Infinite Shades of Grey

The day of the ball dawned early for Sam when Elizabeth swept into her room and pulled open her blinds with the first rays of light.

"If you were not my friend, I fear I would murder you." She grumbled as her lady maid pulled the blankets from her warm drowsy form and helped her sit up. She ran a hand through her tousled hair and yawned as Elizabeth plopped quite unlady like on her mattress.

"Nonsense, you would miss me far too much." She tsked, waving away Sam's lady maid, and beginning to brush out her dark hair instead with gentle strokes, "Besides," she continued briskly once they were alone, "Who else would plan an entire ball around your desire for a one night lover."

Sam stiffened and whirled around to look at her best friends slightly smug face. "What?" she demanded harshly. While she had suspected that she was a slight motivation behind Elizabeth's feverish party planning, she did not expect her to come right out and admit it. At least she had the mind to wait until they were in only each other's presence to mention anything about it.

She was nothing if not subtle.

"Oh do not look at me like you are all a flutter. You knew that this was for your benefit." Elizabeth insisted, twisting Sam's hair into a bun and pinning it into place. "You are many things darling, but stupid is not one of them."

Sam's forhead creased into a frown before she sighed and simply let her friend drag her out of bed.

She had a feeling today was going to be practically endless.

Emily laughed as Carly blew a feather off of her forehead in exasperation, grimacing as her hair was pulled back roughly.

Carly, Courtney, and Emily were preparing for the ball together. Or rather, the three of them were in the same room while their lady maids tortured and beat their hair into submission and forced the breath out of their lungs in corsets.

"I cannot breathe." Carly complained, pressing her hand against her chest as if trying to force hair into her body.

"Tis the trials of a woman." Courtney said breathlessly from where she gripped the post of Emily's bed as her maid tugged the strings of her corset as tightly as possible, causing all of her breath to rush out of her body.

"Being a lady is painful and exhausting." Emily chimed in, as her dress was being fastened in the back, "I shall one day take to wearing trousers."

"Emily!" Courtney chided, as Carly giggled.

"Well!"

"You have been spending far too much time with Lord Cassadine if his cousin's radical ideas are rubbing off on you." Carly laughed, "Though I must say, I rather admire Lady Cassadine."

"As do I," Emily agreed,"She's lovely."

Courtney hesitated giving her opinion, wringing her hands before saying firmly, "I shall reserve judgments' of any sort until I get to know her better. I mean, what do we really know of her?" her blue eyes flashing desperately, "For all we know, she could be someone untrustworthy."

Emily and Carly's eyes met in the vanity mirror and they stared at each other seeming to have a silent conversation before Emily sighed and smiled at the three maids, "Can you come back in a few moments please?" she asked of them. They nodded, and bowed their way out.

"The ball is in but an hour." Courtney said, "Why did you dismiss them?"

"Because the walls have ears and so do the maids." Carly said, rummaging through Emily's jewelry box, looking for something to match her crimson gown.

"Courtney, you are like a sister to me." Emily began, walking over to the beautiful blonde and taking her hands into hers, "However, I feel that I must ask you of things that are not my business."

"Yes?" Courtney asked, sitting on the edge of Emily's four poster, "What is it?"

"Your aversion to Lady Cassadine. A woman whom both Carly and I have gotten to know fairly well over the last two weeks. Would your hesitance have anything to do with the way my dearest brother reacted to her the night we all met?"

Courtney disentangled her hands and looked at the floor, not saying anything for a few moments. Carly, finding something of her approval in the terms of jewels, set her choices down on the vanity, and joined her friends on the bed, giving them her undivided attention.

"Possibly." Courtney admitted, "But tis not just that." She went on in a rush, "Tis her views on marriage and the she just seems so…advanced and forward. She intimidates me slightly." She whispered. "Jason has always been somewhat of a thrill seeker. What if he desires her and takes her as a mistress. She would be perfect. She never wished to marry so she has no need to worry about her prospects being shattered."

Carly and Emily shared another look over Courtney's head, "Tis not uncommon for a man to take a mistress." Carly said, losing the battle of wills this round.

Courtney's head whipped around in shock and disgust, "So you think that he will proposition carte blanche?" she demanded.

