Disclaimer: I own nothing except this current gender bender for Frances and any alterations to the original storyline plot this creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
A Woman's Game Chapter 6
Francis could hear the music from the orchestra playing for the Ball before she even stepped inside the room.
All around the room people were laughing, dancing, eating, drinking, and all in all having a marvelous evening in their finest dresses and suits.
High above everyone in the room hung a banner that said 1912: National Amateur Championship .
As Francis meandered among them she couldn't help, but feel a little out of place among these people. Still, Francis plastered a smile on her face and told herself over and over again that she belonged here.
That's because she did.
That didn't stop the anxiety that rose a tiny bit when Francis noticed some of the looks a couple of people were sending her way. Though they whispered behind their hands she could hear part of the conversations they made no effort to keep quiet. Asking each other all types of questions like who she was, what family she was from, and who she was escorted here to the Ball with.
It's enough to make Francis's teeth grit and her head spin.
A gleam of light caught her eye. Francis saw it was from a bookshelf that held trophies for winners of past competitions that belonged to this Club.
All of those awards and memorable winners are in fact a hell of a lot to live up to.
Francis would take it all in her stride.
The nerves that Francis had plaguing her were quickly displaced when she got a decent glimpse at the spread laid out on the large buffet table for the guests and players attending this fine night.
Francis then got a whiff of the refreshments.
"Food," she said, following her nose.
Being from a working family Francis knew the value of good food.
There were all types of assortments like fruits, cakes, wines, brandies champagne, shellfish like lobster, clams, oysters, and small samplings of meat dishes across the tables.
Francis didn't know what to put on her plate first.
After casting a glance left and right Francis began to delicately sample a couple of the dishes one at a time. The sausage in particular tasted fantastic to her. It was so good that Francis even gathered the courage to taste the dishes she did not know. As she nibbled on the delicious food Francis wondered if some of the staff would allow her to smuggle some home later on. Francis knew her siblings would just love to try some of this stuff and she didn't know when food like this would be presented before her again. It's too good of an opportunity to waste without taking any advantage of it right now.
Francis was about to take several pieces of sausage on a small plate when she grew aware of someone standing next to her.
A young man was dressed there who bowed when Francis finally looked at him. He asked her to dance and slightly flustered she accepted the invitation. This went on for a little with men of all ages asking her to dance. One of her numerous partners was even Mr. Hastings. Upon the fifth one, she finally got a chance to head back to the refreshments. She was so hungry now but kept her manners and composure as she picked up some of that sausage she had her eyes on once more.
Francis was barely into the first piece when her friend Sarah Wallis came over.
Swallowing her current mouthful, smiling, Francis said "Hello, Sarah."
"Hi," said Sarah, fiddling with her gloves. "Do me a favor, would you?"
"Sure, what do you need," said Francis, putting down her plate.
"This boy I used to see before I left for college is after me. Can you say something to him along the lines of us being old friends and catching up," said Sarah, keeping a lookout for said man.
"There you are, you little peach," said the man in question, holding a drink in his hand, sly and smooth. "You know, you can't avoid me all evening."
"I…I said a dance, Philip. Not this one," said Sarah, the forceful smile strained on her face. "Anyway, I'm not in the mood for dancing. I'm in the middle of catching up with an old acquaintance."
"Miss Francis Ouitmet," said Francis. "Do I know your family?"
"I don't know. Philip Wainwright," said Philip, brow raised.
"Wainwright? Oh, yes, Wainwrights. Good people," said Francis. "Well, the evening's young. She'll catch up to you. It was nice to meet you and all, but Sarah and I do have to go."
Francis and Sarah linked arms in the sink and took a turn around the edges of the room. As soon as they got a safe distance away they had to smother the giggles that threatened to burst from them.
All in all, it was a very pleasant evening. Sarah and Francis spent the remainder of it catching up with each other. Their friendship isn't that well known. They had met as children and formed a friendship with each other that their fathers didn't approve of since they were from entirely different classes. It stuck with them as they got older. Not even their parents could change that.
Francis even passed a message along to one of the waiters that she'd like to take some of the food home with her. He gave his word that he'd have a wrapped package waiting when it was time for her to go.
The mood was a good one.
Too bad Embry Wallis had to ruin it for her.
Francis almost to the doors with a package a waiter had subtly passed along under her arm when he approached her.
Smiling at him in good spirits, Francis said "Hello, Mr. Wallis. A fine night?"
"Yes, indeed," said Embry Wallis, crossing his arms behind him.
"Is there something wrong? Forgive me if I sound a tad insolent, but I really do need to get home," said Francis.
"This won't take long. I have something I want to say to you," said Embry Wallis.
Head tilted, Francis said "Yes."
Frowning, incredibly blunt, Embry Wallis said "Young lady, you may have been invited, but don't get the idea that you belong here."
The man then walked away as if he hadn't really spoken anything to her.
But he did and Francis isn't the only one to have heard him. His daughter did too and the expression on her face was full of sympathy and shame.
He just had to say it. Embry Wallis just had to remind Francis of her 'proper place'. That she'll never be good enough. Nearly all of the fun and joy she had gained from that evening with a snap just like that.
Francis left and didn't look back.
For a long time after she got home Francis laid in bed reading the book Mr. Campbell gave her, reading all she could.
Francis would show them all just how wrong they are.
Author's Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.