----1797
There was something about Leigha Sommes. She wasn't beautiful, she wasn't even remotely pretty, but there was something about her face that made people notice. It might of been the sweetness that shined from within, or it could of been the humor and playfulness that reflected in her brown eyes. It also might have been the determined tilt to her chin that declared, "Despite the sweetness of my features, I am no milk and water miss."
She wasn't tall and willowy, but average height and rather plump, not fat, just voluptuous. She had the sort of figure that made men, unfavorably in her opinion, think of their mothers, pleasingly round and cuddly. Her hair was her crowning glory. Deep, rich brown that shone with mahogany highlights. It was long and curly and tonight she wore it down, held loosely of her face with a green ribbon headband that matched her gown. It danced around her shoulders and caressed her waist with every movement of her head.
Archie could admit an attraction towards her, he usually went for the popular beauties who fit the mode of fashion, but there was something about this lady that kept drawing his gaze. Perhaps it was the low, sweet purr of her voice and the shy, pretty smile that she greeted him with as he entered the house. Mayhap, it might have been the merry twinkle he had seen in her eyes, when she caught him sidling into a corner of the ballroom where he could go unnoticed for a while. Whatever it was, he was clearly fascinated.
He watched her make the rounds of the room, stopping here and there with a kind smile on her face and imparting something to the groups that she joined which had them laughing. The more he watched, the more enthralled he became. What was it about her? What made him admire her?
He glanced over at the lovely young creature holding court to his right, she was what he usually found himself attracted to. She tall, blonde, and willowy. She had the perfection of features that he enjoyed, but his eyes kept being drawn to the elfin figure in green.
"Elf?" he thought to himself, and once more glanced at Leigha,"yes, exactly, she reminds me of an elf."
She moved through the room, shimmering with energy. A joy of life in every movement. Her eyes sparkled with vivacity and her cheeks were attractively flushed. She reached his side and tapped his arm lightly with her fan to get his attention.
"Good evening, Lt. Kennedy" She said softly with a slight curtsey.
"Evening, Miss Sommes," he replied with a bow and a smile of his own.
"I do hope you intend on joining us, and not stay in this corner all night," she teased gently.
He grinned at her and then said, "well, my first attempt to join the revelries is to ask you if I might have the next set of dances?"
"With me, Mr. Kennedy?" She asked with some surprise," I'm sure I could introduce you to a much more delightful partner."
"I doubt it, Miss Sommes, I do not think there is anyone here more delightful than you."
Leigha blushed scarlet at this, " Really, Mr. Kennedy, I..."
Archie cut her off, " Miss Sommes, I will not take no for an answer...unless you find something disagreeable with me?"
Leigha was backed into a corner and she knew Archie was aware of it, to refuse him now would be to insult him,"Oh no, it's not you. I...oh, very well, I shall dance with you."
"Thank you, I shall come to collect you when it's time."
She left him with a quick curtsey.
***************************************************************
Leigha was still flushed, her heart was beating quickly. "What a handsome man," she mused, thinking about his sapphire eyes and dimpled grin, "and he wishes to dance with me. Of course, he's only being kind. He does seem like a very kind man."
She risked a second look in his direction, and nearly died of embarassment and pleasure when he winked at her. She composed her admirably and stole looks at him from beneath her lashes. She admired his trim figure, flattered by his naval uniform. The way it emphasized his broad shoulders and trim waist. She like the way his hair shone gold in the light from the candle and thought it adorable the way his nose crinkled when he was deep in thought; but most of all, she liked the way he looked at her~as if she were the only woman in the room.
At that moment, she noticed Genevieve D'Armond, make her way to him. "Well," said Leigha crossly to herself,"there goes any more notice of me. Genevieve is probably in tiff because there is one handsome man in the room not orbiting around her."
"Leigha? Leigha, pay heed, child," said a arch voice beside her. Leigha turned and looked into the beautiful features of her stepmother.
"I apologize, Leona,"she said pretending meekness, knowing the humilation that would come if she didn't recognize her stepmother's authority, "what is it that you need?"
"I don't believe there is enough fois gras," she complained,"see if we have any reserves in the kitchen. Oh, I see, Genny, is doing splendidly. Really, child you are never going to be like her, but you could put more effort into looking attractive. And do stay away from the sweetmeats, I do swear you are getting fatter before my very eyes."
"Yes, Leona," Leigha said, ducking her head so Leona wouldn't see how wounded she was by that remark.
"I will not cry," she said as she walked away, " I will NOT."
***************************************************************
An angel, in a blue gown that matched her eyes, walked up before him and smiled in a come hither fashion. Archie smiled back politely as he recognized this as the lovely blonde who caught his attention earlier.
