Chapter 4

Hermione felt her anxiety and anticipation rise as their carriage drew up to the steps of the Parkinson's mansion on Grosvenor's Square. A footman opened the carriage and let down the steps. She watched as her "father" alighted the carriage and then Draco. Draco turned around to lend her a hand as she stepped down from the carriage.

There was a red carpet that was rolled all the way up to the doorway. Hermione picked up her dress and took Draco's hand. She tried so hard to take the entire scene in at once. It was all so exciting. There were so many people in different colors, fabrics and designs. One she walked into the foyer she thought surely her eyes would pop out. There were so many candles!

They followed the procession through the greeting line. She barely paid enough attention to the Parkinson's to give a curtsy. It was only at Draco's elbow indelicately in her side that she looked up long enough to smile.

When they made it to the top balcony Hermione was so nervous she was afraid everyone would hear the beat off her heart. There was a footman there to take their names.

"The Earl of Hawkins and Lady Sophia," the man called out in a loud clear voice.

Hermione felt on the edge of her nerves. She was starting to shake a little as the Earl led her down the stairs. She felt as if all eyes were on her alone.

The ladies were resplendent in their formal wear, each shining like a gem in a sea of satin, velvet and silk. The men looked polished and sophisticated.

"His Grace, the Duke of Wilshire," the loud voice called from the top of the stairs.

Hermione turned to watch Draco walk down the grand staircase illuminated by hundreds of candles. He looked like a man she never thought he'd ever be. Her heart sped up a bit and her throat caught in her throat. For just a moment she thought that she saw a hint of vulnerability, but she knew she had to be seeing things.

Before Hermione could even blink she had men all around her reaching for the dance card around her wrist. Men were bowing and her "father" was introducing her to so many men her head spun.

Draco watched from the side of the ballroom as men swarmed around Hermione. He felt his anger rise as so many bowed over her hand, brushing their lips over her knuckles. He felt his jaw tighten. His blood started to boil as he watched that bastard the Earl of Canton walk up to her. He didn't know why, but he just didn't like the guy.

His eyes scanned the room. There were many beautiful ladies throughout the ballroom. Many with Mama's that'd corner him for the Marriage Mart given half the chance, if he'd read was correct. He crossed his arms over his chest watching the gentleman walk around like peacocks in front of prospective brides.

He snorted in disgust and turned to walk off. He immediately bumped into a lady. He grabbed her elbows as she started to fall back. "I must apologize, ma'am."

"Oh, no, I didn't see you there. Allow me to apologize, sir," Came a soft lilting voice.

All he saw was a flash of red hair before he looked into the green eyes of Ginny Weasley, or whoever she was. He felt his eyes widen slightly. Just what he wanted or needed.

Draco immediately let go of her and took a step back. Her smile was wide and her eyes sparkled. "I'm Lady Victoria," she said with a curtsy. "I know it isn't proper to introduce one's self, but there is no one about. This is my first season."

Draco bowed to her. "I am Matthew Sinclair, Duke of Wilshire. Let me escort you back to your mother."

He offered her his arm while she looked at him with round green eyes. She nodded her head towards a woman in a cloud full of purple; he immediately recognized Molly Weasley.

"Mama," Victoria said as they came close," May I present to you the Duke of Wilshire who was kind enough to escort me back to you? Your Grace, this is my mother, Lady Katherine."

Lady Katherine's face lit up and her eyes determined. He could almost see the wheels in her head turning. "Your Grace, how lovely it is to finally meet you"

Draco made polite conversation for about five minutes before detaching himself from the ladies. He learned that her father was the Baron of Elkston. He didn't write down his name on her dancing card mainly because he didn't know the dances and he also felt weird engaging in anything with someone that looked like Ginny, even if it wasn't her.

Draco made his way to the to the card room, he was at least learned in those games.

The dancing was about to begin and Hermione felt her anxiety about to overtake her. She excused herself from her father and group of admirers to make her way to the powder room. She pushed her way through the doors and leaned against the nearest wall. There were a couple of maids in there repairing ladies dresses with minor issues at the far side of the room.

Hermione tried to calm her breathing while trying to think straight rational thoughts. How would she get out of this dancing? She could say she sprained her ankle, but the Earl would want to leave. She didn't want to leave, they just got here.

A woman dressed in rose red came through the doors muttering under her breath. Hermione looked up as she heard familiar words to a spell she used often. She studied the woman closely. Her hair was the blondest she'd ever seen, blue eyes so clear they looked like the morning sky.

Hermione followed her to one of the corners in the room. Only someone who used magic would notice what she was doing.

"Excuse me, ma'am." Hermione said.

The woman jumped and spun around, eyes wide. "Can I help you?"

Hermione smiled at the woman trying to put her at ease. "I need a little help if you could?" At the woman's nod she continued. "I need help enchanting my slippers. I don't know how to dance."

The woman smiled at Hermione. "First season, is it? I didn't know how to dance when I first came to mine either." The woman didn't use a wand, she just muttered the words. "My name is Lady Josephina, Marchioness of Abernathy."

"Lady Sophia, daughter of the Earl of Hawkins." Hermione smiled until the woman's mouth turned down.

"You cannot be Lady Sophia for she is a muggle." The Marchioness stared at her intently.

Hermione started to squirm. "I cannot explain right now."

She nodded and stared closer. "I shall call on you tomorrow afternoon." She turned and left the room.

Hermione made her way out to the ballroom. She was in time for a young gentleman to come claim her for the opening dance. Hermione felt her slippers kick up as the gentleman started to lead her through the steps.

It was magnificent!

