by Ella Edon
While Lady Esther hugged Anne, Lady Katherine twirled around, showing off her gown with pure delight. "Papa had this made from Paris!"
Anne giggled. Lady Katherine went on. "He says 'tis the same seamstress who has sewn the very dress of Catherine De Medici!"
"Ooh, Katherine," Lady Esther sighed, her voice low. "You love to make a mountain out of a molehill."
"Whatever!" Katherine huffed before she pulled Anne into an embrace. "Come my friend, we have a lot to talk about!"
"Ooh, please do make yourselves comfortable!" Anne gestured to the red fringed settee behind them.
"Shall I get you both —" she began.
Lady Esther shook her head. "Do not bother yourself with such, Anne. come sit."
"But you —"
"Another word, and we'll be on our merry way. Come sit, Anne, worry yourself not. We've come to see you, and nothing more. Come on." Katherine beckoned, smiling.
She sat between them, her cheeks hurting from smiling so much. Despite everything that went on in Anne’s life, the town gossip, the people sneering at her, her stepmother reminding her she was a mistake— her friends were always there for her. When Louise had chased all the staff away, so she didn’t have to pay them as there was no money, her friends were the only ones allowed to know the truth. No one else knew that they were as broke as a church rats and struggled to keep food on the table. Before his death, her father, Lord Willington, had gambled away all he owned, leaving his family begging for scraps and surviving on barely anything.
"Well, it shall please you lot to know that my engagement ball to Lord Henry Huntington, Duke of Richmond shall take place soon. He's just arrived from India." Katherine fanned herself, trying to hide the blush that crept across her face. "And we are to be wed."
The ladies screamed in delight, hugging one another and giggling. "Such lovely news, Katherine!"
"I was so excited the moment I heard." Lady Esther chuckled. She spoke softly, her voice tender. Her grey eyes often looked dilated when she was excited. "Meanwhile, Nicholas has asked my father's permission to court me. ‘Twas a surprise, but he arrived on my father's porch the other afternoon and spoke with him."
"Did your father accept?!" Anne inquired, her eyes wide with excitement.
Lady Esther's cheeks flamed red. "He did."
Another squeal reverberated through the house, and the ladies chuckled. As Anne listened to their tales, she couldn't help but remember the man, the one who had rescued her purse on Merchant's Street.
His eyes, his eyes pulled her, like the sea. His dark blue eyes — which reminded her of the sky at night, littered with stars — had been locked with hers for what seemed like eternity. He was tall, she remembered, with full cheeks that complemented his soft eyes. His small lips, and pointed nose were alluring, drawing her to him. She was unable to see his hair, for it had been covered by a fine black hat. His broad shoulders were visible beneath his coat, wide and firm, but not intimidating, instead sending a sense of security. When he walked, his gait was easy, not professing power and authority, but serenity, kindness. She saw it all in his mien. She had felt at peace. It was unfamiliar and surprisingly... calming. She had felt like she was drowning within his presence. It was why she made sure not to touch him when she collected her purse from him, for fear that she may never be able to leave his sight the moment she did.
"—looks like a witch, a French witch, I must say. She keeps her hair tangled so high, you'd think it were a mountain!" Lady Katherine laughed, her baby blue eyes shining with mischief. "And when she says Oui Oui, she squeezes her mouth like that of a mouse!"
"Katherine," Esther chided. "Do not say such things."
"You have to admit that I'm right." Katherine raised her nose in the air.
Anne knew they were talking about her stepmother again. While they spoke, all she could think about was the man who had stared at her like she was an angel, pulling her with him to the paradise of his eyes, engulfing her with a heat, a heat from a distance.
She would give anything to see him again.
Chapter Two
"Come on." Victor, her half-brother, held out his hand to her. She placed hers steadily in his and alighted the coach. He smiled at her warmly.
"Your hands are warm. Enough comfort," she tittered. Going to balls always made her nervous.
Victor rolled his eyes, smiling. "I wonder why you're so nervous. You look fine to me. And 'tis not your engagement ball, Anne."
She glared at him. "Right. I can't be nervous that I'm at a social gathering?"
Victor chuckled. He held on to her firmly as they headed inside. To Louise's dismay, Victor treated Anne like his sister. He defended her when his mother mistreated her, and cherished her just like her father had done. They weren't close, but they had respect for each other and cared for each other. Victor had taken the coach, despite his mother's protest and had gone to the ball with Anne. Anne knew she would suffer the consequences later on, but all she wanted was to enjoy the moment.
Somerset Castle was as always, embodied with beauty that spoke up through its lighting. The large house plastered with flagstones and secured with walls so high that the slabs stopped beside the house itself, designed in square curves so that one could stand at its top and look down.
Anne wouldn't have missed Katherine’s engagement ball miss for the world.
The way Katherine spoke of her betrothed, simply, indicating that she was not in love, yet, but she certainly did care for Henry and was attracted to him. Anne had never met him, and she was curious to see him with her good friend—to see them happy together.
