Sorry it took so long to update! Been very busy. But here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Thanks for all of the lovely comments. I enjoy getting and reading them. :)
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The dance lessons seemed to go by in a blur. Severus took great care not to apparate them in the proximity where they doxy had been. He made Hermione wear a black veil to conceal her features after that. He just flipped up the collar on his great coat and held his head down slightly. It worked wonders. Hermione had vastly improved on her dancing skills. She was quite the learner. By the last lesson, Mr. Robins had exclaimed she could dance with the Prince of Wales himself and not be shamed. He wouldn't go that far, though.
Their first ball of the season was on them. It was to be at the Earl and Countess of Mulberry's. Lady Shannon Denison was to make her come out that night. Hermione had taken care in the way she dressed. All new debutantes wore white on their come out, so in contrast she wore a shimmering yellow. The dress looked gold when in the right candle light.
Millie pinned her hair up in an intricate style at the crown of her head. Curls fell down artfully around her face. The curls piled on her head were woven with a strand of diamonds, while topazes adorned her neck and ears. Hermione had protested when Millie tried to slide a diamond bracelet on her wrist claiming it to be too extravagant already. Millie had scoffed and told her she was losing her sense. Hermione had lost the fight.
The night was cool so she was given a matching shawl to be worn over her shoulders in the carriage. Millie had assured her that the Mulberry's would be a great crush and there would be no need for warmer clothing. It would be too hot in the crowd of the ballroom.
Hermione didn't want to go to the social functions. She felt in adequate. The social decorum was too different from the time she was from, she didn't really know anyone while the ton knew exactly who she was. Her only "friend" would be considered Severus and that even made her laugh.
She was finally ushered out of her room by a fussing Millie. She was already late, she was to meet the duke and Severus in the drawing room thirty minutes ago. When she started down the staircase she heard masculine voices.
"That chit always takes her time. I never could figure out why women had to do this. Why, when my wife lived, she took twice as long as Melissa. A trait that seems to run in the family." The duke gave hearty laugh.
The men were just stepping in the foyer when Hermione was halfway down to meet them. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She'd never seen Severus look as dashing as he did now. His hair was clean and clubbed back at the nape of his neck since he refused to cut it. He wore black evening clothes except for his white shirt and cravat. Ruby studs were his cufflinks while one was on his cravat. His black eyes seemed to blaze even from where she stood. The clothes he wore fit him perfectly. Almost too perfectly. She could see every outline of his person. His shoulders were broader than she thought and his features no longer seemed harsh or gaunt to her. He seemed purely aristocratic. He belonged in this time.
From the bottom of the stairs Severus listened to the duke with half an ear. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a slip of yellow silk. His eyes traveled up from matching slippers to the perfectly curved body of a woman. A generous amount of bosom were on display while his neck slide over the column of her throat. It was long and slender, one that begged for his attention. Her plump pink lips begged to be kissed and he longed to taste them again. Her honey eyes smiled down into his.
A tension started to crackle between them. They were both very aware of the other at that moment.
The duke grinned. "Are we ready to go?"
Hermione gave a startled jump as her eyes flew to the duke. She had just noticed him. A blush spread from her neck up her cheeks. "Yes, Papa. If you are ready, that is."
The duke held out his arm when Hermione reached the bottom. He gave off great guffaws of laughter. "My dear girl, I've been telling Townsend you are just like your Mama. Taking your time and making us men wait." He patted her hand fondly as he led her out to the carriage with the Hawthorne crest.
Once the duke handed Hermione up into the carriage and they were situated, he tapped his cane against the top of the carriage. The driver pulled out onto the road and they were on their way. It was already dark and an oil lamp hung in the carriage to give off sufficient light while the curtains were drawn back. Hermione sat next to the duke and half way listened to the mundane chattering. She was more interested in the world outside of the carriage.
The streets were lit up and people strolled by on foot, in carriage, or on horseback to different entertainments. There were three balls, two soirees, an opera, private dinners, and more happening that night. Not to mention the brothels and gaming hells that scattered over London.
The clatter of the horses hooves slowed down from their normal trot. Hermione leaned her head out the window a little to see what the hold up was. There were a line of carriages waiting to be dropped off at the front steps of the Mulberry's London house. It was lit up grandly, showing the structure in a beautiful gothic way. As their carriage neared, she noticed the footmen in their dark blue uniforms and powdered wigs. The door was thrown open as a footman hastily put down the stairs. Severus was the first to alight from the vehicle. Offering his assistance, he helped Hermione out.
