Chapter two
I climbed down the staircase like an automatic machine. I could feel the gazes of practically every respectable person on me. I looked ahead fighting the urge to look down at the steps I was taking care not to step on my gown and lunge into a premature disgrace not that the disgrace was not imminent, it was, but I really do not want it to come so soon. Anna nudged me. “you are doing great, but your face looks like stone, try to smile or else every gentlemen here will run for cover” Annabelle whispered. How can I smile when I don’t feel like? Really the world was not looking really colourful from my point of view right now. Ok…I can do it, what’s so hard about smiling anyway? My lips twitched and I gave my best fake smile ever, why that wasn’t so hard. “You look very pale Livvie, like you have been forced to eat rotten eggs…now you look positively green! Smelling salts! Where are they?” Annabelle said alarmingly. “What! I am smiling” I retorted back at her. Annabelle sighed. Do as I do…now!” she whispered desperately. Immediately her face was transformed to that of rare beauty as she curved her lips in what I can call the most perfect smile. Frankly, I was dazz…almost dazzled. I looked towards the ballroom to see two undignified gentlemen with their mouth agape. I rolled my eyes. How on earth I’m I to copy that? Annabelle’s smile slowly faded away. I swear; I can almost hear sighing. “Your turn” Annabelle insisted. So it isn’t so hard. I gave her my best real smile ever. Annabelle was looking at me like I had grown another ear. “What is it? Is it my hair?” I asked self consciously. “No…it is you” Anna said dreamily. “Of course it certainly is me you are staring at Anna” I said exasperated. Good heavens! We just got to the landing of the staircase and I felt a bout of nervousness hit me. What’s that sound? Is that my knees knocking together? I squeaked. It was. I straightened my gown with the palm of my hand. I gulped. This is going to be harder than I thought. I am finding it quite difficult to draw in air right now. Relax…relax…those simpering dandies are not better than you. I gave myself a mental shake. “Livvie, this very good mannered gentleman is asking to write his name on your dancing card” Anna said through gritted teeth. I fumbled with my dancing card…the poor thing almost dropped. I could see Anna glaring at me. What man in is right man would want my card; my very name could ruin his reputation! What has happened to everybody? The sudden quiet in the room was stifling me…ugh! “Livvie” I felt Anna nudging me. I was feeling the surge of excitement from Anna and the ton. I wonder what has happened now. I looked around, nothing. Hmm. Suddenly, I saw a group of ladies crowding someone, la, who is it now? “That’s the catch of the season Livvie, every mother. Including mine is hoping to marry her daughter off to that man” Anna whispered into my ear. I saw the poor gentleman, I do feel sorry for him, what with all those young ladies crowding him and making him sick with their perfumes. He looked harassed and embarrassed at the same time. I just could not help it. I laughed; he made such a funny picture looking like that. But the ton was not wrong, he was handsome…understatement…very handsome…gorgeous and tall. Oh! I stamped my foot. I could not see him clearly. I caught myself in my impossible day dream...well, he can never be mine. So its better I do not hurt myself by even dreaming. I sighed. I sipped my glass of lemonade, how it got to be in my hand I cannot comprehend, I must have been day dreaming longer than I thought. “Olivia! He is coming this way, do get that stupid look of your face” Anna snapped. “What…who?” I asked dumbfounded. “Him” Anna said through gritted teeth pasting a smile and looking expectantly at the object she was referring to. Then I saw him…coming with Anna’s sour faced mother. They got to us not a moment too soon. “Anna, I will like to introduce you to viscount Greenleigh” Anna’s mother said stiffly. “Lord Greenleigh, my daughter, Lady Anna and her com…”, “…friend, Lady Olivia” Anna interrupted gently glaring at her mother. “Humph I heard the woman say under her breath. “Lady Anna, Lady Olivia, my pleasure” viscount Greenleigh mumbled in…well, the sweetest baritone ever! Who knew that a man’s voice could make you swoon? Though I can’t swoon here…not yet. Anna mother slithered away none too happy. “Lady Olivia, I suppose you are new to society, I haven’t seen you around anywhere” he said curiously. My heart skipped a bit, what will I tell him now? This is all Anna’s fault. “She was away in the country tending to her mother, she is ill” Anna answered for me before I could even pull my scrambled brains together. “Oh” lord Greenleigh said not quite believing. “I will like to have the pleasure of dancing with you? May I?” he stretched out his hand to my…dancing card? I looked at Anna and she looked at me smiling like a toad! I opened my mouth to say…what? To decline, I just don’t know. I fumbled with my card for the second time this evening and Anna impatiently snatched it from me and gave it to him. He scrawled his name on my card and handed it back to me. He held my gaze. “I will be looking forward to this dance and a pleasure to hear your voice my lady”. He bowed and strode off. He didn’t plan his escape well because a bevy of ladies soon blocked his path and made it impossible for him to pass. “Livvie, you just got asked to a dance by the season’s catch by just keeping mute like a mule!” Anna said amazed. She didn’t give me time to respond before she dragged me to the ladies waiting room. When we got inside. She squealed and practically danced. “I am so happy for you; this is the moment I have been dreaming of, you didn’t just interest any man but London’s most wealthy and sort after bachelor. How the mamas will like to have you for dinner” Anna continued triumphantly. “Anna, this is a bad idea, he will start asking questions about me and I will be covering your lie with another and another till I have weaved a whole web” I accused. “I know, but this is too good. If he asks you any questions, tell him little” Anna said. I can actually feel my cheeks flushing. I am going to be dancing with the world’s most handsome man. “The waltz will be starting in a few minutes, hurry up Livvie, we do not need you keeping your dance partner waiting” Anna stressed out. I hurried into the ball as gracefully as I could manage. I will be so happy if today goes well, I hope it does. I know I don’t have a chance with him but I will just pretend that I do. I feel so giddy. I waited at the sideline of the dance floor waiting and fidgeting.
“May I have this dance please?” lord Greenleigh asked smiling at me. I nodded and wondered where my voice had taken off to. He smiled and I really felt like smacking his face. I put my gloved hand into his very warm palms and he led me slowly to the dance floor.
