Thank you TomCatHengrave and A fan for reviewing and thanks to everyone who reads as well. I intend to finish the whole story in the next few weeks. Also thank you A fan for reviewing my other Julia Golfing based stories, but I am not sure when I'll be able to continue them, because I'll be spending my summer on an original work of fiction.
A Surprise Guest
"I don't suppose you have been to many balls in your life Miss Royal," ventured Frank's uncle, about as innocently as a criminal.
"A few," I said.
It was true, no more than ten though mind you.
Given the circumstances, I thought I was staying pretty calm. My blood boiled just listening to the man, but I kept my feelings off my face.
"That is a nice dress," he said. "Rather more than I had expected."
"As is your stomach," I smiled as falsely as his teeth. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Frank and I were hoping for a pleasant evening."
The Duke of Canterbury's face went red all the way up to his greying hairline. Frank's mother coughed, then raised a hand to her face, to cover her grin. I winked at her and stepped between our hosts, pulling Frank with me into the hallway. Syd followed behind and tipped his hat to Frank's uncle, who looked even more scandalised at the prospect of having this plainly dressed boy in the house. I almost laughed, but then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Syd was scanning the room for anybody who had a particular interest in us, or rather me.
I tried to put the bracelet to the back of my mind. It could have been perfectly innocent, perhaps even a gift from someone I knew, but whom I had forgotten in the Frank mess. I turned back to look at the party at the door. Maybe it had come from the Duchess or even the Duke of Avon.
Determined to ask, I called to her.
"Duchess," I said, not standing too much upon ceremony. "I don't suppose you want to join us for a while."
I also figured that I owed her an explanation for leaving them so suddenly. I only had Frank's words on how she had taken it. The Duchess had recently been turning into a bit of a mother figure for me. Dare I admit it, but part of me felt the keen lack of parents when Frank had both of his in the house.
"You know, that sounds like a wonderful idea," she said, glancing at her brother in law with distaste. "If you don't mind," this was asked to Frank's father.
A look passed between the Avons that seemed to suggest neither of them wanted to entertain the red-faced man much. The Duke did not begrudge his wife making a respectable escape.
"Of course I don't," he said. "We've been standing here for half an hour. You deserve a break."
"But you can't," Richard closed his mouth.
He didn't really know what to say anymore. As he saw it, there were ruffians at the ball and the hostess had abandoned her post. His face was very flushed.
"I don't suppose you like tomatoes do you?" I asked him, but so beset was he with simmering anger, that he did not reply.
I shrugged and my party headed over to the buffet. Rid of Frank's uncle, the mood became lighter.
"Drink anyone?" I enquired.
"If you would please," said the Duchess. "I have been on my feet for ages. Seems like forever when the brother in law is about. Stick to your guns Cat. He'll get over it eventually, as he did with me."
"Thanks," I said then turned to my other companions. "Drinks?"
"You don't have to," said Frank. "I can get them. It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to allow you to fetch the drinks."
"No, it's fine," I said. "You look a bit flustered. Syd, look after them both until I get back."
The Duchess laughed.
"We're not so fragile as that Cat Royal, although my brother in law would have believe every upper class lady is made of china and pearls."
I grinned and searched the buffet for available drinks. There were pastries and small titbits laid artistically on the table. In the centre was a bowl of cloudy liquid and next to it were clear wineglasses, turned upside down. I took the nearest one and ladled in the drink.
As I picked up the second glass to fill it with lemonade, I spotted a sprig of dark hair in the crowd and a face that looked oddly familiar. He was talking to a girl with pale blonde hair. I tried to get a better look, but their back was turned to me. It looked the wrong shape anyway for the person I thought it belonged to.
My mind couldn't help thinking back to my stalker a few days ago. Perhaps I was just imagining things. Casting a final glance at the figure, I grabbed the drinks and returned to my friends.
Syd was shuffling his feet, not completely at ease with the Avons.
"You are a dear, Cat," said the Duchess, graciously accepting the beverage. "Now, you must tell me why you left the house in such a hurry, and in more detail I hope than Frank has cared to tell me." She raised her eyebrows at her son and he looked down, shuffling his feet awkwardly. "It must have been some great "minor disagreement" to get you in such a state."
Frank muttered something that none of us caught.
"As you may have guessed from our partnering at this ball, Frank and I have begun courting," I tried to explain without sounding too wishy-washy. "I left, because Frank was being disrespectful towards me. I don't want to blacken his character too much now, because he has got over the issue he had previously."
"You are too kind on people Cat," the Duchess paused and took a sip from her cup. "As for you Frank, I hope you won't be showing anymore disrespect to people like Cat. We don't want you turning into Uncle Richard."
Frank winced almost imperceptibly. I stroked his arm in, what I hoped was, a reassuring way. Beneath my fingers, his muscles relaxed.
"Well, I can't leave my poor husband alone for too long," said the Duchess. "If you'll all excuse me."
With that, she headed over to the table to deposit her cup and then returned to the doorway. I watched her all the way. Frank's uncle has disappeared somewhere else as he no longer stood with the Avons.
"Hey Cat," said Syd.
I turned to him. He had been standing awkwardly out of the conversation a moment ago; I suspected he had been intimidated by the Duchess. Now though, I saw a slight worry in his features that had nothing to do with Frank's family.
I couldn't help remembering Syd's reason for coming along.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Isn't that Billy Shepherd over there?"
Following Syd's gaze, my eyes fell upon the same figure that I had glimpsed over by the buffet table. This time, he was looking straight at us. His lips moved as he said something to the girl he was talking to and then he headed in our direction. I groaned.
"He would be here, wouldn't he?"
"Looks like he wants to talk to us," said Syd, his hands clenching into fists. I wondered whether he was actually aware of how hostile his stance was.
"Why was he talking to Georgiana?" said Frank. "He's wasting his time, Uncle Richard would never permit…"
He hesitated and looked at me. Clearly the Duke of Canterbury had trouble controlling his family's marital behaviours.
"It probably won't turn into anything," I said quietly, because Billy was now within earshot.
He smiled at us, more specifically me. My senses grew more alert. There was something in his expression that was off. Malice? Guilt? It was not a face I had seen before on Billy Shepherd.
"Billy?" I said.
"William Shepherd," he corrected, bowing to the Duchess, then giving Frank and Syd an unsavoury glance. "I must confess Cat, that I was disappointed that you did not accept my proper invitation."
"You didn't…" I paused.
Why did my pocket suddenly feel really heavy? I tried to ignore the memory of the bracelet and the note.
"I was surprised," he said. "Particularly after our little rendez-vous."
"What rendez-vous?" Frank looked from me to Billy.
I stared at Billy, trying to read his facial expression, but he was giving nothing away.
"Why, Cat and I are practically engaged."
I just can't help myself with these cliff hangers sometimes ;)