Severus had been watching Hermione the whole time in the carriage without the duke's notice, nor hers. He had been rather captivated with her eager and excited looks as she took in the night life of London. Her face was full of animation now as they made their way up the stairs. "Try not to be too enthusiastic. You'll look like a green girl just out of the nursery. You're supposed to be an experienced woman of twenty with society." He whispered into her ear.
A blush crept up her cheeks to the nearness of him. Her blood heated with the remembrance of the kiss they'd shared a week ago. His scent that had lingered with her all week was so strong now. She felt light headed and a little dizzy from it. He raised an inquiring eyebrow at her, an annoyed look playing around his features. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll try my best. This whole thing is just so grand! I've never seen anything like it before."
"Of course you haven't and I wouldn't expect you to have." He steered them around couples stopping to talk with acquaintances.
She smiled and said hello back to those who greeted her before turning back to Severus. "Why aren't you just as awestruck. Surely you haven't seen anything with the likes of this."
He gave her a hard look. "I am close friends with the Malfoys. There isn't a Wizarding family in our time who isn't as extravagant as them."
"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to imply that you were beneath it…" She was cut off by the receiving line she just noticed.
The Earl of Mulberry was greeting Severus with a handshake. Hermione dutifully curtsied. They exchanged pleasantries with everyone as they moved down the line. The Baron of Rodgeford held Hermione up longer than what was necessary.
"Ah, Lady Melissa. You look ravishing in that dress." He leaned forward and lowered his voice for Hermione's ears only. "Might I be so bold as to say you look good enough to eat?"
Giving an affronted gasp she glared. "No you may not. Not that it really matters, you dared anyways."
His grey eyes danced with a devilish merriment. "I only dare with those whom catch my everlasting affection."
She gave him a level stare. "Find someone else that catches your fancy, sir."
Her attention was caught by the white marble that shone brightly. Candles were everywhere with people milling about. She looked down from the catwalk to the ballroom to see the lively colors of women's dresses and the suits of the men. She could make out the servants in their uniforms and powdered wigs carrying trays of refreshments through the room.
Hermione was pulled along by the duke to the butler at the top of the stairs leading down to the ballroom. "His Grace, The Duke of Hawthorne, Earl of Lanster, and the Baron of Quinton." the butler called as the duke made his entrance down to the ballroom.
"Tell him your title, name, and whom your parents are." Severus said as he nudged her towards the butler. She gave the man a nervous look before he called out, "Lady Melissa Trahern, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Hawthorne." She was standing at the top of the stairs frozen. So many people had stopped to look at her. She felt naked and exposed to the world. The annoyed hiss of Severus jolted her back. She stood taller, composed herself, and plastered a fake smile on.
It felt like an eternity before she reached the bottom of the stairs. Lady Charity was waiting at the bottom with her blonde curls bouncing around her face. "I'm so glad you've finally made it! I've been dying to tell you who called on me once we got back into London. But I didn't want to write a note, I wanted to tell you face to face." Charity's chatter mixed in with the rest of the noise in the ballroom.
"His Grace, The Duke of Townsend, Marquess of Allingham, Marquess of Landby, Earl of Mertile, Baron of Weshire." The butler's voice called out. Hermione's eyes raised up to see Severus walking down into the ballroom. He looked rather dashing and aristocratic with his haughty look. Where were these thoughts coming from? She asked herself. She didn't want to think this way about the wretched man.
Charity's dreamy sigh caught her attention. "He is rather handsome in a dark way, don't you think? No one believes he'll get married. He's showed no signs of it from what I've heard. It's also said that he never dances. I don't think he even knows how to!"
Hermione laughed at the thought of Severus trying to dance. The whole time she had been getting lessons, he never moved a foot. He sat there and observed and doing what he does best - criticizing. "Surely he knows how to dance. He's a gentleman."
"I don't know about being a gentleman." A raven haired girl about Hermione's age said excitedly. "It's been rumored that he's fought in several duels. Two men died. They've had the betting's in the gambling book at White's."
"How would you know, Elizabeth?" Charity asked with a delicate eyebrow arched. "Women are not allowed into men's clubs."
The girl gave Charity a haughty look. "My brother, of course."
"There you are, dear!" A plump woman with graying hair said as she approached. She wore a plum purple dress with matching peacock feathers in her hair. Amethysts glittered from a necklace, earrings, bracelets, rings, and a broach. The woman was clearly from the best family, rich, and extravagant. "You had me worrying for a moment."
Lady Charity and Lady Elizabeth both curtsied. "Countess Bansfy. How are you, ma'am?"
The Countess smiled brightly. "Lady Charity, Lady Elizabeth. I trust you both are doing well this evening, yes? Melissa, love, the dancing is about to start. Rodgeford is about to take Lady Shannon to open the dancing. Best get ready for any dance partners who are going to barrel their ways over here and ask for a spot on your card."
