by Payton Hart
“Well then,” She said. “Now that that’s over there’s a crowd out there waiting for you to return.”
Luis and I laughed as we ran back on stage hand in hand. We bowed at the crowd who responded with hoots and hollers while they applauded.
After the show, Ashley and Joe met us in the dance studio for some refreshments. Ashley brought me a beautiful bouquet of roses to celebrate our performance.
“You guys looked great out there.” She said. “It definitely was a great performance. You two looked like you were meant to be together. It was amazing watching you two dance.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you guys came. I really appreciate the love and support,” I replied.
“Now you know I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You’re my best friend.” She assured me.
I caught the eye of Elliot who was standing behind Ashley in the distance. He was holding the bouquet of flowers he bought for me. Once he saw that he caught my attention, he walked towards me. I nudged Luis who placed his hand on my lower back to comfort me. Ashley grabbed Joe and they stepped to the side of me.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” Elliot asked.
I looked up at Luis who kissed me on my forehead and told Ashley and Joe to follow him. I watched as they all retreated back into the dance hall. Elliot eyed Luis. I could see signs of hatred written all over his face.
“What do you want Elliot?” I questioned.
“Can we go to a more private place to talk?” he asked.
I sighed but told him to follow me as we went back into the dance hall as well. As we walked inside I caught the eye of Luis who was obviously not liking the sight of us being alone. I took Elliot to the dressing rooms behind the stage and shut the door behind us.
“So he is the guy you left me for? Because I can see why, I just hope he’s worth it.” He stated. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
“So what is it Elliot?’ I pressed him. I didn’t want to be in this dressing room with him any longer than I had to be. I would much rather be somewhere celebrating with Luis and my friends.
“You looked amazing out there Jen. So beautiful.” He complimented. I thanked him and he continued. “Jen, I can’t take this anymore. I love you and I need you back in my life. I know what it feels like to live life without you and I don’t want to live like that. I need you back by my side and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you there.”
I watched as a tear rolled down his face. He sat the bouquet of flowers on the table in the dressing room and took a hold of my hands.
“Jenny, I’ll take my job more seriously so I can give you the attention you need. I’ll clean up after myself. I’ll make sure your dinner is hot when you come home late. I’ll try my best to cook you dinner, hell I’ll even run you a bath and massage your feet when you get out.” He continued and then kneeled down on one knee.
“Jen, I want to marry you because I have lived life without you and I don’t want to live like this anymore. I’m ready to make a commitment and promise to love you and only you. I’m willing to put my beliefs aside and give you what you have always wanted. Jenny, I want us to have a child together. To start a family. Anything it takes to make you happy. Just come back to me please.”
By this time tears were flooding down my cheeks. I knew what he said was true and that he meant every word of it. I could see it in his face. I watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful engagement ring. He looked up at me, eyes full of tears, as he held out the ring to me. I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to say yes, but Elliot and I were just two different people and as much as I loved him, he was not the person I was meant to be with.
“I’m sorry Elliot, but I can’t do it. I love you but we are too different people and we were never meant to be together in the first place. I got with you hoping I could change you, and after five years I still failed. The truth of the matter is, I never should have tried to change you anyway. You deserve a girl that will love you for who you are and who shares the same wishes and desires. That’s not me and I’m sorry. I can’t marry you Elliot.” I explained.
Elliot looked down at the ground for a moment and I breathed out a sigh of relief. I’m glad I finally got that off of my chest. Now I knew I could move on with Luis without thoughts of Elliot holding me back. Elliot placed the ring back into his pocket and slowly began to stand. He lifted his head to look at me and I almost screamed at the sight of his face. I had never seen Elliot so angry in my life. The man looked as if he wanted to kill me.
“You heartless bitch!” He exclaimed. “How dare you waste five years off my life?! I thought you loved me, but I was wrong and now you’re going to pay for this. I’m going to make you love me.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into him wrapping his arms around my body. I tried to fight back but he had my arms pinned. He picked me up and slammed me onto the nearby sofa. He then began to kiss me violently on the lips as he tried to rip off my clothes. He bit my neck and I screamed but he didn’t stop. He continued to kiss my face, my lips. All of a sudden the door to the dressing room swung open and hit the wall. Next thing I know Elliot is being thrown off of me and I’m being lifted off of the couch. Ashley grabs a hold of me and takes me out of the room as Luis stands facing Elliot.
“I should kill you.” Elliot hissed. “You took her from me.”
“I did no such thing.” Luis replied. “I just gave her what she deserved. She’s a beautiful woman and she deserves more than what you had to offer.” Elliot charged at Luis. Luis grabbed Elliot and slammed him on the ground. He placed his knee on Elliot’s throat and began to choke him.
