The wine glass that Vincent was holding in his hand shattered to pieces. Even after Vincent had discreetly warned her to be careful of what she speaks and the lies that he had spotted of hers she, Prudence had gone out of the way to mention about some other man again.
Prudence's chair screeched as she jolted away from Vincent. She was expecting to convince Vincent that her heart laid with someone else and maybe she might have played it out with George, so Vincent was convinced. But she wasn't expecting him to react this strongly. He was angry and there was blood mixed with wine that dripped from his hand. "You are hurt!" Prudence exclaimed in concern, as her natural instincts kicked in.
"Prudence," Vincent called out her name. The tone was so cold she could feel goosebumps travel throughout her body. "Do you think I am being too kind to you?"
Prudence gulped as she looked at his bloodied hand and then at his angry face. She wanted him to tend to his injuries faster. How can she continue knowing someone was hurt because of her? Prudence picked up a napkin from the table, "Your hand is bleeding-"
Vincent snatched the napkin and thudded it on the table, making the culinary clatter against the dishes. "I asked you a question," Vincent spoke deliberately slow.
Prudence, in the heat of the moment, had forgotten the question. Some of the liquid had dripped down to stain her skirt, and she had felt the mixture of hot blood and cold wine against her skin as the liquid has seeped through the green fabric. She was too concerned about Vincent's hand, not knowing that vampires had faster healing than humans. Prudence took a gamble and shook her head, "No, His Grace."
"No?" Vincent asked, raising one of his brows. "Have I been too unkind in my treatment towards you?"
That was when Prudence remembered what the question was. The answer she had chosen was wrong and here everything went well if it went, according to Vincent Dominick or it is wrong. Prudence hastily corrected her mistake, "No, His Grace has been kind to me... just-"
"That was the only answer I needed," Vincent said, cutting what she was about to continue with and he said it out as she had left it halfway, "just that I am holding you here against your will here?"
Prudence nodded vigorously, not opening her mouth because it seemed like her mouth had once again created trouble for herself. And this time, even Vincent suffered because of her tongue and her mind running like an idiot. She was taking support of George as if that man could really come to save her from here. That was not going to happen, and Prudence was only hoping that Vincent could understand her for having someone else in her heart, even though there truly was no one.
He had been understanding to her except for one condition, that he won't let her leave this place. Prudence was somewhere hoping he would be understanding when she talked about her heart belonging to someone else, but sadly, it turned out in the wrong way.
Vincent held Prudence's chair with his bloodied hand and pulled it closer to him, "Then why don't you understand when I say you should when and what to speak? Do you really like someone else and miss him so dearly?"
Prudence assessed the situation as her breath hitched in her lungs. She did not know how this could turn out if she said a yes here.
But what if Vincent let go of her, thinking she was already in love with someone else? Maybe he would think of her like those other girls who go to the parties in search of their future husband and, since Vincent had already mentioned how he doesn't like leftovers, she could say that she wanted to marry the man. For one thing, Prudence was sure was that George liked her and if Vincent simply asked him, George was sure to say yes.
The problem was, what would the reaction of Vincent be in that situation. Prudence decided to test and see how Vincent would react first and then she could come to conclusions whether she should reveal George's name to Vincent or not.
"I do like him," Prudence said in a low voice as she leaned away from Vincent.
Vincent let go of her chair and sat back straight. Taking another napkin than the one which Prudence had given, he wiped his hand and Prudence saw the wounds that were already closing up. She had worried for nothing. If she had known vampires could heal this fast, she wouldn't have held back.
Vincent clapped his hand, and the butler stepped inside the room before he bowed. Vincent did not take any time to glance at Prudence, rather ordered right away, "Ask Drakos to summon George Edler to the manor."
Prudence's breath caught in her throat after hearing that name. She had not revealed the name, and yet Vincent knew it.
Of course, he knew it! After all, Vincent had pried on every part of Prudence's life. Prudence cursed herself for putting herself and George in such a pickle. She was yet to see what Vincent was capable of, but she did not want him to pull out a gun at George and pull the trigger this time instead of just threatening. "His Grace, please don't-"
Prudence stopped speaking when Vincent raised his hand for her to stop talking and he walked out of the dining room, leaving Prudence there alone, pondering on her decision.
If someone was good at giving the silent treatment, Vincent would beat them any day, thought Prudence in her mind.
She got up, and the head maid was quick to enter the room. Prudence had eyes on her and Vincent did not leave even a single moment for her not to know that. "Milady, let me help you get changed first," the maid said as she led Prudence through the same path towards her room. "Do you want me to bring the lunch to your room?"
Prudence shook her head. She had already eaten enough and, with fear of what was oncoming, made her lose her appetite. "I have had my fill, thank you."