Viscountess Aldridge, Charity's mother, and Lady Evans joined the Countess to watch their young daughters. The men started to circle the three girls, vying for their attention. Hermione was offered by many men to dance. Gentlemen, rogues, rakes, fortune hunters, and such. She joined Lord Robert in the opening dance to beginning the evening. It was a simple country dance.
She was scared and nervous at the start. She was worried of missing a step, counting wrong, or stepping on Lord Robert's foot. But not long after the orchestra started and the dancing had begun, her worries fled. By the end of the first set of dances she was flushed, laughing, and smiling.
The night was flying by for Hermione. For Severus he watched from the balcony looking over the ballroom. His eyes watched Hermione as she flirted with the young bucks that made themselves her lap dogs. The champagne he had wasn't doing the job a whisky or brandy would. He'd been in and out of the card room all night. He found it rather boring he could win easily if he read their minds.
It was almost eleven thirty and dinner was to be served at midnight. Handing his glass to a passing waiter he made his way down to the lower level. He nodded his head in greeting to those whom tried to stop him and made his way to Hermione's admirers.
"I believe." Baron Rodgeford was saying. "That this last dance before dinner is supposed to be a waltz, Lady Melissa. I would be most honored if you'd dance it with me."
Severus unceremoniously shoved his way through the young bucks and stood behind Hermione. "Be as that may, Baron, the Lady has already consented to hold this last dance for me so I could take her into dinner."
All eyes slammed his way. Hermione slowly turned around. Did he even know how to waltz? She wanted to ask him, but refrained from doing so.
"That is, of course, if it is okay with your aunt, Countess Bansfy?" Severus asked.
The woman quickly moved forward. "Oh, that would be splendid, your grace. Go dance, Melissa. Have a wonderful time." Her hazel eyes twinkled merrily.
She slid her hand through the crook of his arm and they made their way to the dance floor. "You do know that the old woman has match making on her mind, don't you?"
Hermione smiled. "And you, sir, seem to be playing right into her hands." She blushed and hastily added, "To her, anyways."
"Ah, yes." He slid a hand over her ribcage to the middle of her back. He pulled her closer as his fingers gently wrapped around hers. She tentatively put a hand on his right shoulder and stepped forward. All eyes were on them, or so Hermione thought. "Smile, Hermione, we shall be the talk of the ball."
The orchestra started and the lilting of the strings filled the air. She counted in her mind; one, two, three, over and over. His voice in her ear jolted her. "Try not to look down. You are suspected to have danced this a million times at the very least."
"A million and one now." she teased back. "How come Lady Shannon is sitting out. She has not done so the whole night."
"What? You do not know the answer yourself?" She glared at him. "Young debutants cannot dance the waltz without the approval at Almack's because it considered too fast and seductive."
Seductive indeed, Hermione thought. Dancing it with Mr. Robins it didn't seem so. But only a few inches from Severus's body she could feel the heat emanating off of him. The music picked up and the danced faster. He twirled her out and back in. She felt like she was flying, his thighs brushing against the material of her gown. He was a graceful dancer she was surprised to realize. Their eyes locked and they couldn't seem to look away. His eyes were on fire as they bore into hers. Seductive, yes. She could see that now.
Severus was berating himself in his mind. What the hell had possessed him to do something as foolish as waltz with her, much less dance?! It was a well known fact that the Duke of Townsend didn't dance. Not even in his younger days. There was going to be the latest on dit in all of the drawing rooms in the morning. Speculations of a betrothal to come, or Hermione being pregnant.
He had been watching the young men converge Hermione and ply her with compliments, flirting, fetching drinks. He couldn't take it anymore. Something in him had snapped. He had wanted nothing more than to hex them all to oblivion. He didn't know why, he didn't question why. Just on impulse he had marched down to her. Especially when he saw that bastard Rodgeford heading her way.
But now he held her in his arms, only inches from his body. She smelt of honey suckles and champagne. He had the urge to see if she tasted of such. He fought it as he twirled her around the ballroom. He led her through the mass of colors and perfumes under the candle light while half of the ton stood by and watched. He guided her with the pressure of his hand on her back. She danced beautifully for just learning.
The music came to an end. She stood there, her hair falling in soft curls, her dress gold and molded perfectly to her figure, flushed and bosom moving up and down lightly. She was gorgeous in that moment. A scowl darkened his face as he slid her hand into the crook of his arm. He led her off of the dance floor to the dining room.
"I didn't know you were such an excellent dancer, sir. One wouldn't know just by looking at you." She commented.
