I'm an awful person for taking so long to update, I know. I just want to say that I got a job and am kind of acting like a grown up now (it sucks!) so that sucks up almost all of my time. Trying to find time for me when I'm working five days a week and trying to find time to write is pretty hard.
I will still be updating, just not quite as frequently as before. I love you all and am not abandoning you!
A big shout out to my reviewers from my last chapter: UrieNanashi, Rwy'n-Y-Blaidd-Drwg, and Eva Sirico! You guys are awesome!
I love this chapter, so I hope you do too. :)
Chapter Four: The Ball
The ball was inevitable; there was no way that Lauren could get around her father, no reasoning that would persuade him to give it up and let her be. Lauren finally realized this, and for half a moment she thought that she might be acting childishly. Yet, how could her father expect her to get over her fiancé so soon? One does not fall out of love as quickly as they fell in.
Admiral Stratford had Ann pick out a dress for her just as he said she would. She entered her room the following afternoon with it carefully draped in her arms and a wary look on her face, as if Lauren was going to lash out at her for picking out a dress that she did not like, or for simply picking one out at all.
It really was a pretty gown. Lauren was able to closely examine it as Ann laid it out on her bed for her. It was a dark green, different from the normal pastels that were in such high fashion at the moment, and was trimmed with crème lace. The bodice was cinched and she knew that it would be harder to breathe in, yet all of her dresses these days were, she thought wryly.
"I thought that the green would compliment your skin and darker hair, Miss." Ann said feebly, afraid that she did not like her choice.
Lauren smiled warmly as she fingered the fabric of the gown. "It's a beautiful dress," she said. "You did fine picking it out for me. Thank you, Ann." Ann beamed at Lauren's praise and gave a slight curtsy.
"The admiral suggested I help you put it on, to make sure it fits so I can make needed alterations." She added.
"Oh, yes. That would be wise." Lauren conceded. Ann helped her out of her day gown and Lauren slipped the new dress on over her shift. Ann pushed her long brown hair over her shoulder so she could tie the corset strings underneath. The maid gave a big tug and Lauren was for a moment without air entirely. "Perhaps not so tight," she managed to say breathlessly.
"Sorry, miss." Ann replied. Her small fingers worked on the strings and Lauren closed her eyes, wishing that for once, fashion was not so physically demanding. Ann stepped out from behind her and fluffed up Lauren's skirts, taking in the overall look of the dress. "The sleeves are a bit long…" She commented.
Lauren glanced down at her sleeves. Her fingers stretched up behind her palm to tug at them. "I think they're fine. No use fiddling with them to change them a centimeter."
Ann nodded. "As you wish. Let's get started with your hair then."
Lauren sighed and sat down in her chair before her bureau. "And the fun begins…"
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
The rest of the afternoon Lauren spent in her room while Ann helped her prepare for the ball. Her least favorite part was having to have a million curls and a million pins set atop her head. The day after, her head was always a bit tender from the weight of holding it all up the night before, but Lauren merely smiled as Ann asked her what she thought of it. She didn't want to hurt her feelings after all the work she had done.
The staff of the house was in a frenzy trying to organize the ball, constantly scurrying in and out of their house for supplies. While the Stratford house was quite large, it wouldn't have been quite suitable for the size of ball that they were hosting; so the governor was hosting it in his mansion, something Lauren found ironic. Here was her father throwing a ball for Lauren to find a new suitor in the house of her ex-fiancé's father. She tried to push it from her mind.
Before she knew it, Lauren was being ushered by her father into the carriage to take her to the ball. She gathered her skirts and tried to situate them in a way so that they would not wrinkle as she sat. Her father stepped into the carriage moments later. "Excited?" He asked jovially, genuinely thinking his daughter had changed her mind about the ball. The carriage gave a jolt forward and the horses hooves clopped along the cobbled streets.
Lauren managed a stiff smile and gave a slight nod, saying nothing more.
"Well you do look lovely." He said genuinely. "Your mother would be very proud."
