Hello all! I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Please review- TheVictorianApothecary
Henry had proposed to Emma two weeks ago with a ring I had chosen for her. It was a pretty, delicate pink sapphire in the shape of a teardrop as a nod to the Jekyll family jewels and a nod to the ring I wore. The sapphire was surrounded by tiny diamonds, like mine was and was set in a plain gold band. I had also chosen a necklace and earrings set to give her as a gift when the time was right. I walked into the ballroom on the arm of John Utterson, my acting escort. More like my acting guard dog. William's hotel was grand and beautiful, marble flooring and columns it held some resemblance to Ancient Greece with nods to the Middle East, Morocco, and India. I smiled as I floated across the floor in my silk heels. My gown bared my shoulders and some of my bust, it was a rich maroon colored gown which I accented with some of the Jekyll family jewels and diamonds. I wore a string of braided diamonds and pearls before the braid that held my curls back like a crown. Around my throat were the pearls Samael had given me and around my wrist was a bracelet that William had given me. I knew I was stunning but understated. Many women here wore terribly intricate gowns with large bustles, tons of ruffles, lace and bows. Their hair was put into ridiculous ringlet confections. My gown lacked any embellishment beside a touch of black lace at the edge of each hem. Utterson had told Henry he was ridiculous for not walking me in with how beautiful I was. Compared to me, Emma was washed out. Her pink silk gown held lace and delicate stripes, she too wore pearls but she wore the jewelry like a little girl playing dress up. Her hair was pulled back and curled in the strange style of the time and she was not quite so graceful. I would have to work on that. A servant brought a glass of dark red wine for us to enjoy, which I thanked them for softly. I held the glass and looked around the room at the opulence. I saw balconies where people could slip into, a permanent stage for an orchestra to play. The beautiful music floated above the voices in the ballroom. Our host appeared on the balcony and silence fell "good evening, friends new and old, honored guests, new acquaintances, welcome to the grand opening of my hotel" a soft clapping rang through the large room "tradition dictates that I dance a waltz with a lady to open the festivities" a murmur ran through everyone "however, a Viennese Waltz is far more entertaining. Will all young ladies please come to the perimeter of the floor?" John placed a restraining hand on my shoulder "Evalina" he hissed "oh, let her go, John. Let her have a little bit of fun" he released my arm and I joined the swaths of colorful, bright silk. I caught sight of Vanessa in a violet gown, looking much out of place in the sea of pastels. We nodded to each other with a smile as our host walked down the last few steps. A servant handed him a lit, tapered candle "to do this correctly, the dance must be so quick and light that the candle never blows out. And to do that, one needs the right partner" his hazel eyes scanned the room and before I knew it he was before me, his hand extended "will you be mine?" I felt Henry poke me in the shoulder, an encouraging tap. Or perhaps it was a do not embarrass me but who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth? I took his hand and felt immediately safe. "Do you know the steps, Miss Barker?" he whispered as we crossed to the center "of course I do. Old world or the newer version?" "you are asking if your foot will come off the floor" "I am" "do you want it to?" "it would be far more dramatic" "yes it would" he smirked "you lack a train to drag, yes?" "I hate wasting the extra silk" chuckling, he nodded to the musicians "look into my eyes, make certain they do not leave mine" he swayed as they struck up a chord then guided me through the floating dance. I knew I made it look as though my feet never touched the marble with how light and quick my step was, I had been taught to float in the ways of Versailles. I knew my skirts fluttered around me like a cloud of silk and lace, that my dress and my jewels caught the light, that I caught the light. I smiled softly as I stared into his hazel eyes feeling at home at last. The pressure of his hand on my back and the grip on my right hand, the scent of him- smoky like pipe smoke, absinthe, and leather. I whirled with him, feeling weightless even before he executed the lifts. I pointed my toes like a ballerina, extending my leg in a way only a ballerina would. I felt him twirl me out of the dance one last time, a delicate lift that brought us together before the song ended with him dipping me back. He pulled me up and offered the candle to be blown out as applause sounded behind us. William clapped for me before he bowed and I curtsied. "you are still the most beautiful dancer I have ever met" he guided me back