This first chapter is just to build a bit of character and not much happens so if you're like me you'll want to wait a few more chapters, say two more. I always prefer to read a book all the way through than to stop and start ~ Rhiannon x
Lead Me Home
Chapter One – Dinner Dates Gone Awry
"Ebony Long, you had better be ready to go or I swear we won't be going at all!" My father called up the stairs of our small house in Finchley. I rolled my eyes in exasperation and slid the last pin into my auburn hair and stood up from my dressing table ready to go just as he slammed the door open to yell. "Ebb- Oh darling you look lovely" he finished sweetly, smiling at me proudly.
"Thank you Daddy" I smiled as I passed him and began down stairs. I didn't really want him to know how glad I was for the reassurance of my appearance. You see, I am on my way to a Dinner party with some of our family friends. And when I say family friends I mean the boy that I have been betrothed to as long as I can remember and his family and his friends. I wanted to look my best so that he'd be proud to call me his fiancée. It wasn't even that he was snobbish and I'd be his trophy bride, I just wanted him to be happy… Not that either of us had the choice to change our minds, it somehow cheapened my love for him by removing the option not too. But I did love him dearly.
As father shepherded me into the car and I settled down I began to think of him. Peter. I was rarely given time to consider if I wanted to marry him myself. I knew that I fancied him but was that enough? Surely a happy marriage didn't depend solely on attraction and who's to say that he's as attracted to me as I am to him? After all, he was very handsome. Peter had also been the high flying popular boy of his boarding school and now he'd left for a job in Government. That was in fact the purpose of going to this party, to mingle and make connections.
I didn't notice that we'd stopped until I felt the chill air on my legs and looked at the open door. Standing beside it, greeting my father warmly was Peter. I smiled and took his offered hand to get out of the car. He kissed my cheek and whispered softly in my ear. "You look lovely tonight." I smiled at him and threaded my arm through his as we walked toward the doors where my father had already found an old friend.
"It's a special occasion" I said quietly.
"It is?" he teased, grinning at me disarmingly. I nodded, playing along with him as I always did. I had to admit, it was nice not to have parents watching us and tittering about how sweet we were or his siblings arguing around us.
"The first of many" I added and he gave me another bright smile, about to answer when a booming voice broke our serenity.
"Peter! There you are my boy!" A small fat man rushed towards us and I couldn't help but be reminded of watching my father playing bowls on the green every Sunday. In his black suit he did resemble a bowling ball quite well. Peter turned us towards him and smiled a different smile to the ones he gave me or the ones he gave our friends and family. It seemed slightly forced so I squeezed his hand reassuringly. Despite being a foot or two shorter than Peter the man reached up to slap Peter's shoulder heartily but Peter held his ground without staggering and he passed me a champagne glass as a waiter passed us and took one for himself.
"Kingsley" Peter greeted, nodding slightly
"Ah, this must be your fiancée!" Kingsley exclaimed, he stepped back and looked me up and down which brought a reaction from both me and Peter. I supressed a shudder at the gesture behind the look and Peter's knuckles went white on his champagne glass, he put an arm around my waist to press me closer to his side. "Ah what a prize, Peter, you must be very proud of yourself." Kingsley continued obliviously and I took half a step behind Peter. "Oh but I almost forgot" he added, his small eyes brightening "Congratulations on the promotion! I hear that Arthur has given you the office right next to his, tell me is it true?"
"Yes, it is true but I don't expect to set much store by the geography of my office" Peter smiled, his lips tight in comparison to his earlier smile.
"But you must! It's a great-" I was sure he'd finish that with 'honour' but just then a tall slim woman about middle age pushed into the conversation, literally.
"Oh Herbert do be quiet!" she sighed, "Can't you see the poor girl is bored of men's topics?" she rolled her eyes and put a hand over my wrist. "Come on dear, I will take you to meet my friends. We women must stick together you know" she said friendly enough but inconsiderate of the fact that I wasn't willing to leave Peter.
"Oh thank you but I'll stay with Peter" I said quickly as she began to lead the way. She paused and looked back at me and then to Peter, her eyes widening.
"So you're the young Peter Pevensie they've all been raving about?" she said stepping closer to him. "Well, I can see why she'd want to keep an eye on you" the woman said, inspecting Peter's suit and then catching his chin in her hand, turning his face from side to side admiringly. "Wonderful bone structure, yes very handsome boy, you'll do well. Now what about you my dear?" she said rounding on me. "Well…" she considered me a moment and then frowned. "Where exactly are you from?" I swallowed nervously
"Finchley" I said quietly, her eye brows rose in response.
"I wish I could say I was surprised… Not as noble faced at all-"
"I'm from Finchley too" Peter interrupted; she looked at him in surprise.
"Possibly but you have more noble bloodlines" she dismissed him and turned back to me. He shrugged at me over her shoulders and I had to fight a grin.
"Tables are Opening!" The room began to move towards the dining hall doors and I was once again allowed Peter to myself. We shared a smirk and then we followed the crowd to the dining room.
"Is it terrible that I just want to go home now?" he asked with a sigh. I half smiled
"I hope not because I do too" We shared a look before sighing and taking our seats near the front of the room. Just as Peter was pushing my chair in for me another man's voice called him from further up the table. I heard him groan behind me and sighed myself. He was pulled away by men eager to talk to him and I watched him go sadly.
"I know the feeling" the woman across from me half smiled, rolling her eyes towards the man next to her who practically had his back to her so he could talk to colleagues.
"I knew it was a work party but, well I suppose I just got my hopes up" I said sadly, glancing back at Peter. She nodded
"At least you can say that he didn't want to leave you" she said slightly bitterly, then forced a sudden bright smile. "I'm Jane Cameron by the way."
"Hello, I'm Ebony Howard" I smiled back, her eyes widened
"Oh, so that must be Peter Pevensie then? Caused quite the gossip you're man" she said, smiling. "Nineteen and already in the same job as a forty year old, it was scandalous!" she laughed bitterly. "Do yourself a favour and get out of your marriage now; you don't want to end up like me with a pointless life and a loveless marriage."
"My marriage isn't going to be loveless" I said fiercely. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"You weren't betrothed?"
"Well yes but I do love Peter" The woman tilted her head curiously.
"And he loves you?" I opened my mouth then closed it, did he love me? Probably not the way I loved him anyway.
"Yes, he does" Peter's voice said from behind me, his voice held a finality that made the woman look away in shame and she gave her mumbled apologies. My eyes watched Peter carefully as he sat down next to me, his hand sought mine under the table but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
