Regynn Winters

"My Fault"

“It was my fault. I should have never worn the dress. My fault… all my fault.” Regynn huddled on the bench, clutching the edges of her cloak tightly around her, or as tightly as her trembling fingers would allow.

“Miss? Miss are you okay?” Regynn looked up, giving the Kul Tiran guard a weak smile and nod, “Fine. I’m fine. Thank you.” she said, her voice only cracking once. The guard studied her for a moment then nodded and moved along his way. She watched him go, the smile pasted on her features until he rounded the corner and could no longer see her. Only then did she allow the mask to slip away, revealing the misery that washed over her.

It had been a disaster from the beginning. Dinner with Jonah’s parents. She should have known it wouldn’t end well, she had no right to mingle amongst the wealthy. Orphans had no place in the gilded halls of nobility. Jonah’s mother had made thinly veiled comments about Regynn’s father, as if she knew who the man was but when the priestess had questioned her the woman just gave her a knowingly snide smile and changed the subject.

The main topic of conversation had been her charity work, but rather than appreciating her efforts Reggy got the impression that they found them threatening, his father seemed to take her actions on the docks as a personal affront. Once again though, her questions were met with knowing looks and diversionary tactics.

All of that she could have overlooked though, chalking it up to the difference in classes. It was Jonah that shocked and hurt her most. He’d imbibed freely of the wine throughout dinner, maybe that was why he’d done as he did. Maybe he’d become drunk… Maybe it was the dress… maybe she’d given him the wrong impression… said the wrong thing...

Regynn huddled on the bench, rain pouring down on her unnoticed as her thoughts took her back to the moment where he’d pulled her roughly to him while they strolled through the family garden. He’d locked her in his embrace, his mouth and hands seeking parts of her no one had ever touched before. She’d struggled to get away, frightened and confused. She’d begged him to let her go and he’d laughed.

And the things he said… Reggy shook her head violently as if to banish the memory but his words filled her mind, flashing like bright light, painful, searing. She’d manage to slap him hard enough to startled him and bloody his lip. He let her go, narrowing his eyes as wiped the blood from his mouth. She cringed from him as he straightened but he sketched a formal bow at her then turned on his heels and walked away.

It took her a moment to steady her nerves then she straightened her clothes and found her way to the front door. The butler stood waiting, her cloak in his hand, a sneer on his face at her disheveled appearance. she grabbed the garment and slung it across her shoulders as she stepped out of the house, she was barely through when then door was slammed shut.

Reggy, lost in memories, screamed and jumped to her feet at the touch of a hand on her shoulder. The guard had returned, clearly concerned for a young woman sitting alone in the rain, and unresponsive when he called out to her again, he had merely sought to get her attention. He frowned deeply at her reaction, his voice gentle as he asked, “Miss, is there someone I can get for you, someone I can take you to?”

She looked at the man for a moment before she nodded and whispered, “Maracius… Maracius Ainsley.”