Emily brought her attention back towards her, "Jason is an honorable man. A good man." She insisted, before hesitating again, "But even good men set up mistresses. Tis not to say he will!" she insisted, "But simply that he is a wealthy, attractive man, and many woman would love to be his mistress."

"Samantha is a wonderful woman," Carly said firmly, "I highly doubt she would sleep with a married man, so you have nothing to fear."

Silence fell over the three, each lost in her own thoughts. "The pair of you," Courtney started, before pausing, "You trust her, yes?"

They both nodded.

"Then I shall give her a chance."

"You look beautiful, dear." Alexis smiled at her eldest daughter as she came down the stairs. Elizabeth had dressed Sam in a heavy white silk dress that was cut in a way that showed her petite frame off to advantage. Her dark hair was curled and once again pulled up into an elegant style, showing off her graceful neck and amble bosom. Her lips were stained pink and a white, sequenced mask covered her upper face, her brown eyes shining through.

"I find it vaguely insulting that you find me beautiful with half of my face covered." Sam laughed, taking Nikolas's offered hand. He looked dashing in a black tuxedo, black mask covering his eyes so similar to Sam's.

"She jests, aunt." Nikolas jumped in before Alexis could utter a comment. "Samantha, you know your mother was paying you a compliment."

Sam rolled her eyes, leaning over as much as her tight corset would allow and kissed her mother's smooth cheek once. "You too look lovely, mother. Are you off to the Scorpio's tonight?"

"I am," Alexis confirmed, "Please inform Countess Alcazar that I am dreadfully sorry that I will not be able to attend her masquerade."

"Mother," Sam sighed, "You have known Elizabeth since she was but a child, you may call her as such."

Alexis kissed Sam on the cheek as if she had not heard her, "Have a great night darling. Am I to presume that you will be staying at The Mansion, tonight?"

"You are." Sam nodded, "I haven't the faintest when the party shall end and I would not like to be out on the roads at too late an hour, escort or not." She said nodding in Nikolas's direction.

"I always knew I raised a deceivingly beautiful and highly intelligent woman." Alexis smiled, once again placing a kiss onto Sam's cheek. "Be safe tonight dear and please try not to say or do anything rash." She begged as Nikolas ushered her to the door and into the capable hands of her footman.

"Keep her safe." Nikolas instructed sternly.

"Of course." The footman agreed with an exaggerated bow.

Soon enough the pair of cousins were alone. Nikolas sighed as he took in his beauty of a cousin, who apparently had caught the eyes of many of the tons most eligible bachelors and quite a few of the not so eligible also. It was a pity that she claimed to never want to marry since so many seemed to be interested in her.

Sam looked up from adjusting the hem of her gown and sighed. She recognized the look on her cousins' face, the contemplative, "Why oh why is she out to make my life more difficult by not marrying." She had seen it on her mother's face plenty of times growing up, less often now that she was nearing her mid twenties. She would be twenty four years of age in a few months. She figured her mother was taking comfort in the fact that she would be around to aid her when she grew older, for Krissy and Molly were sure to marry, and marry well.

"Why the sigh, cousin?" Nikolas asked, attempting to straighten his bow tie and struggling. Sam rolled her eyes and strolled over to where he stood, mindful of her heavy dress and shoes. When she was in front of him she smacked his hands away and fixed it herself, "Why the long face, cousin?" she mocked, in retaliation to his question. "Contemplating what I am to do in my old age?"

He rolled his eyes and stepped back from her, smiling, "No. Contemplating how you will once again turn the ton men on their ears with how lovely you look tonight."

Sam cocked her head and smirked, "Nice save."

"Has Elizabeth already gone back to the Mansion?" he questioned, glancing up at the staircase as if half expecting her to be descending it.

"She has." Sam confirmed, smiling as a lady maid handed her a shawl that covered her bare shoulders, "She had some last minute things to take care of and she wanted to get ready in the peace of her own home."

"You mean she marches in here at the crack of dawn to get you ready, but decided to get ready by herself at her own place?" he asked, almost incrediously.

"Something like that." She nodded. Nobody would understand Elizabeth the way she did, and the way her husband had, and she had long given up hope that anybody would, even those who had known her almost as long as she. "Let us take our leave, yes?"

"You do not appear to be excited." Sonny noted of Jason as the younger man downed a scotch.

