Chapter Eleven: The infamous 'Ball scene'...
I am so sorry I haven't updated sooner! Please just accept that I have had a difficult time, and that I promise updates shall be more frequent from now on. Here we go!
And two hours later, I was Evelyn again. The Duchess was obviously a genius- she had told the Governor and ladies that a surprise guest of hers might drop in on the way through, and left them all wondering so that when I was seen, it would be exclamations of my identity, not how I had got to Puerto Rosado, and why I would only exist for one evening before vanishing much like Cinderella. The Duchess and Emily had worried and fussed about the bruises against the corset, and I knew they would hurt terribly, especially dancing, but...I looked at myself in the mirror, and fancied that Emily had been right when she had said I had 'never looked so divinely pretty, miss, if you'll pardon me sayin' so'. I couldn't give up this wonderful opportunity. I had never really looked forward to such an event, and roses in my cheeks and on my dress made me look my best. Even Byrne, who was familiar with my first 'maid' identity, would never even imagine...
I turned from the mirror, and smiled at my old friend. How I valued her. She put a finger to her lips, hushing what we both knew I was about to do.
"Don't thank me, child. It's the least- the very least -I can do to reward your bravery. Here is my final gift. You may wear this tonight."
She reached for her jewellery box, and presented me with a slender case. Wonderingly, I took it, and opened it.
A breathtakingly beautiful necklace, amber and diamonds alternated in a thin chain and a larger yellow diamond at the centre. A pair of matching earrings sparkled merrily at me from within the box. How perfect, absolutely perfectly they would match both my dress and my complexion. On board a thin layer of grime accumulated that would just not come off with out several gallons of hot water. Tonight I had had the several gallons of hot water, and had found my complexion excellently healthy and peachy, which, combined with my dress, added up to the effect which had so please myself and Emily, who had dressed my hair superbly well. I felt beautiful and vibrant, makeup concealing bruises and tiredness so well no body would never guess at their existence.
"Thank you. Thank you, my friend." I whispered, unable to believe it was happening. Tonight was going to be wonderful. The Duchess fastened the clasps of my borrowed jewels herself, and then, pulling on our gloves, we headed for the door.
POV
"Announcing Her Grace, the Duchess of Kent, and her Ladyship, the Right Honourable Lady Evelyn Montmorency."
Descending the stairs, I knew that we were causing a great stir among the guests. The Duchess looked wonderful, majestic and graciously dignified, her beauty at its best this evening, doing the ball in her name justice. I saw some friends among the crowd, and had barely reached the last step before Hannah Eliot-Thomas and Catherine Hardy had presented themselves in front of me, and were greeting me with effusive kisses and wonder at my jewellery. They both looked bewildered at my presence, and did their best to conceal their curiosity.
"Catherine, dear, Hannah... I am so glad to see you both, and looking so incredibly pretty! I expect you have already engaged every single dance and will have no time to sit and talk with me?"
Scolding me for my 'silliness', my friends walked with me about the room, all three of us turning heads. Catherine was dark haired, with beautiful moist brown eyes, and a tall, thin figure. Hannah was fair, with light yellow curls and almond shaped blue eyes, and a shorter, more voluptuous figure. All three of us pretty in completely different ways, we were similar at heart and I knew they would love to know of my adventures, but I could not risk telling anyone in case my secret was discovered.
"Excuse me, ladies, but I and my friends were wondering if we could engage you for the Allenby? This is Mr Grant, and Mr Woodley."
Catherine looked at Hannah, who was blushing sweetly, and I answered for us all.
"We would be honoured, Mr Denton."
Soon we had been engaged for four dances each, and were giggling madly over the last young man to ask Catherine- he had stumbled and hesitated so much that he lost all knowledge of English, and I had to translate his Spanish to my friend before she could accept. Then, a familiar voice spoke gently behind my right shoulder.
"Lady Evelyn? Miss Eliot-Thomas, Miss Hardy. May I introduce myself?"
I turned, affixing a pleasant smile to my mouth. This would be the test.
"Please do, sir." Hannah replied gently.
"I am Captain James Wendon, of HMS Dominion. I was wondering, if perhaps you would allow me to fetch any of you a refreshment?"
I smiled, this time sincerely, and he smiled back at me. He looked most handsome in full dress uniform, and his firm but gentle tone was something I had only ever heard once, when I thought I was dreaming during my injured rest.
"My dear Captain, I believe you are the most courteous man here; we were just saying how much we would appreciate a drink. Is that one of your officers over there?"
I babbled slightly, nervous, but if he noticed he was far too gentlemanly to show it.
"Yes, that is Lieutenant Byrne, one of my most promising officers. If you will excuse me, I will return with some refreshment."
He bowed. We curtseyed. He left, and I was besieged with whispered queries.
"You seemed to know the Captain, Evelyn dear, have you met him before?"
"He is very handsome, is he not?"
"And his lieutenant is also very well formed, I noticed..."
I was trying to restrain a fit of laughter, when I found I had to reply.
"Yes, girls, I have met him before, although I doubt he remembers it, and yes they are both very handsome."
We moved into a slightly better lit part of the room, and waited for James (or Captain Wendon, as I was trying to remember to call him) to return. When he did, Byrne was by his side carrying one of the other glasses.
"So, dear Captain, what have you been doing in Puerto Rosado?" Catherine began, while Byrne and Hannah ended laughing at a joke I had just made.
"We've been re-fueling, and allowing our sailors some shore leave, before setting sail with the Duchess to England, and allowing for good wind, we should be back within a month and a half. And yourself?"
"Oh, Hannah and I are just touring with papa- he has some estates here, and we will return to England shortly."
Both expectant faces turned to me. I improvised quickly.
"Oh, I'm just passing through, you know, any where there's a ball, there I be..."
They laughed politely, and conversation moved on until we had quite a little circle of men about us, mostly from the Dominion and Mr Denton and his friends. Denton asked Hannah to dance, and as soon as the orchestra struck up the Allenby, I was led gently to the dance floor by Mr Grant (who was a dashing army officer about fifteen years my senior). Mr. Grant ('please, call me David') was an excellent dancer, and it felt like we had barely begun before we were twirling to a breathless finish.
After applauding, Eduardo Nicholson came to collect his dance, proving himself a competent amateur at the art of dance, and providing some amusing conversation that distracted me greatly from the correct steps more than twice. Mr Eliot-Thomas and Sir Percival followed, and after ten minutes of quiet resting with Catherine (Hannah and Denton were still dancing) to my surprise, Captain Wendon stepped in front of me and asked,
"Would you care to dance, Lady Evelyn?"
