Author's Note- I am so sorry you guys. I promise I have not forgotten about you and I have not forgotten about Amelia. I have been drowning under mountains of schoolwork and projects. For anyone interested, nursing school is really hard and there are times I'm not sure it's worth it, but then I go to my clinicals and remember that it, in fact, is. A quick note on the chapter itself. While reading it back to myself there were parts that came off very romance novely. I promise. That is not what this story is. Don't get me wrong, there is romance, but there is so much more than that. So please don't judge based on a single mushy chapter. Anyways. Onto Reviews!
SamanthaJane13- I promise, I will continue this story, it's just gonna be slow on updates. Sorry :(
KlausIsMySoulMate-Thank you so much! I'm really glad you're enjoying my crazy ramblings. :)
Coolie Is Cooagoree Oakly Lad-First off, that is quite a pen name. Secondly, the answer to your question is OC. We won't be seeing any familiar faces for a few chapters. Hope that doesn't disappoint you.
Now that that is out of the way, on with the show!
As Amelia followed behind Wilson, her skirts swirling around her ankles, she worked on mentally preparing herself for the evening. Not just for the piranha-like mommas, not just for their foul mouthed daughters, but rather for her Grandpapa. He was determined to have her married off within the Season. She, on the other hand, was against that state of mind 100%. Oh, Amelia knew that one day she would get married. One day, she would have children. That day was far in her future as far as she was concerned. Before that happened she wanted to do things that would make even the most fallen rogue widen his eyes in shock. She wanted to travel, to find companionship, and to find love. Love like her parents had. Her Grandpapa didn't understand that. He and Grandmama's marriage had been an arranged one. One put together for power and security. From it a calm friendship and comradery had blossomed, but never love. That was what she wanted and she would let no man, woman, or beast keep her from it.
She met her grandfather at the entry to the ballroom, where they would meet their guests. Amelia glanced around, the quartet was warming up in the corner along with the pianist, all of the candles were lit and the chandelier glistened. Everything was where it should be.
"Grandpapa," she greeted him with a kiss to the cheek.
"Amelia, you look beautiful." He stated.
She stepped back and twirled so he could fully admire the silver-blue gown. It was of the latest style from France. The bodice was low and made of the same ice blue taffeta as the underlay. From the bottom of the bodice flowed a silver chiffon overlay. The train was long enough that she had to be careful not to step on it as she finished her twirl. Her sleeves were capped and NOT puffy, per her request. She could not stand the latest fashion of the puffy sleeves. Her white gloves came up past her elbows, covering what would have been deemed inappropriate to show as an unwed young woman. All in all, she was pleased with the gown.
Her Granpapa smiled as she finished her twirl and she knew that he was pleased. Good. That would be one less obstacle to overcome tonight.
"Are you ready for this, my dear?" he questioned.
Amelia smiled wryly up at him. "Ready or not, here they come" she said as the first coach pulled up. She pasted a demure smile on her face and squared her shoulders; prepared to meet the masses.
The line seemed to never end. Amelia had greeted so many people that she was sure if she curtsied one more time she would topple over. It did eventually end and Amelia did what she had learned to do; she blended in. It may have been her party, but that didn't mean she had to be the center of attention. She circled the outskirts of the ballroom slowly, weaving her way around anxious mamas, nervous debutants, and rogues on the hunt. She grinned at that. Her grandfather had final say on the guest list of every party they threw and without fail he always ended up inviting some rapscallion that should never have been allowed within a hundred feet of a ball in which debutants were attending. Of course, any rogue worth his salt knew better than to go after a green girl. That was how one ended up at the altar. Known to the more dramatic as 'the fate worse than death'.
As Amelia was twirling her way, unseen and unnoticed, around the ballroom, her grandfather was watching her. He sighed, knowing that he was the only one who was seeing her. Amelia was like her mother in that way, she wouldn't be seen by anybody until she wanted to be seen. His little Melly was different than most young girls of the time. He knew just as his daughter had known it. Amelia had a spirit in her that wasn't in most girls her age and, despite what she thought, he did see it. How could he not? It came off of her like a shining star, blinding anyone who bothered to look at her deeper than just skin level.
Lord Keeran walked by and he was obliged to mutter a platitude on the upcoming birth of his child. Not that he really cared. After the death of his daughter, not much mattered. Just Melly. He knew that deep down, there was a part of her that hated him for forcing her into this season. He had put her coming out off for as long as possible. His wife had wanted her to come out when she was sixteen, but he had wanted her to remain a child for as long as possible. She had lost so much of her innocence when her parents had died. He had wanted her to be able to keep as much of that innocence and wonder for as long as possible. After his wife had died, Melly had been forced to step into her shoes. Miracle of miracles, after two years of suffering through the worst and the best that society had to offer, she had somehow managed to keep her wonder and innocence.
Delaney downed the last bit of brandy in his glass and grabbed a full one off of a passing waiter's tray. He couldn't keep her safe forever, though. As he grew older he was faced with this more directly. He was an old man and he needed to know that after he was gone, she would be protected. The only way he could see to do that was to find her a suitable match. The problem was he couldn't think of any goddamn man on this planet that was worthy of his Amelia. He chugged his brandy and went back to look for any sort of potential for his Melly.
Amelia continued to weave her way through the crowd until she had gotten to where she wanted to be. The center of the ballroom. She stopped once she'd gotten there and smiled. The couples continued to dance around her. This had been her favorite place to be; at the center of things without being seen. Amelia had gone most of her life only being noticed when it benefited others to do so. The advantage to this, Amelia had found, was that no one actually cared what she did as long as she did it quietly. To them she was just a poor orphan girl who had been raised by her grandparents. She would make an amiable match and continue to live out her life in quiet anonymity and no one would ever hear anything scandalous about her. There had already been one scandal in their family and one scandal was all any self-respecting peerage family was allowed. Everyone knew that.
Amelia chuckled to herself. These people had no idea what she was planning. Tonight was going to be quite the sup-
"Excuse me, but may I ask what you are doing standing here, alone, in the middle of the ballroom floor just as a waltz is beginning?"
Amelia whirled around and came face to face with her interloper.
And blinked. Simply put, he was gorgeous. His eyes were the warmest shade of molten amber she had ever seen. She had to almost crane her neck to be able to see them. His hair was black and a little longer than was fashionable. He had a curl in that hung down in the middle of his forehead that she could only describe as rogueish. His skin was of a tan complexion that had probably caused him all sorts of trouble with 'polite' society. Suddenly, it clicked. She knew who this was.
"You're Devon Greyson." She observed.
