AUTHOR: starryclimes

30th of November, 2014

"May I offer my assistance?"

The small gas lit room was empty except for two young women. Their white dresses stood stark against the forest green décor. One had her head in her hand crying, whilst the other, gold hair gleaming and coming undone, was attempting to comfort her.

Alice had heard muffled sniffling coming from behind the resting room's heavy velvet curtains and despite her reservations had went to see what was the matter. Her polite inquiry was met with a flash of righteous blue anger. "Maddie had wine spilled on her!" There was a deep red stain seeping on the white dress.

Making an expression of empathy she knelt down halfway to see if it could be repaired. Alice suddenly realized with the young lady's accent that these young ladies were from the colonies and the much talked about shipping merchant daughters richer than Croesus. Their wealth enough to make any gentlemen ignore the horrible accents and uncouth ancestry, and make a match into the gentry.

"I believe we have not been formally introduced." Conventions would just have to be overlooked.

Amelia's shoulders shook, as if amused at Alice's manners.

Alice gave a curtsey as she said "Alice Kirkland."

"Oh." Amelia bobbed, "Amelia Jones! It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Maddie stood up to curtsey gracefully, "Madeline Williams."

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be out dancing?" There was no mockery in the blunt question posed by the enthusiastic blond. Miss Williams sank down into the chair again as if overwhelmed by her friend's impropriety.

Alice just stiffly said, "I am of no consequence, truth be told." It was in poor taste to treat these children as a confidantes, but she knew they would never see her again, unless they forced to in polite society.

"That is silly Alice."

"Miss Kirkland." Maddie chided from her chair, her gloves trying to cover the stain on the deep cut ball gown, her magnificent bosom being shown off to full display. It was no wonder the young girl had wine poured on her, she was very beautiful and very wealthy, and very much a rival to the prestigious upper crust British girls.

"Miss Kirkland." Amelia said, those full lips full of amusement. Why did the nuisance of a girl ruffle her so? Her heart trembled at Amelia's subconscious fluttering of blond eyelashes. Tamping down that nonsense, she made to leave when Amelia grabbed her by her blue gloves.

"Stay, Al-Miss Kirkland…We'll dance with you!"

How preposterous, she could feel her cheeks filling with color.

"I am sure, Miss Jones, that your dance card is full."

"Hahaha…no." Amelia said rather subdued all of a sudden. "Maddie's is though…"

"Listen!" Amelia still held her hands, the heat seeping from her large ones to Alice's dainty own. "It's a waltz!" The strains of music were muted, and barely heard.

"Scandalous." Alice managed through her corset which suddenly seemed too tight. Her heart was now aching unbearably. Silly girl.

Not caring an ounce, Amelia curtseyed to Alice, "May I have this dance?" Blue eyes looked up earnest.

Alice must have looked stern and annoyed, because Maddie literally flinched.

Amelia smiled and wrapped her hand about Alice's waist. Horrors. Alice's eyebrows were raised so high she thought her eyes would burst. Raising her other arm with the young girl's she was pulled close, their waists almost touching, their breasts almost brushing. So scandalous. Amelia leaned close, her height an inch or two over Alice's, and said, "Your eyebrows are huge."

"What!" Alice lost her properness for a moment to sputter. "You…" Amelia laughed, the reverberations echoing through their almost joined bodies.

"I like them. You also have pretty eyes." Alice couldn't breathe. She only stared as she realized she was being led in a lovely waltz.

"How, how do you know these steps?"

Amelia chuckled, her bosom was white in contrast to her browned face, freckles slightly spread over her pink cheeks, "I got to be the boy, when teaching Maddie, she was too shy when she was little."

Alice just nodded with a jerk. Feeling the warmth ooze through her body. What a sight they must make, two women, one in out of fashion clothing and out of prime, whilst the other was in the cut of fashion and in the prime of youth. Red oozed up her face, she could feel her blush, as she could feel Amelia's breath on her cheek.

She closed her eyes, and let herself go, into the muted music, and the silly things Amelia was telling her, the words flowing over her and into the quiet. She felt beautiful for once, and the feeling make her want to weep, it welled up inside, and she could feel her lips trembling with trying to contain the feeling.

Then it was over, and Amelia stepped away, that joyful smile on her face, and Alice tried to right herself internally, and saw Maddie sitting there with a wide look in those mulberry eyes, and a small smile on her face.

"Let me escort you out if you wish. I suppose you need a proper chaperone…" She murmured tugging on her gloves, putting her mask on.

Amelia just pouted. "I don't need a chaperone. I'm going out on my own." She led the way, as Maddie just tucked her arm shyly into Alice's. Alice followed the quick moving Amelia, whose eyes flittered back to catch Alice's. Amelia's eyes held a warmth that Alice recognized with a shock as admiration. Alice followed, her heart beating triple time, the same as the polka that was being played down the hall.

Perhaps this season would not be as gloomy as she foresaw. She gave a slight smile to the girl, who just hid behind her fan in a mock shyness. No indeed, as the blue eyes smiled and pale eyebrows arched, this season would be as well remembering on those cold winter nights when there would be no more sunshine.