Ch 5| Showtime
The very same night, Arthur's father had decided to hold a formal ball, to celebrate our wedding. I could bet you 20 bucks that there was more to the event than celebrating our wedding, than Pollard was letting on.
Arthur didn't come home in the evening either so I decided to just go out on a drive. I'm not a sit at home housewife, never would be.
In the middle of getting ready, Arthur called. I contemplated whether to take the call or what. At the end, I decided to take it. I had nothing better to do.
I didn't say anything though. There was silence for a minute stretched, and just when I was going to hang up, he decided to bless my ears.
"Clara, I'm sorry in advance but you'll have to go to the party alone."
"Well okay. I'll be there." I was frustrated, not at the fact that he was not coming but at the tinge of disappointment I felt in my heart, why? "What time would be fine?"
"Uh- 8ish?" The idiot was asking more than answering.
"Fine okay." I hung up before he could speak any further. Rude, I know.
---
I'm going to murder Arthur for real this time! When Arthur had said 8ish- I hadn't seen the time then. But when I hung up, I checked how long I had till then.
7:35 p.m. the clock on my phone said. Now now, if I had known earlier, I would've gotten ready earlier easy peasy, but now? I just stepped out of the shower, luckily I had a dress on my mind and Arthur had made sure to stock the walk in closet with all types of dresses possible. From leather jackets to preppy ball gowns, everything was there.
Of course I was late to the party. Getting ready was no child's play when you have to make an impression on some powerful people attending the event. It took me sometime to decide the dress. I had three options: first one, was a glossy Prussian blue evening gown with a deep square neck bordered with folds of delicate blue net piece, with a small tail like extension on the right side of the waist part, with transparent black elbow length gloves, second being, a glittering black net saree, that I had gotten from my trip to India last year, never got the chance to wear it. The third one was a blush pink mini dress with v-neck and long cuffed sleeves.
After contemplating everything I settled for the black saree. I just hope, I don't get it wrong.
---
- Arthur's POV -
"--that's really not nice, son.-"
"I know and I am sorry-"
"Don't you dare cut me off, Arthur Hellbrook! Speak when I ask you to." I clamped my mouth shut, my head bowing.
Mama was fuming in front of me and none dared to dive in and save me. I looked at my father standing behind Mama. He gave me a disappointed head shake, before leaving my fate in Mama's hand.
"I taught you better than this, Arthur. Just tying the knot doesn't signify shit. You have to act like it. Treat her like a man treats his wife. This is her first time attending such a ceremony and you leave her alone, how lovely! Do you know how many questions are going to be raised?? This is really not done, Arthur, really not done." Mama shook her head and giving me one last disappointed glare. It went right to my heart.
"Ma, I'm sorry, I really am. I- I was just-" Mama raised her hand cutting me off. She turned away and left to talk to some guest. Great!
"Trouble in paradise?" A husky voice asked from behind me. Even before turning around I knew who it was.
"Mama looked pissed." He mused glancing in the direction she went off to, "I wonder what you did to piss her off like that."
"No shit, Sherlock. I left Clara to come on her own." From the corner of my eye I glanced at my childhood best friend. He had this faraway look on his face.
"I- understand both of your points." Ray said thoughtfully. I nodded, Ray was the only one who knew about the truth of my and Clara's relationship, unlike others. And I am glad I had his understanding, because otherwise it would put me in a difficult position.
"Mr Hellbrook! Ah finally."
One by one I was surrounded by various people, congratulating me on my marriage and sorries for not being able to attend the marriage and the list went on.