to my escort. "Will you teach me how to dance like that?" Emma was clutching my hand "of course, though I spent many years learning from a ballet and dance master, Emma" "I did not know you could dance like that, Evalina" Henry said softly "if I had-" "you would have let me go out there to show some of the ladies here what true beauty looks like" "quite right, my dear, quite right" I looked around the room hearing the tittering of ladies behind their fans, their hawklike eyes staring me down as if I was some type of cretin. Little did they know. "Miss Barker, perhaps you would oblige me with a dance?" John asked softly as Henry guided Emma to the floor. "Of course" we stood near enough to Henry and Emma "I thought this would be a terrible idea, seeing as the Ton realize you do not belong here, but how wrong they are. It is they who do not belong. Dr. Tepes was right to invite you, and Henry was correct in allowing you to attend. Truly you are the diamond of this opening ball, the jewel that shines the brightest" "that is the kindest thing you have ever said to me, Mr. Utterson" we whirled through the dance and I knew it was petty, but I was glad I could float like this. I made Emma look plainer and clumsier compared to me. "I want to speak with my friend, Vanessa" "the social pariah?" "yes, the social pariah. She looks lonely over there" "Mr. Gray will see to her" "Dorian will be a terrible influence upon her" "Dorian, is it? I did not realize you were familiar with that scoundrel" "that scoundrel at least understands the words no and stop" he spun me a little too hard "you test my patience, Evalina" "and you have tested mine since we met. I am a patient woman, but never forget I have a bite" "go, spend time with your friend" the song drew to a close and I went to stand beside Vanessa. "Lovely evening" "Evalina" her hand found mine "it is a lovely evening. You never danced like that when we were younger, who taught you?" "I did not wish to upstage you or Mina, dear. I have missed you" "and I, you. What have you been up to? I have not seen you since-" "I have been forbidden from coming to see you for a while and well- I cannot exactly tell you what I have been up to until it is announced" "announced? A betrothal or a marriage?" "a- something, Dear Vanessa" I squeezed her hand "the foreboding man you were dancing with just now?" "oh goodness no. we are members of the same church and my father entrusts my safety to him and Dr. Jekyll when I am out and about. John just did not wish me to not dance, I did dress up after all" "more so than you used to. Who are you trying to attract?" "who says I am trying to attract anyone at all, dear?" a servant cleared his throat "Miss Ives, if you shall follow me, please" "I-" "go on, Vanessa. It seems our host wishes to speak with you" I kept my voice light and cheerful but my heart ached to watch her go up those stairs- to that balcony where I could just see the hint of his face. It seems that, unlike me, he has moved on. I did not know if I would entirely move on from the love, warmth, and joy he had brought to my bleak and cruel existence. Tonight I had felt alive while we danced, I had felt safe and somewhat loved. But now- oh, now, I felt the darkness surround me once more. Pain crushed my very soul as I watched him flirt with her from the balcony. It was obvious now that he had chosen me for the first dance because I was the best dancer in the room, not because he wished to make amends. I watched him take her to the floor not once but twice, how he held her so gently and stared into her pale eyes with love. My friend and my lover together before everyone. Before me. I found Henry and John talking as Emma chatted with one of her friends, showing off her ring "would one of you lovely gentlemen please escort me home? I am overtired from all the excitement" "Evalina?" Henry pressed his hand to my forehead "you are warm for you, my dear. Perhaps it is best that you return home and rest. You have not been sleeping well as it is" "I will escort her, Henry. It would not do for you to leave your fiancée here with her father for another woman. Come along, Evalina. Let us find your shawl" he escorted me out of the now sweltering ballroom as a servant found my shawl. Concern was writ all over their face but I knew they could not speak what they so ardently wished to. "are ye running away, Little Doe?" I would know that voice anywhere "not now, Murtagh" "I know he is a fool and a coward but ye are just torturing yourself if you flee" "no, I am stepping away from a society that simply cannot value me" "they will say the two of you were lovers. That you were strung along, jilted. The way you ran away" "I am overheating, Murtagh, I must return home" "he doesna love her, Evalina" he stepped toward me "enough, come along, Evalina" John pulled me away and I looked back at the Strigoi I had met so long ago. The one I had saved for the sake of his godson and my own love for him.