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Chapter 43 – To The Ball:

"Encore! And again, Madame, Monsieur!" the dance master called out and Tarzan and Jane once again took up their starting positions. They were in the dining room, all the furniture pushed to one side to allow for maximum dancing space. Cecilia had organised her own dance master to come and teach Jane and Tarzan the latest dances for the ball and time was running out!

Tarzan's head had being crammed full with so much information over the past couple of weeks that he seriously thought that his head was going to explode! Never turn your back on the King and Queen, work your way from the outside in when using cutlery and all the titles and the names of the nobility, there was so much more than he expected for him to learn!

Monsieur Rousseau, the dance master came over and slightly adjusted Tarzan's hand placement and straightened his back and the couple started to dance a lively polka around the dining room, Mr Rousseau clapping out the beat of the music. They had to learn so many dances including the waltz, the Viennese waltz, the polka, the gallop, the mazurka, polonaise, schottische, two-step, waltz-minuet as well as group dances including quadrilles. Mr Rousseau was quite impressed with the couple's progress. The wife was graceful and elegant; she was clearly used to these sorts of dances and took to them like a duck to water.

The husband was a little slower to learn on the other hand, as most men were. He was a little awkward and stilted at first but with clear instructions from himself and encouraging words from his wife, Mr Porter seemed to become a more than adequate dancer. They should be able to dance at the ball without hardly any scrutiny.

"Bravo!" he called out once the Porters had finished the polka, "Zat was éxcellent Monsieur, Madame! I believe zat you 'ave zee dances mastered!"

"Merci Monsieur Rousseau," Jane replied as she breathed a sigh of relief, "You have been a lifesaver! We couldn't have learnt all the dances without you."

"Oh Madame, it 'as been an absolute pleasure! You dance so elegantly, as graceful as a bird, as graceful as a, as a -" Mr Rousseau suddenly lost his train of thought, struggling to think of what bird he wanted to compare Mrs Porter to.

"As a duck?" Tarzan suggested, trying to help the tongue-tied dance master.

"I think Monsieur Rousseau was referring to a swan my darling!" Jane retorted but struggled to contain her laughter!

"Oui a swan Madame!" Monsieur Rousseau nodded, relieved that Mrs Porter had found the whole thing highly amusing and was not at all offended. "Zee final lesson eez finished. I wish you all zee luck in zee world for tomorrow night."

"Thank you Monsieur Rousseau," Jane replied as the couple politely escorted the dance master to the front door. "Please charge your lesson to our account as before."

"Bien sur," Monsieur Rousseau nodded as Carson helped him into his coat and hat. "Bonne chance Monsieur and Madame Porter and I wish you a very Merry Chreestmas!" The Porters smiled and wished Monsieur Rosseau a Merry Christmas as he left the house and into the cold, grey December afternoon.

"Madam, the tailor has arrived with the suits," Mrs Fairfax announced and Jane was relieved at the news! Charles Foxton's tailor had been working around the clock to make her father and Tarzan's bespoke white tie suits and was amazed that they were ready in time. It probably helped that Charles Foxton paid for the suits plus a rush fee in way of an apology of blabbing their return, much to Cecilia's insistence!

"Get him to do a final fitting with Tarzan and my father please. I'd better go and finish my dress." Jane went back up to her bedroom where the dress she was to wear for the ball tomorrow night, stood displayed on an old dress mannequin. Despite Cecilia offering many times to give her one of her own dresses, Jane didn't feel at all comfortable at taking and wearing a dress that cost a small fortune, that wasn't meant for her despite them having virtually the same measurements.

She was donated an old ball gown from Mrs Fairfax's niece who had no use for it as she was now heavy with child. She had to let the hem down as much as possible and stitched on various trimmings in order to zhoosh it up a little. It was a rather plain dress, more suited to an assembly room dance than a royal ball but it would have to do. Jane felt it would be almost stealing if she wore one of Cecilia's dresses. She feared that she would be dressing above her station, pretending to be someone far grander than she ever could be, a fraud.

She worked on it for a couple more hours before deeming it finished. At the back of her mind, she did feel a slight regret at turning down Cecilia's offer but it was too late now, this was the dress that she would be wearing tomorrow.

The next day, the house was a hive of activity, shirts and collars being starched, shoes being polished to a high shine and the dress being pressed with the greatest of care.

