Aromantic Desires

VII

Particularly, it was the day before Audrey's birthday. June and Kate exhorted the three girls to go out into town to buy new gowns. Perchance, at a nearby boutique so Audrey could pamper herself. She always wanted to purchase a garment of modern fashion, a mere thought that appearances were not prime over the years. All the same, she was excited on her personal tour in Kingshire.

Just at midday, the girls got ready for the shopping spree. June and Kate entreated that they go without any of their annoying male friends. Similarly, a way to keep Audrey busy. Not knowing that Audrey had planned this outing before, they took a bath, got dressed in simple petticoats, shoes and took their umbrellas. Just in case.

"Have you got everything you need dear?" Valerie inquired, as she was helping Audrey with her garments.

"Yes, Valerie. We are ready to leave."

"Oh, don't worry about anything. I'm sure you will feel better after this outing."

While exiting the mansion, Audrey crossed paths with Kenneth. Her temple was more tense than ever. Kenneth surely had felt it. Almost every time he looked at her, he swore she hated him. He tried talking to her, still Audrey pretended no one was there or sarcastically asked the girls if they heard something, more so if it were Casper.

They played along and queered as Audrey's petty way of avoiding him was witty . Her decree of opposing his absurd proposition was final. She could not be more certain.

"Audrey, good morning! Tomorrow is going to be a gr-"

"Oh, shush Kenneth! I simply do not care what you think."

"You two are surely husband and wife," Jack mumbled, out from the dining room.

"And you, Jack! I am certain you have known and not told me!" Audrey cried.

"It certainly wasn't my story to tell," Jack softly spoke, his eyes glued to the floor.

"I hope you're happy, Mr. Bainleigh. You got what you wanted. My courtship. Your take on the business. One thing you will not have is my trust. Only if you show that you are more than a greedy bastard!"

Granted, it was indeed rude of her. Still, who can blame her for opposing her position in Kenneth's life? He thinks her life is a rousing game of chess. It was as if she was a pawn. Doing as she is told. Jumping over every God's forsaken cliff that Kenneth called agreements.

"Do as you're told and you will earn my respect," she mimicked, as she thought this is what Kenneth expects from her. Was he mad to believe that she would do as he says? It appears so as Kenneth truly believed he could.

Surely, she did not attempt or even stayed fixated on being the pawn. She knew that she was the queen on the board.

??

"June, can you keep up with us please," Kate asserted.

"My heels are killing me. Are we certainly going to walk through every street?" June hesitantly questioned as she panted.

"We are almost there. Getting your feathers in a bunch is uncalled for," giggled Kate.

The trio was in the village of Kingshire. Audrey walked at the sidewalk, slowly looking at the village with awe. She took in the delicious scents of baking bread and brewing coffee, that was bubbling through the walls of a tiny cafe. Unfortunately, the foul smell of gasoline caused her to gag, as it overpowered the tasty aroma.

Feeling the wind between her fingers and legs was just what she needed to ease the tension. She had always retreated outdoors to relieve her complicated mind.

Her pink umbrella shielded the sun merely, but the holes in them did let some sun it. It was warm and cozy just like the atmosphere.

Children running and playing games with each other was a calming sight. Though some of them were being a bit cheeky and stealing the poor baker's bread.

The laughter of adolescence was in the air and Audrey questioned her friends on how peaceful this place really was.

"Honestly, Kingshire isn't all peaches and cream, Drey," Kate groaned as she paced forward.

"At night, the streets are boisterous and the men are like predators. But you do not need to worry about that. Come, we have arrived."

??

June and Audrey looked up to the two story building. The sky-blue boutique was small, still lively and had the most eye-catching fashion. June hurried inside, leaving Audrey and Kate behind as she giggled.

When they stepped in, they were greeted by an old fashionable woman who seemed like the owner and a younger woman lingered away from them.

"Good day, madam. We are shopping for a gown for an upcoming ball. Do you have anything in mind?" Kate asked, as June and Audrey shyly looked behind.

