Faint Heart/Fair Maids
A William Fiction
By Jody E.
These characters don't belong to me...well, actually most of them DO! But William and Cecily are borrowed from Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I merely toy with them for my own amusement.
I have also shamelessly stolen a scene or two from Fool for Love…you will know it when you see it.
Chapter 4
Twelfth Night, the fifth of January was clear and cold. William stood before the looking glass adjusting his cravat. He and Amanda had found an old black formal suit, which had belonged to his Grandfather. It was the most aristocratic outfit he could find, to best suit Lord Ruthven. Amanda had daubed his face with white grease paint, bought at a theatrical supply shop on Drury Lane. They had slicked his hair back with pomade, which darkened it and accentuated the lines of his face. The fangs were achieved with wax, though William had no idea how he would be able to eat with them. Traditionally, however, dinner was served quite late, and he could remove the teeth before then. The best find, however, had been Grandfather's monocle. If he could keep it in, no small feat, he could see well enough to keep from crashing into the furniture, and still maintain his illusion. He tucked his spectacles into his waistcoat pocket, however, as an emergency measure. The last macabre touch was lips lined with rouge, a stark contrast with his white face, as though he had just dined on fresh blood. It was grisly, but he hoped that it would do. No point in becoming carried away.
He had hired a carriage for the evening, since the Atherton family didn't have one of their own anymore. Mother had gone to her bed early, the excitement of the holidays having worn her out, so William didn't have to explain his costume to her or alarm her in any way. Amanda was almost as excited as he, wishing that she were old enough to go. Amanda placed a wilted rose in his lapel. She explained that his character was so evil, his very presence killed all that he touched. William felt a chill at her words. He took one last look in the glass. Goodness…he would be giving himself nightmares! He hastened out the door into the waiting carriage.
William's carriage pulled up at the entrance to the Waverly's mansion shortly after the appointed hour. The magnificent house was lit with candles and torches, instead of gaslight, giving an eerie light. Elizabeth and her brother John were at the entrance, greeting their guests. Wavy was dressed as a warlock, in a black robe inscribed with strange symbols. Elizabeth was dressed as a female vampyre, in a long black lacy dress. Her pale makeup resembled William's own. She greeted him warmly.
"William, is that you? How delightfully gruesome. And we match!" She held out her dance card. "You must promise me at least one. A Polka? Or perhaps a waltz."
"Miss Elizabeth, you look much too lovely to be evil. "William said gallantly, surprised at how well their costumes did match. He took the small booklet from her hand and wrote his name down next to a polka, noting that her card was already half full. He bowed. "I will leave you to greet the rest of your guests."
William wandered into the ballroom. The house was lovely with the gaslights dimmed and candles everywhere. He was suddenly overcome with shyness. What was he doing in this place in this absurd costume, where he knew hardly anyone? With whom would he dance or even talk? And most importantly, where was Cecily? He must find her before her dance card was filled up, if he were to have any chance with her at all. He thought he heard the sound of her voice, and turned and saw her over by a cluster of potted plants, which were draped alarmingly with cobwebs. She was talking to a young man, and writing his name on her card. A waiter walked by with a tray of champagne cocktails, and William snatched a glass and drank it down to calm his nerves. As he walked over to her, William noticed that she was dressed all in gauzy white, with face painted to match. Her dark hair and dark eyes, lined with kohl were a dramatic contrast. The only drop of colour she wore was a red gash at her neck. A ghostly apparition to be sure, but one by which William wouldn't mind being haunted.
She smiled at him. "Ah William. Good evening. I see you have decided to emulate Lord Ruthven. Or is it Varney?"
"Lord Ruthven, to the best of my somewhat limited ability. I take it that you are familiar with those works?"
"Such things were very popular at school. Though strictly forbidden, of course."
"Did you also attend King's? I daresay I would have remembered you there."
"I would have been somewhat behind you, being only nineteen. But I didn't attend King's. I was finished in Switzerland. I came out last Spring. Oh excuse me, the orchestra is beginning to tune up and I have promised this first dance." She glanced at her card.
William flushed at his faux pas about King's. Of course she would have attended finishing school in Switzerland or France. No bluestocking co-ed was Cecily Addams. She no doubt thought him a fool. But bravely he plunged ahead.