Jane spent most of the day getting ready, first having a long soak in the bath scented with perfumed oils and soap. After getting dry, Martha manicured her fingernails whilst Mrs Fairfax applied scented hair tonic to her tresses before brushing it through with a boar bristle brush. Annabelle sat on the four-poster bed, utterly fascinated by the time consuming process. It seemed to her to be as elaborate as the courting dances that many birds did back in the jungle.

As the servants massaged cold cream into her skin and backcombed her hair, Jane felt like a complete bag of nerves, her eyes staring at the lacklustre dress hanging on the wardrobe door. She was going to look like a fish out of water, a pauper amongst the rich, exquisitely dressed ladies of the court.

Suddenly there was a knock at the bedroom door and Mrs Fairfax hastily placed a dressing gown on Jane and nodded to Annabelle to open the door.

"Sorry to interrupt Madam," Carson apologised, "but there is a hairdresser as well as a bushel of parcels for you at the servants' entrance. He insists it is all for you."

"Send them up please Carson," Jane was puzzled, she had not ordered anything else let alone a hairdresser! A moment later Thomas and Carson were coming in with parcel after parcel followed by a well-dressed hairdresser.

"Bonjour Madame," the hairdresser slightly bowed, "I am Monsieur Leroux and I am Viscountess Foxton's personal coiffeur. She 'as sent me over to assist with your 'air along with some other dzings. Now shall we get started? Time eez not on our side."

Jane was speechless as Monsieur Leroux politely took the comb from Mrs Fairfax and began to work his magic. From the more simple updo that Mrs Fairfax was working on, Monsieur Leroux created a beautiful, grandly crimped, sweeping Belle Epoque up-do that only a true professional could achieve.

"And now for zee finishing touches!" Monsieur Leroux took a small lapis lazuli blue box from the bed as well as an envelope. "From zee Viscountess, Madame." Jane quickly opened the letter with her fingers, too eager to use a letter opener. There below the Foxton's family crest was a short letter, written in Cecilia's effortlessly elegant handwriting:

'My dearest Jane,

I know that you said many a time that you would not need one of my dresses. But I couldn't help but send over an alternative just in case you changed that stubborn mind of yours!

Besides yellow has always been a far better colour on you than myself!

Your ever-faithful friend,

Cecilia xx'

Jane smiled, relieved at her friend coming to save the day. When she looked up from the letter, she was startled to see that Monsieur Leroux had pinned 3 white ostrich feathers as well as a dazzling diamond tiara in her hair!

"Oh Mama!" Annabelle gasped in delight at the amazing sight of the diamonds, brilliantly cut so that they sparkled in the afternoon light. Jane went over to the bed and started to open the various boxes from Cecilia. There was a wide diamond choker with a yellow diamond in the centre as well as matching bracelets and earrings from Foxton's of course. There was a pair of white long satin evening gloves and yellow gold heels.

"What's in that box Mama?" Annabelle asked, pointing to the largest box and Jane's eyes widened as she saw the House of Worth logo. Tentatively she pulled off the lid and carefully pulled back the tissue paper.

"Oh Mama!" Annabelle cried in delight, jumping up and down on the bed. "It's the most beautiful dress in the world!"

Later that evening, Tarzan and Archimedes were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Archimedes looked nervously at his pocket watch, worried that they were going to be late. Tarzan shifted from foot to foot, the heavily starched dress shirt crisp against his skin. The hairdresser Monsieur Leroux had also styled his dreadlocks into a low bun so that he was smart enough and it still allowed him to wear a top hat. He felt as nervous as he did on his wedding day all those years ago and wondered if tonight would go as smoothly.

"Papa! Papa!" Annabelle ran down the stairs in delight. He would have scooped her up but feared of creasing his tailcoat and waistcoat. However he did allow his daughter to gently hug his waist.

"You look so smart Papa! You look like a penguin!"

"Why thank you Belle sweetheart. Is your mother ready yet?"

"Yes, she is coming down…. now!," Annabelle smiled and turned to look up the stairs and Tarzan followed suit. His eyes almost popped out of his head as he saw his wife making her way carefully down the stairs, Martha holding up the skirts behind her. The dress was a sight to behold, yellow gold in colour, made of the finest silk satin fabric and embellished with hundreds of oak leaves, outlined in satin cord and chenille thread. Her face was lightly powdered with a slight hint of rouge on her cheeks and lips and her eyes sported a very subtle, neutral eye shadow and mascara.

The diamond choker sparkled at her throat and lit up her face, the off shoulder straps exquisitely framing her slender collarbone and pert décolleté. She smiled at her husband who was still staring at her wide-eyed like a goldfish!

