Thanks for the reviews. Sorry for any spelling errors.
As I have absolutely no idea what color hair nor eyes Holmes had, I made it up. Forgive me…Not actually don't because I really don't care.
The Ball will actually end up in two chapters even though this chapter is called The Ball. The chapters end when I feel they should not to be consistent or meet someone else's requirements.
My Chapters are short and I updates sporadically. Deal. With. It.
Chapter 4 – The Ball
The morning of the dance dawned, fulfilling every cliché, bright and early, literally. The sunrise was nearly five minutes earlier then it should have been and the sun blazed over the horizon. It was really quite a sight to behold. I stood in Holmes' study looking out the window at the amazing view, nursing a mug of tea and musing over the events to come.
In the time between my visit with Lady Eldermore, Holmes had had several perfect fakes made of the necklace, just to be safe. I had also had my new dress completed and sent over. It now lay in all its splendor across my bed, waiting to be worn. It was stunning, however immodest. My mother, pillar of fashion that she was, had not left anything to my tastes but rather turned me into a fashion model. The rose colored velvet was offset by lovely black-lace neckline and several-inch-lick hem. The neckline, as my mother had said, was dangerously low. I, now, planned not to lean over to look at anything, much less retrieve something I'd drop. My shoes were made of the same rose velvet with small heels.
As I mused over the preparations we had made, wondering whether they would be enough, I felt a presence behind me. "Good morning, Holmes. Lovely day for a jewel theft, don't you think?" I turned to find him with one eyebrow quirked and a small smirk playing at his lips.
"Quite." There was no need to ask how I knew it was he. Had it been Watson, he would have marveled at it until I explained to him that it was quite simple; he walked with a heavier step. But, of course, it wasn't Watson. "Are you prepare for you first case on this, as you say, lovely morning, Kessandra?"
I turned once more to gaze at the rising sun. Was I ready? Even for so small a case? "Yes, Holmes. I believe I am. I also think I may be more prepared for this one then you are."
I glanced sidelong at him to gauge his response to this. His other eyebrow rose to match the first. "Oh, and why is that? I have moved in the higher circles of Society before, you realize?"
"Yes, to be sure. However, you have never moved in this particular circle to which I am so accustomed. I know these women and some of the men to whom you will be introduced. I also have been in this particular position once before, although not of my own choosing. Teddy, damn him, was very fond of introducing me in the same manner I introduced Johnathon to Lady Eldermore."
"I see."
"Do you? Really?" I turned my full gaze to him and found him staring back just as steadily.
"I believe I do." And in his eyes I saw compassion, kindness, and most important of all I did see understanding. Looking back, now, I think that is the moment I fell in love with him, standing by that window, drinking tea, and watching the sunrise.
However, I did not realize it then, so I simply smiled at him and returned my gaze to the window. "I believe I have an idea, to make our act a bit more believable…"
The day passed in a flurry of activity in preparation for the Ball. All to soon, I found myself standing, once again, in Holmes study. This time, dressed in my newly made gown, I was exposing almost the entire tops of my breast above the nipple to the world, but most importantly to Holmes who was eying my dress with something akin to fear in his eyes. He cleared his throat, still looking horrified. "I was under the presumption that we were attending a ball, not walking the streets."
I scowled at him and, almost snarling, replied, "I am well aware of my current resemblance to a White Chapel Whore; there is no need to remind me. Blame my mother. It is she who is entirely responsible for the design of this garment."
He simply raised an eyebrow and held out his arm, which I took. I looked around me and asked, "We haven't forgotten anything, have we? I hate leaving things behind."
I was reassured by Holmes, that yes, we indeed had everything we required. We departed for the Ball.
I will now take a moment to comment on how dashing Holmes looked in his tuxedo. I will never forget the amazing effect of pure white and stark black playing against his black hair and lovely gray eyes. We did make a very impressive sight.
Now that that is said, we may move on to more…appreciable things, such as the complete lack of conversation during the carriage ride to Lady Eldermore's home. The silence was slightly uncomfortable, but not strained, somehow. It seems now as if Holmes and I were comfortable in each other's presence, but on this occasion were nervous or worried about the circumstances in which we found ourselves. So, for fifteen minutes we sat in silence and I felt foolish in the gown my mother had made for me.
The arrival at the Ball did absolutely nothing for my nerves. I was already wondering if I as a suitable partner in detection for Holmes, no matter how confident I was that morning, and to be thrust into this particular circle of Society was harrowing at the best of times. However, I smiled brightly and switched into my Society Mode, upon descending from the carriage.