“Now, I should kill you but I’m going to let you live. I’ll tell you one thing, though, if I ever catch you around my girl again. I will kill you.” Luis threatened him. He stood up and held Elliot by his shirt as he walked him out of the room. Elliot stared me down as he walked passed. I felt bad. I was the cause of Elliot going insane. Ashley took me to the bathroom to get me cleaned up. I’m sure I looked a mess. All the crying I did probably had my mascara running down my cheeks. I knew one thing, though, I would never have to hear from Elliot again.
Chapter 16
Today, Luis and I were getting married. It was six months after the altercation at showcase and I normally wouldn’t condone getting married so soon, but we had recently found that I was pregnant. Ashley helped me plan the wedding. We were having it in the backyard of Luis’ house and Ashley was running around making sure everything went perfectly. We had picked out the perfect wedding dress and I was super excited to finally be able to start a family with someone who I belonged with.
Nancy was doing my hair and make-up for the wedding. Although she didn’t show it, I could tell she was just as excited as I was that Luis and I were getting married. Besides, she had given me her approval many months ago. As terrified and nervous Nancy made me, I couldn’t help but consider her as like a mother figure to me. She has coached me to the amazing dancer I am today, and has always tried to lead me in the right direction. Even if she had her own way of doing so. She was the only woman who actually seemed like she cared enough for me to take me under her wing and I appreciate her for that.
“You look beautiful, Jen,” she told me as she spun me around so I could get a good look at myself in the mirror. The sight of myself made me emotional. She had done an outstanding job on my make-up and she was right; I looked amazing. She got some tissues and started dabbing at my tears. “Stop it now, I just did your make up. Don’t mess it up.”
I chuckled, the wedding would be starting any minute now and I knew if I didn’t finish getting dressed Ashley would have a cow. Nancy placed the veil on my head and then helped me put on my shoes.
“Jenny!” Nancy called as she was walking down the hall. “Are you ready? I need you in posi…” She stopped as she saw me standing in the doorway. She looked as if she was about to cry.
“Oh my god, Jen you look so beautiful!” She exclaimed as s
he wiped a tear from her face. She took a deep breath and the let it out. “Okay, let’s get you out there before I breakdown.”
I met my dad at the back door of Luis’ house and prepared for my grand entrance. He was excited for my marriage. He was glad that he was finally going to get the chance to give his daughter away. I had taken Luis to meet my dad a few months before the wedding and he had given Luis his blessing back then. His exact words were “it was about time my Jenny found someone that was worth her love”, and he has been calling him son-in-law ever since. After today, it would be official.
The wedding song began to play and my dad and I made our way down the aisle. I saw Luis standing there watching me as I walked down the aisle with my father. Every time I saw Luis I still got the same sensation that I felt the first time I met him. I saw how perfect his face was, how his dancing excited and amazed me; now to see how far we had come from that little rendezvous in the park, it was truly a sight to see. My dad handed me over to Luis who grabbed both of my hands and held them firmly.
“You look amazing, my love,” he complimented. “Absolutely stunning.” He gently rubbed his thumbs on the backside of my hands as we stared into each other’s eyes, repeating our vows. We closed the ceremony with the traditional kiss and headed back down the aisle hand and hand. This had to be the best moment of my life. I finally had the family I had always dreamed of.
THE END
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“SEDUCED BY A GENTLEMAN”
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CHAPTER ONE
"It is Lady Julia," he told me. "I’ve been seeing her for several years now. I wanted to tell you earlier, but just couldn’t. I am in love with her and she is pregnant."
Minutes before my world came crashing down, I was thinking that my wedding dress must have weighed a hundred pounds. It was a cold December afternoon and Lord William and I were ready to be married. I was sure that he was the one for me; he made me happy. Our families had arrived at our wedding ceremony at the small church in London. Whispers of how happy we would be were circulating around the room, but that was completely drowned out when I heard the words come out of his mouth that changed my life forever.
He told me right before we took our places. We were in a private room and I could not believe the news I was hearing. He had impregnated someone else while I was with him even though we had been together for years.
"I know it is bad timing, Annabelle," he said. "But she is having a child and I can’t leave her all alone. I do not think I can go through with this wedding. I would always wonder about my child; I would not be happy in this marriage. I just cannot go through with it, I’m very sorry."
I thought of his Lady Julia; I had heard of her and seen her a few times in passing. She had curly red hair that went past her shoulders and framed her porcelain face. Yes, she was a beautiful woman, but people whispered that she had been with husbands before. Nobody knew for sure if these scandalous rumors were true, but now I knew it was at least true for one man. Lady Julia was not at the ceremony, nor was she anywhere to be found. I wanted to see her, yell at her; yell at both her and Lord William.
