2. The Dinner Party From Hell

Dressed in a burgundy empire evening dress with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves, I put on my Mary Jane Louboutins and was ready to face the Dumonts. I left my hair to cascade in curls down my back and didn’t bother with over the top makeup. I had no one to impress, so why bother with frivolities?

As I descend our winding staircase, I spot my sister in the foyer. She was on the phone and seemed rather upset. The clicking of my heels alerts her to my presence and she kills her call. Turning to face me, she plasters a fake smile onto her face and walks towards me and catches my frown. “Wedding problems,” she answers with the roll of her eyes. I knew she was lying, but who am I to say anything? She clearly did not want to tell me what was going on with her.

I offer her a tight smile, “Eliana, you know…” I start, but decided against it with the shake of my head, “Never mind. Is everything ready for this evening?”

She looked relieved at my change of subject and nodded, “The Dumonts should be here shortly.”

Eliana looked nervous at this, where earlier she looked positively delighted to be seeing her fiance. We link arms and walk towards the dining area together. My sister relaxed a bit in my arm, but as soon as we entered the room, she stilled.

It seemed the Dumonts were here early.

Snooty and pretentious, both Mirabelle and Spencer Dumont oozed elegance. Mirabelle was a raven haired beauty who used to be a Prima Ballerina back in her day. She married Spencer when her dancing days ended. Spencer Dumont was the wealthiest man in the UK, with Sebastian set to inherit everything. Not that the man needed to inherit everything, he owned half of the country already. And by that I mean the majority of the buildings in the country belonged to Dumont Enterprises.

“Eliana, Elena,” Mirabelle greets us in her haughty voice. The woman had nothing good to say about Eliana but seemed to dote on me. How that worked, I would never know. Everyone always loved my sister. “You are both looking gorgeous.” She gushes as she walks over to us and gives us both kisses on either cheek.

“Mirabelle, how are you?” I ask her, being as courteous as I could muster. “You look lovely,” I say, taking in her beautiful emerald wrap dress.

She rolls her eyes, “As well as can be expected, I guess. Another dinner party that could have been a text-”

“Mother.” Came the voice of Mr Ego himself, Sebastian Dumont.

Mirabelle rolls her eyes again, and this time it was aimed at her son. “Fine, I will play nice,” she says and winks at me while giving Eliana a once over.

My sister looks at me, “How did you bewitch that woman? She despises me.” She said sadly, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Eliana could charm anyone, but not her mother-in-law to be.

I stroke her arm, “I am sure it will change after the wedding, love.” How was this comforting my sister? Because she just turned a pale green.

Sebastian walks over to us and gives her a kiss on the cheek, “Excuse my mother for the millionth time, love. She will warm up to you.” He says and Eliana nods robotically as if she had heard that line many times over.

They had been together for three years, and Mirabelle seemed to dislike my sister more each day.

“Shall we?” Came the voice of my father, boisterous Lord William Wiltshire, the second wealthiest man in the UK, second only to Spencer Dumont.

We all took our respective seats at the dinner table; my father at the head of the table, Eliana and I next to him on opposite sides of the table, the elder Dumonts were seated next to me and Sebastian was seated next to Eliana. My mother was seated at the opposite head of the table.

Dinner was served soon after and the polite conversation was made, however, the air was fraught with friction. Something was going on and I have a feeling this was not just your average dinner party between influential families.

“Now, it is lovely to have you over again, Spencer and Mirabelle, but I fail to see why a dinner party was needed to discuss this. Surely a phone call would have sufficed?” My father, asking all the real questions now.

We were currently seated in the parlour, having wine and our palette cleansed after a light four-course dinner.

Mirabelle gets up from her chair, and I could tell she was completely livid but sad. She gazes at everyone in the room and her eyes fall on Eliana. I followed her line of vision and saw my sister looking anxious, that green tinge to her skin again.

“William, Susanna, I am afraid we come bearing awful news this evening.” She said and looked straight at Sebastian, who had the same confused look on his face as everyone else in the room.

Everyone except Eliana.

Spencer stood up this time, “This marriage cannot be, Sebastian.” He said and his son frowns at the statement.

“What exactly is this about, Father?” He starts, “I know you all hate Eliana but I love her and I will marry her in two months time. Your blessing given or not.”

Mirabelle had a horrified look on her face and she looked towards Spencer, “Tell him.” is all she says and sits down again. Spencer grins, “Even better, I will have someone else do it for me.” He says and the parlour door opens.

A man whom I have never met before enters the room and I heard Eliana gasp. I looked towards my sister and saw that she had gone a deathly pale.

What was going on?

Echoing my thoughts, Sebastians asks the same question out loud. “Uncle Robert? What exactly are you doing here?” He added.

The man, Robert Dumont, looks towards everyone in the room. He was tall, well built and frankly, quite handsome. He ran his fingers through his curls in what I can only assume was frustration.

“Sebastian, you are being lied to.” He said and pointed towards my sister, “Eliana has not been as forthcoming with you.”

Oh no. Oh heck no. Eliana, what have you done?

Sebastian looks at my sister and frowns, “What exactly does he mean by that, Eliana?” He asks but his expression showed that he did not wish to know. Eliana looks up at him with tears in her eyes, “I am sorry, Sebastian,” she says.

Gosh, was I in a soap opera right now?

I take in everyone’s expression; My father seemed livid, my mother looked put out of countenance. The Dumonts were upset and angry, whereas my sister seemed sad but elated?

Was that even possible?

“Sorry? What are you sorry for? What have you done?” He asks, taking a step back from her.

Eliana stood up and walked towards Robert Dumont, then faced us with a grim expression, “I am in love with Robert and wish to call off this engagement.”

Her statement sent literal shockwaves through us all. Sebastian looked as if his heart just got ripped out, my parents went ashen and me? I sat there with my mouth hanging open in a very lady-like fashion.

Eliana, the poised and proper Wiltshire sister was going to cause an upper class scandal.

Robert grinned and looked proud, “But that’s not all. Tell them the news, love.” He says in an incredibly sleazy way that I even got shivers.

Eliana gazed proudly at him, “I am pregnant with Robert’s child.”