Prologue:
As the carriage came to a complete stop right outside a grand estate, the footman immediately stepped off of the back and came around to its side to open the door. A fairly tall and well built man dressed formally in a military uniform immerged from the carriage. His aging but warm brown eyes quickly scanned the area before he turned back to the still open door of his coach and extended a white gloved hand out,
"Come along Catherine." Said the man; when he heard the soft, hesitating rustling of movement from inside the carriage a gentle, loving smile pulled at his lips before he chuckled. "There's no need to be shy, my child." He murmured reassuringly.
Out of the shadows from inside the carriage, came the tiny hand of a young girl, who gingerly placed it within the bigger and securing one of her father's. And like the true gentleman that her father was, he helped his daughter's small form down from the coach. Dressed in a simple, pastel pink gown trimmed with white lace that reached just above her ankles, young Catherine stared wide eye at the seemingly large castle like manor before her. Its entrance had been left open for any other guests arriving to the event that night. She blinked in wonder a couple of times before she turned her head upwards to look into her father's face who was already watching her with mild amusement in his expression. Catherine's deep teal eyes met her father's brown ones before she offered him a slight smile. In response, her father offered Catherine his arm which she took up before she allowed him to escort them both inside manor. As they passed into the manor's foyer, they were greeted by the announcer.
"Evening sir." Spoke the man who nodded politely at Catherine's father in acknowledgement. "And who do I have the pleasure of announcing tonight?" he inquired.
"I am General Andrew Jones and this is my daughter, Miss Catherine Jones." Her father answered with a proud smile as he gazed down on his child who was now clinging to his arm timidly. The announcer gave a quick nod of his head at the information before he turned about and headed down the long hallway that would lead them to the ballroom. Andrew Jones and his young daughter followed behind before stopping right behind him as the announcer paused in the wide doorway.
"May I present to you," the announcer's powerful voice sounded out throughout the ballroom, drawing everybody's attention onto him and the new guests entering the party, "General Andrew Jones and his daughter Miss Catherine Jones." He finished proclaiming before he respectfully stepped aside so that the two guests could be viewed by all the people in the room. As Catherine took in the fifty or so people there, all who were now staring directly at her and her father, she felt heat flood her cheeks and wished nothing more but to turn on her heels and run for it. But she swiftly pushed the thought from her mind when she felt her father's warm, gloved hand press against the small of her back as a silent sign of encouragement before she took small steps into the room. Sensing her hesitation, her father casually linked arms with his only child and swept her further into the room which was alive with the sound of chattering people and classical music.
"You're awfully quiet tonight." Her father stated as he stared ahead of them, nodding politely at people who offered smiles towards him and his daughter. Catherine turned her head to glance over at her father before casting her eyes down to watch her feet moving across the floor.
"Not much to really say, Papa." She replied in a soft voice. Andrew Jones raised an eyebrow at his daughter's response and had turned his head to stare down at her while opening his mouth to reply but was stopped when a older man who looked to be well into his fifties stepped out in front of him drawing his attention away from his daughter.
"Andrew Jones…" the man declared with a friendly chuckle, "Good to see you again. How long has it been? 4-5 months?" he asked. Catherine's father grinned before he extended a hand out to the other man, who gave it a firm shake,
"Good to see you too, Frank. I was beginning to think that we would miss the chance of seeing you again before we leave next week." He answered.
The man then turned his attention onto Andrew Jones's silent daughter who stood beside him. "Ah and who is this lovely, young lady?" he inquired while he bent over softly to get a better look at Catherine.
At the sudden attention, Catherine tightened her grip on her father's arm before she stepped closer to his body. Andrew Jones smiled down at her noticeable shyness before he answered for her, "This is my daughter, Catherine."
Catherine cast a quick glance up at her father's face before she looked back at the friend of her father's and bobbed a quick curtsey.
"Nice to meet you, sir." She spoke. The man, who was dressed in a nice black suit with a dark green waistcoat, smiled back before he offered a tiny bow in return.
"The pleasure is all mine, my dear girl." He answered before straightening up. "Come Andrew, I have a couple of men here tonight who are most anxious to speak with you about a few things." Frank stated.
"Ah…" Andrew Jones replied knowingly with a single nod before he glanced down on his daughter who stared up at him with beseeching eyes, "Of course Frank. Do give me a second to get my daughter settled in here first." He answered. Frank nodded his head in understanding.
"Naturally. Do take your time, there's no need to rush." He answered. Catherine's father nodded his head in silent thanks before he placed a firm arm around his daughter's shoulders before he swiftly led Catherine away from the many socializing people in the room and took her out through an open door that led out onto a nicely decorated balcony overlooking a garden. After being taken away from all of the excitement going on inside, Catherine, not even bothering to hide her sudden relief, sighed out loud and loosened up the grip she had on her father. Andrew Jones noticed the drastic change in his daughter's attitude and lightly chuckled before shaking his head in response.
"You really don't want to be here tonight, huh?" he asked with a knowing smile. Catherine shrugged a shoulder in response,
"I'm not use to being in the presence of so many people, papa." She answered, "…and all they do is stare!" she declared with a tinge of annoyance in her voice. "It's embarrassing." She finished.