I stood there for several minutes. I started to yell, but my eyes filled with tears and I started weeping, tears of devastation. We were at church on our wedding day and he was calling it off?
I looked at myself in the mirror. Mascara had started to run down my cheeks as I pushed back tears. My face had been painted a pale white color for the day. For my makeup, I had a natural peach glow and just a bit of blush to give myself color. I watched as eye makeup trickled down my cheek, ruining the perfect makeup that I had on my face.
My bridal gown was made of silver tissue and lace. It was carefully constructed and had many beautiful details that made me fall in love with it when I found it in a shop in Paris. When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect dress for my wedding day, something that would make me shine in the spotlight on the special day I got married. Silver shells and flowers were carefully embroidered at the bottom and the body and sleeves had lace imported from Brussels.
My soft brown hair was carefully constructed in a fancy style; curls in the back were laid on top of each other and formed a huge ball of delicate wavy curls. A few strands of curled hair fell against my face.
It was not common for people to get divorced, and it was especially not a good spot for women to be in. Thank goodness he did not call it off in public, I thought. But that did not keep us out of the public eye when the wedding was over. I heard news and gossip of us for weeks and did not want to go out for months afterwards. Everyone in town talked about the scandal and our broken relationship. When I did go out, it felt like people were whispering behind my back and talking about me.
Instead, I chose to stay in my home, resting in my bedroom where it was safe. I lay in bed, my wedding dress hanging up in the closet. I thought of how Lord William had left me and the news of us everywhere, spreading like a virus. There was no reason to live now. No one would ever love me.
I stood on the balcony outside of my room. The sky was dark on this breezy night. No stars were out, just the hint of gray clouds. I looked at my England town below. I leaned over the edge and felt the wind push against my face, blowing my hair out behind me. If I just slipped over the edge, I thought, nobody would even care. I put my foot over the edge of the balcony. I drew a breath in and looked down. I could feel my heart race. My other foot was still on the other side of the balcony.
All of a sudden, I heard a knock on the door. I quickly pulled my foot back on the balcony and went inside, closing the door behind me. I pushed the hair out of my face. "Come in," I said, trying to be joyful.
My father opened the door and stood before me. He had a stern look on his face. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked.
“Oh no, I am just getting ready for bed,” I said. I started to straighten my bed sheets and looked busy.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was okay,” he said. “I know it’s tough with everything going on. It was a hard day for all of us. It will pass in time. Life will go on”
“Oh yes, I know,” I said, trying to keep a smile. “It just wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”
I was so sure that he had been the one for me. My father, the Duke, was set on Lord William from the start. "He is a fine gentleman and he inherited a large property from his family,” he had told me. "He is a great match for you.”
My father had set us up. We met at Georgian Ranelagh Gardens, a place that became one our favorite places throughout the years. We would walk through the gardens together frequently. He was wearing a blue coat with a scarlet waistcoat when we were introduced. He had a top hat over his blonde hair. I had been attracted to Lord William the moment I met him.
He was quite an interesting man to date. We went out to many public events during the course of our relationship and everyone in town knew of us. We were popular in our circle of family and friends and a wedding was anticipated from the start.
One of his downfalls was that he had a bit of drinking problem. I watched him drink heavily several nights and the bit of anger that swept over him when he was drunk. This did not bother me too much though, as I was in love with him. He was a great match for me and we would have lived a comfortable life off of the money and property he acquired from his family.
The depression from the breakup lasted for months. It was like a dark cloud had swept over me and my life. I tried to move on doing the tasks I normally did. I went to the gardens, out to dinner, and out on the town more and more as the months went by.
***
It was at the beginning of summer when things started to look up again. I
saw the sunlight shine through my windows and felt a sense of relief on June 19th, 1811. My depression had started to fade and I felt a glimmer of hope go through me. The town was going through great changes, greater than the scandal that I had been a part of. As social and political events swept the area, I started to forget about my problems.
My family and I were invited to the ornate Carlton House for the celebration of the Prince of Wales' new position as the Regent of England. His father, King George III, had grown ill and the Prince was celebrating his new place of power.
I put on a simple but elegant pink ball gown for the evening that complemented my skin. The fabric shimmered a little in a way that reflected the light and made it glow. It revealed my collarbone and had white ruffles on the sleeve. I put on my long white gloves, and finally, I added a gorgeous white head piece that covered my hair in a sophisticated and elegant way.
I looked at myself in the vanity mirror in my bedroom. I put on Milk of Roses cream to my face and added a Rose Lip Salve lip balm to my lips which made them stand out against my skin. I could slightly taste its rose flavor in my mouth. I had a perfume settled on my vanity. I sprayed it across my neck and on my wrists letting its flower scent sink into my skin.