Chapter 21

Or perhaps Mary wasn't up to anything.

Cain and I stepped out of the carriage, decked out to the nines, wearing identical, simple black masks. We entered and handed our coats to a servant before entering. I had tied my hair back in a black ribbon.

"I feel ridiculous," Cain muttered. It was Mary's idea that we go in the same dress. So we agreed that the simpler, the better.

"Well, at least you're not dressed like him," I said, pointing at a man dressed as a sheep.

"Surprisingly, that makes me feel a little better."

"I just hope you-know-who isn't here."

"For crying out loud! Jizabel, if he was, you'd probably recognize him faster than anyone and then make sure you stayed clear on the other side," Cain said. "If he's here, I'll protect you, Big Brother."

I snarled at him and shoved him away. "Have fun, Cain."

"You to, Jiz," Cain said, disappearing into the crowd. I made myself sparse as well.

Somehow I was able to maneuver myself out of the crowd to the back of the room where the tables were. Only one table was occupied. And by one person.

A woman wearing a gold and burgundy pompadour ball gown. Her ruby hair was held in a black net and she wore a matching gold and black mask. I approached her, merely thinking she could use a little company.

"Good evening, Miss," I said. She started and looked at me, covering her rosy lips with a gloved hand. "Is this seat taken?"

"No," she said quietly, removing her hand. I sat down beside her. She faced away from me and we sat in awkward silence. I was beginning to think I shouldn't have bothered.

A tune struck and I turned back to her. "Um," I touched her hand. She turned to me, slightly shocked at the gesture. "Would you care for a dance?"

Her mouth parted and her cheeks flushed. "I…of course," she said. I took her hand and led her to the dance floor. She was tense. On guard even. Nevertheless, I placed one hand on her waist and she placed her hand on my shoulder.

"You're a wonderful dancer," I commented. I half expected her to be clumsy, but she was quite graceful.

"Not so," she said, "Not as good as you are, Sir."

The song changed. "I feel as though I've seen you before," I said. This was also true. I knew that voice from somewhere. But where had I heard it before?

"Maybe we have," she said quietly, "At a previous gathering."

"That would seem likely," I agreed. I spun her around once and kept my eyes locked on hers. Deep, clear blue eyes. This girl was familiar to me. I knew her, but I couldn't remember who she is or where I met her.

"I can't help but wonder who you are," I said. "You'd think I'd recognize someone as beautiful as you are. I put myself to shame."

She bit her lip and averted her gaze.

I was being as sincere as the next person…which might be questionable how sincere the next person actually was, but my point is that I really do believe I was dancing with one of the most gorgeous women in the room.

I may not recognize her, but I knew a few things about her already:

Firstly, she was terribly shy if not modest. Secondly, she was obviously an aristocrat. Thirdly, she was an excellent dancer. Fourth and foremost, she was soft spoken.

"I'm not sure I can wait until midnight to see your face," I mused aloud.

Her eyes widened and she pulled away from me. "I…I'm sorry," she said, walking away from me. "I…I have to go." She turned away from me and disappeared into the crowd.

Despite myself, I followed.

She left the room.

I stepped out into the cold hallway and looked around, wondering where she had gone.

A flash of gold to the left was my clue and I followed. It led to a staircase and she was descending.

"Wait," I called.

She stopped and looked at me. Her eyes widened beneath her mask and she continued downstairs.

I followed. "Wait!" I called again, taking her wrist. I was almost surprised how small it was.

She looked too frightened to scream.

"I'm sorry if I seemed forward. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Trust me, Sir," she said, "You don't want to see my face."

"How can you say that?" I asked. "You're beautiful."

She shook her head. "Please, let me go."

"I could," I said, "but I'm afraid to. I don't want to find that I let Cinderella escape when she was right before me."

She shook her head again and tried to pull out of my grasp. "I'll scream," she threatened. "Let me go. I swear I'll scream."

I released her. "Don't run, please," I begged her. "Don't run from me."

