Cecilia snatched the lemonade and proceeded to devour it's contents. "Thank you Sebastian, I needed that."
"Why certainly." He started a bow, then remembered he was away from his Master's watchful eye.
"You were right." Cecilia hoped her vague answer would be easily interpreted by the mysterious butler.
"About what might I ask?" Apparently it was not easily decipherable.
"The night being beautiful."
He stole a glance at her upturned face, "It is indeed." They both waited in silence, awestruck by the crisp night. "You need to inform Elizabeth of your intentions. I won't allow you to hurt someone my master is fond of."
She turned to face him, their eyes locked. "She'll only put up a fuss, and I don't want to disrupt this ball she worked so hard to construct. It isn't worth it."
"Who are you to decide what is worth it and what isn't? You are simply a person who has overextended her welcome, and intends to sow misery in her wake."
"That wasn't my intent…"
Sebastian was enraged now; he rudely interrupted any attempt Cecilia made to explain her motives. "Whether or not it is your motive, Miss Moore, it will be the outcome. Now, you can share this information with Lady Elizabeth or I will. It is your choice."
"Tell me what?" As if on cue, Elizabeth joined the quarrel atop the balcony. "Is something the matter, Cecilia?"
"No, no. Everything is quite all right." Cecilia made an awkward attempt to diffuse the situation by fanning the air with her hands. "We simply had a slight disagreement." Sebastian's glare, however, told a different tale.
"Well, whatever it is I hope you solve it quickly and return to the party." Elizabeth's sweet smile made Cecilia's stomach turn with guilt; she couldn't, in good conscious, spontaneously abandon this bubbly youth.
"Wait!" Cecilia called out to Elizabeth and grabbed her arm to make sure she didn't have the opportunity to slip back into the ever shifting crowd. "I need to share something with you." This stopped Elizabeth in her tracks as she focused her emerald eyes on Cecilia's. "I will not be returning to the manor after tonight. I plan to continue my travels."
With downturned eyes, Elizabeth voiced her opinion. "But…but we threw this grandeur party so you would stay. Please don't leave, it's been so long since I've had a female friend my own age."
"I'm afraid that I've overstayed my welcome." Her eyes made a silent reference to Sebastian. "I refuse to stay another night, I will write to you. That's a promise. " She flashed a less than convincing smile.
"Please?" Elizabeth extended one final plea.
"I can't. I can't risk staying here any longer."
"Why not?"
Cecilia paused, contemplating whether sharing this personal information would be beneficial at any point in time. "Let's just say I'd rather not revisit some events."
"What are they? Do you have a long string of unpaid gambling debt?" Cecilia shook her head in response. "Are you wanted for crimes against the Queen?" Again, Cecilia shook her head. "Then what is it? I want to help you." Tears were settling in the corners of her eyes at this point.
Cecilia's tears were quicker to fall than Elizabeth's, they were already being pulled toward the Earth by the time she spoke again. "Goodbye." Her firm grasp upon the blonde's arm was released, sending Cecilia bolting through the sea of nobles and in the general direction of her former room.
