AN: Your reviews are lovely. Thank you. You have now gotten me addicted to your thoughts on the story, so I am updating so fast. I will get into trouble now because I am so delayed with my Smallville fic. Anyway, here I am back with the story that cannot leave my head right now.
Part 3
The knock on the door was brisk. Lady Blair pushed the covers away from her body and slid out of bed. "Come in," she called out. The door opened and her wonderful maid stepped in. "Dorota!" she exclaimed. "Merci."
"Bon soir, my lady." The maid walked over to her lady's walk in closet.
Blair walked over to her bathroom and splashed water on her face. She reached for a white satin ribbon from the drawer and tied it around her head to hold her hair away from her face. "Hurry, Dorota, before maman finds me gone." She turned around and saw Dorota standing by her bed holding up a deep blue gown. "Perfect!"
"Bien sûr, Lady Blair," Dorota huffed, as if it was even a question that she would pick the correct outfit for her charge. She laid out the gown on the bed.
Blair turned around and waited for Dorota to help her out of her nightgown. "Is maman asleep?"
"Yes, my lady. It's late."
Blair slipped out of the nightgown and waited for Dorota to help put on her chemise. She then stepped into the gown that the maid held up. Blair sighed and turned around to face her dearest maid, who had been with her since she was a baby. She smiled and gave Dorota a hug. "Dear Dorota, I know you disapprove, but this is the only time when I can explore the world!" she exclaimed, holding her arms wide. Her voice fell, "I'm a prisoner here, Dorota."
The maid pursed her lips, then handed Blair her gloves. "Very well, my lady. Now follow me to the servant's entrance. Miss Kati and Miss Isabel are waiting in their phaeton out there."
Blair clapped in excitement. She took Dorota's hand as they walked to the servant stairwell. When they stepped out onto the street, the teal blue phaeton door opened and her two friends waved her over. Blair broke into a smile and turned around. "Cover for me?"
Dorota patted Blair's cheek and said, "You didn't need to ask, my lady."
Blair smiled and whirled around to run towards the phaeton. She climbed up and the phaeton rolled. She settled back in her seat. "Kati, Iz, we're finally doing it!"
Kati opened her fan with a smile, displaying the fine Chinese silk despite the fact that it was not warm. She fanned herself. "It was a mission to even get you out of that house," she told Blair.
Blair shrugged, unapologetic, because no matter how difficult they found it to help her slip out of Eleanor Rose's grasp, they would always do it. She was Lady Blair Waldorf after all. "Well thank you for doing it," she managed diplomatically. She turned to Isabel. "Where are we going tonight?"
Isabel leaned forward and placed a hand on Blair's. "We're going to La Fleur Noire."
Blair's lips parted with surprise and intrigue. "La Fleur Noire?"
Isabel's smile in response was playful. "Is it just the perfect idea?" she drawled.
"It is," Blair granted. "How did you even know about that place?" It was a prominent gentleman's club, and she had only found out about it when she eavesdropped on her stepbrother and her stepfather discussing how Aaron spent his allowance.
"One of my gentleman callers goes there after visiting me," Kati shared. "My maid heard it from our cook who heard it from his valet." There was no trace of hurt in her voice as she relayed the information.
It was not long before they alighted from the phaeton and entered the back door. Isabel slipped some coins to one of the girls and turned to Blair. "It's time to dance, Blair."
Blair smirked, then shook her head. "If your gentlemen callers go to this club, then I highly doubt that I can remain anonymous."
A redhaired young woman held up a jeweled mask. Isabel narrowed her eyes. "You wanted to experience life that's as far as possible to your real one. I dare you, my lady."
With a determined set of her jaw, Blair snatched the mask from the redhead. "You don't think I'll do it.
"I know you won't," pronounced Kati. "Underneath all the bravado, you are still your papa's little comtesse."
At the mention of her father, Blair huffed. She tied the mask on. "Never mention my father again."
She strode with purpose and reached the bottom step to the stage, where the last woman was performing the last steps of her act. The woman danced seductively, gyrated like Blair had not seen anyone do before. She wondered if the woman had a different body structure, because no human should be able to move like that. She studied the dance, focusing closely on the steps.
Blair glanced at the audience. Kati and Isabel were right. They seemed like a sophisticated lot, like men she would often see in the balls she attended. She scanned the faces at the table and recognized about a half dozen of them. And then a smattering of applause, and the last performer stepped down from the stage. The club hostess led her towards one of the tables, where she was welcomed by one of the gentlemen. Blair squinted and recognized the man as Kati's suitor.
She took a deep breath and climbed the steps, hesitated for a moment, before making her way to the center of the stage. This was that one moment when she could do exactly what her mother would never expect, would not wish. There were very little chances of victory in her life, and she needed to grab these chances and burn them to memory. The music started. She gave a shy smile, then started moving her hips from side to side.
Her attention was caught by the frowning hostess, who rightly did not recognize her. The door opened and two more patrons walked in. Blair felt the gaze of one of the newcomers burning into her flesh. Her hand automatically reached up for one end of her satin accessory and pulled the ribbon off, then allowed it to fall on the floor. She then reached for the buttons of her gown. Feeling brave all of a sudden, she met the eyes of the newcomer from across the room, and gave him a playful wave of her fingers.
Blair turned around and kept moving. She slipped her arms off the sleeves, then raised them up high to let the gown fall to the floor, then stood there only in her chemise. She gave a sigh of relief when the music ended. Blair bent down to pick up her satin ribbon.
