Part 4- A ball by any other name is still a dance- right?

They returned to the Hardwoods with vast loads of boxes and Willow had ensured to buy gifts for Sophie, Simon and their father as a thank you for "rescuing" them. Mr Hardwood was particularly delighted with his silver cigar and snuff box and Simon was in raptures over the spinning top and puzzles board that Willow had found for him.
Sophie graced their gifts with one of her own "Oh my dear Lady Willow, I received word while you were in town, Mr Ealing himself has invited you to the ball at Gracecourt tomorrow evening. There is to be dancing and I shall enjoy showing you off to everyone, they have been eager to make your acquaintance."
"Everyone huh?" Willow was worried "The London rumour mill seems to work as well as the Sunnydale funeral home."
Sophie looked totally confused but thought it best to ignore it "Do you like to dance?" she asked Buffy
"Oh yeah- yes I do, very much." Buffy paused "I guess dancing's little different here than- oh say the Bronze?"
"Yes here it's very much lines and order, think line dancing without the irony."
"But I don't know any of those dances." Buffy moaned and sat down heavily "And I really wanted to dance too."
"The ball is not until tomorrow evening, I can have Cecily and her brothers come over after supper to teach you if you'd like, it works better with couples." Sophie offered with her sweet voice.
Buffy beamed and even Willow was dazzled by the brilliance of her smile.

It had only taken a few minutes for Willow to decide that she really didn't care much for Cecily Adams at all. She was the perfect recipe for disaster- take Cordelia (pre-Xander), add Anya's perchance for saying the most tactful things with a smattering of Buffy's attitude, half Harmony's brain and there was Cecily: a brain-dead, tactless, heartless bitch with an attitude problem.
Her three brothers, while still simpering and annoying could not compete with their sister of terms of snide unctuousness.
Buffy was able to catch onto the various twists and turns of the dances quite quickly, due in part to her slayer training and in part to cheerleading practice. Willow was quick but not as fast and this caused Cecily some delight.
"Oh not quite my dear Lady Willow," she said in a sugary voice "Almost, but the wrong way."
Willow tried to calm her temper and not react to the ridicule in Cecily's voice, her powers tended to react when she was unfocused and she didn't want a repeat of the time she found Xander had poured chocolate milk all over her favourite book. They'd been cleaning chocolate milk off the ceiling for weeks. So she bit her lip and concentrated on her feet.
Still, she was pleased when it came time for them to leave.
As they chattered before bed Willow made a mental note to find the apothecary to get that ingredient they needed for the spell. They went to sleep that night thinking about dance steps and gowns instead of demons and vampires.

Mr Hardwood was nice enough to provide his carriage for the journey to Gracecourt house which was situated in the centre of a large group of town houses. It could have easily fit Buffy's home in Sunnydale several times over. The dance hall itself was the size of the Sunnydale high gym.
The hall was lit by the giant chandelier that send sparkles of diamond shape light twinkling down on the masses of guests. The walls were pale making the room seem bigger than in actually was, but that didn't really matter as the room was so full of people hardly any of the walls could be seen. The outfits worn were so dazzling and beautiful, the chatter so bright and happy that good vibes were felt the moment they arrived.
Willow and Buffy caused quite a stir when they entered together.
Buffy had dressed in a white a gold dress with puffy sleeves and a gold trim. She had pearls in her hair and pearl drops in her ears.
Willow was a vision of red satin and lace with garnet earrings, necklace and roses in her hair.
Instantly Sophie was seized to acquaint the two girls with everyone. Sophie introduced them to a regiment of soldiers that were stationed nearby making Willow smile secretly at Buffy- now she really could be like Lydia Bennett.
Colonel Morris was very interested in Buffy and soon whisked her off to dance; they made such a handsome couple many eyes were cast in their direction.
Willow was soon surrounded by admirers who were all intrigued by her quiet air of grace and soft humour. Just as Willow was thinking that perhaps tonight wouldn't be too bad, she heard a familiar squeal.
"Lady Willow Rosen, you look marvellous."
"Miss Adams." Willow gritted her teeth, if she could handle Harmony, she could handle Cecily Adams. "How nice to see you again." She nodded to Cecily's brothers "Gentlemen."
"Lady Rosen." They greeted with a bow
"What a splendid little soiree." Cecily oozed saccharine to the officers surrounding Willow. "I am quite overwhelmed- but perhaps balls in the colonies are different Lady Willow?"
"Yes." Willow pulled back a smile imagining Cecily at the Bronze- or the Fish tank.
"Don't look now Cecily but your poetical admirer just arrived." One of her brothers informed Cecily and everyone laughed at her groan.
"Oh the Lord have mercy!"
Willow frowned slightly at her sarcastic manner
"Whatever shall become of me, I shall be reduced to a wallflower all evening should he get his way, listening to his verse!"
"Go speak to Mr Rushford, he'll protect you." Sophie suggested
"And here I go!" Cecily turned and fled to a disgruntled old gentleman standing far away from everyone else.
*Bitch* thought Willow *poor guy, whoever he is*
"So Lady Willow, might I request the pleasure of the next dance if you are not otherwise engaged?" Willow's attention was bought back to Lieutenant Kane whose dark wavy hair reminded her slightly of Xander
"It would be a pleasure sir." She replied with a smile.
From behind her she heard a muffled curse of someone being bumped into and a hushed apology. She turned and collided with the same someone.
"Oh!" she said and looked up into blue eyes so familiar she could sketch them in her sleep.
"Oh, do excuse me madam." A lock of light brown hair fell into his eyes "I beg your pardon."
The posh London accent was a change from the normal cockney drawl and the life and sensitivity in his apologetic face a far cry from his usual sarcastic smirk.
"Spike?" she whispered but he had moved away and she was unheard.
"Lady Willow?" Lieutenant Kane held out his hand to dance with her. She allowed herself to be dragged to the dance floor in a daze and set herself in a line with other ladies opposite the gentlemen.
Her feet remembered the steps, which was fortunate as her brain was otherwise engaged.