"Janey-Jane!" Archimedes gushed, "What a beautiful dress! It's certainly looks a lot better than the other one!"

"Yes Daddy," Jane smiled, "Cecilia felt that it was not appropriate so I am wearing one of her dresses… Tarzan dear… are you alright?"

"You, you, you…." Tarzan stammered and then gushed, "you look… wonderful!"

"You don't look so bad yourself!" Jane beamed, kissing her husband lightly on the lips. "Come on, we'd best get going!"

"Oh tell me everything Mama!" Annabelle begged as Mrs Fairfax helped Jane into a beautiful black velvet cloak whilst Carson and Thomas helped the men into their coats and top hats.

"Of course, be a good girl now." Jane replied and kissed her daughter goodnight.

"We will see you in the morning Belle," Tarzan kissed his daughter's forehead and as they left the house and climbed into the coach he could hear Mrs Fairfax asking Annabelle to come down to the kitchen for her supper. He knew that she would try to stay awake until they came back from the ball, but try as hard as she might she would eventually succumb to sleep.

"I am so nervous," Jane said as the coach made its way along the Mall, bordered with trees leading up to Buckingham Palace.

"You'll be fine," Tarzan reassured his wife, if anyone were going to make a mistake it would be him!

When they arrived at the palace, they were led by the footman into the Grand Entrance along with several other guests. After they handed in their coats and hats, they were escorted up the grand staircase and along to the Throne Room to be presented to his Majesty King Edward and Queen Alexandra.

Names of various nobles were being called out and they walked down the long red carpet to bow and curtsey in front of the King and Queen. Poor Tarzan felt that he was going to vomit over his shoes and Jane clasped his hand with hers in a bid to calm his nerves as well as her own.

"Professor Archimedes Q Porter!" the announcer called out and Archimedes nodded to them before walking down the red carpet to meet the royals.

"Mr and Mrs Tarzan Porter!" the announcer's voice rang out and Jane and Tarzan took a deep breath and started to walk down the red carpet, making sure not to walk too slow nor too fast.

"Good evening your Majesties," Tarzan mumbled under his breath, "your, great, great Highness, most magnificent Excellencies…" His thought trailed off as they reached before the golden thrones to see the King dressed in a highly decorated uniform and the Queen in a dress of the finest cloth of silver. Jane made a deep, respectful curtsey and instead of bowing as expected Tarzan stood stock still, staring wide eyed like a fish dazzled by a bright lantern.

"Hmmm," King Edward raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed and Jane felt herself burning scarlet with embarrassment at her husband's huge faux pas!

"Welcome to England to Mr Porter," Queen Alexandra kindly stepped in and this made Tarzan snap out of his reverie.

"Thank you your Grace," he replied politely and bowed deeply.

"So I hear that you are from the jungles of Africa?" King Edward was keenly observing Tarzan, fascinated by his muscular physique and unusual hairstyle.

"Yes your Grace, from Kenya," Tarzan replied, equally fascinated by the sheer size of the King and the elaborate medals pinned to his jacket.

"A Lord of the Monkeys, some people say. You live with chimps and baboons."

"Actually your Highness, you are incorrect. I am part of a family of gorillas which are actually apes, not monkeys."

There was a deathly silence in the Throne Room! Everyone stopped and stared at the man who dared to openly talk back to the King of England!

"I stand corrected Lord Tarzan of the Apes! So what do you think of England, my kingdom?"

"I have not seen much of the country Your Grace, but from what I have observed it is a jungle of a different kind, a jungle of stone and brick, filled with many strange creatures, both man and beast."

There was a pause and suddenly King Edward roared with laughter and everyone in the Throne Room sycophantically followed suit.

"My my!" he said as he finished laughing, "You're a most fascinating man Lord Tarzan of the Apes! I have so many questions to ask you after the dinner. Now please enjoy the ball."

"Thank you Your Graces," Jane and Tarzan again bowed and curtsied deeply and moved to one side and the next guest was announced.

"Well you have certainly made quite an impression!" Cecilia laughed as she approached Jane, Tarzan and Archimedes, Jane relieved to see a friendly face amongst the sea of faces, silk, feathers and jewels. She was wearing a midnight blue silk ball gown decorated with silver beading so it looked like the night sky and was also dripping in diamonds and sapphires.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?" a man called out as he joined the little group, "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon." As he quoted from Romeo and Juilet, his hands gestured to the gold colour of Jane's gown and the midnight blue of Cecilia's, like day and night.

