5 - Alert

Mr Collin threw a farewell party for Harry. He had sent invitations all over Westport County and even invited some important figures from abroad.

The Monterrey mansion was decorated beautifully - the abundance of foliage, exotic fruits and fresh flowers were centerpieces used in both the interior and exterior, red velvet drapes covered the polished windows and ornate rugs were rolled out from the entrance, the tables were heavily adorned with exquisite china, cut crystal glasses, ornate silver and gold flatware, ample and soft lightings from the chandeliers, table lamps and candles placed in clusters.

Guests were sauntering in with elegance, long trays carrying flute glasses were moving along quickly into the main Hall.

In the garden, there were also different circular tables perfectly lined and arranged. Edmund lounged back on one of the chairs, both of his legs were crossed over the table, one of his arm was slung over the back of the chair as he casually brought the cigarette inbetween his sinful lips, inhaled in the nicotine before exhaling out the smoke that slowly filtered into the air.

He was in the company of his friends, each of them holding a cigarette and a glass of burning whiskey.

Garrett, Edmund's closest friend dropped his cigarette on the ashtray before whistling after his eyes spotted some ladies in embrioded and silky gowns strolling around the lawn with their parasols. “Tell me, boys. Which one of those ladies do you fancy the most?”

“The one in pink drives me crazy.” Brant who was half-drunk replied first, his heavy eyes glued on that particular girl in the pink gown as he gulped down his third brandy.

“The dark-skinned beauty. She's always been on my list of conquests for some time now.” John smirked, exhaling out smoke from his nostrils into the air.

“I fancy the taller one. I like my girls with height.” Garrett wore a smug and then turned to Edmund. “What about you, Edmund? If you prefer the ones we've chosen, we can always share them, right?”

The three boys snickered amongst themselves while Edmund only looked ahead, completely unimpressed and smittened by any girl no matter how beautiful and opulent. Only one girl made him restless, made him to not even set his eyes on another.

“You know I've never cared about those kinds of adventures.” Edmund responded dryly before crushing his cigarette on the ashtray.

Garrett rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Yes, we all know why you are never interested.”

“Yess...” Brant slurred, the alcohol was already getting to him. “You're only interested in what you can't have... your brother's woman...”

Edmund's jaw hardened immediately and his hand firmly gripped the silky tablecloth.

“Seriously, Edmund. That girl is so boring, and not to mention off-limits. She only has eyes for Harry.” John joked, swirling the golden liquid in his glass.

“Oh look, there she is.” Garrett pointed out and Edmund quickly followed Garrett's gaze and settled on Kate. She was now stepping out of the kitchen carrying a silver tray of freshly baked muffins. She was wearing a boat-neck simple purple dress with short sleeves. Her hair was in a waterfall braid and she didn't look any less beautiful in Edmund's eyes.

She was serving the desserts to the guests seated in the garden with her faint smile and gentleness. Edmund's eyes didn't leave her and his lips tugged up a smirk when he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. It was clear she didn't sleep a wink all night.

“Seriously! What do you and your half-brother even see in that girl. I wouldn't near her even if she begged.” Brant scoffed and John shook his head trying to suppress his laughter.

“It better be that way, buddy. Or I'll castrate you if you dare to touch her.” Edmund warned.

“I don't understand, Edmund. Why her? She's not that attractive and barely speaks. She's always only around Olivia like her slave, and not to mention she's only sixteen. You can't even touch her.” Garrett wanted to know what made his best friend so fascinated by a simple and boring girl like Kate.

Edmund looked at Garrett. “I've waited a long time and I'll continue to wait until she's of legal age and is ripe for marriage. Only then I'll have her and she will be the woman who takes my virginity away.”

“And what about Harry?” Brant questioned. “They're practically engaged already even though it isn't official yet. And he's going to marry her.”

“No way! That idiot Harry doesn't love her as much as I do.” Edmund grounded his jaw. “That boy is only happy playing the role of my father's favorite son and my princess is an added bonus for him.”