Bertha, the head maid, helped Prudence with the dress, and this was the first time Prudence did not retaliate with it. Somehow, the sudden submissive nature that she did not even know existed in her was out. It was not until Vincent had left her alone to think had she realised what grave danger she had brought on George. She did not like him at all, but she was not inhumane enough to let him suffer for her wrongdoing.
Away from Dominick's manor, near the outermost town of Vista Boulevard, was the huge Elder's mansion. One maid of the mansion opened the door after hearing the door knocker.
Drakos passed a charming smile to the maid, who had failed to recognise him, "Hello, I am Drakos Vito. Is George Edler home?"
The way the man had referred to the oldest son of Elder by his name took the maid aback. She nodded her head, "Yes, please wait here while I get the master." The maid opened the door for Drakos to enter. "Let me help you with the coat," she offered.
Drakos raised his hand and said, "that won't be necessary. My visit is short. Please make it urgent."
The maid bowed and left when the lady of the house stepped outside to check who had come at the door. She approached closer, adjusting her glasses and she gasped in realisation. "Lord Vito! What a pleasant surprise. Apologies I did not come to receive you earlier, the servants here are very ignorant."
Drakos smiled back at the house lady, "That is alright, Lady Fiona. I was actually here for George."
Fiona gasped dramatically in a pleased gesture before she composed herself, "What work did you have with our little Georgie? He sure catches the eyes of the best people."
"That he does," Drakos remarked sarcastically, where sarcasm was lost to Lady Fiona. "His Grace summoned him today to the mansion. It seems he had some personal conversation to share with Master George."
Fiona could not believe her ears. A visit to Dominick's manor was itself tough to get and here her son was being summoned by His Grace himself.
George climbed down the stairs and quickly made his way to where the important guest was waiting. Drakos had visited their house before for one of the soirees, but not during a normal day. George bowed at Drakos, "What do I have this pleasure of a visit by you, Lord Drakos?"
Fiona spoke before Drakos could explain, "Georgie, His Grace has summoned you to the manor! Let me get ready and come do not leave without your mother."
Drakos cut in as he stated, "Time is of the essence for His Grace, Lady Fiona"
"But I yet to dress up. I can't send my Georgie on his own," Lady Fiona said as she placed one of her hands on her cheek and the other on her chest. She had always looked over her son like a doting mother, and George was equally spoiled.
George smiled at Drakos, "Lord Drakos, please wait a while. My mother won't take long."
Drakos looked at Lady Fiona, and then at her son. For a moment he questioned why did even Vincent bother to call a man like George to the manor. If anything, Drakos knew then that was that Vincent utterly hated the pampered kids of the rich. George Edler was one of the two rich human families that Vincent absolutely loathed, the other one being the Weasley family and their daughter Norma. The families tried to be on par with the high-class vampire houses, but failed miserably.
"Lady Fiona, His Grace only has an hour of his time for George today and if we don't leave immediately, I am sure you would be sent back from the gates itself," Drakos did not take any time to sugarcoat his words. Just because Vincent had summoned him did not mean it was for a good reason.
Lady Fiona was taken aback by what Drakos had spoken, but who was she to speak in front of him. He was one of the Lords and, not to forget, he was also a Don.
George exchanged a look with his mother and said, "I should leave ahead first then, if that is fine with you, Mother."
Lady Fiona bite the inside of her cheek, not letting the flattering smile fall from her face. "Let me get my jacket and hat. I am sure my attire right now isn't rough." She was a conscious woman, and even when she was in her house, she would be dressed well in case people dropped by like Lord Drakos today.
Drakos smiled at her finally and said, "You look beautiful as ever, Lady Fiona."
Lady Fiona covered her mouth shyly as she waved her hand once at Drakos, "You fluster me, as always, Lord Drakos. Thank you for the compliments."
"It is always my pleasure to acknowledge beauty," Drakos continued like the flirt he was. It did not matter what the lady's ages were, he worked on showing them with compliments and seeing them flatter. He was one of the oldest vampires, one from even before the existence of Vincent Dominick and, for him, ladies were nothing but prey. Even the oldest human alive was younger than Drakos. Though he never took other favours from women apart from blood, he had someone for that.
"Oh please, Lord Drakos," Lady Fiona said as she blushed. Placing both her hands on her cheek to hide the red that rose on her face, she called for the maid, "Alberta, bring the gloves and coat along with my hat. We will be heading out for around an hour."
George, meanwhile, stared at Drakos, being a little wary of this man. Drakos was hitting on his mother right in front of him, and there was nothing he said because his mother was fine. But can the man not understand a married woman? thought George in his mind. For him, as long as his mother was fine, he was fine. After all, he was his mama's boy. Drakos turned to George, not bothering to give a smile, and the look in his eyes was enough to have George retreat like a puppy in front of a wolf.
The maid bowed and went to the Lady's room to fetch her stuff. Coming outside, she helped the Lady with the gloves and then her hat. After the coat was helped with the maid helped George with his coat.
