A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! Thanx.
Disclaimer: Eh, you know the drill. Most of this stuff is mine, but it's nice to have a set setting.
Chapter 1: The Ball
Rianne's pov.
My skirts billowed about me as I flew through the ballroom. A grin stole across my face. If you'd have told me an hour ago that I'd actually enjoy a ball, I would have laughed outright. After all, I wasn't here to dance. That thought sobered my joviality. The final movement ended and I curtsied to my partner and departed. I was here to make a profit. Eliza and John, my partners in crime, had drilled my thoroughly about my role at the ball.
"Make sure you dance at least a few times. It won't do to attract attention by being unsociable," John had said.
Eliza had just laughed and replied, "Rianne won't be able to help drawing attention to herself in a dress like the one we got her."
Her eyes had sparkled when she'd said this. As for myself, I couldn't find anything altogether extraordinary about my appearance, although my friends seemed determined to make me as vain as any court lady. My long black hair hung in waves to my waist, and my deep blue eyes were complimented by long dark lashes. I was almost as tall as John and towered over Eliza. The dress that had last been decided on was indeed gorgeous. Eliza had insisted that we purchase what she called an "eye-opener". I couldn't help but agree. It was a shade of blue that Eliza said brought out my eyes perfectly, all covered in intricate patterns of snow white embroidery. A train followed me as I walked towards the end of the hall, and my hair had been plastered to my head in an elaborate knot.
I was awakened from my reverie by the voice of a young man. "Would you care to dance, Lady?"
He seemed a little desperate and his expression clearly stated that no one else had complied. A/N (Italics are thoughts, but I probably won't be using them much, considering that the story will all be in first person.) Honestly, I thought, all nobles see are titles, looks, and money. It was disgusting. He seemed so anxious that I agreed.
"Of course," I replied, "I'd be delighted." The change on his face was startling. He grinned.
"Thanks. I thought I'd have to stand around like a bumpkin all night." He smiled. "You look gorgeous, by the way."
I could feel a blush spread to my cheeks. I chided myself mentally. If he knew what you were here to do, he'd drop you like a hot coal. The dance was a gavotte, fast and spirited. At the end he bowed, and I curtsied.
I headed across the dance floor and towards the huge double doors at the end of the ballroom and strode out quickly into the hall. Their majesties had outdone themselves. Hangings and tapestries covered almost every spare inch of wall space. The result was spectacular, but a bit much for my taste. I wished John and Eliza could have been there to see it, but our limited funds had only been enough to supply the money required for one outfit grand enough for a royal ball, and anyway, they were ready and waiting in the get-away carriage. If I was seen, I wanted to be out as quickly as possible.
I had heard that the ball was being held in the honor of King Char and Queen Ella's son's 19th birthday. I chided myself for the second time that night. No time for daydreaming. I had a job to do.
Prince Aaron's pov.
I was growing restless. Of all the things my parents could have done in honor of my birthday, throwing me a ball was at the bottom of the list. I'd spent the whole evening being shuttled between Lady Dacia and her ridiculous friends. Their talked consisted of one of four things: clothes, gossip, money, and men. Lady Dacia was by far the worst of the lot. Being the richest, she was considered the leader.
"Prince Aaron," she simpered at me as we danced, "you look absolutely fabulous tonight!"
It was hard to believe she could talk while she was smiling so hard. At first I hoped I could get away with simply ignoring her, but politeness forbid it.
"Thank you, Lady Dacia. You look quite beautiful this evening yourself."
And it was true, I regretted to admit. Her honey colored locks had been let down to shower across her back, and although the neckline of her dress plunged a bit to much for my taste, the style fit her becomingly.
To bad she was such a silly scheming flirt.
"You dance wonderfully!" she gushed.
Ha, I'm sure I did. I'd spent the better part of a month to be able to do so.
"Thank you, Madame."
She smiled, seemingly pleased with herself, and turned the rather one- sided conversation back to ridiculing the apparel of other women in the room. I wasn't listening. I just smiled and nodded occasionally and looked over her shoulder. Try as I might, I could not find a familiar face. As I searched the crowd, my eye was caught by a lady in a midnight blue dress covered with elaborate white embroidery. Her smile seemed sincere and her piercingly blue eyes sparkled. She was absolutely stunning.
The final figure ended, to my relief.
"Excuse me, Lady."
I scoured the ballroom for the lady in the blue dress, but to no avail. She seemed to have vanished. After some time, when I couldn't stand complimenting one more lady or asking polite enquiries after the families of people I had never met in my life, I exited the ballroom and went out into the hall. I had earned a break.
A/N: Soooooo, do you like it? Sorry it's so short, but it's one in the morning and I have church tomorrow. Or should I say, today. Besides, I'm sick of typing. Anywho, R&R please!