Again her father shook his head in amusement before leading her over to the balcony's railing. "I know this must seem very strange to you, being at a place with a bunch of people you've never met before, but you should try and have a good time." He father stated.
Catherine sighed once more, "I'll try, papa." She answered while meeting her father's loving but serious gaze. Andrew Jones nodded his head in approval before he bent down and placed a quick kiss on Catherine's forehead.
"That's my girl. Now you won't mind me leaving you for a little while, right?" he asked curiously.
"Not at all, I think I'll like being out here better then being stuck in there." She answered.
"Alright. I'll try not to be too long." He answered. Catherine smiled softly in response and nodded her head. Then without another word, Andrew Jones turned and left the balcony, heading back inside. When her father was out of her sight, Catherine turned her attention onto her new surroundings and decided to gaze out at the garden below. For a few silent minuets, Catherine stood at the railing admiring the architecture of the estate but was quickly brought to her senses by the growing sound of giggling. As she turned to glance over her shoulder, her eyes landed on a trio of young women, who looked to be in their late teens, coming out onto the balcony.
"Tell us, what was he like?" spoke an anxious, dark haired beauty dressed in a dark green gown.
"Yes, go on. No sparing details, we want to hear everything." Added a pretty brunette wearing yellow. Both young women were now looking to their last friend for some answers, an incredibly attractive blonde who was dressed in a very flattering, deep red gown with the expression of pure pleasure etched in her lovely features.
"Well what would you like to know? We danced, talked a bit, nothing all too fancy." The blonde replied with a secret smile before she turned her head away from her friends and glanced back at the open doorway leading inside the ballroom, "He was so handsome….not to mention a great dancer." The blonde added with a dreamlike sigh.
"Oh you're so lucky!" declared the dark haired beauty, "What I would give to have Lord Nelson Rathbone ask me to dance." She murmured suggestively causing the trio to erupt once more in giggles.
"Well what are we doing out here then? Lord Rathbone is still inside." The brunette stated with a soft laugh. The trio shared a quick, knowing look with each other before they all turned about and strolled back into ballroom.
As Catherine watched them leave, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. She would never understand how a girl can get so bubbly over a man, but then again, she was only 11 years old. Feeling the need to move around, Catherine moved down to the far left side of the balcony where a staircase descended down to the garden below. Lifting the skirt of her of her dress up to her shins, Catherine practically ran down the steps before jogging straight into the garden, completely unaware of the pair of eyes watching her retreat. As she passed under the flower archway that took her towards a beautiful, running fountain in the center of the garden, she couldn't help but smile at the sense of freedom. Taking up her skirts with both hands, Catherine performed a couple of graceful turns while laughing to herself before she came to a stop at the fountain. As she walked around the circular perimeter and stared up at the stone statue of a Greek woman that stood erect in the fountain's center, Catherine began humming along with the music she could still hear playing from upstairs. When she had completed circling the fountain at least two times, she took a seat on its edge and stared into the crystal blue water. Her reflection stared right back. Catherine had ivory colored skin but across both cheeks and the bridge of her nose, her fair skin was speckled with reddish freckles. And like her freckles, her hair showed the same reddish glow to it, though it was not exactly red or blonde. It was a combination of both really with some darker highlights in it. With her deep, teal colored eyes, freckled face and full pink lips, Catherine was probably considered one of the most adorable little girls there was in England. Of course Catherine herself was not English, fully at least, she was partially American thanks to her deceased mother, but with her father in the military they've had to move around quite a bit.
"Nice night out, don't you agree?" a male voice asked from behind. Catherine gasped in alarm before she jumped to her feet and spun about to face whoever had entered the garden with her. Standing tall in a black military uniform, almost like her father's with dark, wild looking hair and dark, amused eyes, was a young man who looked to be at least 20. With his chiseled facial features, one would find this man to be very handsome. Catherine softly swallowed under his intense gaze before she nodded her head slightly,
"Yes…yes it is…" she answered while she brought her hands up to clasp themselves in front of her body. The man smirked softly before he took a few steps closer,
"If you don't mind me asking, what is a young…lady such as yourself doing out here, all alone?" he asked curiously.
"It was a bit crowded inside…" she answered while she lowered her eyes down to the man's black boots that he wore with his uniform being too shy to meet his gaze head on.
"Mmm…" he murmured as he considered her words. "Enjoying the garden then?" he inquired.
Catherine glanced up at his question before she hesitantly nodded her head, "Yes…it's very beautiful scenery." She answered, "And who exactly are you, sir?" she returned curiously. Once again the man smirked before he offered a low bow from the waist,
"Lord Nelson Rathbone." He answered. Catherine's eyes widened in slight surprise before she quickly curtseyed back,
"Pleasure to meet you, my lord." She answered respectfully while she innocently began to play with the skirt of her pink dress.
"Likewise." He answered with a nod of his head before continuing, "Tell me, do you normally go frolicking about in the gardens during these types of events?" he asked. Catherine froze on spot causing Lord Rathbone to chuckle softly, "That was some dance you were doing." He stated.
