An:sorry for the wait guys enjoy :-D
4. The Count
"Agh, Minerva! I can't...breath!" I wheezed.
"Oh hush," she started as she continued to tighten my corset. Minerva was a maid of ours who was in charge of helping me dress for evenings like this. She is also the closest thing I've had to a mother since mine passed on. "I hear the count is very handsome, and not to mention wealthy. And men love a woman with a tiny waist." She loosened it just a little and then tied it up.
"My waist is tiny enough Minerva." I huffed. She helped me into my petticoat and camisole before removing my dress from the closet. It was a beautiful emerald color made with a fine silk and I was very excited to wear it.
"Sure it is dearie but it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help. The count is a very important man, you should want to impress him. He'd be a good match for you." She said.
"Oh so you've met him? What's he like?" I challenged, daring her to lie to me.
"Well no love but I don't need to to know what I know." She countered while fastening the buttons on the back of my dress.
"But Minerva, if you have yet to meet him how would you know we would be a good fit? He could have a dreadful personality." She started on my hair.
"It isn't always about personality dearie, he'll be able to support you as well as any children you may bare. Think about that." We were silent for a moment while I contemplated what she was saying to me. I let her do my makeup and then looked into the mirror she handed me. My dark hair was elegantly coiffed with a few strands of hair hanging down in ringlets. My makeup enhanced my most entrancing features; my cheekbones and my bright green eyes. I was beautiful.
"I thought I told you I wasn't interested in impressing this man." I said with a smirk while I put on my white gloves and picked my fan up off of the vanity.
"You did, that doesn't mean I had to listen to you." She said and we both giggled at that. There was a knock at my door soon followed by my father's voice.
"Are you ready for departure Genevieve?" He called.
"Yes father I'll be right out." I gave Minerva a quick hug and proceeded to exit my bedroom. I then took father's arm as we descended the stairs and went to the carriage.
I watched through the window as a large crowd of people made their way into a grand, castle-like estate.
"Count Stefan's estate my Lord." Said the coachmen. The carriage came to a halt suddenly and a man in a black suit, probably the Counts butler, opened the door and held a hand out for me. I took it and stepped out into the cool night air, glancing around at the people walking to the front door. I stared in awe; I'd never seen such extravagance before.
"Stop staring so blatantly Genevieve, remember those manners Minerva taught you." My father said as he stepped out of the carriage.
"Yes father." I replied. He then held out his arm for me to hold on to as we walked into the Count's large home.
The doorman glanced at us and then called out in a loud, baritone voice, "Presenting Lord Vladimir Dumitru and his daughter Genevieve Elizabeth Dumitru." Every head was turned in our direction as my father and I entered the great hall and though I felt a bit nervous I remained the picture of effortless grace and charm, just like Minerva said I always ought to be.
"Hello Lord Dumitru. It is a pleasure to have you here tonight. I am Count Stefan Matei." I gazed upon him in slight surprise. He was a young man, probably only a few years older than I, with dark hair and intense eyes. Quite handsome in a brooding sort of way.
"Tis a pleasure indeed young count. I'd like to introduce you to my darling daughter Genevieve." My father said as he gently nudged me forward.
"It is lovely to meet you Count Matei." I said softly as I curtsied low to him.
"Very lovely indeed . Why Lord Dumitru I had no idea your daughter was so stunning. Would you mind terribly if I were to take her to join me on the dance floor in the next waltz, that is only if she would be so gracious as to want to dance with me?" The Count gave a small smile. I awaited my fathers answer before giving my own.
"I wouldn't mind at all young count, Genevieve?" My father said in question.
"I'd be happy to dance with you sir." I curtsied and took his offered hand as we made our way out to the dance floor.
"You don't have to call me sir you know. I doubt we are very far apart in age at all. I'm only 21 years and if I'm not mistaken you've just turned 18." The Count said once we were far enough that my father would not over hear us.
"How did you know?" I asked.
