"To the best of my knowledge the first time they met was at a ball,
but my Aunt Edwina always said they had that glint of recollection in their eyes."
"I HATE balls." "Oh calm down, it'll be over soon. Just smile and try to pretend you're having a good time." "I'm already here; I've done enough for you tonight," Edwina and I entered into Buckingham Palace. Despite being born in London, this was my first time actually going inside; it was humiliating with the tourists outside, watching us like we were on parade. While I wanted to be anywhere but here, Edwina was having the time of her life, beaming from ear-to-ear and waving at friends and acquaintances.
The interior was even worse than the outside- not the ballroom itself, that was stunning. The place was just overcrowded and had this sweaty, muggy air about it. It was stifling, suffocating; I already couldn't wait to go home. It was both a blessing and a curse when my sister immediately left my side to go say hi to well, everyone once we were there. She left me all by myself, standing there like a total idiot. At first I was mortified, but soon realized I could use this to my advantage. While she mingled and networked with a bunch of people I didn't know, I used the opportunity to sneak off, hiding away at the back end of the wall near the terrace out into the back gardens. I did my best to appear small, invisible; the last thing I wanted to do was to dance with anyone or make meaningless small-talk. Ugh, why couldn't I have just stayed home tonight?! Edwina's totally ignoring me, which is fine; I don't really want to talk to any of her influencer friends. But I'd much rather be at home right now reading or watching a true-crime series.
After what felt like forever- which was really half an hour or so- I decided to go outside to get some fresh air; or as fresh as the air could be in the heart of London. The garden had some individuals out and about, but not many. I was able to sneak off, finding a quiet empty hedge to walk along. It was calmer out here, cooler… Finally I found something to enjoy for myself as I strolled along in the moonlight, pausing at every rose and flower bush I passed. Smiling to myself, my nose bent down to smell a particularly pretty pink one. It was so lush and fresh… They did a really good job taking care of the flora and fauna back here.
That's how I spent a good part of the evening, just wandering around outdoors by myself, and I wasn't at all offended. It reminded me of when we were in Versailles, and the hours I'd spend exploring their extensive gardens. Those were some of the best hours of my life; I absolutely loved cultivated flower pleasure gardens like this. It had this romantic quality about it which I couldn't get enough of. A true, real beauty which was hard to put into words….. Sighing wistfully, I continued with my meandering down the stony path.
I hope Oxford has somewhere like this… where I can just walk and be.
But time was of the essence. It eventually dawned on me how long I'd been out, and convinced myself I had to go back; Edwina might be wondering where I ran off to. The closer I got back to the palace, the more voices could be heard. Reaching the step under the terrace, I paused there to catch my breath- and ready myself for going back into that mess. I was about to turn onto the massively-wide staircase when some strange voices caught my ear- male voices. Taken a bit by surprise and not wanting to approach them out of the blue like this, I stayed where I was for a second, waiting for them to leave. But they didn't leave; not immediately anyway, unfortunately for me.
"No, I haven't met her yet, but she's here tonight." "You'll have to finally introduce us, heh, after you've come to terms with finally forgoing your bachelor freedom." I couldn't see them, but I could tell there were at least three guys; maybe four. I couldn't put my finger on it, but of the voices sounded oddly familiar….. They're "guy talk", if you want to call it that, carried on; they clearly didn't know I was there or could hear them.
"Oh please. All those influencer girls are the same. Just do what my granddad always said: Simply pick the least objectionable and get her wed, bed, and breed." Ew. Ugh, gross! What's wrong with these rick pricks? Must all of them be jerks? Thank god Edwina will be marrying someone less "objectionable", as they put it. No wonder they rely on their money to find them a wife; they haven't any personality to speak of. Heh, and they think influencers are bad; talk about "pot calling the kettle black".
"Don't worry, mate. Once you're shacked up, you can return to more pleasurable pursuits." "And more pleasurable partners." They laughed and I cringed- deeply. These bastards. "You may be caviller, but since I must leg-shackle myself in marriage, the lady should have more to recommend her." "Oh, come on. You don't think you'll fall in love with that bimbo, do you?" "Love is the last thing on my mind, I assure you. I just want my children to be of heh, good breeding stock, if you know what I mean. A pleasing face, loyal character, genital manners enough to credit a Viscountess. You'd be amazed how hard good women are to find these days." Oh we are, are we? Well, maybe you just haven't been looking in the right place, or more likely, you've already scared off all the good women with your horrid personality? I'd put my money on the latter.
"You want the best? Well, can't say if your decision will produce that, but choosing someone with millions of followers and good family name isn't a bad place to start, I guess." "She'll do; I'll say that." She'll do?! What the hell?! What's wrong with these men? These….. These petulant boys! I couldn't make out who said that last part, and I didn't care. Screw them all! This is precisely why I have no interest in dating; not if this is supposed to be the cream of the crop. Hopefully my sister's fiancé has a better character, otherwise she's not marrying him! The audacity of those creeps!
They took off back into the palace, FINALLY, and I gave an irritated huff. I've had enough; let's just go find Edwina and get the hell outta here. We don't belong here; I don't belong here. These aren't my people, this place isn't for me. I wasn't happy here; the only good thing about tonight were the gardens, where I should have stayed for another five minutes so I didn't have to overheard THAT poor excuse for a conversation. Utterly disgusting!
Feeling it was safe to come out from the shrubbery previously concealing me, I took a few steps, not noticing some large leaves brushing against the back of my dress. I guess it was loud enough for someone to hear me- that and my footsteps on the pavement. "Someone there?" One of the previous male voices called out.
