Author's note: Thank you to all who have reviewed and added this to alerts. Thanks again to actresswithoutastage for letting me annoy you with my ideas and making suggestions. (I think you guys should check out her stuff.) Please feel free to review.

Happy reading!

Chapter Four

Brittany sighed and looked in the mirror forlornly.

"Is there a problem, miss?" Santana asked.

"It just doesn't feel right."

"The dress? The hair?"

"All of it." She flounced away and sat down heavily on her bed. "I don't want to go."

"But you have to. You promised." Her maid said, putting away all the extra hair things and straightening up the young lady's vanity.

It had been almost a week since the events in the carriage and neither had mentioned it or even hinted at it, though Brittany had lain awake almost every night wondering what it would have been like if they had been able to kiss.

She looked away from her maid now. "I know I promised. But I also know that Lord Sebastian will have his hands all over me if he has half a chance."

"I know a few tricks, miss."

"Tricks."

"Yes. A few of the gentlemen who have come here have a few too many drinks and their hands like to wander." He pulled the other young woman to her feet. "So if he grabs for your hand and he's already kissed it in greeting," she slipped her hand into Brittany's, "Twist your hand out of his grasp," she demonstrated and then clasped her hands behind her back. "You don't have to let him hold your hand. He's not your betrothed or your lover. If he tries to touch your cheek," she raised her hand up and brushed a finger down her cheek, "just step away. If at all possible, put another person or two between you. And if all else fails, make some excuse and just walk away."

Brittany stood speechless, her breathing ragged and her heart pounding out of her chest. She swallowed and took a long steadying breath. "And what if I can't get away?" she asked softly.

"I'm sure Lord Blaine or any of the other guests would happily do whatever they can to help you if they see you're distressed. They all love you." She took a few steps back, her hands clenched at her sides to keep from reaching out to touch her again.

"Are you included in that?" She surprised herself by asking.

Santana smiled and opened her mouth to speak, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. The butler called, "Miss Brittany, your carriage is ready."

"Thank you." She called. She looked to her maid. "I'm sorry, I didn't—"

Santana cut her off with a shake of her head. "Servants should love their employers to some degree, especially if they are kind. They should at least have some respect for the people who provide for them. It is an honor to work for your family." She handed over Brittany's reticule and parasol.

"That sounds very rehearsed." She pointed out as they walked out the door.

Santana said nothing until they were alone in the carriage. "It's easy to love someone as kind as you. You treat everyone the same, no matter their station or situation. And even those that annoy you or harass you are subject to your compassion."

Brittany watched her in silence for a while. No one had ever really said those things, though they were true. And it wasn't a judgment. Her mother had once told her that she'd be kind to a rabid dog even if it bit her multiple times and resulted in her death.

She said softly after a while, "I don't know how to be mean or hateful. I don't like it to be done to me, so why do it to others?"

"You're a rare woman, miss. I hope you never change."

"I hope for the same." She examined Santana's darker complexion as she stared out the window. She breathed out, "God, you're beautiful."

She turned her face and looked at Brittany. Her eyes were full of fear.

"It's not just me being kind." Her voice shook as she said it.

"Brittany, you can't… Thank you. Just please, miss, leave it alone. What happened before, it can't happen again."

"I know it can't go on. I just need to let you know how I feel. And I feel that you're very beautiful." She smiled, "And I like it when you just call me Brittany."

"It's wrong. All of it is." A tear slipped from her eye. She wiped it away.

The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the Smythe home.

It appeared that half of London was packed into the ball room. She greeted young Sugar and wished her well on her birthday. As she suspected, Sebastian took her hand in his own and kissed her knuckles an unnecessarily long time.

"There will be dancing later. I've arranged for a waltz. May I dance it with you?"

"I've not been permitted to learn the waltz, my lord."

"Then perhaps a different dance?"

She smiled sweetly, "Yes, of course." She twisted her hand out of his grasp as Santana had showed her and then walked away.

David Karofsky-Stroud was drunk already when he pulled Brittany to him as she walked by. He was a Scottish lord (of low rank), but wasn't one anyone ever thought to invite anywhere. He was loud and brash and was rarely ever sober. Not that it was always a bad thing, Brittany thought. He was a happy drunk. She feared what he would be like sober.

"Brittany Pierce." He announced. "I was wondering when you would arrive."

"David, I didn't expect to see you here."

He leaned in and said, "I'm gate crashing." He put his finger to his lips and said, "Sh." Then he laughed.

She laughed with him. "What does the host think of that?" She asked.

"He hasn't wanted to start a scene and ruin his sister's party. And he thinks she'll like the entertainment I provide once the dancing starts." He laughed.

"Just don't get too wild, please. I'd hate someone having to haul you out of here."

"I shall do me best, dearie." He kissed her hand and then wandered off to fill his glass.

