Soft murmuring mixed with the melodious clink of glass, weaving a carpet of
cultivated harmony, only casually interrupted by the shrill laugh of
Jocelyn Sanders, who had entangled Thomas Winston in an extended exchange
of insignificant flourishes. The room was illuminated by countless candles
that were scattered apparently coincidentally -but anyone, who knew Mrs
Sanders, didn`t doubt for a moment, that they were stood in exactly the
right angle to soften her wrinkles.
Kate stopped at the top of the stairs and silently regarded the other guests. On the crimson red couch in the corner near to the door sat Emilia and Florence -two young ladies, her stepmother had advised her to befriend with, cause they had style, but Kate had found, that she didn`t like their style in the least-, squeezed in between was George Davington, the other gentleman she was supposed to charm tonight; even though his flaming red hair and big ears, who stood off visibly, didn`t qualify him to be referred to as goodlooking, his origin made him the most attractive match next to Thomas Winston. Coming from a noble family, even if impoverished, he had a very good reptuation and good prospects of making a big career in the navy.
So it came, that the two most desired ladies, the goldenhaired Emilia and ravenhaired Florence, had both set their sights on him. While they were insulting each other with the sweetest compliments, he looked quite unhappily, but couldn`t get get away without appearing as rude. When she saw his tortured smile, Kate planned to release him of his pain and lead him away to talk to him. From all people in this town, at least those who belonged to the upper class, he was the only one who understood the unpleasant situation she was in. Like her he was supposed to marry to his familie`s advantage. She, to give her family the status of nobility; he to help his family financially. So they would have been the perfect match to each other, but both had realized quickly, that they`d never be able to love each other, even though they became very good friends. They often met for a walk and discussed a wide variety of things, and Kate had come to esteem him very much, for he was witty, generous and always respected her, a quality men didn`t show very often towards women. The only trouble was his narrowminded opinion of pirates; he saw them just as filthy, criminal subjects, he had to chase, arrest and -if possible- hang. They had fought many verbal battles about that subject. He had warned her not to be so idealistic and romantize these criminals, and she had persisted, that they were just misunderstood people, who were truely good inside. She hadn`t managed to change his conviction yet, but she was certain she would one day.
Something distracted her from her thoughts. Not a special sound, but the complete absence of any noise. All voices had grown silent, and all looks had turned to her, surprise and disdain written in most faces. Her stepmother flashed angrily at her, obviously hardly able to refrain from rushing at her and scolding her for ruining her perfect party. Emilia and Florence, one heart and soul again, flashed each other a significant look, the hint of a contemptuous, strangely satisfied smirk curling their thin lips. Even George`s face wore the expression of surprise and concern about her appearance; subconsciously Kate raised her hand to the rough wool, as if hoping to find consolation and security by merely touching it. The focused silence was closing in on her, taking away her breath and she felt the need to gasp for air; but she stood like nailed on the floor without flinching or fleeing. It was Tomas Winston, who broke the silent spell. He strode towards the stairs and reached out for her hand. Thankfully she let him lead her to a table, where he handed her a glass of champagne. Immediately the people turned away and resumed their talks again.
"Thank you." Kate took the glass, twisting it in her fingers. "And not only for the champagne." She smiled weakly.
Tomas eyes gleamed, as he returned her smile lovingly. "You`re beautiful, Kathryn."
Kate sighed inwardly. Even his compliments were boring, she thought and scolded herself shortly after that. He had rescued her from a very unpleasant situation, she shouldn`t think so bad about him; besides he was really goodlooking. His smooth blonde hair and his hazel eyes gave an interesting contrast; his fine beardless features had the slightly pale colour, that was typical for aristocratic scions, who didn`t need to work. Unlike George he had never needed to excert himself to get what he wanted. His name and money opened every door as if by magic, and so he had found himself in a diplomatic position at the early age of 25, without even recognizing how he had gotten there. Suddenly Kate became aware of him, looking expectantly at her. Apparently he had asked her something, while she was thinking about him.
"Excuse me," she said, blushing slightly. "I must have been absent for a moment."
He smiled compliantly. "You`re thinking too much for a woman."
A wave of aversion rushed through her body at the sound of his words. And suddenly she remembered, what it was she didn`t like about him. He was just as any other man of this incest-infected aristocratic brood.
"You shouldn`t stuff your pretty head with too many thoughts."
"And what should I stuff my pretty head with, Mr Winston?" Kate retorted stiffly, feeling bitter gall rise up inside her throat.