She was glorious, with gilt hair that was arranged in seductively touseled ringlets and those cornflower blue-eyes. She had pale skin that glistened like satin and her symmetrical features were highlighted by a light touch of rouge on lips and cheeks. Her figure was expertly swathed in a shimmering gown of silk and showed off her white shoulders and bosom to perfection. Oddly enough, Archie only felt a momentary twinge of desire before his attention was once again caught by his elf.
"My word," He thought to himself in alarm," I have been nearly 8 months at sea, without a woman, and I just feel a twinge for this goddess. But, yet, one elfin creature has my undivided attention?!"
"Sir?" spoke the vision, in a voice affectated by a lisp," I do not believe we have met, sir?"
"Why in the world do women believe that talking like a child is charming?" Archie thought, but answered aloud,"No, Madame, I do not believe we have been. I'm Lt. Archibald Kennedy of the ship, Indefatigable."
"Genevieve D'Armond, daughter of the Earl of Poliston," she said importantly and held out her hand to be kissed. Archie bowed politely over the proffered limb and placed a quick kiss upon it.
"Are you by any chance related to Sir Henry Kennedy of Kennedy Hall in Dorset?"
"Yes, Miss D'Armond, I'm his youngest son," Archie said quitely.
"Oh, I'm an aquaintance of your sisters, Annelise and Avery, wonderful girls."
Archie smiled fondly, if he could stomache any of his family, it was the twins" Yes, they are wonderful girls, though I haven't seen them in quite a few years. I hear they are accomplished and beautiful young ladies, now."
"Oh, yes," said Genevieve dully, quite bored by the talk of anything or anyone that wasn't her," They are very pretty, compared to some."
Just then Leigha came into her view and needing to vent her spleen, she pointed maliciously in her direction, "Take Leigha, for example. Your dear sisters quite outshine her. As a matter of fact, I believe the Prince of Wales would even put her in the pale if he were to put on a dress. And he'd cut a slimmer figure."
Leigha stiffened as she overheard the insult and the snickers that followed. Archie watched with barely suppressed anger, as her shoulders slumped and a look of pain and embarassment wiped the sparkle from her eyes.
"Excuse me," Archie said tightly,"but I have promised a certain lovely young lady the next dances."
Genevieve simpered and said," Well, Mr. Kenndey. if that is your charming way of asking me, I can free myself to accompany you."
Archie gave her look of barely contained annoyance and said," I meant Miss Sommes, she has graciously deigned to honor my humble self with her company and I do not wish to be late. Pardon me, Miss D'Armond."
Genevieve's beautiful, perfect mouth fell open in beautiful, perfect astonishment.
There was something about Leigha Sommes. She wasn't beautiful, she wasn't even remotely pretty, but there was something about her face that made people notice. It might of been the sweetness that shined from within, or it could of been the humor and playfulness that reflected in her brown eyes. It also might have been the determined tilt to her chin that declared, "Despite the sweetness of my features, I am no milk and water miss."
She wasn't tall and willowy, but average height and rather plump, not fat, just voluptuous. She had the sort of figure that made men, unfavorably in her opinion, think of their mothers, pleasingly round and cuddly. Her hair was her crowning glory. Deep, rich brown that shone with mahogany highlights. It was long and curly and tonight she wore it down, held loosely of her face with a green ribbon headband that matched her gown. It danced around her shoulders and caressed her waist with every movement of her head.
Archie could admit an attraction towards her, he usually went for the popular beauties who fit the mode of fashion, but there was something about this lady that kept drawing his gaze. Perhaps it was the low, sweet purr of her voice and the shy, pretty smile that she greeted him with as he entered the house. Mayhap, it might have been the merry twinkle he had seen in her eyes, when she caught him sidling into a corner of the ballroom where he could go unnoticed for a while. Whatever it was, he was clearly fascinated.
He watched her make the rounds of the room, stopping here and there with a kind smile on her face and imparting something to the groups that she joined which had them laughing. The more he watched, the more enthralled he became. What was it about her? What made him admire her?
He glanced over at the lovely young creature holding court to his right, she was what he usually found himself attracted to. She tall, blonde, and willowy. She had the perfection of features that he enjoyed, but his eyes kept being drawn to the elfin figure in green.
"Elf?" he thought to himself, and once more glanced at Leigha,"yes, exactly, she reminds me of an elf."
She moved through the room, shimmering with energy. A joy of life in every movement. Her eyes sparkled with vivacity and her cheeks were attractively flushed. She reached his side and tapped his arm lightly with her fan to get his attention.
"Good evening, Lt. Kennedy" She said softly with a slight curtsey.
"Evening, Miss Sommes," he replied with a bow and a smile of his own.
"I do hope you intend on joining us, and not stay in this corner all night," she teased gently.
He grinned at her and then said, "well, my first attempt to join the revelries is to ask you if I might have the next set of dances?"
"With me, Mr. Kennedy?" She asked with some surprise," I'm sure I could introduce you to a much more delightful partner."
"I doubt it, Miss Sommes, I do not think there is anyone here more delightful than you."
