Frank was so eager to face his father, he decided that it could not wait, therefore dragging his father into a study.

Then he bravely asked, "Father, may I court Cat?" I was stunned by such boldness, the duke however...that was another story.

The Duke's face was hard to decipher. I didn't know what he was thinking, which, honestly reader, scared me.

"So Father," Frank tried prying an answer out of his father, "May I?"

"Hmm," the duke scratched his chin, "I think you should wait for Christmas break. After all, you have school to go to, and we wouldn't want to mess up your studies now would we?"

"So you're saying I can?" Frank's look of delight was quite catchy.

The duke stood up, "I'm saying you may after Christmas break," he looked over his spectacles, "That is if you still want her," he muttered under his breath.

"Woohoo!" Frank spun me around the study.

"Careful Frank!" I looked pointedly at my dress. It would not do to have my only tailor made dress ruined on the first night of wearing it.

The duke exited the room, leaving us in the study alone, "Frank," I broke the silence, "Will you still love me when you come back from school?"

"Of course Cat," he said confidently, "Why would I not?"

"Well," I couldn't think of any particular reason, but I just felt that something would go wrong, "What if you fall in love with someone else?"

"Cat," his voice grew soft, "I love you, and nothing can break that love," he lifted my chin so I faced him, "Don't worry. Charlie will make sure nothing happens," he grinned that silly - yet lovable - grin of his.

"I suppose I'm being silly," I smiled, surely nothing would happen, "Come on Frank, let's go rejoin the guests shall we?" It was my turn to drag Frank into the ballroom, "Now this time I will not faint," I smiled a secretive smile at Frank.

"Ah Cat!" I didn't dare turn around. I knew that voice like I knew my own Mother. Well...in this case, I knew it as well as I knew my own name. I took a deep breath and turned around, "Billy Shepherd what are you doing here?" I hissed at him, dragging him away from the crowds, "This is no place for you."

"Oh isn't it Kitten?" His smug smile made me want to slap his silly face, "I am higher up than you might imagine."

"I highly doubt that," I sneered at Billy, "How did you manage to sneak in?"

"I didn't Moggy," he paused for drama, "I was invited fair and square."

"I don't believe you," Surely he couldn't have been, no one would invite street trash to a ball, well...I was close enough to trash and I was invited...

He must have heard my doubt, "Care to dance Moggy?" Before I could decline, he swept me onto the dance floor.

"Don't call me Moggy," I glared at him, "And don't call me Kitten."

I tried to ignore him throughout the dance, but it was not to be, "How's life in Covent Gardens?" Billy tried to get me to talk.

"You Billy, above all people, should know how things are."

"Oh would I now?" His dancing was very graceful. More graceful than I would have liked.

"Don't play dumb with me Billy, I know you better than that," I turned away for a spin.

"I just happen to know a few things here and there," his smile was like a serpent's smile.

"Syd, Frank and I have all been having lots of fun lately," I smiled smugly.

"Oh is that right?" We came in for a twist, "I happen to be gettin' married soon."

I raised my eyebrows, "Who would be so foolish to do such a stupid thing?" I didn't try to mask my disgust.

"She's actually quite 'appy 'bout it," Billy's language was slipping into street talk, "Owes me money she does."

I rolled my eyes, of course, how could I be so stupid? No one in their right mind would marry Billy out of love, "I hope you will be very very happy," I couldn't suppress my delight in his misfortune, "Is she pretty?" I asked only out of curiosity.

"Miss Abbington?" He shook his head, "No, she's an ugly old hag to be honest with you."

I smiled a great big smile of satisfaction.

"So," he would try to get back, I knew it, "How is everything between you and Frank?" He nodded in Frank's direction, Frank did not look like the happiest of men.

I blushed, "None of your business, that's for sure," I snapped at him. All I wanted was to get out of here.

Thankfully, the dance ended just then. As soon as Billy's disgusting lips stopped kissing my glove, I tore away, leaving him in the dust.

I ran towards the cloak room, anywhere as long as it wasn't near Billy. And Frank's look. On the night that he just asked to court me, I danced with a lowlife enemy of Syd's. And any enemy of Syd's, was Frank's enemy as well.

But could I help that Billy had trapped me into dancing with him? No. That was not my fault.

I stopped to catch my breath near a potted plant, "So this is where my dancing partner ran off," it was Billy. There was no mistaking that voice, "You know you owe me another dance," he whispered in my ear sending prickles shooting through my body.

"I owe you nothing Billy Shepherd," I turned to look at him.

"Yes you do," Billy had the queerest look in his eyes, then it happened. He kissed me on the mouth. His lips were locked onto mine. It was hot and exotic. He held my body smashed against his; my legs turned to water.

Then it got worse, "Cat?" It was Frank's voice. This was one of my worst days ever. I knew when Frank saw me, because he gasped. Thankfully Billy chose that moment to let me go, and I ran as fast as I could down the hall, the sound of Billy's cackling ringing in my ears.

I love ending chapters at the wrong times. :D Lovely isn't it?

Anyway, hope you liked it! (It is longer than the last as well.)

Please review! :) Lizzie~