Revisiting Unpleasant Memories (2)

CHAPTER 4

Evelina retraced her steps to the precise location where she had left the hapless man. Upon arrival, she was heartened to discover his absence, and realized that she had not committed a grievous act. However, her peace was short-lived as she lamented, "My handbag is missing. Did that man abscond with it?" A sense of yearning overcame her, as she turned her gaze towards the uninviting entrance of the red light district.

*~*~*~*~*

In the bar area of the brothel, Alexander Montague McAllister asserted his position on a stool, gradually settling against its sturdy frame as he gingerly nursed his aching head with an ice pack, emitting intermittent groans. His companion, Colin, nestled beside him, regaled in amusement at Alexander's plight. "Did I not caution you against following her?" Colin jibed teasingly, eliciting a half-hearted glare from Alexander, who himself knew the truth behind his friend's remarks. The incandescent side lantern illuminated Alexander's rigid jawline, but Colin paid no heed, and continued with his robust rant. "To think, a Ton's girl left you in this state. What did you possibly do to provoke her so?"

Alexander, exasperated by his friend's chiding, retorted sharply, "For goodness' sake, Colin, desist."

Colin, undeterred, persisted, challenging him with, "And if I choose not to? You got more than you bargained for, and I have every right to revel in your suffering. Isn't it amusing to regard your contorted face?"

Alexander, brimming with frustration, exclaimed emphatically, "Enough already!"

"All of this is irrelevant. What truly irks me is the rationale for her presence here. She reeks dissimilar to the others," Alexander grumbled, fuming with resentment.

"Perhaps that should have registered to you that she doesn't belong here. But no, you were awed by her looks to decipher that," Colin rebuked his friend.

"Am I the only one to blame here?" Alexander retorted.

"Whose responsibility is it then? The woman's?" Colin scoffed in disbelief.

"She is not a victim," Alexander firmly denied.

"Right. Believe what you need to, Montague, to sleep soundly. Bear in mind that seduction is an atrocious criminality, especially for someone like you. You ought to be incarcerated for your conspicuous seduction of this woman," Colin said indignant.

"In the end, she was far stronger than I was. She shouldn't have come here if she wasn't here for the business," Alexander countered.

"A great example of how far you've plunged into the realm of a Rake," Colin stated with a sneer.

"Don't act like you're any better than me," Alexander slammed the ice pack on the table with a resounding thud.

"Does it please you to provoke me?" Colin asked, his eyes wide open.

"I'm not enraged," Alexander replied, wiping off a drink stain from his mouth. "It's just disheartening to see you accuse me while you, as a noble Viscount, should not be present in a brothel populated by debased women. Yet you point the finger at me."

"Is the truth too bitter to swallow?" Colin questioned. "Besides, if you hadn't interfered with my friendship with Cassandra during our school days, I would have been married by now, leaving you in the lurch as the only Rake."

"You're blinded by your own ignorance, Viscount," Alexander retorted. "Cassandra was never suitable for marriage, and you should be grateful for my intervention in that situation."

Colin chuckled. "Haven't I already expressed my appreciation enough? Thank you, my friend, for rescuing me from the alluring grip of Cassandra's adulterous charm."

"If you had married her," Alexander added quietly.

"If I had married her," Colin agreed with a grin.

As they laughed together, Colin suddenly straightened his shoulders, his serious gaze locked on a familiar figure approaching them with sly precision.

"I have some challenging news for you, my friend. Your beloved Cassandra has just arrived and is on her way to our table, no doubt with another wicked ploy up her sleeve," Colin announced, finishing it with a sarcastic laugh.

"What could she possibly want from me?" Alexander smirked cynically, pulling out a handbag from his coat's inner pocket and displaying it to Colin.

"You took something that belongs to her? How many more bruises are you willing to endure for this woman?" Colin inquired in a solemn tone. He instinctively crossed his arms. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the woman heading towards them at a rapid pace. "For a man of your standing, pilfering is beneath you."

"Stealing is a harsh word. I prefer to say I did more taking than stealing," Alexander explained.

"And is that something to be proud of?" Colin questioned.

"Absolutely. The risk was worth taking. How close is she to us now?" Alexander inquired.

"Close enough," Colin replied. "I think that's my signal to go seek out some other entertainment. Be careful not to lose any teeth this time."

Alexander didn't respond, so Colin quickly departed.

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