Anne was dressed to the best of her ability in a yellow dress, with silky, plain material underneath a floral- patterned black lace. She wore a pair of short black gloves, which covered on both her arms. On her feet, she had donned a pair of gold sandals.
As they walked in, Augustus, Head Butler at Somerset Castle, bowed gracefully and announced their arrival. "Lord Victor Willington, Marquess of Bowmount and Miss Anne Balfour!"
She felt heads turn and eyes stare at them as they entered. Anne kept her back straight and walked on, her head held high. Being an illegitimate child attracted so much attention.
With Victor walking closely behind her, Anne approached Esther, who stood at the far end of the room. Anne’s friend was flanked by two chattering women. While Esther was dutifully nodding, she was silent. .
Esther grinned on spotting Anne, excusing herself, to greet Anne. The two friends met halfway through the room.
"Anne!" Esther cried in relief.
"Esther, you look sheen." Anne kissed her cheek while staring at her sea blue gown.
"'Tis the colour of his eyes..." Esther blushed.
"'Tis a sweet thing, love." Anne grinned.
Esther looked behind her, to where Victor stood. She curtsied gracefully, one arm held out. "Lord Willington."
Victor took her hand and bowed in return, a smile on his face. "Lady Esther, lovely to see you. You look well.”
Esther cast her lashes down, smiling. "As do you, M'lord."
Anne glanced behind Esther, to greet the two ladies she'd been talking to. It was the mistake of her life.
"It's her!” The one woman was saying. Her red hair was piled intricately on top of her head. “The Dowager Marquise of Bowmount is her stepmother, not her mother."
"Ooh, the illegitimate."
The blonde hid behind her fan, but spoke loud enough for Anne to hear everything. "Her father died in debt. He owes my father."
"Let’s walk to the other end, shall we?" Anne asked as she pulled Esther along. They didn’t get far before they were stopped.
"Lady Esther." A tall man waved at them. Anne remembered him as the Viscount Melbourne. She wondered how he'd come all the way here. Both she and Esther curtsied. It was then he took notice of her. He grinned and bowed to her as well. "Miss Balfour" he looked behind them again and bowed. "Lord Willington."
She heard Victor return the greeting.
"Viscount Melbourne. 'Tis a long journey from home. I’m glad to see you."
"Oh, I voyaged for quite some time in the past. Going on to far places for special balls isn't a bother."
Victor offered a lopsided smile and nodded once. "I suppose."
Anne and Esther left the men chattering away so they could mingle among the rest of the guests.
They walked past people, said proper hellos, curtsied, and giggled politely at intervals.
"Their father owes me a large ton," a man grumbled as they walked past him. There was a woman, walking beside him, her hand in the crook of his arm.
"The Marquess has a daughter?!" her feminine shriek responded. Anne, from her peripheral vision, saw a chubby lady, perhaps in her mid-forties, gasp when she saw her.
Anne felt her throat close up. They had no decency to speak of even when she was in earshot. They made sure she heard what they said before moving on. She felt her chest tighten at their words.
"Do not pay heed to gossip, Anne," Victor murmured. She looked up, surprised that he was beside her. She thought he'd been having a good talk with the Viscount. She sighed as she watched him nod once before leaving her side. Probably to join the Viscount, who now had another company, again? She watched as the two men smiled at Victor before chattering away. She wanted that kind of acceptance from society. From the ton especially. She wondered if she would ever get it.
Esther stood beside her, sympathetic to Anne’s plight. Suddenly, she grinned as though she had thought of something. Before she could speak, Anne swiped a glass of wine from the butler as he walked by. Esther shook her head. "Isn't it too early to have a drink? The party is barely started."
"I'm thirsty." She sipped a little and returned it to another passing butler. She still heard echoes of the people's words. People of the ton often affected her. And often times, it was they who spoke mostly about her. There was ringing in her ears.
"I was hoping you'd want to meet Nicholas,” Esther said mournfully. “I’ll be waltzing with him soon. You may meet before the waltz starts."
"Too late," a voice interrupted. "The engaged are to step in, now. After their announcement, the waltz would take place. I suppose you do not have a partner, Miss Balfour?"
Anne turned to her right, her eyes landing on a tall, lean man before her, his long black hair swept back behind his ears, so that the tip barely grazed his neck. His green eyes were sharp and glinted with mischief. He offered her a charming smile, his hands outstretched. She recognized him immediately. Both she and Esther raised the skirts of their gowns, inclined their heads forward and curtsied.
"Your Grace," they greeted.
Richard Edgar, Fourth Duke of Norfolk, bowed to them, his smile never fading. Anne had seen him at various occasions, with different women. She heard those who danced with him ended up being his conquest for the days to follow, and then having their reputations ruined. She heard he was a dangerous man, a deceiver of women who had no respect for human values. He would not think twice to ruin anyone. Rumor also had it that he was a ruthless business man, as well as a warrior. The tales she had heard about him were numerous, and true or not, they all implied the same thing. He was dangerous.