Leigha blushed scarlet at this, " Really, Mr. Kennedy, I..."
Archie cut her off, " Miss Sommes, I will not take no for an answer...unless you find something disagreeable with me?"
Leigha was backed into a corner and she knew Archie was aware of it, to refuse him now would be to insult him,"Oh no, it's not you. I...oh, very well, I shall dance with you."
"Thank you, I shall come to collect you when it's time."
She left him with a quick curtsey.
***************************************************************
Leigha was still flushed, her heart was beating quickly. "What a handsome man," she mused, thinking about his sapphire eyes and dimpled grin, "and he wishes to dance with me. Of course, he's only being kind. He does seem like a very kind man."
She risked a second look in his direction, and nearly died of embarassment and pleasure when he winked at her. She composed her admirably and stole looks at him from beneath her lashes. She admired his trim figure, flattered by his naval uniform. The way it emphasized his broad shoulders and trim waist. She like the way his hair shone gold in the light from the candle and thought it adorable the way his nose crinkled when he was deep in thought; but most of all, she liked the way he looked at her~as if she were the only woman in the room.
At that moment, she noticed Genevieve D'Armond, make her way to him. "Well," said Leigha crossly to herself,"there goes any more notice of me. Genevieve is probably in tiff because there is one handsome man in the room not orbiting around her."
"Leigha? Leigha, pay heed, child," said a arch voice beside her. Leigha turned and looked into the beautiful features of her stepmother.
"I apologize, Leona,"she said pretending meekness, knowing the humilation that would come if she didn't recognize her stepmother's authority, "what is it that you need?"
"I don't believe there is enough fois gras," she complained,"see if we have any reserves in the kitchen. Oh, I see, Genny, is doing splendidly. Really, child you are never going to be like her, but you could put more effort into looking attractive. And do stay away from the sweetmeats, I do swear you are getting fatter before my very eyes."
"Yes, Leona," Leigha said, ducking her head so Leona wouldn't see how wounded she was by that remark.
"I will not cry," she said as she walked away, " I will NOT."
***************************************************************
An angel, in a blue gown that matched her eyes, walked up before him and smiled in a come hither fashion. Archie smiled back politely as he recognized this as the lovely blonde who caught his attention earlier.
She was glorious, with gilt hair that was arranged in seductively touseled ringlets and those cornflower blue-eyes. She had pale skin that glistened like satin and her symmetrical features were highlighted by a light touch of rouge on lips and cheeks. Her figure was expertly swathed in a shimmering gown of silk and showed off her white shoulders and bosom to perfection. Oddly enough, Archie only felt a momentary twinge of desire before his attention was once again caught by his elf.
"My word," He thought to himself in alarm," I have been nearly 8 months at sea, without a woman, and I just feel a twinge for this goddess. But, yet, one elfin creature has my undivided attention?!"
"Sir?" spoke the vision, in a voice affectated by a lisp," I do not believe we have met, sir?"
"Why in the world do women believe that talking like a child is charming?" Archie thought, but answered aloud,"No, Madame, I do not believe we have been. I'm Lt. Archibald Kennedy of the ship, Indefatigable."
"Genevieve D'Armond, daughter of the Earl of Poliston," she said importantly and held out her hand to be kissed. Archie bowed politely over the proffered limb and placed a quick kiss upon it.
"Are you by any chance related to Sir Henry Kennedy of Kennedy Hall in Dorset?"
"Yes, Miss D'Armond, I'm his youngest son," Archie said quitely.
"Oh, I'm an aquaintance of your sisters, Annelise and Avery, wonderful girls."
Archie smiled fondly, if he could stomache any of his family, it was the twins" Yes, they are wonderful girls, though I haven't seen them in quite a few years. I hear they are accomplished and beautiful young ladies, now."
"Oh, yes," said Genevieve dully, quite bored by the talk of anything or anyone that wasn't her," They are very pretty, compared to some."
Just then Leigha came into her view and needing to vent her spleen, she pointed maliciously in her direction, "Take Leigha, for example. Your dear sisters quite outshine her. As a matter of fact, I believe the Prince of Wales would even put her in the pale if he were to put on a dress. And he'd cut a slimmer figure."
Leigha stiffened as she overheard the insult and the snickers that followed. Archie watched with barely suppressed anger, as her shoulders slumped and a look of pain and embarassment wiped the sparkle from her eyes.
"Excuse me," Archie said tightly,"but I have promised a certain lovely young lady the next dances."
Genevieve simpered and said," Well, Mr. Kenndey. if that is your charming way of asking me, I can free myself to accompany you."
Archie gave her look of barely contained annoyance and said," I meant Miss Sommes, she has graciously deigned to honor my humble self with her company and I do not wish to be late. Pardon me, Miss D'Armond."
Genevieve's beautiful, perfect mouth fell open in beautiful, perfect astonishment.