I could hear my guests' voices below me as I purposely delayed the last portion of my preparations; I stared at myself with great intrigue in the mirror while my mask lay on the face of my vanity. Marci had spent hours styling my hair, pinching my cheeks, and applying the dyes from pomegranate and raspberries to my lips. My hair was pinned in a disheveled, albeit elegant, bun on the bottom left side of my head; then placed next to it, was a beautiful, white peony. I looked at the ball gown my sister had purchased for me as one of her gifts, and wished that it was worn by a woman more becoming than me. However, the gown was my favourite colour- emerald green, and had a layer that started at my waist snugly before it draped and gathered down the length of my gown's skirts, which fanned gently about me. All along the edges and hems of the gown were meticulously sewn, silver peonies.

"Do not tell me you plan to waste the dress on only staring at your reflection the entire night? Come down and enjoy your birthday, Kiley, don't be so melancholy," Elinor chided as she entered my chambers. She carefully readjusted her own mask, and she took mine from the vanity. It was silver like the embroidery, and it too glowed like liquid moonlight when it caught in the light; with gentle movements, she placed the mask on my face and then tied it in place. She tugged on my hand, silently urging me to stand. "Kiley, are you all right?" she asked in concern.

"Yes, Elinor...just lost in my thoughts," I explained. I linked my arm through hers, and we went into the ballroom. Immediately, I was enraptured by the music and dancing couples; I saw Eliza sitting in the corner, so I excused myself from Elinor's company, and then went to Eliza. "I am so glad you could make it!" I greeted her warmly.

"Oh, Kiley! You look absolutely beautiful!" Eliza exclaimed, and embraced me as best she could with Emily asleep in one arm.

"Happy birthday, Miss Jensen."

I turned on my heel, and smiled brightly at the colonel with twinkling eyes. "Colonel Brandon," I murmured, my voice latent with admirable affection. He wordlessly handed me a long, thin box, and I slowly undid the latch and opened it. "Oh, sir, it's beautiful!" I gasped. Amongst the velvet lining was a thin, silver necklace molded into the shape of a serpent with emerald eyes. The serpent loosely held a glistening onyx stone that was attached to the end of its tail, and I was utterly taken with it. I ran a gentle finger along the necklace, and then looked up at Colonel Brandon. "Would you put it on me, sir?" I asked, turning so that my back faced him. HIs fingers ghosted against my neck as he brought the necklace about it; the serpent's head rested in the hollow between my collar bones, and the colonel secured the fastening at the back of my neck. I thought for one sweet moment, his fingers seemed reluctant to draw away, but my reverie was short lived by the music and conversations halting as my sister came into everyone's view.

"My dear friends, I would like to take this moment to thank you for joining me in celebrating my youngest sister's nineteenth birthday. Now, might my sister kindly step forward and come to me, please?"

I smiled at Eliza and the colonel before I made my way to the middle of the ballroom, and I did not fail to notice an odd twinkle in Eliza's eyes. I went to Marci's side, feeling slightly uneasy knowing so many eyes were fixed upon me.

"Now, who will be the one to share my sister's first dance of the night?"

A young man with roguish features stepped forward; however, his pursuit was stopped by a baritone voice calling out politely, "I would be honoured if Miss Jensen will have me." Colonel Brandon emerged from the crowd, and my heart beat frantically in my chest. I slowly walked up to him; meanwhile, my sister motioned for the music to resume. Colonel Brandon's strong hand held my waist gently, and the other enveloped one of mine. The music started, and he began to lead me along to the rhythm of the waltz; couples around us began to dance once more, but I only had eyes for him, my handsome colonel. I smiled up at him and for a moment believed that I would melt into a puddle when he gave me the utmost wonderful smile in return. He twirled me about with great care, and then drew me back to him as though it pained him for me to be distant. I moved closer, and I subtly inhaled his gentle, albeit heady, masculine scent.

"I am glad you chose to forgo a mask, I would have loathed having to seek you out," I spoke softly.

"I cannot find a mask that fits this wretched nose of mine."

"Stop it," I chided, "I happen to like your nose a great deal." When I finished, I blushed with realisation of my words that had just tumbled out.

"Miss Jensen, I regret telling you this, but I abhor your mask," he mused; at my confused look, he continued, "How else am I to see the blush that is without a doubt making your cheeks scintillate at this moment?"

At his words, my blush only grew in intensity and my heart fluttered lighter than a hummingbird's wing. Colonel Brandon twirled me around once more, and I noticed that Eliza and Marci were watching our every move. The dance came to a soft close, and I asked the colonel, "Would you like to step outside and enjoy the night air, Colonel?"

We made our way to the veranda and watched the snow languidly fall from the dark sky; I leaned forward so that my elbows rested on the railing. "Are you cold, Miss Jensen?" Colonel Brandon inquired.

"For once, Colonel, I do not think I will have to worry about the chill winter air," I laughed lightly as I finished. I glanced over my shoulder to look at him and saw that he was smiling at me, so I returned his with a smile of my own. He frowned at my smile, and so slightly confused and hurt, I asked, "What is it, Colonel?"

"Forgive me for my ambiguous expression and lack of an explanation, but I was frowning at that infernal mask that is currently hiding your smile, my friend."

I found myself unsurprisingly disappointed at the moniker he had bestowed, but I knew it was futile to even dream of him loving me. Nonetheless, I replied faintly, "If it vexes you so, I shall remove it."

My hands reached up to untie the mask's ribbons, but his hands wrapped around my wrists to stop me. I peered up at him with confusion; he released my hands, which fell limply to my sides, and his fingers ghosted over the edge of my mask. My breath caught in my chest, and as his fingers brushed against my suddenly hypersensitive, all I could manage was to gaze up him with a miniscule, slightly dazed smile. Just as Colonel Brandon began to peel away my mask, a cry from the open window above us caught my attention- the pulsating aura that was ensconcing us, gone.

"Elias… I must go and tell my sister," I murmured gently, and brushed past him. I found my sister conversing with her dear friend Katherine, and after I informed her of Elias' awakening, slipped back out to the veranda. To my great astonishment and disappointment, all that gave evidence of the colonel's presence was the solitary hothouse flower left for me on the railing. With a sad smile, I picked up the blossom and retreated to my chambers with the excuse of feeling ill.