Catherine felt heat flood to her cheeks almost instantly and she knew that she must look as red as a cherry. Catherine softly cleared her throat before she turned and began to stroll about the fountain once more,
"I….I was unaware that I even had an audience." She answered quickly as she moved behind the statue and hid herself momentarily from Lord Rathbone's view. As she came back into his view, he crossed his arms over his broad chest and smirked to himself while shaking his head,
"You sure are a funny, little girl." He stated. Catherine frowned and straightened up to her full height at his words,
"How so?" she demanded. Lord Rathbone shrugged a shoulder,
"You just are." He answered. "I don't know many girls like you who go dancing alone in a garden at night."
Catherine stomped her foot in response, "I was not dancing!" she exclaimed defiantly. Lord Rathbone cocked an eyebrow,
"Oh you weren't, were you?" he returned as another smirk pulled at his mouth.
"No I wasn't." she answered firmly.
"Hmm….well then what were you doing?" he asked. Catherine frowned again,
"That's... none of your concern, my lord." She answered as she turned her head away from the man who was now slowly approaching. When he was less then a couple feet away, Catherine casually turned about and walked in the other direction, "What are you doing out here, sir? If you ask me, you shouldn't be here wasting your time on such as I. So why don't you go and head on back to your little fan club upstairs." She stated boldly.
"Ooh tiny and fierce." He exclaimed with a quick chuckle. Catherine scowled at his mocking tone and continued her walk back around the fountain before she headed for the garden's exit. "Oh leaving so soon?" he called to her. Without casting a single glance backwards, Catherine snorted before replying,
"Yup! Because unlike you, I have better things to do then to…what was the word you used? Frolic about in some garden with a who-thinks-he-knows-all lord." She threw back before she took up her skirts in both hands and ran out of the garden, heading back to the stairs that would take her up to the balcony. Carefully watching her step as she fled up the stairs, when Catherine finally made to the top and was once more on the balcony, she couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder to see that Lord Rathbone was no where in sight. With a little huff of annoyance, Catherine swiftly walked across the balcony and entered the ballroom. In trying to locate her father, Catherine had to quickly weave and squeeze on through the many groups of people in the room. Eventually, she found her father over at the food table with a small group of men. When she appeared at his side, he glanced down in surprise,
"Catherine?" he stated in amusement, "Wow….you actually came inside." He said with a soft laugh. She gave him a small smile in response.
"Am I interrupting?" she asked in her sweetest voice. All the men in the group smiled at her and shook their heads,
"No precious, we've actually just finished." One older man replied, "Your father's all yours now."
Andrew Jones nodded his head in silent thanks, "Gentlemen, it's been nice talking with you. Have a good night."
The men nodded their heads in response and murmured their own goodbyes before Andrew Jones placed his arm around his daughter's shoulder and led her away.
"I take it that you're ready to leave now?" he guessed with a knowing smile. Catherine smiled a bright, sincere smile and nodded her head,
"Yes please!" she answered. Her father chuckled before he led their way out of the ballroom.
"One day, Catherine, you wait, but one day you'll love coming to things like this." Andrew Jones stated, "….getting all dressed up and dancing with eager bachelors." He added.
Catherine scrunched up her nose up into a look of distaste, "Highly doubt that, papa." She answered.
Right as the two of them finally reached the open doors of the entrance way, leading outside, a voice called to them from behind bringing them to a quick stop. As Catherine and her father turned to see who had spoken, she couldn't stop the look of annoyance that appeared on her face as her eyes landed on Lord Rathbone.
"Ah, Lord Rathbone," her father began, "…what an unexpected pleasure." He greeted. Lord Rathbone nodded his head as he came to a stop before them.
"I was just informed that you were leaving and wanted to catch you before you go to wish you luck on your journey that you have ahead of you. You've just been assigned a mission to China correct?" he asked curiously as his dark eyes glanced down upon Catherine's smaller form beside her father before he turned his attention back onto Andrew Jones.
"Yes. Just simple mission work. But from the way it sounds, it looks like we could be there for a few years." He answered. Lord Rathbone nodded his head,
"Well best of luck to you then." He stated with a soft smile while he extended a hand out for Andrew Jones to shake. When the two men finished shaking hands, Lord Rathbone then once more glanced down on Catherine, who naturally shrunk away from his gaze because she was already like half his height and underneath his intense stare, he made her feel even smaller. "I do hope we'll get the chance to one day meet again." He stated. Andrew Jones nodded his head in agreement before the two men spoke quick words of departure. Then without another word, Lord Rathbone spun on his heel and walked off. Catherine stared after his retreating form for a few seconds before her father started to steer her out of the manor and towards their waiting carriage. As he helped her up inside and climbed in right after before giving the order for the coachman to start driving, Catherine scooted over by the window and looked out at the manor until they had driven completely out of sight, wondering why on earth girls found that dark eyed man so appealing. If all young women seemed to fall for his charm, Catherine would make certain she'd be the first who wouldn't.