She raced down the steps and said, "Kati, get my clothes."
"Mon Dieu!" Isabel exclaimed happily. "You were wonderful."
Blair turned around and saw the hostess walking towards them. She received her clothes from Kati and allowed her two friends to help her put them on. "Hurry!" she gasped, trying the ribbon in her hair.
The three proceeded to the exit and ran out. Kati and Isabel climbed onto the phaeton, laughing. Blair reached up at the rail to pull herself up, when a hand closed over her arm. She turned her head and came face to face with the gentleman who had been watching her so intently from across the floor.
"I assume you're on your way home," came his deep voice.
"I am, my lord," she breathed.
"I was going to invite you to join my table."
She gave him a tight smile. "I am not the type of girl to join a gentleman's table in La Fleur Noire."
He jerked his head towards the phaeton. "From the looks of it, you are not the type of girl to dance in La Fleur Noire either." The man reached up to touch her mask, and Blair belatedly realized after all the articles of clothing she had removed, she still managed to keep her wits and her mask. "Rebel," he taunted, sending a shiver down her spine. "Will you take off your mask?"
"I will not take off my mask to any patron of La Fleur Noire. You understand," she cut in, keeping her voice sharp to maintain her control.
"I do. But I am not a patron. In fact, I have only just arrived from England, on a noble mission," he teased.
"A noble mission in a gentleman's club?" she parried.
"Truth to tell, my lady. I did not expect this. Gentlemen's clubs in my country are cigars, old men regaling us with tales and younger men wagering and playing cards."
"What did you expect when you entered an establishment named Black Flower?"
It was apparent to Blair that he was stifling a grin. "I am a much better man than you would think, given the little you know of me," he insisted.
"I do not wish to know you, my lord," she told him, her face inches from his with one foot on the first step.
He shrugged. "I just wanted you to know that you looked amazing up there."
She took a deep breath, and his smell assailed her senses. Blair closed her eyes and moved closer to him.
"Are you sure?" he whispered.
She smiled, then met his lips for a brief kiss. His lips opened underneath hers, and they parted. Blair found herself under the onslaught of his mouth, and then his tongue. He tasted like scotch, or what she remembered of scotch when she sipped her father's drink once upon a time. She placed a hand on his chest and pushed away. "Thank you for the experience," she breathed against his lips. "Now if you will excuse me, my lord."
"Enchanté ," he murmured. His nostrils flared. Reluctantly, he helped her onto the phaeton. "Leave me something at least, to remember you by."
She bit her lip, then pulled hair free of the ribbon. She folded up the white satin and placed it in his hand.
Blair settled back into her seat, and the phaeton rolled out the cobbled streets. She glanced back and saw the dark-haired gentleman watching as they left, holding the ribbon to his face, inhaling the scent. When they turned the corner, she untied her mask and turned wide eyes at her friends.
"Oh Blair, who was it?"
"He was dashing!" Kati exclaimed.
Blair smiled and took Kati's fan. She needed it. "Well, ladies, tonight proved to be quite successful."
Isabel snickered. "You forgive us then?"
"Very much so," Blair pronounced. "So do be certain you will be attending my mother's masquerade ball. After tonight's rousing success, I would like to make sure that my friends are invited to all the big parties at the Rose manor." She touched a finger to her lips. "My first kiss."
"And you didn't even know his name."
"Perfect." Blair's lips curved. "Maman would be thrilled if she knew." She arched her eyebrows at Isabel.
Isabel nodded. "I'll let it slip during the ball."
"Brilliant," Blair declared. "Now take me home."
In the morning, Blair emerged into the dining room wearing a bright yellow dress and a smile on her face. Eleanor glanced twice at Blair in surprise. "You seem jovial, ma cherie."
"I am, maman."
"As well you should," Eleanor granted. She sipped her tea and bestowed a smile at her new husband and her stepson. "Blair received a new suit today. Blair, I believe we have finally found you a suitable husband."
Blair looked up with a frown. "And what about my actual fiancé, maman? I am still betrothed to Lord Nathaniel. That hasn't changed."
Eleanor waved a hand in dismissal. "You will meet this new suitor at the ball, Blair. Your good father, God bless his dear departed soul, did not amass the fortune you have under your name, for that money only to go into paying off the Archibald debt."
Cyrus cleared his throat. "Ladies, this may not be the best time to discuss this matter."
"Best not discuss this matter at all," muttered Aaron.
Blair gasped, because her mother never mentioned the Archibald scandal with such detail before. "With no money, they should then not expect us to honor a promise made ten years ago?"
The older woman brushed her forehead wearily. "Blair, I want only what's best for you."
"And this man, who I have never met, is it?" she demanded.
"He's the Marquis of Hartington, the son of a duke. You cannot do better than this," Eleanor informed her daughter.
"Of course I can!" Blair erupted. "I can fall in love, maman. I can fall in love with Nathaniel."
"I am weary of this conversation," pronounced Eleanor. "You will be at the ball, at your best behavior. No matter how much you despise me, ma cherie, I know you will not disgrace your father's good name."
"My father was there. He made that engagement with the Archibald family. You want to honor his memory so much, maman, why not try not to break his word?"
"Stop it, Blair," Eleanor responded calmly, albeit with strain in her voice.
"Madame." Blair rose from her seat stiffly, and nodded at Cyrus and Aaron. "Messieurs." She gathered her skirts to leave.
tbc