire fell into a restless sleep, cursing herself for leaving her room in the first place.

Waking the next morning, she saw that the bad weather had lifted, and the sun shone brightly through the window. Blaire dressed quickly; her appetite having returned. Scurrying down for breakfast she was greeted unexpectedly by her mother, who was sitting at the small nook in the kitchen. Pausing in the door frame, she observed Beatrice from afar. Her mother was dressed simply, a silk robe clung to her small frame flowing to the floor, her hair had been swept back into a bun. She wore no makeup, and the only jewelry she had on was her emerald wedding ring. Sipping on her morning coffee, her head was cocked to one side. It appeared as if she was bathing in the warm morning sunlight. Clearing her throat Blaire stepped forward, choosing the seat opposite her mother.

Beatrice paid her daughter no mind, her eyes scanning the vast grounds that could be seen from the large kitchen window. A maid quietly served Blaire her toast, and a bit of bacon. Eating in silence, she kept her head downwards, not daring to look back up. Blaire could feel her mother’s gaze fall upon herself. ”Aren’t you due back to school soon?” the disdain was clear and present in Beatrice’s voice. Quietly removing herself, Blaire went back upstairs. As she collected some of her belongings that needed to be packed into her trunk, she tried adding up the days left till winter break was over. It couldn’t come quick enough.