dinner parties

Prompt: Jealousy
Word Count: 291

***

Katarina sat at the large banquet table staring at what was left of the charred venison. Her eyes became transfixed on the lean meat as she counted the drops of the burgundy cranberry sauce dripping from it onto the edge of the plate. She heard a murmuring beside her. Her head snapped toward the direction of the noise.

"What?" she said, coming out of her daze.

"More wine, M'Lady?" the server repeated.

"Oh, yes, please," she answered, thanking him as he refilled her cup. "Wait," she said before he could leave. She gulped down the sweet liquid in one drink. "Could you fill it again?" she asked, wiping her mouth with her hand.

"Of course, M'Lady," the server replied with a smile. He refilled her cup again, this time hesitating before taking his leave.

As she sipped from her cup, she scanned the room. Try as she might, she was unable to avoid shooting another glance in his direction. Like before, he was amidst a throng of spectacularly dressed women. He appeared to say something to the delight of the crowd, which erupted in robust laughter. Katarina exhaled loudly through her nose and took a long swig from her cup. She tore her attention from the group and went back to counting the drips.

Her count had gotten to twenty when she heard a rustling next to her again. Without looking, she slid her cup towards the noise.

"More wine, please."

"I thought you just had that refilled."

Katarina looked up in surprise, "Danny? What, you -"

Interrupting her, he leaned down towards her and kissed her gently, cupping her face in his hands.

"These people are driving me crazy - let's get out of here."

She gave him a wide, brilliant smile, "Sounds perfect."