Chapter 4
The Grand Entrance
As Caroline made her descent down the stairs, she glanced around the room for her best friends Bonnie and Elena. When she recognized them, they were smiling at her and she smiled back at them. She was so nervous at first afraid she would fall down the stairs and if it did happen it would be really embarrassing.
Caroline made her way to her friends taking Bonnie's hands in hers and gave a little squeeze while commenting on what a lovely evening it will be. Not more than 5 minutes passed, and the Duke of Sapphire came up to them and put a request to dance with Lady Elena. Then a moment later they were besieged by a crowd of men.
Passing on their names for the upcoming dances. Caroline had already 10 spaces out of 20 filled with her dance card and she hadn't been there more than 15 minutes. The Duke of Ashgrove, Tyler Lockwood, was the first dance of the eve. He seemed respectable she was having a good time conversing with him.
"Lady Caroline I believe the first dance is starting, shall we make our way to the dance floor?" The Duke held out his arm to escort her.
While they took their places, she was looking for where her mother was and took note of a gentleman and his friend eyeing her.
The gentleman, Viscount Malpas, nodded his head in recognition. He was a notorious charmer and because of it, Caroline knew that she would have to be on her toes around him as to not be drawn in by it. She nodded her head back to him and looked at his friend. He was gazing right through her, the look as though he knew all her mysteries. She felt oddly uncomfortable with the look. Then, she shifted her glance at him to the Viscount and he was grinning from ear to ear. The music started and bent her attention back to the Duke of Ashgrove and began dancing with him.
When it was time for Caroline to change sides with the Duke she realized that the mystery man came closer to the dance floor to get a nearer look at her. He seemed as if he were a beast ready to pounce on his quarry. It was becoming difficult to concentrate on the dance since her heart was beating so fast she thought she would faint. The fluttering sensations mixed with a gripping feeling around her heart. She noticed that the Viscount put a hand on the stranger's shoulder and it broke the trance he was in.
He looked at the Viscount and said a few words and turned around to walk away.
Although Caroline did take note he walked at a quick pace away, he hesitated for a moment to look back at her.
Who was this man she remembered? She hasn't seen him in all the years that her parents held events at their home. She recognized everyone but him it is peculiar she never saw him before this evening. When the dance ended the Duke of Ashgrove escorted her back to her mother, thanked her for the dance and left her side. Damn, she thought he would at least stay a little bit to converse. She assumed it was because he took notice of the man who gave her heart palpitations. That would merit the reason to leave.
Caroline was so deep in the thought that she missed what her mother was saying to her. "Caroline, are you listening to me?"
She looked to her mother blank-faced then replied, "Sorry mother I did not hear what you said. I was lost in thought."
Caroline's mother responded "I thought as much. Tell me, how did you enjoy the dance?"
Caroline looked at the place where the mystery man once stood and replied: "A little overwhelmed actually."
Her mother nodded in understanding. "I was in your shoes at one time as well. Oh, Viscount Malpas inquired about you. He would like you to leave a spot available for a dance later. I said I will inform you."
Caroline looked at her mother "was he with someone, a gentleman actually?"
Her mother's eyes gave a shocked look. "Yes, but he is no gentleman and my dear heed my words, not a man you would want to associate with. Do you understand?"
Caroline was dumbfounded at her mother's words. "Why? Who is he anyway? Why would a cad attend such an evening in such sophisticated attire if he were not a gentleman?"
The Duchess looked at her daughter with a grave expression. "Caroline, he is the illegitimate son of the former Duke of Kent's wife. She had an affair the result being him. He grew up at first within society, but then when the news was out from the scandal and since he held no title decided to open a sin pot of a club. Lord Mikealson renounced him publicly. We haven't seen him at any of societies, social events since. Please, Caroline, it would be best to focus on an eligible gentleman not a ruffian like him."
Caroline was about to comment when she heard a young man speak to her.
"Then, do you accept a space available for the next dance Lady Caroline?"
