A Man of Much Importance: Parts 4 to 6

These micro-stories were written for the Word Improv writing challenges set on Instagram by @WordSleuth. Each challenge provides six rare words to be included in each story.

I used these challenges, and the rare words, to create backstories for my upcoming short film 'AWAY'. The six rare words from the Word Improv challenge are listed after the story. Enjoy.

PART 4: THE QUESTION OF THE QUARRY

During his grandiloquent annual feast, Lord Illingworth sought out his new American guest, Hester Worsley. He was eager to explain to her the excitement and thrill of the chase.

'You see, my dear Hester, hunting is not just a sport. It is a way of life. The hunt, the adrenaline, the effulgent beauty of the quarry, it is truly unparalleled,' he exclaimed.

Despite his sesquipedalianist nature, Hester was not convinced. She had heard of the cruelty and brutality of hunting, and questioned the appeal.

'You gaslight me, Lord Illingworth. What of the morals of the perpetrator in this so-called sport? What of the liberty of the intended target?' she asked.

Lord Illingworth laughed. "My dear Hester, you are such a flibbertigibbet. The fox is just part of the game. It is a predator whose role is to survive. And it is up to us hunters to keep their numbers in check,' he finished with a smirk.

Hester mused deeply on this disregard for the fox. Especially when the fox, in this case, was not a fox.

Improv Words: sesquipedalianist, perpetrator, gaslight, flibbertigibbet, effulgent, grandiloquent

PART 5: THE PERUSAL OF THE PURCHASE

Having completed the purchase from a disreputable scoundrel, Gerald Arbuthnot watched as the bombastic Lord Illingworth eagerly inspected the creature sleeping in its cage. Upstairs, the extravagant Bacchanalian feast was already underway.

As he peered within, Lord Illingworth was gobsmacked by the fox's beauty, the richness of the red hair flowing down its back. Illingworth couldn't help but feel a sense of jouissance, knowing it would be the highlight of his soiree.

He also smelt the worry from his secretary, Gerald. While he knew some frowned upon his annual hunts, his thoughts were overpowered by his desire for spectacle and excess.

Illingworth couldn't help but think of the syzygy of all the elements that had led to this moment - a chance encounter in London, his prudent investments, Gerald's resourcefulness, and the party gathered upstairs at this very moment.

As he turned to rejoin his guests, he gave his final instruction to Gerald: ‘Be careful when you remove her dress. I don’t want her alabaster skin scratched. She must be in pristine condition for the chase.’

Improv Words: jouissance, scoundrel, gobsmacked, bombastic, smelt, syzygy

PART 6: THE SINFUL AND THE SECRET

Lord Illingworth, a man of immense avoirdupois stood at the head of the table and regaled his hedonistic guests with his controversial views. He lambasted society, declaring that it attempted to shackle his outré lifestyle.

“Give me a sinful woman any day,” he declared. “But a sinful woman of quality.”

“And what qualities would those be, Lord Illingworth?” asked Lady Hunstanton, as she continued to gormandize on the sumptuous fare.

“Women of importance like you, my dear,” he boomed. “As opposed to a lowly seamstress, scullery maid, or daughter of a bodega merchant.”

“Although,” he added in a salacious undertone, “I have had occasion to entertain myself with each of those too.”

As he laughed, Mrs Arbuthnot could no longer bear to be in the same room with Lord Illingworth. She rose from the table and made her way to the ornate patio outside, her face so flushed with anger at the man’s impertinence she had to sluice her face with a splash of water from the fountain.

How could he indulge in such a spectacle, especially in front of her? And with her son Gerald ready to become the man’s secretary. A man whom poor Gerald was unaware was… oh, it couldn’t bear thinking.

Improv Words: avoirdupois, lambasted, outre, gormandize, bodega, sluice

CONTINUED IN... A Man of Much Importance: Parts 7 to 9