Victoria's Story part 1
I had four brothers. Francois, Charles, Jon and Claude. Of them all, I loved Claude the most. He was the youngest member of our family and looked most like mother. Because of this, he was disliked most by father, even more than I . We banded together and became inseparable.
One evening he and I attended a ball at the Governor's home. It was a fabulous affair, with all the best people in attendance. Claude had been my escort, until a bubbly little blond fluttered her eyes lashes at him. He could never resist a pert blond.
That is how I found myself unattended and wandering from room to room, engaging myself in small conversations and then excusing myself to explore further. Then I saw him: Connor McCloud. Sitting at a gaming table with a group of wealthy business men, engaged in a high stakes game of poker. There was a small crowd gathered watching the event closely. A bevy of beautiful girls standing behind him, fawning over his every move. He did not look at them, the other players or his cards, but rather captured me in his stare.
His hair was dark, shoulder length, tied at the back of his neck and he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. They transfixed me. I felt like my feet had been pinned to the floor. I watched from across the room as he played his final card and the small crowd began to cheer. It was only then I was able to break away from his glance. I quickly left in search of Claude.
I found him in the ballroom standing off to one corner with his blond draped over his arm. He waved to me and I crossed the floor to join him. I tried to tell him what had just occurred and that I wished to go home, but he was in pursuit of a beautiful girl and didn't hear a word I had said. She pulled him out on the dance floor and again I remained alone.
A strange feeling came over me as if I were being watched. I glanced around the ballroom and saw nothing out of the ordinary so I decided to take a seat. That is when the dark haired Scot approached and held out his hand. An invitation to dance. He did not speak, just held me in his gaze. I stood looked in his stare which seemed to go through me. I felt hot and uneasy, but slowly I placed my small hand in his. At that time I did not understand why I agreed to dance, but as we stepped onto the floor I felt a change was about to take place.
We did not speak for quite some time. He just held me in his powerful arms and we sailed across the floor. I cannot explain the feeling that came over me, but I felt helpless. As the song ended I curtsied and turn to go but he held my hand firmly in his. "Again, " he said. His Scottish accent rolling across the word. I flushed, but danced.
"We haven't been properly introduced sir," I adverted my eyes.
"Aye, but we have. I am Connor McCloud, and you are Victoria Dupree. Daughter of Victor and Eloise Dupree. Sister to Claude," he nodded in Claude's direction. "Francois, Charles and Jon."
I was shocked and it was reflected in my eyes.
"Dunna worry, lass," he said sweetly. "I'm a business acquaintance of your fathers, not the bloody devil."
A small laugh escaped my lips.
"That's better, now dance." he replied.
Connor McCloud spent the rest of the evening by my side and when the ball was through he offer to escort me to my home. Seeing how Claude was no where in sight, and neither was his blond, I acquiesced.
For the next two months we were seen everywhere together, and I can honestly say that those were some of the happiest moments I can remember. But soon it was to all turn dark.
Connor asked my father for my hand in marriage. Francois and Charles were home on military leave and were quite displeased with my choice of a suitor. Jon was especially angry.
"He's your business partner!" I yelled. "You know him!"
"Yes, I do know him and that is precisely why he is completely unsuitable!" Jon shouted back.
"Enough!" My father interjected. "Jon is correct. Connor McCloud is not for you."
"Oh, but I'm alright ta do business with!"
"Connor!" I exclaimed and rushed to his side. He encircled his arm about my shoulder. "You never complained when I was making ya rich. But now I'm not good enough for yer daughter."
To Be Continued
I had four brothers. Francois, Charles, Jon and Claude. Of them all, I loved Claude the most. He was the youngest member of our family and looked most like mother. Because of this, he was disliked most by father, even more than I . We banded together and became inseparable.
One evening he and I attended a ball at the Governor's home. It was a fabulous affair, with all the best people in attendance. Claude had been my escort, until a bubbly little blond fluttered her eyes lashes at him. He could never resist a pert blond.
That is how I found myself unattended and wandering from room to room, engaging myself in small conversations and then excusing myself to explore further. Then I saw him: Connor McCloud. Sitting at a gaming table with a group of wealthy business men, engaged in a high stakes game of poker. There was a small crowd gathered watching the event closely. A bevy of beautiful girls standing behind him, fawning over his every move. He did not look at them, the other players or his cards, but rather captured me in his stare.
His hair was dark, shoulder length, tied at the back of his neck and he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. They transfixed me. I felt like my feet had been pinned to the floor. I watched from across the room as he played his final card and the small crowd began to cheer. It was only then I was able to break away from his glance. I quickly left in search of Claude.
I found him in the ballroom standing off to one corner with his blond draped over his arm. He waved to me and I crossed the floor to join him. I tried to tell him what had just occurred and that I wished to go home, but he was in pursuit of a beautiful girl and didn't hear a word I had said. She pulled him out on the dance floor and again I remained alone.
A strange feeling came over me as if I were being watched. I glanced around the ballroom and saw nothing out of the ordinary so I decided to take a seat. That is when the dark haired Scot approached and held out his hand. An invitation to dance. He did not speak, just held me in his gaze. I stood looked in his stare which seemed to go through me. I felt hot and uneasy, but slowly I placed my small hand in his. At that time I did not understand why I agreed to dance, but as we stepped onto the floor I felt a change was about to take place.
We did not speak for quite some time. He just held me in his powerful arms and we sailed across the floor. I cannot explain the feeling that came over me, but I felt helpless. As the song ended I curtsied and turn to go but he held my hand firmly in his. "Again, " he said. His Scottish accent rolling across the word. I flushed, but danced.
"We haven't been properly introduced sir," I adverted my eyes.
"Aye, but we have. I am Connor McCloud, and you are Victoria Dupree. Daughter of Victor and Eloise Dupree. Sister to Claude," he nodded in Claude's direction. "Francois, Charles and Jon."
I was shocked and it was reflected in my eyes.
"Dunna worry, lass," he said sweetly. "I'm a business acquaintance of your fathers, not the bloody devil."
A small laugh escaped my lips.
"That's better, now dance." he replied.
Connor McCloud spent the rest of the evening by my side and when the ball was through he offer to escort me to my home. Seeing how Claude was no where in sight, and neither was his blond, I acquiesced.
For the next two months we were seen everywhere together, and I can honestly say that those were some of the happiest moments I can remember. But soon it was to all turn dark.
Connor asked my father for my hand in marriage. Francois and Charles were home on military leave and were quite displeased with my choice of a suitor. Jon was especially angry.
"He's your business partner!" I yelled. "You know him!"
"Yes, I do know him and that is precisely why he is completely unsuitable!" Jon shouted back.
"Enough!" My father interjected. "Jon is correct. Connor McCloud is not for you."
"Oh, but I'm alright ta do business with!"
"Connor!" I exclaimed and rushed to his side. He encircled his arm about my shoulder. "You never complained when I was making ya rich. But now I'm not good enough for yer daughter."
To Be Continued