Clara dreaded parties like this. It was not worth the critical eyes. She wanted to see Eric, but he could never promise he could be there travel between worlds was hard on time. It always differed between Parthenia and here.

Clara dressed in her lovely maroon dress, will it was her mothers. Clara waited for the carriage to arrive. Tommy was getting impatient and working grandfathers' nerves.

"Tommy, would you behave?" their Grandfather retorted.

"Walking would've gotten us there faster than this." Tommy complained.

Clara laughed at Tommy. Some of the stories that are aunt told her about Eric reminded her of her home brothers' antics.

"what's so funny?" Tommy was very irritated at this point

"oh nothing. Grandfather will Aunt Elizabeth be here tonight?" as if by magic as Claire's words came out her aunt came walking up. In fact, it was magic. And someone was with her. Soon, they came into view and the person was completely visible. It was Eric.

It took all her strength not to run to the young man. She could tell by deep blue eyes that he felt the same.

"Elizabeth, you're late. And what is your guests doing here? I didn't know he would be accompanying us." Clara face saddened.

It pained her to know that her Grandfather felt the Eric should not be there. She had long since known the way her Grandfather felt about Eric. From the day Eric met her grandfather he had a strong disposition against Eric. Eric tried so hard to win over his favor but that wasn't easily done. Eric had quite the experience with that himself. Major Mint was no cakewalk either. they were both stubborn walls that were not easily swayed.

"Uncle I reserved a guest just in case. And as for Eric I know your reservations, but I find him to be quite a pleasure to be around." Elizabeth looked at Clara.

Elizabeth knew she had a love for Eric just as Elizabeth had a love for his father. Clara just smiled at her aunt wondering how she just knew everything and changed the way people saw the world. Maybe she was just as enchanting as Clara herself. "And look the carriage has arrived."

Clara's Grandfather and Tommy set in the front row Elizabeth, Clara, and Eric said in the second row.

"Eric, it's really nice you're here. How are things at home?" Claire was quite vague as she knew her grandfather had no idea who Eric really was.

"good, the major still well is the major. And the captain and I have been working on something new," he paused. "oh, and thank you"

Clara knew the thank you is for more than just her pleasantries. Elizabeth looked at Eric telling him he forgot to ask something.

"Well you're welcome." Clara was wondering if he would ask her how she was doing.

"Clara how have you been?" Eric hesitated trying not to upset her Grandfather. He knows his relationship with him was fragile if even that.

"I've been well. I went to another ballet." Eric just smiled she he knows she loved ballet.

"Lovely to hear I know how much you love the ballet." all Eric could think about was their dance as he said those words.

"Eric I'm sure you will enjoy this party." Elizabeth broke the awkward silence.

"Clara friends will be there." Grandfather said with almost an emphasis on do not screw up in this social climate. Little did he know Eric knew the ways around social life as he was the King of Parthenia.

"Well it would be a pleasure to meet them" Eric knew he's like Clara close friends, but he could see Clara face showing that most were not Clara's friends, but people have status.

They were soon at the party Eric insisted on escorting Clara in. Her grandfather wanted to object, but the boy seemed to be an A gentleman at least based off the few time they had met.

Clara took Eric's arm, and they walked in. Clara's friends immediately noticed the man on her arm Clara and noticed the stares as did Eric.

"Do you want to go over there and introduce me to them?" Eric knew Clara was nervous, but he wanted to get the introductions over with.

"Yes, I do" Relieved at his question Eric and Clara glided over to the ladies that were staring.

Claire spoke first, "Hello, Marie, Trista, and Naomi"

"Well hello Clara," the girl with Brown hair and green eyes spoke first.

"Would you mind introducing us to this lovely young man?" Eric felt uneasy with the young woman's words.

"Oh of course, Trista." Eric could remember that hopefully.

"Eric this is Trista." She said introducing the blue-eyed red-haired girl. "this is Marie." she spoke of the Brown-haired green-eyed girl. "And this is Naomi." The last girl she introduced had Brown hair and blue eyes.

"Trista, Marie, Naomi, this is Eric. He's the son of a dear friend of my aunts."

Naomi spoke first to Clara. "your Grandfather lets you be together. Odd, I thought he was strictest man on earth."

"No no, I'm from out of town Visiting Clara's aunt Elizabeth,"

"Oh well I just thought" said Naomi.

"well we must get going we have other friends." Marie almost looked down on Clara.

Eric wanted to say something, but here things were different. He was just a stranger from out of town to these people. He looked to Clara. She held a strong face, but he could see that she felt defeated.

He though of the one thing he could ask her that would change the night for her. "May I have this dance?"

She just laughed and gave the same response she always did. "I couldn't say no to the king."

Clara took his hand as he led her to the dance floor. This was her element that no one had seen before that he was sure of. Her feet followed his in such a graceful manner that the were almost one. The room danced around them. Some people stopped to watch them, but they did not notice because for them the world was just this very moment in each other's arms.