Disclaimer: Eh, you know the drill. Most of this stuff is mine, but it's nice to have a set setting.
Chapter 1: The Ball
Rianne's pov.
My skirts billowed about me as I flew through the ballroom. A grin stole across my face. If you'd have told me an hour ago that I'd actually enjoy a ball, I would have laughed outright. After all, I wasn't here to dance. That thought sobered my joviality. The final movement ended and I curtsied to my partner and departed. I was here to make a profit. Eliza and John, my partners in crime, had drilled my thoroughly about my role at the ball.
"Make sure you dance at least a few times. It won't do to attract attention by being unsociable," John had said.
Eliza had just laughed and replied, "Rianne won't be able to help drawing attention to herself in a dress like the one we got her."
Her eyes had sparkled when she'd said this. As for myself, I couldn't find anything altogether extraordinary about my appearance, although my friends seemed determined to make me as vain as any court lady. My long black hair hung in waves to my waist, and my deep blue eyes were complimented by long dark lashes. I was almost as tall as John and towered over Eliza. The dress that had last been decided on was indeed gorgeous. Eliza had insisted that we purchase what she called an "eye-opener". I couldn't help but agree. It was a shade of blue that Eliza said brought out my eyes perfectly, all covered in intricate patterns of snow white embroidery. A train followed me as I walked towards the end of the hall, and my hair had been plastered to my head in an elaborate knot.
I was awakened from my reverie by the voice of a young man. "Would you care to dance, Lady?"
He seemed a little desperate and his expression clearly stated that no one else had complied. A/N (Italics are thoughts, but I probably won't be using them much, considering that the story will all be in first person.) Honestly, I thought, all nobles see are titles, looks, and money. It was disgusting. He seemed so anxious that I agreed.
"Of course," I replied, "I'd be delighted." The change on his face was startling. He grinned.
"Thanks. I thought I'd have to stand around like a bumpkin all night." He smiled. "You look gorgeous, by the way."
I could feel a blush spread to my cheeks. I chided myself mentally. If he knew what you were here to do, he'd drop you like a hot coal. The dance was a gavotte, fast and spirited. At the end he bowed, and I curtsied.
I headed across the dance floor and towards the huge double doors at the end of the ballroom and strode out quickly into the hall. Their majesties had outdone themselves. Hangings and tapestries covered almost every spare inch of wall space. The result was spectacular, but a bit much for my taste. I wished John and Eliza could have been there to see it, but our limited funds had only been enough to supply the money required for one outfit grand enough for a royal ball, and anyway, they were ready and waiting in the get-away carriage. If I was seen, I wanted to be out as quickly as possible.
I had heard that the ball was being held in the honor of King Char and Queen Ella's son's 19th birthday. I chided myself for the second time that night. No time for daydreaming. I had a job to do.
Prince Aaron's pov.
I was growing restless. Of all the things my parents could have done in honor of my birthday, throwing me a ball was at the bottom of the list. I'd spent the whole evening being shuttled between Lady Dacia and her ridiculous friends. Their talked consisted of one of four things: clothes, gossip, money, and men. Lady Dacia was by far the worst of the lot. Being the richest, she was considered the leader.
"Prince Aaron," she simpered at me as we danced, "you look absolutely fabulous tonight!"
It was hard to believe she could talk while she was smiling so hard. At first I hoped I could get away with simply ignoring her, but politeness forbid it.
"Thank you, Lady Dacia. You look quite beautiful this evening yourself."
And it was true, I regretted to admit. Her honey colored locks had been let down to shower across her back, and although the neckline of her dress plunged a bit to much for my taste, the style fit her becomingly.
To bad she was such a silly scheming flirt.
"You dance wonderfully!" she gushed.
Ha, I'm sure I did. I'd spent the better part of a month to be able to do so.
"Thank you, Madame."
She smiled, seemingly pleased with herself, and turned the rather one- sided conversation back to ridiculing the apparel of other women in the room. I wasn't listening. I just smiled and nodded occasionally and looked over her shoulder. Try as I might, I could not find a familiar face. As I searched the crowd, my eye was caught by a lady in a midnight blue dress covered with elaborate white embroidery. Her smile seemed sincere and her piercingly blue eyes sparkled. She was absolutely stunning.
The final figure ended, to my relief.
"Excuse me, Lady."
I scoured the ballroom for the lady in the blue dress, but to no avail. She seemed to have vanished. After some time, when I couldn't stand complimenting one more lady or asking polite enquiries after the families of people I had never met in my life, I exited the ballroom and went out into the hall. I had earned a break.
A/N: Soooooo, do you like it? Sorry it's so short, but it's one in the morning and I have church tomorrow. Or should I say, today. Besides, I'm sick of typing. Anywho, R&R please!