Oh NO! One of them stayed outside. Well that's just great! Now I have to deal with this asshole before retreating to the safety- and anomality- of the dance floor. I haven't had much experience with confronting guys. That's not to say I haven't had bad encounters with them; I'd been followed and stalked countless times back on the continent. The first time it happens it's the most terrifying thing in the world, but after the tenth or twentieth time, you get used to it, thinking "oh joy, now I gotta get arid of you". One man even grabbed my arm once in Paris. But one-to-one confrontation out in relative privacy was a new and unwanted experience for me, and I really just wanted the ground to open and swallow me up.
My hands curled into tight fists as I weighed through my options. Maybe I should go around the other way; then he won't see me. I'm sure someone will let me in through the side. Yeah, that's a good idea. Too bad the leaves rustled against my dress again as I backtracked. "I can hear you," he said louder this time. I braced as I heard him come down the step and around the side to where I was currently still as a statue. Wincing my eyes shut, my head slowly- reluctantly- turned around to face whoever it was. He stopped, and when my eyes eventually re-opened, our gazes instantly locked. He looked a little less astonished than me, and I was dumbstruck. We stood there with our jaws hanging open for a sheer moment.
And he smiled.
Or well, smiled as much as he was able to. While I was horrified, he seemed happy to see me, showing as much as his stiff face would allow him. I, on the other hand…. He took another step closer to me.
"You!" "Excuse me, sir," this was code for "let me pass by". No such luck. He took another sincere step in my direction, refusing to let my eyes wander away from his. "Well look who it is? Didn't expect to see you here tonight. Nice to see you haven't had any bicycle-related accidents again," his half-smile, half-smirk reappeared, and my heart was beginning to crumble. God, his face…. I hated it when he did that! One look at me and my legs become jelly. No! Stay strong! He's one of the jerks who was just insulting women; he's not a good guy….. despite what your stupid heart might want to believe. Ignore that smirk, Kate; you are stronger than this!
Straightening up my back slightly, I shot him a cold glare- or as cold as I could muster. I was genuinely displeased with what he'd said, after all. "I really must get inside to my sister," aka move it, creep! His hands clasped behind his back as he took yet another step near me. My hands were beginning to tremble.
"Is that all you have to say to me? Me, who was so kind as to help you after your little "accident"?" He teased and my frown widened. "You didn't "help"; I didn't need your help. And I've already said I'm sorry." "That's hard to believe, seeing as your so willing to pretend as we've never met before." "We haven't; not really. You don't even know my name." "Then rectify that for me. Wasn't it you who said I like telling people what to do? Well, I'm telling you to tell me your name." "Why? So you can mock me properly?" I retorted with a hint of sauciness. His smirk intensified. "It would be fun to tease you using the correct name. If I'm going to give you a hard time, I might as well do it right," his upper body leaned forward slightly and a warm electric shiver ran down my spine. My eyes widened a tad as my mouth hung open for a second.
I had to give my brain a hard, punishing kick. No, stupid! Don't buy into his games! You know better! Get inside, NOW! My head shook as I tried to get around him. "This is ridiculous. I'm going in." "Fine, then I'll follow you until you tell me," he playfully remarked, making me shoot him another bemused glare. "Would you leave me alone? You don't wanna know my name. Trust me, I'm not the "good breeding stock" you're looking for," I don't know if he's the one who said that but who cares! My point still stands.
That's when his smirk began to genuinely fade, his eyes flashing a bit of dismay in them. "So you were eavesdropping?" "Not on purpose, seeing as you and your friends were proclaiming your many requirements for a wife loud enough for all of London to hear." "You take issue with my requirements?" "I take issue with any man who views women as chattels and breeding stock!" "None of that was meant for you." "Really? So I'm not this paragon of virtue you were describing oh so "eloquently"?" I countered and he chuckled, giving his gorgeous head a shake. "Well, I should like my wife to have better riding skills, and enough sense to wear a helmet. With those two-left feet of yours, it's no wonder you're out here instead of on the dancefloor. You'd trod on any man's feet," his smirk returned, as did mine- only slightly! I gave him a cunning, mischievous glance, tilting my head to the side a little.
"Oh, so now I'm not a good enough dancer either? You've made a list of many of my faults, so it seems. How gentlemanly," I rolled my eyes and he chuckled again, taking one more step my way. "I've made a list, have I? Then I'm just getting started. Maybe if we spend some more time together, I'll be able to identify all your flaws and shortcomings." "Heh, you're lucky I'm gracious enough not to start your own list; it'd be a mile longer than mine," I smirked triumphantly. Our eyes cemented on each other once more; my heart beating so loud, I feared he might hear it. My smirk matched his, and he had the happy tint in the back of his eyes again.
His lips parted a sliver after a long, very tense, hot moment. "I won't ask again. Your name- what is it?" "That's none of your business. Heh, and seeing as that's the last time you'll ask me, neither of us will have to worry about it anymore. Now if you excuse me, I really must get inside," I brushed past him, our fronts very nearly caressing alongside one another. It took all my strength to keep from blushing. Even the man seemed a tad flustered as he witnessed me scoot by, refusing to take his eyes off me the whole time. Once I was by though, he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, and I did the same. When he spoke again his tone was low, sincere, and warm.
"You're insufferable- you know that? Absolutely impossible; a thorn in the side, a man's headache." "Then it's good I'm not your headache," I shot back with equal warmth. He didn't say anything after this, but my heart was still racing. I detested that awful man, I convinced myself. He's the headache! I feel sorry for whatever woman he forces into marriage; I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to be with him….. I climbed up the steps and stopped only for a second. I have no idea what compelled me to look over my shoulder back at the yard, but I was doing so before I knew what was happening. I turned around suddenly and caught him looking at me. He was still looking at me from where we were standing…..
And he was smiling then.