"Did you acquire that great skill of perception suddenly or was it accumulated over a matter of years?" Jason questioned, picking up the crystal bottle filled with the amber liquid and pouring himself another.

"Oh it came quite suddenly as a child, and it has grown ever since."

"Wonderful."

Sonny sat down on the couch in the Quatermaine library and smiled at his friend, "I believe I know what has gotten you so worked up." He smirked.

Jason turned to him and raised his eyebrow curiously, "Do tell." He drawled.

"Two words. One name. Samantha Cassadine."

Jason rolled his eyes and downed the second glass, relishing the burn that inflamed his throat. He was not much of a drinker, an occasional glass of brandy here or there.

"You might wish to slow down." Sonny said, gesturing his friend over to the chair opposite of him. Jason, while wishing to drink his brain into submission, respected Sonny as an old friend and did as he bid.

"If it is not her, then why do you seem so out of sorts tonight?" Sonny asked, placing his chin in his palm, his elbow propped up on the arm of the couch.

"I never said you were not spot on, friend." Jason answered, "This is her oldest friends ball. Word around town is that she even helped planned the ever. No doubt she shall be there."

"And no doubt she shall look delectable."

"Sonny." Jason sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing. A vision of brown eyes and creamy cleavage came to mind and he forced his eyes open. Would this be how the rest of his life would be? Married to one woman who he cared about dearly while constantly wishing for another to warm his bed?

Sonny studied his friend and hesitated before offering the advice that had been in his mind for some time; since the night he had met Lady Cassadine and set eyes on the woman who had captivated his friends attention with a mere peek from her lashes. He had thought long and hard about what he would say to any other gentleman in his friend's position. Betrothed and yet frighteningly attracted to someone who set your blood on fire. He had gotten lucky with his betrothed. She was the only one who set his blood on fire and he had been lucky enough to have her say yes to his proposal.

"I have a suggestion if you would like to hear it." He said.

Jason looked at him again and when Sonny remained silent he raised his eyes brows, "Well?" he questioned.

"You did not say you wanted to hear it." Sonny said, obviously teasing him.

"Because looking at you was not enough of an invitation for you to say what is on your mind." Jason sighed. Sonny remained silent. "Please, Sonny. Tell me what the fascinating brain of yours has concocted."

"Well, since you've asked so nicely," Sonny drawled. "I've thought a lot of your situation. And if anyone, specifically my fiancé or my sister asks me, I will deny telling you this until my day before God is upon me." He paused again, with the intention of simply riling Jason's feathers.

"Yes?" Jason demanded.

"I think you should bed Lady Cassadine."

The sentence hung in the air heavily between them.

After a moment Jason questioned Sonny slowly, "You think. I should betray the woman I am to marry, your sister no less, and sleep with another woman? A woman I barely know. A woman for all I know could have some sort of wretched disease?"

Sonny eyed him skeptically, "If you truthfully believed that, you would not have taken a second glance at her."

They both knew that was true and Jason nodded his acknowledgment of the fact.

"I would not feel comfortable bedding another woman while I am so entangled with one already."

Sonny laughed, "I'm not suggesting that you marry the woman. I'm not suggesting that you take her as a mistress. I am however suggesting, or rather implying, what could one night hurt? Is it possible that one night could hinder, or even obliterate your interest in this woman? And if that is possible, for you to have this desire of yours for her, to quench, and make your marriage to my sister happy and successful, why is it a bad thing? You are not yet married. This really would be the perfect time. The wedding details are just now being started, it would not be impossible for you to sneak away and….get business done."

What Sonny was saying made sense…or was that just his overactive libido insisting that it did?

Courtney gasped as she and the others were ushered into the Mansion of Alcazar. The entire places was done up almost like a fairytale. The whole room was cast into shadows, candles casting a flickering light across the walls and floors, illuminating a path from the door down multiple paths and several hallways.

"Welcome." Elizabeth said, warmly, curtseying as both Sonny and Jason brushed kisses across her gloved knuckles. She was dressed in a deep blue gown that, paired with the flickering candles, cast her skin in a warm glow. Her hair was straight with a small tiara atop of her head, a mask covering the entire top half of her face.

"It looks lovely in here." Carly said, glancing around in awe, "You have surely out done yourself." She insisted.

