The drawing room of Governor Swan's house was filled with people dressed in their finery, drinking sherry and laughing gaily. Elizabeth fluttered between guests complimenting them upon their choice clothing or making small talk about the weather.
She was nervous; tonight she would be introducing Will to her society friends and more importantly her family.
She was desperate that they accept him because he meant the world to her.
The butler at the door announced the approached of a new carriage and Elizabeth rushed to the door in time to see the carriage drawing to a stop in front of the large house. The footman jumped down and opened the door, he held out his hand and a lace gloved hand extended from inside and clasped it; Kathryn Swan stepped down on to the gravel path and looked around herself expectantly.
Elizabeth smiled and waved at her, Kathryn smiled back demurely but instead of waving which was an unladylike practise she inclined her head slightly in recognition.
Kathryn was beautiful; her dark ebony hair fell in ringlets about her shoulders and she gazed out at the party through bright eyes that sparkled like the sea caught by the last strains of dying sunlight. She wore a dusky red dress that suited her dark colouring and long fingered lace gloves; in her right hand she had a beautiful fan that had been brought back by one of her many suitors from the Asian continent.
The only thing that would have made you imagine she and Elizabeth were related were their beautifully crafted faces with cheek-bones alike and the shared surname. Kathryn was a swan, graceful and pale while Elizabeth was like a raven, mysterious and vigorous to the end.
But they both adored the other.
Kathryn came forward and embraced her cousin lightly, not letting herself stay in her arms for longer than was deemed socially exactable.
"So where is this man I am to meet?" she asked, brushing the creases from her skirt.
"His name is Will, Kathryn your sure to love him" Elizabeth said, she looked past her cousin and saw her own dear blacksmith coming up the drive dressed in the best clothing he owned. "Look there he is! Will!"
Kathryn turned and her breath stuck in her throat, walking up the drive was the most handsome man she'd ever seen, and she had seen many having had many a man peruse her in her young life. He was dressed in black with his chocolate hair tied back behind his head in a ponytail, this man had no need to ware a powdered wig or stick with fashion of the time.
She felt herself grown weak looking at him and began fanning herself with that fan at her side.
"Is that you're Will?" she asked, fearing Elizabeth's answer to be yes.
The other young woman nodded happily and taking her cousins hand she pulled her towards the young man.
Will himself was struck dumb by the vision Elizabeth was pulling towards him; she was beautiful but so different from his own sweet Elizabeth that Will took his sudden feelings of desire to be just that, lust and so when the vision appeared he clasped his wife to be and kissed her.
"Whom is your friend?" he asked when they broke the kiss.
"My cousin Kathryn; she will be staying with us for the wedding!" Elizabeth trilled as both Will and Kathryn starred at each other horrified, both thinking unbeknown to the other how will I manage?