2. A Betrayal

It was late November 1920 and frost was beginning to settle on the windows of Rose's spacious house. Despite escaping the Upper Class eight years ago, she had married into again six years ago. Not many Upper Class men would marry a poor girl but Henry had been middle class and had just happened to be extremely fortunate with his career. Being as banker he earned a reasonable salary compared to most wealthier people. When he met Rose, he was smitten with her beauty and personality although knew it wouldn't do well for his social status to marry a women of lower class than he. However when he first entered the life a a socialite, he was looked down upon as being 'new money' and so happily took a chance on Rose. When she told him she was a runaway from the Upper Class, Henry decided she would be a perfectly suitable wife and didn't care what the rest of his crowd thought and hence he and Rose were married in 1914.

When she arrived home, he greeted her with a kiss. "How did the interview go today, Darling?" He asked her.

"I got the job!" Rose exclaimed.

"Honey, that's excellent! I'm so proud of you!" He said hugging and kissing her.

"Now, I've also invited a guest over for dinner if that's not too much trouble. She's a childhood friend of mine."

"Of course that's not too much trouble. What's her name?" He asked. Rose just smiled. She couldn't imagine he shock on Henry's face after he saw Imogen Carraway, the famous actress, on their doorstep. "It's a surprise." She said.

Imogen arrived at the house whilst Rose was putting the children to bed and so instructed Henry to let her in which he obeyed. He went to the door and opened it.

"What are you doing here?" He gasped whilst seeing who it was.

"I'm here to have dinner with my friend and her husband." Imogen gasped.

"You're Rose's friend?" He stammered.

"And you're her husband, aren't you?" She groaned. "Oh no! What do we do now?"

"Rose can't know anything. Let her think this is the first time we're meeting eachother."

Imogen came inside and the dinner went smoothly from Rose's pint of view. Of course, Imogen and Henry were afraid they would do something to give away they're secret that they do know eachother. They knew eachother very well. At one point, Rose went upstairs to check on the children and Imogen took this moment to speak to Henry alone.

"This has to stop. I can't betray Rose." Imogen said hastily.

"Stop? Stop? Imogen, my darling, don't you love me?" He asked her.

"Of course but..." She trailed off.

"I've been betraying Rose for a year now which I know is terribly wrong but it's because I love you. That's why you betray your husband. Because you love me. Betraying Rose is not any different. We love each other and deserve to be happy." Henry explained.

"I guess..." Imogen said slumping back in her chair. She could tell their conversation wasn't going to get anywhere as Rose re entered the dining room and they resumed with their meal.