Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the Newsies, the songs, or the plot line in anyway. Anything or anyone that you recognize from the movie belongs to the movie. I am not claiming ownership in any way, shape, or form. I'm just a girl who loves the movie and wants to write about it.
Chapter 8
Elizabeth's Point of View
"Miss Elizabeth?" I turned away from my mirror, in order to see my maid, Charlotte better.
"Yes Charlotte?"
"Would you like the blue gown, or the pink gown?" She asked holding up the two dresses in question. I stood up and walked over to examine the gowns further.
"Only the best for this party" I murmured, almost to myself. Katherine and I had both been invited to Mayor Van Wyck's midsummer's party, though it was so large and exquisite that it was more of a ball than a party. Katherine was a personal friend of the mayor's daughter, Maria Van Wyck, and she had been kind enough to invite me as well. Finally I decided on the pink one.
"Excellent choice miss," said Charlotte as she helped me with my hair, "you will be the talk of the party."
"Oh I'm sure I'll look like a little castaway next to Katherine, did you see the dress that she decided on? The light blue? It will look absolutely stunning on her."
"Well, you look quite stunning yourself miss, if that's not too bold to say" she said as she curled my hair.
I just shrugged in response. It didn't matter how much make-up I wore or how my hair was done, I was just a street rat, a poor orphan, dressed up in fancy clothes. My encounter with "Rebecca" had reminded me of that more than ever. Of course I didn't say that out loud.
"Thank you Charlotte."
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Forty five minutes later our carriage pulled up in front of the Van Wyck residence. The sounds of talking and live music played from a small orchestra that had been hired for the evening came from inside the house. Katherine and I stepped out of the carriage. I have to say, it was a bit daunting, standing in front of this huge house. Of course I had been to parties before, but none as large or as grand as this one.
We walked up the stone steps to the front door. I was about to reach for the handle when it opened to reveal a butler.
"Good evening ladies" he said bowing slightly, "and welcome."
"Thank you" I said inclining my head.
"Oh Katherine" said one girl coming over to where we were standing, "I'm so glad you've finally arrived, this party has been such a bore without you."
"Why Maria, you're too kind" said Katherine smiling sweetly. So she must be the mayor's daughter.
"Come, come, Katherine dear, everyone is so excited to see you, I never knew you were so popular." And away went Katherine to her little circle of friends.
I wandered among the other guests searching for a familiar face, but I saw no one. I was two years younger than Katherine, making me three years younger than Maria Van Wyck, so there were almost no girls here my age. I had also always been taught privately by James, never attended any of the fancy schools that many of the girls here did. Eventually I found myself back in the room where I had begun, the room in which the orchestra was playing. Music was my weakest point. I loved it. Every part of it. That was one of the most amazing things about finding myself rich all of a sudden. I could have almost anything I asked for, and though I never asked for much I did request piano lessons. I had thought that piano was all I was going to learn but Mr. and Mrs. Brooke had gone further and found me instruction in piano as well as violin and dancing.
I found a chair near where the orchestra was set up and sat down to watch the dancers. It was a simple waltz. I knew the whole thing almost by heart. My feet traced out the pattern on the floor underneath my chair. Oh, how I wanted to get up and soar across that dance floor. Of course I couldn't without a partner. I don't know how long I sat there, just listening to the music, and waiting, for someone, anyone, to ask me to dance. I suppose they just thought I was too young.
"Elizabeth, do at least try to be social" I looked up to see Katherine standing next to me.
"I do try, it's just…the only person that I actually know is you"
Katherine sighed, "What are we going to do with you Elizabeth?" Then she paused, "would you like to meet the girls that I was talking to?"
I thought about this a moment then shrugged, "I guess so."
"Alright, come on, we'll make a social butterfly out of you in no time" and away went Katherine guiding me across the room. "Girls, this is my younger sister Elizabeth" she said, stopping in front of them, "Elizabeth, this is Maria Van Wyck, you met her already I presume, Amelia Lathrop, Leah Arwood, Sarah Clegern, Ella Moyer, Anna Lang, and Hannah Karpack." How does she know all these people? I wondered, of course there were only six of them and they were her age, but still, I knew no one here and Katherine was surrounded by a large group of girls.
"She's your sister?" asked Ella, fluttering her fan daintily, "she doesn't look at all like you."
"Oh, she's adopted" answered Katherine.
"Really? How…interesting" said Leah. They continued chatting about different things but I felt out of place and so after about fifteen minutes I slipped away and returned to my seat near where the orchestra was playing.
"My I have this dance?" I looked up to see a young man standing in front of me. He looked to be about seventeen, one year older than me. He had brown hair and dark brown eyes and his voice had a foreign accent, though I'm not sure what it was, I was horrible at languages.
"Of course" I said standing up. We made our way to the dance floor and took our positions and then began to dance.
"You dance very well" he said as we moved across the floor.
"And you" I replied.
"Do you live here? In New York?" he asked
"Yes, I've lived here as long as I can remember, where are you from?"
"France, my father was sent here as an ambassador" So that's what his accent was.
"How long will you be staying?"
"We were to be here only two months but complications arose and we're not sure when we will be leaving now." The dance ended and the music stopped. "Would you care to take a walk in the gardens?" he asked leading me off the dance floor.
"Of course" I said smiling. We went out the back door and stepped outside. The night was warm and the sky was decorated by a thousand stars. A violinist, a flutist, and a pianist, played softly on the terrace. The aroma of a hundred roses greeted us. He led me through the gardens until we reached a secluded bench. "Forgive me," I said "but I don't believe you have told me your name yet."
"Oh I'm sorry, my mistake it is André"
"And I'm Elizabeth"
"Elizabeth, a very English name, is it not?"
I nodded, "I suppose so, but isn't André a very French name?"
He laughed, "I suppose you are correct."
We chatted for a long time until the strains of music died away and I heard Katherine calling for me. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth! We must go, where are you?"
I stood up, "coming!"
"Will I see you again?" asked André standing up after me.
I bit my lip, "I suppose so"
He kissed my hand lightly "au revoir, until next time."
I blushed slightly and hurried off to find Katherine. "Well Elizabeth!" She said when she saw me "I see you hit it off nicely with the French Ambassador's son."
"What?" I turned to her, "Oh, yes, he was very friendly."
"Hmm, by the way Elizabeth, I'm going to be staying here a bit longer, Maria said there was something she wanted to show me, you can have Matthew drive you home, Maria said that their coachman could drive me home when I was finished here."
I nodded, "alright, have fun" Then I gave her a quick hug and hurried out the door to where Matthew was waiting for me. We were about half way home when the horses bolted. Matthew lost control, they were sprinting down the street as fast as their legs could carry them, and they were gaining speed. I looked out the window of the carriage and saw that we were nearing a steep hill. The carriage was gaining speed, I had no idea horses could run so fast. The carriage bounced and shuddered and seemed ready to tip over any second. They started down the hill, it seemed like we were free falling, and Matthew had lost all control. I gripped my seat in fright. I was too scared to even scream. Then it felt like my entire world was turning upside-down and I was thrown through the carriage window onto the hard cobblestones of the street. Then my world went black.
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