He gave an irritable grunt and weaved through the throng of people.
She gave him a curious look. "What did I do now?"
He cut her a look from the side. "What do you mean, 'what did I do now'?"
She sighed irritably. "I had to of done something. You were almost pleasant while we were dancing, now you're just being a dragon."
"I am not being a dragon. I will not have this disrespect coming from you, madam."
"You will, sir.I am getting right tired of your high handedness."
They quietly argued between themselves as he guided her to table. "Sit and don't move. I'll be back with a plate for you."
Severus took up a plate at a sideboard and went down the line of food. What did the girl eat? He picked up only the things that he could identify while doing the same for himself. They needed to find a way back home soon. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up this pretense. Being a spy for the Order had nothing on this. He didn't have to stay close to an insufferable know it all. He refused, adamantly refused, to feel anything more for the chit than he already was.
As he was walking back to the table he felt the familiar brush against his mind of someone trying to read him. He stopped and went rigid. His black eyes scanned over the people laughing gaily as they ate. His eyes clashed with a pair of indigo blue ones that were staring intently at him.
Severus's eyes narrowed as he stalked over to his table and dropped the plates down. Hermione started to say something to him but he was already marching off into the direction of the man who dared to try to read his mind.
The man with the indigo eyes was tall, about six one, Severus would guess. He had raven black hair that was combed neatly to the side. His black evening clothes fit him to the tee, showing off broad shoulders. "Shall we have a word outside?" The man asked Severus as he neared.
Nodding his consent, the man turned on his heel and started towards a pair of French doors leading outside. They went out past the formal gardens where there were no lights. "Well?" Severus snarled at the other man.
The man gave a formal bow. "I am Raurk O'Leary, seventh Marquess of Liverbrook. My brother Duncan wrote me a not a week ago informing me of your little…situation." The man held himself high in an authorative aristocratic manner, but wasn't unfriendly. "I do believe he told me that you were having a hard time finding a way to help your situation. I think I could be of some service to you."
"Why are you willing to help myself and my charge?" Severus asked suspiciously. Years of spying and fighting in wars didn't leave him trusting.
The corner of the marquess's twitched. "Charge? Because your case intrigues me, sir. There is nigh a witch or wizard whom doesn't come to me with their problems in this time. I have an extensive collection in my library on time travel. Some parchments themselves dating back to the fifteen hundreds and further."
"What exactly do you want in return for this…generosity?" Severus still wasn't convinced this man didn't want anything back. One could never be too cautious.
The marquess stood straight, feet braced slightly apart with his hands behind his back. "I would perhaps like to write about it in a journal for the Wizard Society that I head. We have been interested in this for quite some time. There is rarely an explanation for these occurrences. And even when there is one, finding a way back is difficult. If it's possible."
Severus contemplated this. He'd read certain cases on time travel and people never finding there way back. There was, in fact, at least two journals in his library at home of two people claiming to be sent back in time and never finding their way back. The whole thing was on their experiences in the time and trying to adjust properly. One person was hanged for being a witch.
"You and your companion are welcome to come to Liverbrook house at any opportune time. I have a few friends interested in finding a solution. One being my wife, whom could become a sure and constant companion for your friend."
He gave off a snort. "She is neither my friend nor my companion. The best to describe the annoying know-it-all is charge. Even that is pushing it too far. Thank you, though, we will come to your residence tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow will be perfect. Perhaps my friends and I could convince you to join our society for the time you are here. We have everything from potions master to rune experts."
They talked quietly to each other as they walked back to the dining room. As they parted ways, Severus was annoyed to see a mass of admirers circled around her table. Even with all the noise in the room, he could easily pick out Hermione's laughter. Which only served to fuel his temper.
"Get out of my way, you bloody sods." He growled to the young men around his chair. There was a blonde haired man sitting in his seat. His eyes narrowed to thin slits. "Excuse you, sir, if you desire to keep your head on your shoulders, I suggest you move."
The blonde haired man jumped up and hurried off. Severus gave a small smirk of satisfaction. "Can't you behave or at least be some what nice?" Hermione whispered harshly. He gave her a hard look before picking at his now cold food. "Where did you go off to in such a hurry?"
"I will not give you the details with all your admirers faithfully standing near. However, we have been invited to the Marquess of Liverbrook's London residence tomorrow."
"I can't recall meeting a Marquess of Liverbrook. But I can't recall half of these people's names."
He cut her off before she could say more. "He is Duncan O'Leary's brother. We will go there and see what the man can help us with. Now, enough with this infernal chatter before someone over hears your over eager talking."
Hermione gave him a sour look before going back to eating.
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