"Oh! I do, madame moiselle! Theze came in juz laz week from my other shop in Pari" the foreign lady assured.

Her accent made Audrey snicker as she had never heard a Paris woman talk before. It was different but refreshing.

They soon were trying on all the latest gowns that the woman made. After about two tries, Audrey fell in love with a velvet ruby dress that showed her shoulders and a bit of cleavage. It was simple, yet elegant. June and Kate chose their gowns and paid the woman. As she was stuffing the bags she began to look at them.

"May I ask, if zhe ball you all are going to iz up on the hill? The vhite house?"

"You guessed correctly, madame." Audrey said, breaking out from her shell.

"Oh, yez, yez. I heard."

"Would you like to join us?" Audrey asked.

"My.......I would love to but I have duties to attend to. Maybe next time dear."

"Oh, very well Good day to you!" The girls said, waving while leaving the store with their new garments.

??

On the road back to the mansion, June implored on purchasing new jewelry as well. Kate thought it was a waste of money, as she was planning on lending them some of hers. Though she said this, June wanted to. They asked Audrey if she was tagging along due to her sudden stationary position but she told them to carry on. She wanted to see more of Kingshire herself for a bit. They were both hesitant at first. Only after a bit of persuasion from Audrey, they let her be.

While strolling past a pub, Audrey stopped in her tracks to gaze upon a nearby jewelry store that had handsome necklaces. While walking back, past the pub men and women who were having nasty hangovers from an event earlier at night, caught her attention slightly. Some men stared at her. Their eyes were blood red as they barely kept it open. This was an uncanny experience she had ever encountered.

Seeing how they looked, was haunting to say the least as she played with her fingers, while tossing her tongue to the side of her mouth. Pungent smells of rum and wine were in the midst of the air, as she ventured a bit further, halting to discover that she was in a bad place and time.

"Oye! What a pretty gal like ya self doin' er?" A tall, wobbly man questioned as he sipped something from his cup.

"She lovely ain' she? Maybe this the harlot from last night, eh Freddy? Nah, I won' ever forget er name. Was it Daphne?" Another man shouted.

Audrey then soon realized that her short stroll turned into one of many drunken thieves. Their daggers and other knives give that impression. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and dug up some courage within her.

"I apologize for my intrusion. I'm not from around here and we were just passing through. I'll take my leave now!" Audrey quickly blabbered.

The man raised his eyebrows at her. He then spat in the mud beneath him.

"Oh, no missy. Ye must stay. They ave plenty of things for ye to do ere'. Like……Come inside and finish what ye started, no?" He said with a foul smirk.

"What are you-" Audrey cried

He limped towards her, as he looked into her eyes. His breath was on her neck as she became as still as a log. His dirty hands wandered from her neck threading down to her breasts.

"Ye put on a show last night, eh! Let me finish you off."

Audrey truly felt disgusted by him. She pushed him away from her, panting heavily and looked at him with utter disgust.

"How dare you?!"

"Daphne, ye was looking forward to a good fuck."

"Sir, please I'm not Daphne. Please let me leave."

"Ye ain't goin' nowher' till I get what I want!"

Without a minute to spare, the next thing Audrey felt was a hand on her. She gasped and turned to see Kenneth, like a raging bull behind her.

Assuredly, all she could see was Kenneth's fist in the man's face. She jerked back, holding her chest as it was rising and falling. Watching as Kenneth shook the punch from his hand and threw his coat on the muddy road, revealing his muscular frame. He was muscular to say the least and that surprised her. Under those soft coats was a man.

The man seemed like he wanted another hit and Kenneth did not hesitate on giving him what he wanted.

"Troubling young women on the side of the bloody road, isn't exactly your cup of tea, Freddy!" Kenneth screamed at him, pulling up his sleeves.

"Kenneth- It's Daphne!" He screeched.

"No you old fart, that's my future wife!" Kenneth shouted at him and Joe jumped.

