Chapter 8: Replica
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She swished the libation around in her cup and watched as the liquid fell and then rose in a lovely arch, barely skimming the rim of the glass. It was a deep claret and very sweet. She could feel his eyes on her and she carefully thought of trivial matters as he picked his way through her mind. This wine was very good...
"You are very quiet today." he commented from the other end of the table, her brows rising slightly at his observation.
"Yes well, there is not much to say as of late." she responded apathetically to his mumble.
"Well, that is quite unfortunate." he said, making only the smallest effort to engage in civil conversation.
"So it seems, darling." she replied smoothly over her glass of wine.
Sighing, he waved his hand lazily and the food disappeared. The wine glass vanished and she clenched her fist. She sat there, piqued, and raised her head slightly. It was very unlike her and she peered over at him with a face of annoyance. Her mother would have her head if she saw the insolent behavior her daughter had taken upon. He smiled cheekily and the wine glass reappeared. Her eyes flickered with astonishment and she raised the glass timidly. He never smiled at her.
"You are excused." he said calmly before making a glass of wine appear for himself.
She stood and strode elegantly from the room, her trail floating delicately above the hardwood. Her stomach groaned in protest at her dismissal; she hadn't eaten a bite, but at least she had the wine. She walked upstairs and drank what was left of her wine. She boorishly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stopped when she caught her reflection in the mirror.
Her hair was artfully piled into a neat bun and she was dressed in the finest clothes of the season. Though simple, her jewelry was pleasing to the eye and glinted brightly with the afternoon sun. She smiled delicately at the face in the mirror. Her smile appeared so insincere, as if the original had been replaced. It looked the same as all the smiles she had ever been given. How pleasant to meet you… Oh yes, how splendid… How wonderful… The wine seeped into the lace on her sleeve and left behind it a dark, irremovable stain. She closed her eyes and shut close the window drapes, erasing the appearance of the strange woman in the glass.