She didn't have to do a thing. She laughed aloud and felt her spirits soar. Many heads to turn and look her way, some disapproving for a lady never laughed, but tittered softly. Hermione didn't care, though. She just felt exhilarated. She danced so much that her feet started to hurt by the time the waltz before dinner came up.

The Earl of Canton came and claimed her hand. She looked into his smiling face as he placed a hand on her waist and she a hand on his shoulder as he took her other in his hand. Around the room they went. She smiled so much her cheeks were aching, but she was so happy she couldn't seem to stop. He glided her through the colors of women's skirts to the open French doors. At first Hermione didn't know what he intended, until he danced her right out the door.

They were on the cool terrace that was bathed in moonlight. The stars were high and bright, Hermione felt the Earl pull her closer. His hand slid over the middle of her back to her waist. His breath was on her ear, "Just on kiss," he said.

Hermione tried to pull away. The man's smiles and witticism made her smile, but to kiss him? Hermione balked at that idea. She didn't even know the man!

His lips brushed over her cheek and that was it. Cool air hit her chest.

"Get your hands off the Lady." The voice was low and menacing.

Her ire immediately rose. How dare he come out here and think he was going to run someone off. She forgot her thoughts of not wanting to kiss the Earl because of Draco's meddling. She'd kiss him a thousand times just to spite the meddling man.

The Earl puffed up and glared at Draco. "You won't always be around," he growled as he took off into the ballroom.

Hermione immediately rounded on him jabbing him in the chest. "How dare you think you can come out here and take control of this? How dare YOU think you can come out here and mess with things that don't concern you?!"

Draco watched as her chest bounced up in down in fury. A lecherous grin spread across his lips. "But I am only playing the part in which I was thrown into."

Hermione's eyes grew stormy. "You don't have to be so literal of everything."

"I do. If you were caught out here in that man's embrace you'd be immediately married and what good would that be to me?" He moved slowly towards her.

"You can get that look off your face, Draco Malfoy; you only want to do this because it suits you. Did you not get enough torture in when we were kids? What more dues must I pay?!" She fumed.

His eyes narrowed. "So you think me being cruel?"

She nodded. "Whatever I did to be stuck in this time with you, I'm sorry!"

Before she knew what he was about he was close enough to pull her close. She fell against his hard chest, feeling her breasts push up against them. His lips were on hers hard and punishing. She started out fighting him, trying to get away. She didn't know when she stopped and fell into his embrace.

His lips turned soft against hers, brushing slowly back and forth before sucking her bottom lip into his mouth. Her gasp was arousing and heated his blood. He wrapped an arm around her waist, her hips coming against his. He teased her lips with the tip of his tongue, opening hers so he could explore her mouth.

Hermione wasn't to be out done. She did the same to him, trying to push closer to the heat of his body. She shivered feeling his hard body against her soft one. She slowly swayed her hips back and forth against his. She felt pleasure wash down her belly.

He cupped her cheek with one hand to pull her into a deeper kiss. His arm tightened and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The moan into his mouth brought him back to the present.

He jerked away from her. She almost stumbled forward but caught herself. She was wide eyed staring at him before turning on her heel and flew back through the doorway.

Draco shuddered. Damn, he thought, so much for cooling his ardor. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone. He stayed outside for a few moments trying to cool down. It was another five minutes before Draco felt composed enough to head to the dinner room.

He picked up a plate and went through the buffet line. There was so much food that he wasn't sure that everyone would eat it. The alcohol was just as bountiful. He'd need it now. He had avoided drinking the whole night so he'd have his wits about him, but at this point a nice stiff drink is what he needed.

Draco spotted Hermione, the Earl of Hawkins and the Earl of Canton at a table with a few more people. He didn't recognize them as people he'd seen earlier that evening. He took his plate over to an empty seat next to the Earl of Hawkins that was seated across from Hermione.

Hermione made sure she didn't look his way all through dinner. She sat next to that ass Canton and laughed with him. Draco talked about horses with the gentleman to his right and about the crops from that season. Draco mainly did the listening for the man was enthusiastic of both topics.

Dinner was soon over and dancing continued. Draco wanted to leave but didn't know how he'd manage it. He wanted to lock himself away in the library and brood for a while with a decanter of brandy. He'd get foxed before the evening was out.

Draco headed back for the card room knowing that his wish wasn't going to be greeted. He needed to understand the feelings that were awash in his body.

Hermione did her best to ignore Draco at dinner. But she was more aware of him than she had been of anyone. Her body fairly vibrated with need. She did her best to keep up with the conversation that Canton was providing. He talked on so many topics she almost didn't know one from the other.

How she longed to get far away from Draco. She felt his eyes boring holes into her at times. She needed space to think. She didn't know what she was thinking on the terrace. One moment she was fighting him the next she was kissing him as hungrily as he was her.

Never had she ever felt the urge to be close to Draco. Now that's all she could think about. She didn't want to, but she couldn't help it. Just thinking about his hard body against his made her shiver.

Finally the dancing resumed and Hermione raced back out. Her feet were sore, but anything to get away from Draco's intense stares.

She danced with more gentleman that she forgot their name. Most were amusing to talk with, others too stiff and formal. When the night ended her poor feet cried for mercy and her body for bed. Draco sat next to her in the carriage, feeling his thigh rub against her.

The Earl of Hawkins talked of the night with energy him nor Hermione felt, but each answered appropriately. When the carriage pulled up to the front door Draco helped Hermione down whispering, "We shall talk tomorrow," before each went their separate ways for the night.

Thank you so much for your subscriptions and reading! I enjoy very much reading everyone's comments. To me Victorian times seems vastly romantic and I have much enjoyed writing this story.