"Oh, Miss Cecily, "William burst out, "Would you do me the honor of a dance?"
"Oh dear…I have promised all my waltzes and polkas, but I see there will be a Virginia Reel and a Quadrille later. Would you care to partner me in one of those? "
William's heart sank. Reels and Quadrilles were group dances, and hardly romantic. Cecily was studying her card.
"Oh, there is a Galop after the Reel, I could put you in there." A Galop was a form of waltz, and most definitely a partner dance.
"Oh, that would be wonderful. I will see you then." He bowed and walked back into the crowd, heart soaring.
As he was drinking a second glass of champagne behind a pillar, and wondering what ever to do with himself, William noticed two young ladies standing against the wall. They looked like sisters and were dressed alike as witches. They didn't notice him there and were talking together quietly, and William couldn't help but overhear. The older one sighed dramatically, "They never have enough men at these things!"
Her sister agreed, "Beth Waverly did promise to invite every unmarried man she saw, whether he was eligible or not."
"Hmmm. Doesn't help much if they all insist on dancing with Cecily Addams!" She waved her dance card, "I've hardly got any dances at all."
"It is very vexing, to be sure. All of their set do well for themselves. Don't think Beth Waverly sheds any tears for the likes of us."
"I see Millie over there all by herself also, and with the first waltz starting up, too."
"And it is a Strauss, my favorite."
William listened to this exchange with a sinking heart. So he had undoubtedly been invited to the ball because they needed extra men, and it didn't matter whether or not he was " eligible." The Waverlys had probably been dragooning men off the streets! He looked at the two sisters and felt pity for their wallflower plight. Well, he thought defiantly, if he was invited as an extra man, then let him fulfill his obligation to his hostess. He walked over to the sisters and bowed, "May I have the honor of this dance?"
For the next hour William danced with Leora and her sister Lenore. He never could tell them apart. 'I don't know which witch is which,' he thought to himself giddily, after drinking yet another glass of champagne. He also danced with the stout Millie, and her friend Ethel, who had a face like a horse, but it didn't matter in the slightest. He was having a wonderful time, and had quite forgotten to be an awkward dancer. It was all a matter of self-confidence, was it not? Occasionally he would see Cecily or Elizabeth dancing past, and he couldn't help but notice that Cecily danced with many different partners. He saw no sign that she favored anybody in particular, which filled him with hope that she was free to someday possibly return his feelings.
Then Elizabeth came to claim him for their polka. She was flushed with dancing and champagne, and her laughing face contradicted her gloomy costume. She said, "Oh, William I am much too exhausted to prance about at the moment! Let us talk a walk instead. Have you met my parents?"
Mr. and Mrs. Waverly were present of course, to chaperone, but William hadn't met them as yet. Elizabeth brought him over to where they were sitting, watching the scene with a few of their friends. They were not in costume of course, regarding such things as fit only for the younger generation. The elder Waverlys regarded William with interest. In fact, William felt as though he were being examined under a microscope. Mr. Waverly questioned him about his prospects.
"A bookstore, eh? Well, I suppose people need books. Never had much use for 'em myself. " Thus he dismissed William's livelihood. The predatory gleam in Mrs. Waverly's eyes died out as William spoke, and The Waverlys soon excused themselves. Elizabeth led William over to the table where hors d'oevres were being served, and helped herself to a canapé. She shook her head. "Please excuse my parents. Their attitudes are from the last century! They refuse to comprehend that I am capable of making up my own mind and will not be bound by their outmoded sensibilities. "
William was confused. About what had she made up her mind? At that moment Cecily came up to them, breathless. "The orchestra is taking a break. I must take some coffee before attempting the quadrille. I fear that I am too tipsy to concentrate on the figures, and will make a dreadful fool of myself." She helped herself to a cup from the large silver urn on the table.
Elizabeth asked, "Have you visited the fortune teller as of yet? I hear that she is a tremendous success. "
Cecily fanned herself "Gracious, no. I have been way too busy. Is she very good? Let us go now."
Elizabeth asked William, "Are you coming? It might be quite amusing."
William did not believe in such things as fortunetellers, but if Cecily were going, wild horses would not keep him away. He hadn't eaten anything before the ball, being entirely too nervous, and the champagne on an empty stomach was making him feel oddly reckless. Why not have his fortune told by Daphne the daft?
TBC