"Oh Charlie!" Cecilia rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, "This is my 'hilarious' husband Charles Foxton. Charlie this is Jane and Tarzan Porter and Jane's father Professor Archimedes Porter."

"Enchanté Madame," Charlie bowed and kissed Jane's gloved hand and then politely shook Tarzan and Archimedes' hands, "you look stunning Mrs Porter! A complete vision!" He was a tall, slender man, not as tall as Tarzan but just shy off 6ft. His auburn hair was slicked back and sported a neat moustache on his upper lip, twirled at the ends. His own eyes were as unusual as Cecilia's but they were agate grey in colour, which at first looked serious but then suggested a cheeky sense of humour!

"You are positively the most beautiful woman in this room, in this palace," Charlie continued to lavish the praise and Jane felt her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

"Mr Foxton sir, your wife is a paragon of beauty. It would not do to commend me so highly whilst your beloved wife is standing right beside you."

"Yes Charlie, where are your manners!" Cecilia laughed as she playfully hit him on the arm with her fan.

"Oh my dear wife, you are so beautiful that even the goddess Venus herself envies you!" Charlie teased his wife and Cecilia laughed merrily. It was clear that they had a playful, teasing but loving marriage.

"And so this is the legendary Tarzan! My dear Cecilia, you were right when you said that he was very handsome! He is the perfect specimen of mankind, he positively looks like the Vitruvian man don't you think?"

Everyone laughed and Tarzan who not sure of what they were all referring to but joined in with the laughter to be polite.

"Tarzan my man you must teach me how to obtain your physique, Cecilia has been pestering me for years to become more muscular!"

"Of course Viscount Foxton," Tarzan smiled politely.

"Oh please call me Charlie! We are all friends here. Anyone who is a friend of my wife is a friend of mine… my dear…is that your dress? The Worth dress that I bought for you which almost bankrupted me?"

Jane felt herself turn pale in embarrassment and fear. Cecilia must have not told her husband that she leant out her dress, paid for with his money.

"Yes dear," Cecilia replied nonchalantly, "Jane had nothing suitable to wear and we are virtually the same size so it seemed to be the best solution. Besides she is my new pet project, my own doll to dress up. The canary yellow diamond choker suits her just perfectly don't you think Charlie? A perfect advertisement for your jewels, wouldn't you agree?"

There was a long pause and then Charlie beamed! "My dear whatever makes you happy! And I must say Jane, seeing that dress on you has made it worth every penny! Everyone is staring at you, the Jewel of Africa!"

"They are?" Jane carefully looked round to see both men and women watching her, the women more surreptitiously behind their fans.

"Oh yes," Charlie nodded knowingly, "All the men want you and all the women want to be you. They are so jealous that they would scratch your eyes out if they could!"

Jane swallowed and wondered what on earth she had gotten herself into but then the announcer called out that dinner was ready to be served. There was a grand procession led by the King and Queen followed by the Lord Chamberlain with his white wand of office. Everyone was ushered to their assigned seats, the King and Queen at the top table whilst everyone else sat on long tables, festooned with gold candelabras and urns filled with flowers. After King Edward made a speech and a toast everyone sat down and soon after the footmen served up the first course.

Jane and Tarzan were relieved to find that they were sitting opposite Charlie and Cecilia and course after course of exquisitely prepared food was served on golden plates. Tarzan made sure that he drank plenty of water so that he would not get a headache from the wine and ate at a slow, leisurely pace as they conversed with their new friends. He liked Charlie a lot, he had a witty, playful nature, secretly pointing out the King's new mistress and telling them titbits of scandalous gossip on the other guests!

After the banquet, the King and Queen commanded for some entertainment before the dancing. Two female opera singers joined an orchestra on the balcony and began to sing in Italian.

"What are they singing?" Tarzan whispered to Jane as the women's voices soared up and down like birds, voices so light and beautiful that he never thought was possible to do. He was hypnotised by the duet, even though he had no idea what the women was singing about.

"Duettino Sull'aria from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro," Jane whispered back and sat back as the women continued to sing, everyone spellbound by the exquisite singing. After an ecstatic applause, the guests were asked to move to the State Dining Room for drinks so that the tables could be cleared away for the dancing.

"Ah Cara Mia!" Cecilia smiled as a woman joined them in the State Dining Room. Tarzan recognised her as one of the opera singers, the better singer of the two.

"Cecilia darling," the women kissed each other amicably on the cheek and Jane could clearly tell from her accent that she was Italian. She was more petite than her and Cecilia and slightly plumper. She was plainer than Cecilia but still but attractive with raven black hair, light olive skin, brown eyes and small beauty spot near her mouth.