Thomas Winston appeared to haven`t noticed the sharp tone in her voice and continued. "You shouldn`t think at all, dear Kathryn. You should have a man at your side, fulfilling your every wish, before you even know about it and treating you like a princess." He moved his hand to touch hers, but Kate quickly withdrew her hand.
"I`m no princess, Mr Winston. I`m just the daughter of a simple merchant, as you may remember."
Thomas laughed softly. "Henry Sanders hardly was a "simple merchant"."
"You`re right." Kate threw her head backwards and flashed arrogantly at him. "My father is anything but simple or ordinary." She emphasized the word "is".
"And neither is his lovely daugher." He took her hand and drew it to his lips.
"Kathryn," a serious gleam appeared in his brown eyes. "Will you give me the pleasure of having a walk with you?"
"What? Now?" Kate blurted out, gazing in horror at the huge dark window.
Thomas shook his head smiling. "Of course not. That wouldn`t be appropriate."
"Of course not." Murmured Kate.
"But I´d be delighted, if you`d allow me to take you for a walk tomorrow afternoon."
Kate surpressed a shudder, as she thought of the promising prospects of having to spent her Sunday-afternoon, filled with boredom and insignificant small talk. Well, at least she would be able to train her ability of find even more ways to evade his hardly noticeable avances. She sighed inwardly. If he only tried to kiss or embrace her, then she`would at least have the chance to kick him, where it really hurt. But as she knew from sooner meetings, he would be the perfect, boring gentleman. She only wished she could decline his offer for a walk, and read her beloved books or discuss with George the nature of pirates instead. But that was simply impossible. Her stepmother wouldn`t allow that, and slowly she ran out of excuses to avoid his presence.
He was still looking at her expecting an answer and so she shrugged. "Okay, why not?" But when she caught up a warning look of her stepmother, she forced a smile onto her lips. "I`d be delighted to spent the afternoon with you."
Shit, she thought to herself. That wasn`t ladylike at all. Men were delighted, women were just thankful, and furthermore the second part of her sentence was a bit ambiguous. At least she hadn`t told him she would be glad to spent the night with him.
But Thomas appeared to be so pleased with her answer, that he ignored her faux pas. God, she really wished a pirate would come through this window and rescue her from this Prince Boring. And now would be a good moment!
Suddenly the glass of the window splintered into uncountable pieces, and a dark figure stumbled in, lost the balance and sank on his knees. Kate`s heart stopped for a moment. Could it be her prayers had been answered so promptly?
Kate stopped at the top of the stairs and silently regarded the other guests. On the crimson red couch in the corner near to the door sat Emilia and Florence -two young ladies, her stepmother had advised her to befriend with, cause they had style, but Kate had found, that she didn`t like their style in the least-, squeezed in between was George Davington, the other gentleman she was supposed to charm tonight; even though his flaming red hair and big ears, who stood off visibly, didn`t qualify him to be referred to as goodlooking, his origin made him the most attractive match next to Thomas Winston. Coming from a noble family, even if impoverished, he had a very good reptuation and good prospects of making a big career in the navy.
So it came, that the two most desired ladies, the goldenhaired Emilia and ravenhaired Florence, had both set their sights on him. While they were insulting each other with the sweetest compliments, he looked quite unhappily, but couldn`t get get away without appearing as rude. When she saw his tortured smile, Kate planned to release him of his pain and lead him away to talk to him. From all people in this town, at least those who belonged to the upper class, he was the only one who understood the unpleasant situation she was in. Like her he was supposed to marry to his familie`s advantage. She, to give her family the status of nobility; he to help his family financially. So they would have been the perfect match to each other, but both had realized quickly, that they`d never be able to love each other, even though they became very good friends. They often met for a walk and discussed a wide variety of things, and Kate had come to esteem him very much, for he was witty, generous and always respected her, a quality men didn`t show very often towards women. The only trouble was his narrowminded opinion of pirates; he saw them just as filthy, criminal subjects, he had to chase, arrest and -if possible- hang. They had fought many verbal battles about that subject. He had warned her not to be so idealistic and romantize these criminals, and she had persisted, that they were just misunderstood people, who were truely good inside. She hadn`t managed to change his conviction yet, but she was certain she would one day.
