"By the way, Meg, have you picked out the dress you're going to wear yet?" asked Angelina, trying on a red dress in front of the mirror. Angelina had spent the whole afternoon trying on dresses for the ball and had not been able to choose any. The store attendants and seamstresses tried their best to fulfill all the requests of the demanding customer, but they were exhausted by so much demand. They couldn't complain, the Campbell family had always been one of their best customers. Meg, accompanying her, looked bored, although she tried to disguise it with a forced smile. "I already have something in mind," she replied. Meg was distracted by looking at some hats that were on display. They were old and classic models, but she liked them. She remembered how Lady Martha used to wear similar hats, creating an elegant and refined look. "You mean those old rags?" asked Angelina, making a grimace of disgust. Meg ignored the snide comment and calmly replied, "They are comfortable and
Angelina, sitting on the couch in the living room, decided to start a conversation with James just as he was reading the morning paper. "James dear, the staff are commenting that Meg came home yesterday accompanied with William," Angelina said feigning casualness. James turned his attention away from the paper, but didn't utter a word, he was more interested in reading the news, than listening to speculations about other people's lives. While waiting for long minutes for the conversation to continue, she squirmed uncomfortably on the couch. Angelina smiled, remaining calm, but her expression reflected disappointment at the coldness with which James had been treating her lately. She was aware that their marriage was facing problems, and she fought tirelessly to rekindle between them, the flame of passion that never existed. "I wondered how long it took her to get here! I was told that she arrived in the late afternoon, but I left her waiting for me at the store in the middle of the
Angelina was punctual like Big Ben, at eight o'clock she was at the door of Doctor Radcliffe's office. She was apprehensively lying on the gurney while he examined her again. "I've taken all the bottles of tonic," Angelina said in a choked voice, revealing her complaint and concern. "I did everything you recommended." The doctor looked at her with compassion and replied gently, "My dear, I fear for the worst. Perhaps you are infertile." "No," she cried. "It's been almost four years trying to get pregnant," he said. The doctor's words echoed in Angelina's mind like a death sentence, leaving her even more downcast. "That would be a tragedy! James would ask for an annulment of the marriage," she said, with a tone of voice that showed all her sadness and despair at the possibility of not being able to have children. The doctor put his hand on Angelina's shoulder and tried to reassure her, "Don't worry, we'll keep trying. She stood up from the stretcher and pulled herself togethe
Meg was determined to get a paying job, as she did not want to be dependent on James' livelihood. Although he allowed her to stay in his house, eating and drinking lavishly, Meg longed for independence and did not want to feel like a burden to him. It was not ingratitude. Meg would always be eternally grateful to the Campbell family for providing her with a welcoming home. However, witnessing day after day James being married to another woman was causing deep pain. At first, she felt happy to share the house with him, to enjoy meals together, but over time, it turned into a real torture. Looking at him every day and pretending nothing was happening was too hard. In addition, hearing Angelina's confidences about the couple's intimate life only increased Meg's anguish. At the end of the day, on returning home after another frustrated attempt, Meg came across James and Mr. Abraham in the living room, they were fiercely discussing some subject that she could not understand. Through t
Finally the long-awaited day of the ball had arrived. Meg tried to smile, staring at her face in the mirror once more. Not even the beautiful adornment she wore on her head was enough to cheer her up. She didn't feel like going to the ball at all. But Angelina was very adamant that this was what Martha would want her to do. That she should live! To her misfortune, the first person she met at the event was Angelina who was impatiently checking the guest list. "You look nice in your clothes," she said dismissively, "I'll let William know you're here." Meg was about to say that there was no need to warn him, but before she could say anything, William came toward her, a cretinous grin on his face and a cigarette in his fingers. She had always found his behavior arrogant and superior. But lately he has been in good company. “You look very pretty today, Miss Margaret," he said, smiling. “My parents are looking forward to meeting you”. Meg was anxious to find James, sh
Meg pulled away abruptly, trying to understand what had happened. She touched her lips with her fingertips, feeling them still warm. Her blue eyes showed her confusion, Meg stared at James without saying anything. Her feelings were confused, she had always loved James and longed to be kissed by him. She had fantasized about this moment countless times before going to sleep, but never believed it would actually happen. Now that it did, she didn't know what to do or how to act in the situation. "Meg," he tried to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. As Meg looked at him again, her sadness and disappointment were mixed with a hint of joy and hope. It was such an intense moment that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Without saying a word, she made the decision to flee, running in desperation. In her escape, she bumped into Angelina, leaving her surprised. "Here you are hiding," Angelina roared. James stood still, watching Meg pull away, he felt an urge
James was immersed in a deep melancholy in the living room, enveloped by a dense cloud of cigar smoke, while a bottle of liquor rested beside him. His lips still tasted of the burning kiss he had given Meg, and his mind remained immersed in the confessions they had exchanged. The love they felt for each other was undeniable, intense and true, but this was the tragedy that surrounded them. It was a forbidden love, an impossible love, destined to face innumerable barriers and challenges. Angelina appeared at the door, accompanied by the driver, showing signs of weariness on her countenance. "I wish you would have waited for me," Angelina expressed, revealing a slight hint of disappointment in her voice. He raised the bottle and took another sip before replying, with a slight disdain in his voice, "You know perfectly well how much these social events bother me." His lips pressed against the mouthpiece of the bottle as the bitter liquid trickled down his throat, momentarily bringing
Meg was going through a difficult time, perhaps the most difficult of her short life. When Martha died she felt immense pain, her soul was torn apart, but that pain was the work of fate, the pain she felt now, was not a work of chance, nor a fatality, the events were planned and executed by people close to her, and the person she loved the most did not believe in her innocence. Meg tried tirelessly to argue and explain her version of the facts by saying that she would never invite William into her bed, but her words fell on deaf ears. No one seemed to believe her or even hear what she had to say. She found herself without the right to defend herself, while everyone around her accused her. Everyone believed William's words. "A deep hurt took hold of Meg, especially towards James. They had known each other since childhood, he was fully aware of her feelings, he knew of her love for him. Therefore, the disappointment was even more intense, as Meg placed her hope in the strength of t