"Most everyone around here knows how old you are. Majority of the men here have been keeping tabs on you, waiting for you to come of age so that they might court you and one day have a share of your fathers fortune." He explained.
"And would I be wrong in assuming that your intent is the same as theirs?" I retorted a little snidely.
"Yes actually you would be very wrong. As you can see I have more than enough of my own fortune and refuse to marry for riches instead of love. If this dance were to end with my feelings towards you to be of complete discontent then I would give a polite good evening and pay you no mind in my search for a wife. I would have to admit that I admire your sass though. Not many women of this age ever have the nerve to give a retort the way you just did." He smirked and I blushed feeling completely embarrassed.
"Well Count Stephen I have to say I value your candor and that I agree completely. If I were to decide right now that I could not stand the ground you walked on then I could never be bothered to speak to you again, however, you have made quite an impression and it's taken you a step in the right direction with me. As far as first impressions go I must say, if you don't mind my being candid, that you seemed a little stiff at first but you've definitely changed my mind." I returned his smirk and he was quiet for a moment.
"Well Miss. Genevieve," he twirled me about the room "I dare say I've never met a young girl like you before. Would you mind terribly if I were to call on you in few days. I'd very much like to see u again. I hope I'm not being too forward." He looked slightly sheepish and I blushed a little.
"Does this mean that knowing my acquaintance this evening has not left you in utter discontent?" I jest.
"Of course not I just thought it was the polite thing to do seeing as any amount of time you spend with me is less time you'll have to spend with all these other old farts." He smirked.
"Well when you spin it that way...you can visit as often as you like." At that moment the music ceased, thus ending our dance. He took my and kissed it as he bowed to me.
"Until next time ." and he walked away. I went to return to my father but was immediately halted when a man, seemingly older than my father, asked for a dance. I sighed under my breath; this was indeed how the rest of my evening would be spent.
About an hour later I was finally able to escape the clutches of the old men in attendance by feigning fatigue. I went to take a seat across the room and it took less than a minute for some of the other young girls here to come and sit with me. A few of them pretty, but most of them quite plain.
"Oh Genevieve how lucky you are to have the attentions of the Count!" Exclaimed one of the plain girls I knew to be called Jane.
"I'm sure he is just as acquainted with any of you as he is me." I said.
"Are you daft? We've all been introduced but he hasn't danced with a single one of us except you and he's had his eyes on you ever since, haven't you noticed." Of course I did.
"No I haven't noticed at all." I replied innocently.
"Well if you ask me she doesn't deserve all the attention she's getting. I'm obviously more beautiful than she and far more graceful." Said Felicity with a haughty expression.
"I beg to differ dear Felicity you couldn't hold a candle to Genevieve's natural beauty, you wear too much make up. And your family isn't even a third as prestigeous as hers is." Came a voice from behind us. We all turned to look immediately to see who the intruder was.
"Lizzy?" I asked after a moment of staring, trying to figure out if I was seeing correctly.
"Oh Genevieve please don't say you've forgotten me." She feigned a look of hurt.
"Oh my, Elizabeth it is you! I can't believe it." I got up to hug her.
"You look amazing!" She exclaimed.
"So do you!"
"I haven't seen you since..."
"My mother died I know."
"I've missed you Genevieve."
"I've missed you too. You should come and visit me, you know you're welcome as often as you like." I told her.
"I've been wanting to all these years but after what happened you and your father were closed off completely from everyone else."
"Well starting right now that is over. I miss your companionship greatly."
The rest of the night passed with Elizabeth and I catching up with each other's lives. I noticed the Count watching me a few times throughout the night but he didn't approach me again.
An: I really am sorry it took so long guys...between school, applying to colleges, and preparing for graduation I've been kept pretty busy. But I really wanted to get this updated now because I'm taking the ACT tomorrow morning and I need all the rest I can get so wish me luck :-D thank you for reading and don't forget that sharing is caring so please let me know what you think of this chapter.