Upstairs the ball was a sight to behold. The entire room was bathed in gold which came from the light of the golden chandelier that hung above all the guests. Gentlemen and ladies were either joyously dancing about, loudly conversing in friendly chats or idle gossip, or helping themselves to the complimentary drinks. The only person there not finding pleasure in this gathering was a young man hiding himself the shadows of various corners.

A lithe looking fellow who was dressed sharply in a fine suit which consisted of his best coat and trousers. He was dark eyed and both his skin and hair were a shade of light brown. He was Creole but one could mistake him as a white man who had just been in the sun too long. He was very handsome and he sported a most charming smile on his face even though in truth he was actually quite bored with the evening so far.

His good friend Husk who was dangerously close to falling into a coma due to how much whisky he had chugged in the last hour, had urged him several times to interact with the ravishing young ladies who had been making eyes at him ever since he first entered the room. But the young man had no intention of indulging them because while they were indeed very pretty and very good with flattery, he knew not one of them were interested in him. Not genuinely that is.

"You know somethin." Husk slurred in his intoxicated state. "Women's attention is wasted one the wrong men. Here you have nearly every broad swoonin over you and you just hide from them. Do you have any idea how many lonely single men would kill to have your luck with the women?"

"No." Chuckled the young man. "But I do know this Husker if you take another swallow of that whiskey it will be one, two, three, floor for you."

"What? You think I'm a lightweight? I can handle it! I'll drink you under the table!"

The young man smirked and rolled his eyes. Truly his friend's intoxication was the only thing he found amusing about this ball. Or at least it was until a hush fell over the crowd. He turned his gaze toward what had captured everyone's attention and for the first time in his life he was completely astonished. At the entrance of the dance hall there stood a woman more lovely than any he had ever seen in all of his life. She shimmered under the chandelier light and moved with such elegance, overcoming each guest at the ball with her grace and beauty. However she seemed entirely unaware of just how radiant she was and that made her all the more beguiling to the young man.

At first Charlotte found herself so amazed by the ball that she didn't notice everyone staring at her. Everything was just so magnificent, from the decor to the music. It was also very diverse which she found to be very refreshing. When her father threw galas like these he only invited the wealthy and elite and although the people apart of that social group were indeed present there were also guests from the poor and the servitude. It made her feel much more at ease because it gave her the idea that the master of the house would be welcoming to every kind of person.

After admiring the ball she finally noticed the stares of all the guests. It made her feel very shy and self conscious. Like she had done something wrong or looked a certain way that was disturbing or awkward. Perhaps Katie was right. Maybe she would only be seen as a subject of ridicule here. She should probably just go back to the cellar before everyone started laughing or spouting insults at her.

She was just about to leave when she was approached by the most handsome man she had ever seen. She could tell that he was Creole because her father had educated her on how to distinguish them from black people with a lighter skin tone or white people with a darker skin tone. He said it was so she wouldn't associate herself with them, calling them half breeds or the product of a union that should never be. But Charlotte didn't care about any of that. White. Black, or Creole he was still no less human than she was and he was still the most dashing gentleman she had ever beheld.

"Good evening my dear." He bowed politely to her.

"Good evening to you as well good sir." She said replying with a curtsy to him.

"Excuse my sudden approach but once I saw you I just couldn't resist saying something to you."

"Oh I beg your pardon, have I disrupted anything?"

"No, no, no." He said shaking his head. "Not at all. In fact you've made this occasion much more bearable for me. Why I haven't been this amused at a party since that failed banquet of 1867 when the whole gathering was interrupted by a group of ex soldiers attempting to loot the place. Ha! So many Yankees."

Charlotte giggled at his remark. He found her laughter to be the equivalent of crystal bells. What a delightful lady she was. None of the women he had seen tonight could compare to this darling creature. Especially when she smiled and her blue eyes sparkled with joy.

He noticed that she had started scanning the room for something or someone.

"Are you looking for someone my dear? A sweetheart maybe?" He hoped not.

"Actually I'm looking for the master of the house." She answered. "I wanted to thank him for allowing me to attend the ball."

"Oh?" He said now much more further intrigued by the young woman. "Have you not met the master yet?"

"I've never even seen him but I assume he'll be where most of the guests are gathered. Do you know where I could find him?"

"Oh he's around." His grin spread wider. "But you probably won't find him in a large group. He's actually not that very social."

"Really? I assumed he was considering that he's a throwing a week long festival and allowing so many people to attend it. Even his own servants are invited."

"Well you see this festival is more for the benefit of his staff rather than himself. He's never been for one for parties or social gatherings but his servants have been very good to him, well most of them that is so he's decided that he wants to show his appreciation."

"How thoughtful." She said. "Not many masters are that grateful to their staff. He must be a wonderful person to serve."

"Indeed he's quite a man or so I've heard." He nodded. "You know some of the young ladies came here hoping to become the future mistress of the household."

"You mean some of them want to become the master's wife?"

"Yes. Do you have that desire?"

"Oh no. Not me." She chuckled at the thought. "I don't see myself becoming a bride any time soon. I just came because it's been such a long time since I've attended celebratory event. I just wanted to have a little fun tonight."

"That's all?"

"That's all. Besides how could I want to become the master's wife when I don't even know him? Sounds kind of silly, don't you think?"

"I agree." He said liking her more and more. "And you are certain that you know nothing of him? Nothing at all?"

"I know that he's a very good hunter and apparently very good this servants but that's pretty much everything I know about him."

"Very interesting. Do you know his name by any chance?"

"No. But could you tell me his name? Or perhaps what he looks like?"

"I could but I haven't even introduced myself yet and that's very poor manners on my part." He outstretched his hand to her, she hesitated shyly but eventually placed her own hand into his. He grasped it gently and brought the back of it slowly to his lips so he could delicately kiss her knuckles which made her heart flutter. "Alastor. Pleasure to meet you. Quite a pleasure."

He spoke so kindly and respectfully to her. It had been so long since any gentleman had talked to her in such a way. Nowadays most men just scoffed at her or would speak to her as she were a lowly dog. Before tonight she was certain that chivalry had become a thing of the past. Thank God for this man who proved her wrong.

"And you are?" He inquired.

"I..." She became flustered. "I am very pleased to meet you as well."

He laughed at how adorable she looked when she was nervous. Of course part of it was also to hide how anxious he was at the moment. He was very good at hiding how he really felt about something and at the moment he was sauve and collected on the outside but inside he was a nervous wreck.

Just then the sound of a new song summoned all the guests to dance again. It was to be waltz so all of the ladies and gentlemen began to partner up and take their stances. Alastor, still holding on to Charlotte's hand humbly asked,

"Would you mind sharing a dance with me my dear?"

"I would love nothing more."

With that answer given he whirled her away to dance.