~6~
The gold jewels dangling off the bodice of my gown dazzled in the ballroom mirrors as I made my way around the room. It had already been two hours of this nonsense and I had danced with 3 different suitors, each of whom, I had an utter distaste for already.
I turned to face myself in the mirror and saw my sad figure glancing back at me. The gold gown that encircled my entire body glowed in the light from the chandeliers above, highlighting my fair complexion. My emerald eyes were enchanting against my soft face and pink lips and cheeks, my brown swept up hair only brining out these accents in my facial features.
I sighed at how hopeless I was. My beauty and wealth wasn't deserved by someone like me; someone who didn't want anything to do with the rich or the poor, or people at all. Someone who wanted nothing more than to escape this world and the horrors it put me through.
I turned around disgusted by my reflection and continued my hunt for the one person I longed to see. Will had been nowhere in sight and my hearted ached every time I turned in a new direction in the gigantic ballroom to see him not there.
I sighed and began to continue my constant circle around the room, whilst trying to avoid the eyes of snobbish upper class women and men. Suddenly, I felt the cold brushing of fingers against my fair skin on my upper arm. I chill shot up through my spine, and I turned in a rush of fear to see the beady red eyes of Sir Damian Kingsley appraising me.
"Thought you could escape a dance with me?" he leered, his crisp, clear voice and ruby red eyes piercing through me. Sir Damian Kingsley was known to be the handsomest man in the county, with his curly dark hair and attractive figure, but they were oblivious to the fact that the man had red eyes. When questioned about it, he simply said that when he was little, he looked at the sun for too long and they burned his eyes, but I wasn't as delusional as the rest of the town to see right through the lie. I didn't trust the man and I knew he was rather odd, but I didn't know as to what reason that was.
"If you'll excuse me," I said slinking my arm out of the cool hand that carefully touched it, "I am trying to find someone."
"Really?" he cackled, "Seems as if you were trying to avoid me."
"Now why would I do a thing like that?" I expressed sarcastically.
He was obviously oblivious to the fact that I wanted nothing to do with him, and so he continued to pursue me, "Oh come now, one little dance with me won't hurt before you go looking for your friend, Janie."
"Don't call me that," I said distastefully. He would have to pry me with the Jaws of Life to get me to go out on that dance floor with him.
I started to turn around when he put a cold hand lightly on my neck. "Why? What's wrong with the little nickname?" he whispered close into my ear.
I shrugged him off, and thankfully, he obeyed. "I just don't like it," I shrugged. Honestly, I didn't want such a disgusting pig to call me by the same nickname my loving brother had for years.
"Well maybe you'll come to enjoy it," he said maliciously, with a slight joking manner in his voice.
I stared at him, appalled at the things he was saying to me, but just before I was about to yell at him, my mother rushed up to us.
"Oh how lovely, you both are getting acquainted with one another," my mother said cheerfully.
"Yes, your daughter is definitely very different from many of the girls in this county," he chuckled, his voice more presentable and polite with my mother than he had been with me. It made me want to vomit that people actually fell for his charm.
My mother beamed at him, more than pleased at the way he claimed to perceive me, "Of course she is. She just happens to be one of the most beautiful in the county if I do say so."
"Yes, she is very handsome, and perhaps one of the most in the county," he smiled back at her, glancing sideways to look at me, "But she is very close to those two sisters Miss Adelaide and Miss Adela."
"Well, those two sisters will never have the same kind of money, position, and stature that my Jane dear does," my mother uttered offended. It was very apparent to me that she was trying to convince him to marry me, almost like she was trying to sell me, and it made me sick to my stomach that they were treating me like a stable horse on sale.
"Of course Lady Alwyin. I was just pointing out a common belief of the county," he said innocently, but I knew he was nothing but.
The music began to be picked up from its dull sounding waltz to a fast jiglike tune.
"Come now," my mother ushered us toward the center of the room, "There's plenty of time for talk later. For now, let us dance."
Damian began to walk out onto the floor while I shot my mother a dagger look, but she only gave me furious and warning eyes back which told me I had no choice but to join him on a dance, or I would be missing supper for a week.
I felt the cool, hard hand encircle my arm as Damian began to drag me to the center of the floor. I gazed up into his eyes and saw the fierceness in them. He locked one of his arms around the small of my back, dragging me in closer to his sweet perfume smell. The other arm took my gentle fingers between his and I reluctantly put my hand on his cold shoulder. I felt shudders climb up my spine from the coldness that radiated off of his body. It was such an odd sensation. It was like he was such a dark and malicious person that his skin was ice cold.
We began to twirl around the floor, in time with the lively music, but I wanted nothing more than to run away from him. I didn't want any part of this man and I would never marry him, despite my mother's threats.
"You're a beautiful dancer," he said intrigued as I spun under his arm.
"Most women of high class are," I said spitefully.
"Yes but you especially are," he said through his teeth, "Only the ones as pretty as you are can be so good on their feet."
"Well that's obviously an assumption, and a bad one on your part, because I am, I'm afraid, quite clumsy," I muttered to him smugly.
We continued to dance in a circle among all the other dancers, him whisking me away. "Do you not like dancing then?" he asked.
"Actually, I find it quite entertaining," I said sarcastically.
He smiled his dazzling pearl teeth at me and said delightfully, "Well then you'd be a perfect guest for my party next week. I'm having many of the finest men and women in the county and I'm sure they would all like to get acquainted with the young Lady Alywin."
I could almost scream and wanted nothing more than to lash out at my mother for all that she had gotten me in to. I never wanted anything to do with Sir Kingsley and here I was getting invited to his fine parties.
"Well, I must check with my mother and father first. Your estate is quite a great deal away and I'm not sure they would like me going so far out," I stuttered, trying to look the least bit apologetic.
"Nonsense, I am quite sure they will give you permission to come," he said lightly and I knew he was right. My parents, especially my loving mother, would stop at nothing to get me to that party, and I would do all that I could to keep it a secret from them.
"Still, I must ask their permission first," I argued.
"Of course, but maybe I will get around to asking their permission myself," he countered.
The music stopped and I was praising God for it. I couldn't stand to be any closer to him. I pushed myself out of his arms. "Excuse me, I must go visit my other guests," I said hurriedly, trying to make a break for it as fast as possible.
I saw anger start to bubble in his face, "Of course, but you will dance with me later."
"Of course," I said curtsying before turning around to roll my eyes. I was going to spend the rest of the night in hiding so as I wouldn't get stuck in another face to face meeting with Sir Damian Kingsley and the red eyes that pierced through my soul.
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