"May I introduce to you the most talented opera singer and my dear, dear friend Francesca Eleanora Maggolini," Cecilia smiled as she introduced her friend to Jane, Tarzan and Archimedes. "Francesca this is my childhood friend Jane Porter, her husband Tarzan and her father Professor Archimedes Porter."

"Incantato," Jane replied and was surprised to feel a pang of jealousy. Cecilia had every right to find friends after her departure but it did sting a little that she had found another close friend.

"Ahh!" Francesca beamed in delight, "Parli Italiano?"

"I am afraid not," Jane admitted, "My mother only taught me French."

"Don't worry dear, I have lived in England for over 10 years so we should have no problems conversing. No need for a translator!" Francesca had an infectious smile and Jane immediately felt at ease, the fleeting feeling of jealously disappearing as quickly as it came.

"You were absolutely splendid Miss Maggolini!" Archimedes gushed in adoration, "Are you at the Royal Opera House?"

"Oh yes Professor, Francesca is the prima donna," Charlie added, "we saw her in a performance of Carmen 8 years ago and Cecilia insisted that we had to meet her after the show."

"Then my brother Giuseppe was commissioned by them to do a portrait," Francesca continued, "he is one of most highly sought after portrait artists but he is so desperate to paint some landscapes!"

"Then we attended the same suffrage meetings," Cecilia added, "and we have been inseparable ever since! She is virtually a permanent house guest!'

"Suffrage?" Tarzan asked puzzled.

"Women's suffrage, the fight for the right for women to vote. Women are not allowed to vote in Britain," Cecilia explained and Charlie rolled his eyes.

"My dear it is most unsavoury to bring up politics in high society," he joked and Cecilia laughed.

"Oh come on Charlie behave! So Tarzan do you believe that women should have the vote? Do you believe that men and women are created equal?" All eyes turned to Tarzan, clearly interested to know in what a man raised by gorillas felt about women's rights.

"Yes…" Tarzan nodded and paused for thought, "men and women are equal, but Jane is most of the time a far better person than I. She always knows what's best for the family and will voice her opinion and then we make a decision together."

"Oh how exciting!" Francesca was absolutely fascinated, "so do you do all the hunting and gathering whilst Jane cooks, cleans and looks after the children?"

"Well we grow our own vegetables and fruit and have chickens and goats but we take turns doing the housework and looking after the children. It's only fair."

"So do you change your son's nappies?" Cecilia asked and everyone looked to Tarzan.

"Of course," Tarzan replied, puzzled by the question and Cecilia, Francesca and Charlie gasped in utter disbelief.

"Oh how very modern!" Cecilia clapped her hands, "You see Charlie this is what we woman want, fairness and equality in every aspect of life."

"I am more than happy to give women the vote, but count me out of changing soiled nappies!" Charlie jested and everyone laughed as the guests were invited to go back into the ballroom.

The first dance was a waltz and Tarzan felt everyone staring at them as they took up their starting positions.

"Are you sure this is wise?" he whispered to Jane as he placed his hand on her back.

"Just think it's you and me in our dining room," Jane whispered and made an encouraging smile, "just you and me. Nobody else."

The orchestra started up the swirling music and soon enough Jane and Tarzan were gracefully dancing around the ballroom, all the courtiers surprised by the lightness and deftness of the Lord of the Apes' footwork.

Jane felt as if she was in an old childhood dream, dancing with her Prince Charming, under the glittering chandeliers that sparkled like stars.

They danced and danced, occasionally dancing with other guests but mostly with each other. Jane's feet was killing her as they sat down in the coach back home but the pain was dulled by her blissful happiness at the night's success.

After getting undressed and into their nightgowns by Mrs Fairfax and Thomas, Jane and Tarzan tiptoed into the nursery and then upstairs to check on their son and daughter. They saw Annabelle asleep in an armchair, clearly failing to stay awake until their return.

Tarzan gently scooped her up and carried her over to the bed where Jane tucked her in, before placing the tiara in her daughter's hair. She also laid down a rose that she snaffled from one of the floral displays as well as some gold leafed sugared almonds on her bedside table.

"Our princess," she whispered and both parents kissed their sleeping daughter's forehead before heading back to their own bed. They were too exhausted to make love but Tarzan held Jane in his arms and as they fell asleep, he could hear the soaring notes of Francesca's singing as he slipped into perhaps one of the most delightful, sweetest dreams of his entire life.