"Not at all." Elizabeth chuckled, lowly, "If you think that the entryway is impressive, wait until you see the rest of the house. Benjamin here would be glad to assist you all, would you not?" she asked of the man to her immediate right, "I am sure…" her voice faltered as she focused on a point right behind the group, "Excuse me." She said, gathering the gown in her hand and pushing past them in a rush.

"Have we not had this happen before, with the other half of their twosome?" Sonny smiled, as they all turned and saw Elizabeth embrace a head of familiar raven curls.

"You look beautiful." They heard her sigh. Carly felt Jason stiffen from beside her as Sam stepped back from Elizabeth's arms and she herself had to stifle a gasp. She did indeed look gorgeous. Her hair, was as always curled and in an elaborate updo, the candles flickering off of several diamond like jewels placed strategically in her hair. Her body was wrapped in a in a low cut white dress that showed off her amble chest to advantage and drew attention to her tiny waist and slender hips. The look was completed with a simple mask that covered her eyes but showed the rest of her face. She truly looked marvelous. Carly bit her lip and cast as subtle glance as possible towards Courtney. The blonde had a small serene smile on her face, but her gloved hands clutched at the silky fabric of her lilac gown. Carly discreetly, briefly touched her fingertips to Courtney's forearm as the two women began walking towards them.

"I am to believe you all recall my dearest friend, yes?" Elizabeth asked, her arm linked in Sam's.

"Of course, how could one forget the mystery?" Sonny questioned, leaning forward and brushing a chaste kiss on Sam's bare hand before turning it over and placing another on her palm.

"Sonny," Carly sighed, not so subtly elbowing him in the side before she leaned forward to give Sam as much of a hug as she could under the circumstances of their dresses. "Countess Alcazar is correct in saying that you look beautiful tonight, Lady Cassadine." She greeted as they released each other.

"Thank you," Sam smiled at her, before glancing at everyone in turn, "As do all of you. That color is particularly fetching on you Lady Corintho's." she addressed Courtney.

"Thank you," she murmured, glancing down, her arm tightening around Jason's arm.

Sam's eyes skimmed over Jason before quickly darting away, not wanting to be accused at paying him any sort of particular attention. His face, partly covered in a black and white mask, did some to disguise his face but little to hide his piercing blue eyes. They seemed particularly…bright…as they focused on her.

"Where is Nikolas?" Elizabeth asked, giving Sam her attention once more.

"He is coming." Sam sighed, "He saw Duke Jax by the carriages and they needed to have some words apparently. He shall be here soon enough, I am sure."

"He allowed you to walk up here, unescorted?" Emily asked, a frown obvious in her voice.

"I am not so sure he allows me to do anything, so much as I happen to just do them anyway." Sam laughed. "Nikolas is sure to give me quite the piece of his mind once he catches up."

"Why would I waste the precious breath, Sam?" Nikolas asked, appearing suddenly at the side of her elbow. "I am far too used to it by now." He leaned forward and shook the hands of both Jason and Sonny in turn before bowing to all of the women, "You look lovely, ladies. Perhaps the loveliest of the night."

"How can you be so sure?" Emily asked, a pleasured smile lighting up her face, "You have not yet been inside to see the countless other women whom may be just as lovely as we."

"Not at all possible." Nikolas shook his head, offering the brunette his arm which she gladly took.

"You have been spending far too much time with myself if you are challenging my cousin so." Sam laughed again. "Though do not misunderstand me, I am not complaining."

"Emily has always had quite the mouthy streak," Jason spoke up, finally tearing his eyes away from his siren. Sonny's words kept echoing in his mind. "She was quite a handful earlier on in life. Particularly to her tutor."

"He exaggerates." Emily protested, a blush staining her creamy skin to an attractive pink.

"I am sure. One as lovely as you could not be any difficulty to anyone." Nikolas agreed, his eyes trained on Emily alone.

Sam and Elizabeth shared an excited and amused glance at his words. While they teased him, they were very much in support of a match between the pair.

"You look dashing, Nikolas." Elizabeth said, amusement coloring her tone, "But we should move this gathering into the Mansion." She sighed dramatically, "The job of a hostess is never done."

This is my longest chapter yet, so I hope you guys enjoyed it. The ball will be underway next chapter along with….other things=)

Xoxoxo

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