She moved off through the crowd and chatted with a few more acquaintances before she ran into Blaine and Rachel standing in a corner, watching everyone and exchanging gossip. They filled Brittany in on all they'd been discussing.

"Did you see David Karofsky-Stroud was here?" she asked them.

"He is?" Rachel asked, looking around for him.

"Is he drunk already?" Blaine asked kindly.

"He is." Brittany said in answer to both questions. "I told him to stay out of trouble. He wasn't really invited."

"Of course he wasn't." Blaine said. "Few people want to admit that they actually like him. As long as he behaves himself, no one will do anything."

"True."

They spoke for a while, taking part in all the treats that passed them, including Champagne.

Sebastian stood up on a dais that had been erected at one end of the room. He called for attention and then raised his glass. "Let us all raise our glasses in honor of my baby sister, Sugar. She hasn't been Melanie for years. And I will tell you, she got that nickname because when she was about three, she ate about ten cubes of sugar and our father said if she ate anymore she'd become sugar. And from that, we just started calling her Sugar. And now that I've thoroughly embarrassed her, I would like to wish dear Sugar and very happy birthday."

"To Sugar!" Rang through the crowd and everyone drank.

"And now, without further ado, let's begin the dancing." He stepped off the dais. He made his way toward Brittany and her small group as the band started tuning. He held out his hand, "Miss Brittany, may I have this dance?"

She smiled and slipped her hand into his and accompanied him onto the floor. He was very kind during the dance and even charmed her a little. But she couldn't help wondering if Santana was having a good time with the rest of the maids and companions. She continued to think about it as she danced with several other men throughout the afternoon.

The waltz arrived. Brittany was glad for her mother's refusal to allow her to learn such a scandalous dance. She needed the break from all the dancing. She went into the other room to find Santana.

She smiled and said, "Anything you need, miss?"

"No, nothing. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, miss."

"Come for a walk outside with me." She demanded. "I need some air and everyone is dancing. My mother wouldn't be happy if I were to go out alone and she heard."

"Sure, miss."

They walked together outside. It was quiet after being in the throng of people for so long.

She slipped her arm through Santana's. "Are you having a good time?"

"Yes, miss, I am." She slipped her arm away.

There was a bit of an awkward silence until Brittany said, "Do you know how to dance?"

"I know a few dances, but not many. It's not really necessary for me to know how to dance."

Brittany nodded.

"I've seen you dance. You are very light on your feet." She tickled Brittany's palm with her fingertips. Then she clamped her hands behind her back. "I wish I knew how. I wish I had a reason."

"I could teach you." She offered. "I know there'd be no reason for it, but you don't always need a reason."

Santana smiled, "I'd like that."

There was a commotion in the house. Brittany hurried back toward the house closely followed by Santana.

"You get your arse out of my house, you filthy Scot." Sebastian said as he wrestled with David. "You don't touch my sister like that and get away with it."

"Seb, stop!" Sugar begged. "You're making a scene and you're ruining my party!" She stomped her feet.

He rounded. "Everyone out. The party is over. Sugar, go upstairs." He pushed David out the doors and then stomped off, dragging his sister behind him.

Brittany's hand was clamped on Santana's wrist, but neither of them moved apart. They didn't want to be separated. She found Blaine and Rachel in the throng.

"What happened?" She demanded.

"Sugar was dancing the waltz with David." Rachel explained. "He was a little too close. Sebastian told them to break it up. He refused and a fight ensued."

"And to think I almost missed it because I needed air." She joked. They were standing out among the rest of the crowd outside now, waiting for their carriage to pull up.

Santana jerked away from Brittany suddenly. "I have to go get your things." She scurried away.

Brittany looked after her, missing the feel of Santana's skin under her fingers. She pressed her hand to her stomach. She shouldn't be feeling this way.

"Brittany? Are you all right?" Rachel asked softly.

She smiled, "I'm fine. Just very tired. Too much dancing."

"Are you sure? You look ill?"

"I am. I really am." She assured her friend.

Santana came back out just as their carriage pulled around. They bid farewell to Blaine and Rachel and then climbed into their carriage, making its way out of the driveway with all the others.
In the gathering twilight, Brittany focused out the window and watched the land passing by.

"I'm sorry for my abrupt leaving." Santana said softly as the carriage picked up speed.

"Don't apologize." Brittany said, not looking away from the window.

Santana reached up and closed the curtain. She reached over and closed the other before moving to sit beside Brittany. "I had to. I was itching to slip my hand into yours." She did. She rubbed her thumb across the back of the other young woman's hand. "And to do this." She pulled Brittany to her and kissed her lips softly.

Brittany's breath caught in her throat as Santana pulled away. She blinked a few times and then pulled the other girl back for another soft kiss. They kissed again and again, each kiss lasting just a little longer than the last.

Santana pulled away as the carriage started to slow again. She quickly opened the curtains on the windows and moved to the opposite side of the carriage just before they turned down the drive to the Pierce home.