When we arrived at the head of the staircase that led to Lady Eldermore's outrageous ballroom, I inhaled deeply in an attempt to calm my nerves. I say attempt, because it did, in fact, fail and the following walk down that enormous stairway was the most frightening few minutes of my life until that point. Little did I know…
At the foot of the stairs, we were greeted by a very enthusiastic Lavender. She prattled on and on about my gown and about my Jonathon, which cause Holmes' lips to twitch in what looked suspiciously like a smirk. "Lavender, I know you're excited to see me and to meet Johnnie, but we really must speak with everyone. I haven't seen anyone in ages! Come let us search out Lizzie." With that, I fled Holmes' side, abandoning him to the masses…or rather, to Lady Eldermore, who had appeared just seconds before my departure.
Weaving through the partygoers, I picked up snatches of conversation here and there.
"Oh! Lady Eldermore does throw the best parties. I hear that Constan-"
"When is the next ball? I really need to find-"
"Did you here about the manager of that bank down in the Square? He disappeared for-"
"Have you seen Mary Kelly's gown? It scandal-"
"Has the papers said anything about the robbery at that-"
I dismissed it all as idle gossip, if only I had listened more attentively. But, what's past is past and I am getting ahead of myself.
We wove through the party for, what seemed to me like hours, which really only was maybe three quarters of an hour. By the time we had reached Lady Eldermore again, I had decided I would go in search of Holmes, only to find him standing calmly talking to the Lady.
"Johnnie! There you are! I have been looking all over for you!" I said effusively. "We must dance!" I grabbed Holmes' hand and proceeded to drag him onto the dance floor. "I hope you know how to dance!" I hissed quietly.
The smirk that had threatened earlier broke free. "Indeed."
I am chagrinned to tell you that Holmes was the best dancer with whom I have ever had the pleasure of sharing the dance floor. Soon after we began, the floor had cleared to leave us room. Couples stood off to the sides and watched us and whispered. I barely noticed. I was mesmerized by the man who had his arms around me. His long, elegant fingers curled around my hand. His hard, reassuring chest pressed up against me and he floated with me on the dance floor. I couldn't seem to take my eyes from his face. He watched me, his eyes silver in the brightly lit room. His gaze never faltered or strayed from my face and my respect for this gentleman that I was dancing with grew.
In those few moments, I found joy, pure, simple joy and it was a memory I would treasure all the years of my life. But especially in the coming weeks.
Then, the music stopped and the spell was broken. The other dancers flooded the floor once more and Holmes and I moved off to rejoin Lavender and her mother. I wished that I could dance with Holmes forever and never have to deal with the Society women again, but not all wishes can come true. I plastered my Society Smile back on and began dragging Holmes again.
Lavender was the biggest teenaged gossip I knew, so the scheme I had devised earlier with Holmes required her. I maneuvered her so that when I wanted her, she would walk right into the room where Holmes and I had staged the total ruin of my reputation.
The Plan went off without a hitch. Lavender, apparently hearing a noise she wished to investigate, opened the door to one of her mother's backroom (a library to be exact). She gasped in shock at what she saw and fled immediately to tell everyone she could.
What she saw was Holmes and I locked in a passionate embrace, kissing madly. Holmes' hand lost somewhere in my dress. In actuality, Holmes and I were held our faces closed together and he moved his slightly; my arms were around his neck and his hand resting on my stomach. All that was visible from the door was Holmes' back.
Upon hearing her retreating footsteps we broke off the kiss and he chuckled softly. "That went well, did it not?"
"Exactly as planned." I murmured, staring up into his smiling face. Lost once more in his now stormy grey eyes, I went up on my toes and leaned against him. I felt his body stiffen, in confusion no doubt, and the smile dropped off his face to be replaced by an unreadable expression. I slid my hand into his hair and pushed his head down toward me. Our lips met softly. I could feel my body melt and at the same time I was electrified. But that was Holmes, so full of contradictions.
In forever and no time at all, he pulled away and looked at me questioningly. It was then that I realized what I had down. I jerked away from him and turned to the fireplace. I could feel the scarlet blushed creeping up my face. I was powerless to fight it. I kissed Sherlock Holmes. Why had I done it? Because it had felt like I should. It felt good.
I will once again exercise the power to use clichés and say, "It felt so right." But it had. I felt like I belonged in his arms, like some part of me I hadn't known existed had been missing and here it was standing in front of me. All I had to do to be whole was to take it.
Several silent minutes snailed past before I was composed enough to turn and say quietly, "I think we should get back to the Ball."
He nodded and held out his arm. I took it. We went back in to face the ruin of my reputation together.