"Shall we, Lord Drakos," Lady Fiona asked as a symbol of hospitality.
Drakos smiled at Lady Fiona and extended his hand, " After you, milady." Lady Fiona walked flustered outside the house and when George was about to follow his mother, Drakos glared at the young man, "Do you let the guest leave last in your household?"
George gritted his teeth at the treatment he was already getting. He somewhere started to believe that the reason he was called at the manor for was not friendly.
"My Apologise Lord Drakos, please," George let Drakos exit first and then left after him.
Back at Dominick's manor, Prudence had changed into a good dress and had rebelled against the head maid, Bertha. There were a limited amount of skirts and shirts while the dresses were stacked in heaps. Prudence was heavy with guilt and what George would have to face when he arrives here.
It was true, in the past, George was a nuisance to her and during that time Prudence truly wanted someone who could get rid of that man from tailing her. George had been hitting on her and sometimes stepping into the stables when they were alone and talk to her about how he genuinely thinks that she was the perfect one for him. Prudence's memory went to the past one such day George had come during the closing time of the horse farm.
'Is that the new mustang bought by Mr Carswell?' George's sudden voice startled Prudence, who stood in front of a white mare covered in beautiful grey freckles.
Prudence looked at the man bowed in respect, 'Master Edler.' Her eyes went around to see that no one was here and George who stepped forward to close the gap between him and Prudence. Prudence was quick to retreat and go a few steps back and looked at the white mare, 'This one is still not broken. There are two more mustangs that Mr Carswell recently brought from the forest isolation farm. If you are interested in those-'
'But I am not interested in them," George said as he came forward and grabbed Prudence's hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed on the back of her hand, 'My interest lies with you. Let's go on a date today. You must have time since the horse farm is closing early today.'
Prudence quickly pulled her hand out of his hold. 'The farm closes early for the visitors, we workers still have to the horses,' lied prudence.
'I can wait, of course,' George said as he moved forwards to tug a strand of Prudence's fringes that had escaped, coming on her face, behind her ear and Prudence moved away from his touch. 'I know you like me as well, or else why would I look at someone you working in the stables. You know my parents are out of town for a few days,' George leaned forward, where Prudence had to look at the other side to run away from his closeness. 'You should come around my house. I will show you around-'
'Master Edler, please keep some distance when you talk,' Prudence requested. If she was not here at the horse farm, she would have not thought a second before offending this man, but she did not want to cause trouble for Mr Carswell because of her.
George chuckled casually, 'I am keeping my distance prudence, don't be scared. I think it might be your first time and so you are this reluctant and scared. Don't worry, I will take good care of you like a gentleman I am. My mother says I am good at respecting ladies and knowing their hearts. I believe I know you already have me in yours.'
When he took one more step forwards Prudence moved back and her back hit the lower door of a horse stall. Her heart hitched.
Not because George was coming closer. He had done that before and yet never taken advantage of them being alone because Prudence always managed to slip away. But she was scared of the stall that her back had touched. It feared the white mustang, which had a terrible temper, and she could feel its warm breath from its flaring nostrils right around her shoulder.
When George stepped ahead, unaware of the temperamental mustang, the mare neighed inside its stall and Prudence ducked down in fear. A horse's kicks could be fatal enough, and she was standing the closest.
George, on hearing the horse neigh, saw it stomp its front legs in anger. He stumbled back, almost falling. 'Stop it, Prudence!' George said out of fear.
What a gentleman, thought Prudence in her mind, in face of difficulties pushing a woman forwards. When the horse's feet hit against the stall, Prudence felt the jerk against her back as she had crouched right against the stall door. Her body fell forward, and Prudence had to use her hand to support herself. But in the next moments, George had run out of there screaming out for his dear life when he wasn't even as close to the stall as Prudence, 'mama!' George left without checking if Prudence was alright behind him.
In the present, Prudence had a faint smile on her lips, remembering that incident. That was the first time Daisy had tried to protect Prudence, and the connection between them was almost instant. The horse had warmed up to Prudence henceforth.
Later, after a few months, the rest of the two mustangs were managed to be broken and trained, but the white one stood in all its glory, harming everyone but Prudence. That was when Prudence decided to buy it and named it Daisy. Mr Carswell agreed immediately, as he had a soft corner for Prudence, and the horse was of no use if it kept using the resources, but did all it did was be a rebel with its mustang blood.
Prudence snapped back from her thoughts as the reality dawned on her. She had made a grave mistake by pulling George into this. She turned to the head maid, "Umm, can I meet with His Grace? I have something urgent to say."
Prudence had to correct the mistake and tell Vincent that she had only said it out of anger and nothing else. She doubted he would believe her, but she did not want innocent to suffer.
Bertha looked at Prudence for a while and shook her head, "His Grace has said, he wants to see no one at this moment until our guests arrive."