Starsplash: no, sorry, i don't have pics of them, and I wouldn't even attempt to draw them, my drawing ability is laughably nonexistent

SarahKOM: I guess you'll just have to read to find out, no? and the whole mail thing? I know right? Its not just hotmail, it's yahoo as well, probably others as far as I know.

Dumbblond76: YAY!!! New reviewer!

Ella Raven: Thanks! And, um here's the update… do I get authoress protection services now?

Smithy: Another new reviewer! YAY! yeah, I never really thought of that while writing this, but he has, hasn't he? Odd…

AKAfredandgeorge: no more school! Yay! Mebbe you can come to the cottage this year? And yes, wicked smiles make it all good. Oh, and blackbottom cupcakes? Oh, so good, I'll have to make some sometime and you can try them.

Kitten: Ohhh, you did NOT just try to use the eyes on me. I invented the eyes!

XInaxheartbeatx: here is the update, as early as I could get it done!

AliKernschatten: Homage, huh? Cool! ;) I had a friend who was in Alaska for a while… besides the point. Any who, thank you for your generous and gilded compliments. And I have no idea what the German word means, though now my German blood is intrigued

Sarah: thanks, hun! It is really hard to find a job in our field, no? but I finally got one! Yay!

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Katrina looked at him, surprised, then anger flashed through her eyes. "I'm sorry, sir, but this dance is promised to another." She answered curtly and turned to Will, who happened to bo the person standing closest to her. "Shall we, Sir Knight?" she asked with a small curtsy.

Though stunned, Will swiftly recovered. "It would be an honor, Enchanting Sprite." he responded with a bow. "What was that?" he asked as he led Katrina out to the dance floor.

"What are you talking about?" Katrina questioned, not meeting Will's eyes.

"You know what I'm talking about." Will answered in a low tone. "I wasn't raised in this circle of society, but even I could see that what you just did was a deliberate snub."

Katrina sighed, shoulders slumping and dipped her head. " I just couldn't face him right then, much less talk to him. I was just so frustrated…" she trailed off. "Will I get in trouble?" Katrina looked up at Will, uncertainty shining in her eyes.

She looked so vulnerable and unsure of herself at the moment that Will gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Glancing over her head, he caught sight of his wife's expressionless face, which, he could tell from past experiences, was much more serious than when she showed any emotion. "I'll tell you what to do." He said, returning his attention to his dancing partner. "Talk with Elizabeth tonight, she won't be able to be harsh in a social setting. But wait until tomorrow to talk to the governor, he will be upset, but the time will allow him to mellow out some."

"Is that from experience?" Katrina asked with her eyes twinkling behind her mask..

"You have no idea." Will replied dryly.

The dance ended then and Katrina thanked Will for his advice before she was claimed by another partner.

"You look enchanting." Her new partner told her.

"Thank you, Daniel." She smiled up at him.

He looked taken aback. "How did you know?"

Katrina giggled lightly. "Even out of uniform, you still hold your military stance."

"That's what comes from years of training, I suppose." He made a conscious effort to relax his posture and gave her a cocky grin.

Their conversation flowed along with the dance until it ended and Daniel Norrington reluctantly handed her over to her next partner. Katrina gladly accepted every offer to dance for the next hour, anything to keep her away from the new earl. But finally, she had to stop and catch her breath after a decidedly spirited dance set, accursed corset! She was saved by Sir Jeffery calling for attention.

"Thank you all for coming. As many of you know, I rarely do anything with out reason, and tonight is no exemption. I have asked you, my friends and peers, here tonight to help me celebrate my grandson's betrothal to Lady Amberly Shawe." Sir Jeffery turned to the small orchestra situated in on of the corners of the room. "Maestro?"

the slight man with graying dark hair nodded and directed the starting strains of a courtly waltz as Thomas led his intended onto the polished dance floor, her cheeks blushing slightly under the edge of her mask. The rest of the couples had vacated the floor to watch the couple waltz together. Katrina found herself next to the terrace doors that were letting in blessedly cool air.

"Milady." A smooth voice said from behind her.

Katrina cast about for an escape, but caught the stern look Elizabeth was sending her instead. Gritting her teeth and plastering on a smile, she turned. "My lord." She recited through clenched teeth and executing a curtsy.