Even so, she slowly backed away, a hand on the railing to catch her if she slipped. "Find another Cinderella."

"No."

"Why are you following me?!" she shouted.

"Why did you run from me?!" I shot back.

She was breathing heavily. I feared she'd faint, but she stood firm. "Believe me. You've done enough for me. I don't want what you said taken back."

"What kind of man do you think I am? Why would I take back what I said after I've said it? When I said you're beautiful, I meant it. When I said I wanted to see your face, I meant it."

Applauding from the ballroom caught our attention for a moment.

I turned back to her, but she was already attempting another escape. I groaned and followed again.

"Go away! Leave me alone!" she shouted. She tripped and screamed. I jumped three steps and caught her wrist in one hand and wrapped my hand around her waist, stopping her fall. "Ow…" she mumbled, clutching at her ankle. I released her and moved a couple steps down. "What are you doing?"

"I'm a doctor," I told her, taking her foot in my hand. I inspected her ankle, prodding it gently. She winced slightly. Her feet were small, dainty even. "It doesn't seem to be swelling," I told her, "But you shouldn't walk for a few minutes."

She turned away from me.

"What are you so afraid of?" I asked her. "I'm not old."

She laughed. "No, it's not that. No one's ever said I was beautiful before or really cared about me. You surprised me, Sir. I never thought that anyone would be interested in me. But this only makes me wish midnight would never come all the more."

"Why?"

"Whether you agree with me or not, that's when it'll all end."

"I guess you've got a point," I said. "Come Midnight, my brother might come looking for me, complaining that he wants to escape his partner and ask me to save him from the masses of women."

She laughed, "Your brother?"

"Yeah," I admitted. "My younger brother and I are almost inseparable."

"Is he as persistent as you are?"

"He can be. But that's only when he wants to grate my nerves. He used to follow me to school when he was still a toddler. I couldn't take him along, so I left him at a teacher's house with his wife while I was at school and pick him up on the way home. He especially wasn't happy when I went off to college. He's grown up now, surprisingly so. He likes to think that he's a self-styled lady's man."

"Your brother seems to be precious to you."

I smiled. "He's very precious to me," I said. "I practically raised him, so I can't help but boast of him from time to time."

"You raised him yourself?"

"No. I had help from my Uncle and Stepmother when I was younger, but later on, it was just the two of us, our friends, and our servants."

We sat in silence for a moment, but unlike before, it wasn't as awkward. She attempted to stand and I stood, helping her up.

"Are you sure you want to try walking now?" I asked.

"Well, I have to some time," she reasoned. "Would you…um…well…"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to walk around the garden with me? The courtyard is just down these stairs."

I nodded and laced her arm in mine, supporting her down the stairs. When we entered the courtyard, I could see the clock clearly. I was almost surprised at how close it was to midnight.

"I guess time couldn't stop," she muttered sadly.

"I know," I said. "I don't want the night to end either."

She blushed and looked away from me. "Why did you approach me?"

"At first, it was because you looked lonely. I figured you could use the company. Funnily enough, I find myself captivated by you."

The clock began to chime.

We look at the clock, then at each other. She bit her lip and closed her eyes for a brief moment. I took her mask off and she mine.

We stared at each other for a moment. She blushed and tried to run again. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to me.

"Let me go!"

"Drew, stop running for me," I snapped at her. Drew flinched. I took a calming breath. "You've been running from me all night. Please stop making me chase you."

"Why are you chasing me?"

I swallowed. How could I tell her? I had fallen in love with Lady Drew Benjamin.

...Erm...Yes. I did. I figured I shouldn't pair him up with an extremely beautiful girl, but in a way, I have always been disappointed in Drew's decision to only focus on her outer appearance and that she can't be confident without beauty. Good Lord! Message of "Scold's Bridle": Beauty is only skin deep. Also, I think Drew's fairly cute. Not beautiful, but she's certainly not hideous. She sort of reminds me of Sophie from "Howl's Moving Castle" to, which makes me like her all the more.