"Oh, please, please, do call me Richard." He grinned, stepping forward. Anne was taken aback by his approach. She had seen him at several of the few balls she’d attended, and never had he approached her. She restrained herself from looking down at her dress. Was it what attracted the Duke?
Anne was nothing like the women Richard usually preferred. He liked them red- headed, with nasty lips, bold and not afraid to come at him. He liked them flirty. His eyes had been on Lady Mckenna, but Anne's name had been on everyone's lips. With her father's debt and her stepmother's ill treatment, he was sure she would be more then eager to run to his bed. Deciding that the chase with Lady Mckenna would be quite difficult, he opted to go for the more vulnerable lady.
He nodded to Esther. "Surely you have a dance partner, do you not, Lady Esther?"
She nodded meekly. "I do, your Grace."
"Grace him with your presence," he retorted icily.
Esther nodded reluctantly, curtsied and walked away, slowly, for she kept turning back at intervals. Anne wished it were Katherine whom she had been standing with. Katherine would have been able to find suitable words to have the duke on the run.
The sound of a fork, clinking softly against a glass of wine, rang through the room, attracting everyone’s attention. Anne turned to look at the sound’s source. Standing at the far end, gathered by ladies and gentlemen of the ton, the Duke of Somerset, Katherine's father, held up a glass of wine, clinking his fork against it.
When all attention was on him, he spoke. "We've gathered here today for the most important news of the century. Today, two families come together to celebrate. My daughter, Lady Katherine, is engaged to Lord Henry Huntington, Duke of Richmond!"
A round of applause exploded throughout the room. Anne clapped, grinning. She spotted Katherine, dressed in a lovely, pale pink gown, endowed with patterns of a crown. She stepped forward, hand in hand with a tall man, who had broad shoulders, honey blonde hair that was neatly trimmed and combed to the back. Anne froze as he turned slowly.
"Lady Katherine and Lord Henry shall waltz, to celebrate this union, before we join in their joy!"
Anne barely heard anything else, her expression went blank, when Henry turned to face the crowd. Standing tall, beside her best friend, was the kind sir whose face never left her thoughts, whose gesture always graced her dreams, and whose eyes stilled her the moment they connected with hers across that very room.
* * *
The Dukemoved against her, his hand on her waist, the other gripping her arm. Their legs moved in rhythm— back, forth, side, twirl. She couldn't believe she had agreed to dance with him. However, considering the fact that all eyes were on her, she couldn't bear giving them another reason to talk about her, so she accepted his invitation to waltz. He had influence in the ton, after all. Refusing to simply dance with him would be biting off more than she could chew. She already had enemies merely for being born. She couldn't afford to have more, merely for refusing to dance.
"I've seen you attend very few occasions, most of them here at Somerset Castle and at Kendal House," he pointed out.
Anne sucked in a breath. She knew what he meant. He was trying to throw her illegitimacy at her. He knew her only friends were Katherine and Esther. It was the reason she graced only Somerset Castle —home to Katherine — and Kendal House, Home to the Earl of Kendal, Esther's father. She smiled politely. "I attend very few."
"You are invited to very few, my dear." He smirked. "But not to worry, 'tis to change soon."
"What—" she began, but he twirled her before she could ask what he meant. She found herself staring at Lord Huntington — the kind sir. He twirled Katherine, but his eyes were on Anne. She felt a chill when he pulled Katherine close, and his eyes remained on hers. She couldn’t decipher his look. Then, Richard pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her torso as they moved to the right. She finally stopped staring at Henry when Richard twirled her again, then they all bowed as the music came to an end.
A round of applause resonated through the room. Anne found herself still standing beside the Duke. She wanted to excuse herself, so she could go find Esther. She felt like she was going mad, staring at her friend's husband-to-be like she was.
"Anne!" Katherine called, gripping her forearm. Taken by surprise, Anne flinched, accidentally bumping into Richard, who caught her swiftly, gripping her waist. She froze in place, her heart beating quickly. She looked up at the Duke, only to see him smiling at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes that she didn’t like or trust.
Someone cleared their throat behind them. Anne pushed herself away from the Duke and turned to her friend. Katherine stood there, one brow raised, glancing back and forth. Anne knew she wanted to know what was going on. She simply shook her head, hoping Katherine would understand. Katherine seemed
to, for she nodded once and stepped back. Anne felt her breath seize as Katherine moved to stand beside Lord Huntington. He was close once again, and this time, they weren't alone.
"He's been introduced to Esther. And I thought, you'd also be introduced to him," Katherine spoke gleefully, her hands on his arm. "Henry, my dearest friend, Miss Anne Balfour. Anne, Lord Henry Huntington."
Anne curtsied, inclining her head forward. Henry bowed slightly, his eyes never leaving her. Anne felt her throat close up. Once again, they were close to each other, close enough to touch, yet they were worlds apart. She didn't understand why she felt so strange, a chill ran down her spine and a flutter in her stomach.
"Miss Balfour," he said softly, his gaze intense. Anne looked away for fear that Katherine might feel the heat as well.