To my readers: If there's any confusion. Chapter 10-11 have been posted before, but in one chapter. I posted it as a raw version and now here are the edited chapters. Okay, that's all:D enjoy reading:)
Chapter 10
Colin laughed as Mrs. Heedley made another 'joke', as they called it, about another lawyer firm. He was required to laugh with them of course. To speak with them and drink with them. "Jerold, do you remember the time when…" she chatted on tapping her husband with her pudgy fingers. They were a comical family, The Heedleys, thought Colin. Mrs. Margaret Heedley was a rather tall and large lady, while Mr. Jerold was a head shorter and incredibly skinny. Colin was surprised that Gavin had turned out looking as dashing as he did. The same could not be said however about his sister, Elizabeth Heedley. To put it lightly, the friends of Colin would remark, she looked like "The wrong end of a horse's turd."
"…and he said 'the YOUTHS are fascinating subjects, aren't they?'" That must have been the punch line of Mrs. Heedley's joke since her and her husband burst out laughing. Colin and his companions did the same, while chugging down more of the champagne. "The music is delightful, Colin." remarked Elizabeth smiling lightly at him. "Yes, thank you. They're the best we could find." He replied smiling back at her best he could.
"Well, it's a shame to put them to waste." Said Mrs. Heedley "Master Craven, if it wouldn't be a problem…would you dance with dear Elizabeth?" Elizabeth stared at her mother with fear. Colin fingered his glass awkwardly since he felt his friends snickering behind him. It would be rude to say 'no', "Yes, why not?" he muttered offering his arm to her.
It was not easy to twirl around the dance floor with the bulky figure of Ms. Elizabeth. Nor was it painless, the poor girl was so nervous she kept stepping on Colin's feet. "Sorry…sorry" she would mumble to herself and Colin would offer her a smile and say that it was alright. The dance lasted for what felt like hours. Colin excused himself from the Heedley's and made his way around the crowded hall.
"Colin! Colin Cravin!" called a voice; Colin turned and saw a friend of his from University. "Louie, it's so nice to see you here." Colin said while shaking his hand.
"Yes, yes I know it is. After all I truly am I sight for sore eyes…and well eyes let me add." He said adjusting his spectacles.
"Of course…" Colin said chuckling. Then the music stopped and everyone had turned their attention to the stairs. Curious, Colin did the same. "By George…" whispered Louie "I wasn't aware that angels came down to Earth for parties…"
Yes, that would be the perfect word to describe the delicate creature that descended the stairs. Mary looked absolutely ethereal as she descended the grand staircase. She smiled nervously at Colin who excused himself from Louie and moved forward to receive his cousin.
"Why are they starring?" whispered Mary to Colin and his father. "Because my child," Archibald Craven whispered into her ear "You look like an angel. "
They walked her around and introduced her to the 'Lord-of-this' or the 'Duke-of-something'. There was the pointless banter about the weather, gossip from the ladies, non-stop introductions, and men approaching Mary asking for a dance. One of them had been the very arrogant Gavin Heedley, who constantly flirted with Mary throughout the dance.
Mary stood with the other unwed ladies as they talked about what unwed ladies talked about. "He's a handsome fellow, don't you think?" commented Rebecca Gallaway to Mary after she had returned from the dance with Gavin. "Yes, indeed he is" Mary answered blankly starring into her glass. "He's an awful flirt I've heard…" said Jane Powell. "That" said Mary "is very true. It gets quite irritating at times."
"Nonsense!" said Rebecca "It don't believe that being flirted with by one of the most well bred men can be irritating!" The other girls giggled, Mary shook her head and Claire Powell, the sister of Jane, said "Not unless there's another suitor in the frame" The other ladies starred at Mary urging her to tell them about this "suitor" But Mary shook her head and said "There is no other suitor not that I am aware of."
Thankfully the course of the conversation turned to other topics, the suitor of the other ladies. Mary laughed and joked with them, despite her utter and terrible boredom. "I beg your pardon, ladies" said an American voice behind Mary, the ladies smiled coyly and Mary turned to face the voice. "Miss Mary Lennox?" asked the young man smiling lightly at Mary.
"Yes?" said Mary studying him. The American would be nothing short of handsome. Very handsome that is. His black hair, brought contrast to his slightly pale skin. He was the average height of most men, and his was very clean, without a beard or stubble. But what set him apart were his large brown eyes which sparkled and twinkled at the same time.
"I apologize for interrupting your…talk with your friends." He said nodding toward the other ladies. "Your apology is accepted, sir" said Jane smiling flirtatiously at the young American. "Thank you." He responded politely "I would just like to introduce myself to you and perhaps…ask you for a dance?"
Mary shifted in place and answered "Perhaps when I know your name, I shall agree to dance with you." He chuckled and introduced himself "My name is Julian Ramsey, from the United States of America. As you have probably concluded by now, Miss Lennox. And I would just be honored to have a dance with you? If you do not mind of course."
"No, I don't." Mary said offering him her hand. Their dance was very pleasant, he knew his way around the dance floor and made very nice conversation with her. Starting with, "I don't mean to be rude, or to judge your character, but you looked really bored with those girls." Mary blinked, quite confused, and smiled at him "Yes, I was." The first dance soon ended. But they stood to the side and talked about anything they came upon. He asked her to a second dance. But before she could respond Gavin came to ask her to dance as well. She was about to decline Gavin's and accept Julian when Mrs. Heedley and friends came up to them and began to chat with Julian. Clearly he was occupied so Mary agreed to dance with Gavin.
"It must have been awful dancing with that Yank." whispered Gavin. Mary ignored him and thought to herself "Better than dancing with you." Gavin, unfortunately didn't take this as a sign to change subject, instead he went on. "It must be like dancing with those uncultured commoners." Mary almost yelled at him. He meant Martha, Mrs. Sowerby…and Dickon even. In her frustration she tripped on her dress and fell backward on a waiter carrying glasses of champagne.
She fell on her on the waiter and the liquid spilled all over her head and dress. Exclamations of surprise were heard all around the room. Gavin tried to pull her up but she shoved his hand away, murmured a rushed apology to the waiter, got up and ran away from the hall. She could hear the people calling after her but she kept running. She ran out of the house, and into the garden. She reached the Secret Garden and shoved it open.
Then she stopped and made her way to the swing, she sat down and pulled the clips out of her damp hair and bit her lip trying to stop herself from sobbing. "Miss Mary?" a disembodied voice from the dark said "What's tha' doin' 'ere?" Yes, it was Dickon. Perhaps this night would turn out better than expected.