"Would you care to accompany me for a walk in the gardens?" the new earl asked with a small bow..

"She would be delighted to walk with you, my lord." Elizabeth said from beside her before Katrina could answer. Katrina's head snapped to the side. How Elizabeth moved through the crow so fast, Katrina could only guess.

"No." Katrina whispered furiously out the side of her mouth, sending Elizabeth a half angry, half pleading look.

"Excuse me and my cousin for but a moment, my lord." Elizabeth said, taking Katrina's arm and leading her a short distance away.

"I will not-"

"Yes. You will." Elizabeth cut Katrina off. "You gave him the cut direct last time he tried to talk to you. Do you have any idea what that has done to your reputation in this small society? If not for yourself, then at least do this to not shame father. And maybe I will forget what happened earlier tonight."

Katrina pouted slightly. "Fine. But I don't have to enjoy it."

"No, but you do have to be civil, and smile." Elizabeth grinned as she glided away with Katrina shooting her a short glare before forcing a smile and turning back to the earl.

"Shall we, sir?" she tucked her hand into the crook of his proffered arm.

The walk past the terrace and down the steps was made in silence. The soft crunch of the gravel walk way was slowly grating on Katrina's nerves when the earl started speaking in a mild and distant voice. "I met my father's uncle when I was quite young, around eight, at my father's funeral. I never said a word to him, and he didn't talk to us, just stared at my mother with a disgusted animosity. My great uncle disowned his only nephew, my dad, when he deigned to marry a mere fisherman's daughter, my mom." He gave a dry, cryptic laugh. "It's odd to think that the man at my father's funeral died and left an earldom for me to inherit."

"Odd?" Katrina seethed as she dropped his arm and backed away a few steps. "Is that the word you would use for being escorted away by navel officers?"

"Kitten." He took a step towards her, but Katrina interrupted him.

"You disappeared for days and I couldn't get a straight answer from anyone! Then you waltz in here tonight like nothing happened!"

"I wanted to tell you…"

"Then why didn't you?" Katrina demanded, close to tears. "You didn't even try to contact me, why?" The tears were falling down her cheeks.

"I-"

"I was worried sick about you!" Katrina struck Kipp on the chest, but he caught her fists and used them to draw her close to him. When she was close enough, he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Kitten. I didn't want to make you worry." Kipp pushed her mask back, held her face in his hands and gently brushed away her tears with his thumbs, giving her a tender kiss. "Let's see a smile now." He coaxed his familiar half grin firmly in place. Katrina gave him a small watery smile. "That's my girl." He said wrapping his arms about her once again.

"My lord?" a voice rang out in the stillness of the night air, causing Katrina to jump and pull back from the comfort of Kipp's arms. "My lord?" the voice was closer. "Oh, there you are." Amberly said coming around a corner of hedging. "Some of the guests are eager to make your acquaintance, my lord."

"That's me, isn't it?" Kipp grinned and headed for the bright lights of the ballroom.

"Katrina? My word, what happened?" Amberly asked, just realizing she was there.

"Nothing." Katrina answered, swiping ineffectively at a few renegade tears.

"You look an awful mess, considering that 'nothing' happened." Amberly led her to a stone bench set beside the garden path. "Here, sit down and take my handkerchief, you need it more than I do."

"Thank you." Katrina said, accepting the scrap of cloth. "But, if is all the same to you, I think I just need some time alone. You don't need to be worrying about me, it is your night after all."

"Of course, I will leave you to compose yourself. You will, of course, come back when you are ready?"

"Yes, thank you."

Amberly gave a graceful nod and a smile as she left Katrina. After a few moments, Katrina leaned back with a contented sigh and stared at the stars, lost in her own world. Suddenly, all was black.

"'Ello, Trina." A slurry voice, slightly muffled through the fabric sack thrown over her head. Intense pain on the side of her head was the last thing she felt.

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I know! I'm so sorry for taking so long! I've just been terribly swamped, and just when I thought I had this chapter figured out, I scratched the whole thing, because I didn't like it! And I know it's short, but now I have a more definite direction, which, hopefully will make for faster postings!