"Future wife? What is wrong with you have you gone-"

"Audrey! Enough!"

With his roaring voice, everyone who was standing there stopped immediately. It was as the king spoke and his subjects obeyed. Audrey held her breath as she saw what wasn't Kenneth anymore. Anger was controlling him. It wasn't Kenneth anymore. She has done it now.

"Oh my Christ, Audrey! Are you okay!" Kate came running towards her, leaving June behind. She hugged her and led her away from the man.

Kate and June had Kenneth distracted. Not in a good way, no. He was fuming with rage to know that his sister and friend left Audrey alone.

Nonetheless, he didn't get a chance to yell at them when two men ambushed him from behind.

"Kenneth, look out!" Audrey screamed, pointing at them.

Undoubtedly, Audrey was a bit off time. The men threw cuffs and kicks at him. Kenneth dodge many of the throws coming his way. At first he was holding them off. Hitting them back even harder. Making sure the man has not bothered Audrey.

"Ye got a lot of balls upsettin' me, eh!" Freddy groaned.

Unfortunately, he was at his breaking point, when two of the men held him. Each of them took him by his arm. Kenneth tugged and struggled. Kicked the mud with his shoes as they dragged him further away from the pub. His eyes were tender while watching Audrey. She looked back at him,

Unexpectedly, Freddy then punched him repeatedly in his torso, causing Kenneth to cough and gag. The other men restraining him did the same.

Audrey was in shock. She could not hear anything for about ten seconds. All she could see is Kenneth getting punched in the gut for saving her. All she could taste was the bitter taste of guilt. All she could feel is Kate's arm squeezing her yelling.

That brought her back to earth. Seeing Kenneth in this position awoke something in her. She did not know. All she knew was what she had to do. Scream. She screamed while tears came out her eyes, everflowingly. Rushing to aid him, she was held back by Kate.

"Let me go, Kate!" She screamed as tears split out her eyes.

Kenneth began hearing less and less of Audrey. This spooked him and he tried his best fighting his unconsciousness. But as the men drew that last hit. He saw black.

Bearing this no more, June rushed to the nearby in and yelled for help. Three men came to fend him off as they took Kenneth to the inn. Audrey wept bitterly. Her tears fell on Kate's outer palms. She could not contain her sadness and guilt she felt. Kate held her in her arms as they rushed in looking for him.

On the other side, June ran the way they came back looking for her brother. She thought that he had to be nearby. He had to be.

"JACK!" June screamed at the top of her lungs.

She stood there a few seconds to see Jack heading towards her with a shopping bag in his hands. She waved and ran up to him, almost tripping on her own feet.

"Jack…..Jack come!" June said quickly.

"What is the matter?" Jack questioned.

"Jack. It's Kenneth. He's beaten up pretty badly. We need to get him home, now!" June cried as she tried to catch her breath.

Telling him this, it was as he turned on "do first ask questions later" on his brain. He handed her the bags quickly and asked her where they were. Running towards the inn, Jack called out for Kenneth. He then was met by Audrey and Kate trying to get him to stand. Jack insisted he took care of this, taking Kenneth by his arm and propping his body on his while he struggled to carry him.

"Oh, this is all my fault! If I didn't play Red Riding Hood, Kenneth would have been okay" Audrey wept.

"This is merely your fault, Drey. Don't be so hard on yourself"

"Will he be okay, Kate? Would he regret bringing me here?" Audrey sheepishly asked, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"He's a strong boy, Drey. He fights for what he needs." Kate assured, holding her wet face.

They quickly followed Jack and the injured Kenneth to the mansion where the housemaid and Lady Valerie assisted them to get Kenneth to his room.

All smiles were turned down, as the little birthday shopping outing to Kingshire, was over.

(Some words in the dialogue will be spelt incorrectly. That is to emphasize on the French and English(slang) Accents?. I apologize if this offends anyone as I'm not from Europe, but it is for story telling purposes!)