“But seriously, lad. I admire your strong commitment. You haven't laid eyes on any other girl, much less sleep with any girl.” John said before raising his glass. “A toast to our virgin friend.”

They toasted and Edmund already smelled her scent from a mile away.

Kate came to their table and her body quickly tensed up. Her hands shakily gripped the handle of the tray she was carrying. Her face immediately fell to the floor and her heart started to race.

“What are you waiting for, an invitation? Serve my friends.” Edmund ordered, feeling amused.

Kate lowered her head and didn't dare to look up. She just got straight to her duties and placed the muffins on their table. Once she got close to Edmund, his cologne engulfed her and her senses immediately sprang in alarm. She had recognized his cologne, and now she was absolutely sure that Edmund had snuck into her bedroom last night.

Her grip loosened and the tray fell from her hands to the grass. Instinctively, her eyes left the grass to look up at Edmund and all she saw was a wide shameless smirk playing on his face. He was clearly enjoying her misery.

Her eyes widened in horror. He was crazy - that was the first thing that screamed in her head.

Edmund enjoyed her reaction. He was content to know that she only thought of him and hence couldn't sleep all night. He knew she must have also realized by now that he had entered her bedroom last night. Little did she know that wasn't his first time sneaking into her room. He wanted it to sink inside her head - that only he had every right to exist in her thoughts and heart.

“Look at that, she let the muffins fall on the grass, she's not even good for that.” John shook his head and the others burst into laughter.

Kate felt suffocated and ran away from there. She ran back into the mansion, didn't hear when Olivia called for her to run an errand for her nor did she hear Harry's call as he wanted to introduce her to some affluent guests from abroad.

She ran straight to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Her chest tightened and she was struggling to breathe properly. Her body rested against the door and she tried to breathe but it seemed the walls were beginning to close in on her.

“It...it was him!...” She covered her mouth as her eyes widened even more. Her eyes were now leaking tears. She couldn't sleep a wink all night because she was thinking whether Edmund had entered her bedroom last night. And then she began to wonder if Edmund had entered her bedroom before and she recalled how she never used to lock her door before going to bed.

A sharp knock came on the door and Kate's eyes enlarged, her chest tightened and her lips were trembling. Who was behind her door? She wondered, fully alarmed and alert.

The knock came again and Harry's voice echoed softly from outside.

“Kate, are you okay? It's me, Harry. Please open the door.” He implored softly, his voice emitting his concern.

Kate's heavy chest calmed down after hearing Harry's voice. She quickly wiped her tears away and cleaned her eyes before she opened the door for Harry.

Harry walked in, his eyes following her as she got her gaze down. Slowly, he touched her chin and made her look up at him. And he saw her wet-stained cheek.

“Have you been crying, Kate?” He asked, concerned and worried. He wanted to know why she had been crying. Kate wished she could tell him about Edmund, everything that Edmund was doing to her all these years but she couldn't. Today was his farewell party and he would leave for France tomorrow morning. Now wasn't the time to tell him about Edmund.

“It's nothing that serious, Harry.” She inhaled deeply, her eyes not matching his as she spoke. “I was sad that you'll be leaving in the morning.”

Harry's solicitous face then turned into a tranquil visage. He held her arms and looked into her eyes. “But that's no reason for you to be sad at all. I'll be back before you even know it. And I promise to write to you everyday.”

Kate tried to smile and not let Edmund's matter affect her. Today was all about Harry and to celebrate his departure tomorrow. She looked into Harry's eyes and there she found her peace and calm. She always felt safe and protected in his arms.

“But you know it won't be the same as you being physically present.” Kate whispered smiling.

“Then each time I write a letter, I'll make sure I spray my cologne all over it so that when you read it, you'll imagine I'm right there by your side and taking care of you.” Harry said, as he pulled out a strand of her hair and brought it to his nose to smell her.

Then, like a gentleman, he offered her his arm along with a bright smile on his face. “Alright my lady, shall we return the party together?”

Kate's cheeks blushed as she held his forearm and Harry slowly opened the door for the both of them to step out of her room.