Lauren looked away at that moment. Her mother would be more proud that she was handling this all so easily, not that she looked the part of a woman tonight. Admiral Stratford's remark put her in an even more sour mood than before.
The carriage stopped and Admiral Stratford stepped out of the carriage, holding out his hand to help Lauren down. Lauren took his hand and gracefully stepped down from the carriage. She glanced at the clear night sky and took in a breath of the fresh, crisp air. "Ready?" Her father asked, holding out his arm. She knew not to respond because no matter how long she waited, she would never be ready. Nevertheless, Lauren placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and followed him into the governor's mansion.
The governor stood at the door greeting the guests, dressed in a finer suit of his own, and his face lit up as he saw Lauren and the admiral approaching.
"Miss Stratford! You look lovely tonight," he greeted happily.
"Thank you, governor." Lauren replied, giving a small curtsy.
"Now, now, none of the theatrics for me." He said, waving his hand to pull her out of her curtsy. "No way to treat my future daught…" He stopped painfully. Lauren tried to act like she hadn't noticed his blunder and was thankful as another man joined them, greeting the admiral and governor Fitzgerald. She knew that Gerard's death had been just as hard for the governor as it had been for herself.
"Miss Stratford," the new man greeted. His face was long and his lips a bright red, locks of blonde hair falling out of their rightful place and into his smiling visage. Admiral Stratford and governor Fitzgerald both gave slight smiles and excused themselves. "You look absolutely …ravishing." He said, licking his lips.
Lauren gave a slight cough at the man's forwardness. She tried to step past him, but he blocked her. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" She asked, looking over him once more to make sure she made no mistake. A cousin she rarely saw? Maybe a merchant's son she had overlooked? He stood an easy four or five inches taller than herself.
A smile crossed his lips. "I don't believe you've had the pleasure to meet me." He said arrogantly.
Lauren raised her eyebrows at his gall and shook her head. "I would say it's a pleasure," she mumbled, picking up her skirts and walking the other way from him.
"Now, now." He said, hurrying to catch up to her. "You don't even know my name yet."
Lauren pursed her lips. "Nor do I want to," she replied smartly.
"Lauren!" Admiral Stratford chided as he happened to have been walking by. "You'll have to excuse her, Percy, for her foul mood as of lately. I'm sure you've heard the news." He said.
"Ah, well, hopefully I can help her forget her problems for the night." Percy said charmingly, flashing a smile.
Admiral Stratford brightened at this and clapped him on the shoulder. "That would be wonderful, Percy!"
Lauren frowned and lowered her eyebrows. "I am right here," she hissed, not appreciating the fact that they were discussing her, rather rudely, right in front of her.
"Of course, dear." Percy said sweetly, putting an arm around her. "If you'll excuse us, Admiral?"
Admiral Stratford grinned and backed away from the two. As he did, Percy took a few steps backwards, his eyes traveling over the entirety of her body, pausing at her chest. He licked his lips again.
Lauren uncomfortably crossed his arms. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to excuse me – Percy is it? – my friend is calling me over there." She lied quickly, trying to think of anything that would get this pig away from her. She turned quickly, and not noticing where she was going, ran directly into another man.
"Oh!" She cried out, quickly losing her balance in her heeled shoes and beginning to topple backwards. The man quickly caught her in his arms, his face only a few inches from her own. He had kohl-rimmed eyes and a tanned, handsome face, roughly shaven. He quickly righted her up and took a step backwards.
"I'm sorry, miss. I should'a paid attention to where I was goin'." He grinned.
Lauren smiled and noticed him hastily shoving something shiny into his pocket. "No sir, the fault was entirely mine. But thank you, for…that." She finished awkwardly.
"Why, Lauren! Are you alright?" Percy cried out. Lauren couldn't help but roll her eyes as he hurried towards her. He quickly grabbed her arm, jerking her towards him, and glared at this new, dark and handsome man. "Watch where you are going!" He demanded rudely.