Something distracted her from her thoughts. Not a special sound, but the complete absence of any noise. All voices had grown silent, and all looks had turned to her, surprise and disdain written in most faces. Her stepmother flashed angrily at her, obviously hardly able to refrain from rushing at her and scolding her for ruining her perfect party. Emilia and Florence, one heart and soul again, flashed each other a significant look, the hint of a contemptuous, strangely satisfied smirk curling their thin lips. Even George`s face wore the expression of surprise and concern about her appearance; subconsciously Kate raised her hand to the rough wool, as if hoping to find consolation and security by merely touching it. The focused silence was closing in on her, taking away her breath and she felt the need to gasp for air; but she stood like nailed on the floor without flinching or fleeing. It was Tomas Winston, who broke the silent spell. He strode towards the stairs and reached out for her hand. Thankfully she let him lead her to a table, where he handed her a glass of champagne. Immediately the people turned away and resumed their talks again.
"Thank you." Kate took the glass, twisting it in her fingers. "And not only for the champagne." She smiled weakly.
Tomas eyes gleamed, as he returned her smile lovingly. "You`re beautiful, Kathryn."
Kate sighed inwardly. Even his compliments were boring, she thought and scolded herself shortly after that. He had rescued her from a very unpleasant situation, she shouldn`t think so bad about him; besides he was really goodlooking. His smooth blonde hair and his hazel eyes gave an interesting contrast; his fine beardless features had the slightly pale colour, that was typical for aristocratic scions, who didn`t need to work. Unlike George he had never needed to excert himself to get what he wanted. His name and money opened every door as if by magic, and so he had found himself in a diplomatic position at the early age of 25, without even recognizing how he had gotten there. Suddenly Kate became aware of him, looking expectantly at her. Apparently he had asked her something, while she was thinking about him.
"Excuse me," she said, blushing slightly. "I must have been absent for a moment."
He smiled compliantly. "You`re thinking too much for a woman."
A wave of aversion rushed through her body at the sound of his words. And suddenly she remembered, what it was she didn`t like about him. He was just as any other man of this incest-infected aristocratic brood.
"You shouldn`t stuff your pretty head with too many thoughts."
"And what should I stuff my pretty head with, Mr Winston?" Kate retorted stiffly, feeling bitter gall rise up inside her throat.
Thomas Winston appeared to haven`t noticed the sharp tone in her voice and continued. "You shouldn`t think at all, dear Kathryn. You should have a man at your side, fulfilling your every wish, before you even know about it and treating you like a princess." He moved his hand to touch hers, but Kate quickly withdrew her hand.
"I`m no princess, Mr Winston. I`m just the daughter of a simple merchant, as you may remember."
Thomas laughed softly. "Henry Sanders hardly was a "simple merchant"."
"You`re right." Kate threw her head backwards and flashed arrogantly at him. "My father is anything but simple or ordinary." She emphasized the word "is".
"And neither is his lovely daugher." He took her hand and drew it to his lips.
"Kathryn," a serious gleam appeared in his brown eyes. "Will you give me the pleasure of having a walk with you?"
"What? Now?" Kate blurted out, gazing in horror at the huge dark window.
Thomas shook his head smiling. "Of course not. That wouldn`t be appropriate."
"Of course not." Murmured Kate.
"But I´d be delighted, if you`d allow me to take you for a walk tomorrow afternoon."
Kate surpressed a shudder, as she thought of the promising prospects of having to spent her Sunday-afternoon, filled with boredom and insignificant small talk. Well, at least she would be able to train her ability of find even more ways to evade his hardly noticeable avances. She sighed inwardly. If he only tried to kiss or embrace her, then she`would at least have the chance to kick him, where it really hurt. But as she knew from sooner meetings, he would be the perfect, boring gentleman. She only wished she could decline his offer for a walk, and read her beloved books or discuss with George the nature of pirates instead. But that was simply impossible. Her stepmother wouldn`t allow that, and slowly she ran out of excuses to avoid his presence.
He was still looking at her expecting an answer and so she shrugged. "Okay, why not?" But when she caught up a warning look of her stepmother, she forced a smile onto her lips. "I`d be delighted to spent the afternoon with you."
Shit, she thought to herself. That wasn`t ladylike at all. Men were delighted, women were just thankful, and furthermore the second part of her sentence was a bit ambiguous. At least she hadn`t told him she would be glad to spent the night with him.
But Thomas appeared to be so pleased with her answer, that he ignored her faux pas. God, she really wished a pirate would come through this window and rescue her from this Prince Boring. And now would be a good moment!
Suddenly the glass of the window splintered into uncountable pieces, and a dark figure stumbled in, lost the balance and sank on his knees. Kate`s heart stopped for a moment. Could it be her prayers had been answered so promptly?