The man grinned mischievously, glancing over at Lauren as if they shared a secret. He had noticed her eye roll, she realized.
"M'apologies, miss." He repeated again, his voice low and husky. Lauren jerked her arm free from Percy's grasp and the man gave a small bow, stepping back into the crowd of people and disappearing. Lauren gave a small frown.
"Who was that man?" Percy asked haughtily.
"I don't know…" Lauren admitted, glancing around at the various faces of the people, trying to find his once more.
"Well, a rude one he is." He said, grabbing Lauren's arm and pulling her towards the middle of the room to dance. Others had already begun to lead their partners out to dance and the musicians began to play louder as they noticed the lady of the night entering the dance floor.
"Excuse me!" Lauren hissed, jerking her arm free of his grasp for the second time that night. "Who do you think you are that you can drag me around?"
"It's polite to ask a lady for a dance." A husky voice drawled from behind.
Lauren whirled and smiled at the man she had literally run into. "Oh," she simply said.
He extended his hand. "Would you spare me a dance?"
"No, she would not." Percy said, stepping in front of Lauren.
Lauren angrily brushed him aside and took the man's hand. "I would gladly." She said, throwing a flippant glance back at Percy.
The man led her out onto the dance floor and pulled her closer to himself. She found herself looking up into his dark brown eyes. "So we run into each other again," he smirked at his word choice.
Lauren gave a smile and a small chuckle in response. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with you, sir."
"Nor I, you. But I gathered from your friend over there," he nodded towards Percy who had his arms crossed and currently pouting, "that your name is Lauren. Would I be correct?"
"Miss Stratford, if you will. That man over there is not my friend, nor does he have any class or respect." She replied coldly.
He raised his eyebrows. "Ah, then I have the honor of dancing with the lady of the evening." He smirked.
Lauren looked away. "I suppose."
The man pulled her into a twirl. "Is that a fact that you resent?" He asked.
"My fiancé, Gerard Harvey, just died in the war. I resent that." Lauren meant to say this bitingly, but a lump grew in her throat and her voice cracked at the end.
The man frowned. "M'apologies." He sounded genuinely sorry. "But is there more to your resentment than just that?"
Lauren met his gaze once more and searched his face. "Perhaps," she said, unsure whether such conversations with a stranger were truly appropriate. "I'm sorry, but you are a stranger. I still don't know your name."
"Ah, well that may be best." He replied. The song ended and he stepped away from her, dropping her hands.
"Pardon?"
"Time for me to go." He said, giving a quick bow. He began to step away but she took the sleeve of his suit.
"Will I be seeing you again?" She asked. "Are you not from around here?"
The man did not answer, simply flashed another smile as he removed her hand from his arm and quickly strode back into the crowd. Percy was immediately at her side.
"Dance?" He asked, and before she could reply, he pulled her out on the dance floor and then tightly to himself.
"This is not appropriate!" Lauren protested, but Percy was vulgar and stronger than she, and she could escape his grasp. His hand slid to her back and then continued to travel farther down south. "Ugh!" Lauren quickly reached back and moved his hand higher up her back. Percy grinned unashamedly, as if this was amusing him.
Thankfully, the song ended and the two were interrupted by another kind gentleman, asking Lauren to dance. The rest of the night passed in a whirl with other men asking for a dance and Percy trying to step in whenever he could. Yet, every time she danced with a new suitor, Lauren could only image the face of the man she ran into.
That night, long after the ball was over, Lauren didn't have trouble falling asleep. She didn't wake up in a cold sweat, panting as she relived Gerard's death in another nightmare. She dreamed of her late fiancé and the last walk that they had taken together, the walk that had been interrupted. Except this time, when Gerard leaned forward to kiss her, his eyes were trimmed with kohl.
Did you love it like me? Who is this mysterious, kohl-rimmed eyes with a husky voice man that we have met? ;) Tell me what you thought in a review!
Even more so than usual, review make my day! :D
