Midnight Bliss

Chapter 7

I had hidden the jacket well when I went back inside. There was no way I would be able to explain it, but maybe I could get it back to him? I inquired this to myself, but Eloise had come in quickly that morning and insisted we go for a stroll. We did and along the way we passed Sir Jacob Bea who was nursing a black eye and a broken arm. It was wrapped up and he seemed to be gaining sympathy from a group of women. When he caught my eye he looked away with red cheeks and I sneered at him. How badly I wanted to hit him.

As the day went on, we had received several invitations to tea, but finally the invitation we had been waiting on. It was plated with gold and had a swan crest on the front. The royal crest. We opened it and inside was an invitation to the ball tonight where the Queen of the Castle herself would be present to judge us and name the diamond of the season to the court. Mother was ecstatic when the letter came in and practically kissed the servant who fumbled away dazed.

Of course she had work to do. She busted out a blue dress, meant for special occasions. It fit tightly to the body and billowed out towards the bottom. It was strapped across the shoulder and along the skirt was glittering butterflies hand painted onto the dress. It slipped into the corset, then the hoop skirt, then the dress. It was a process and by the time I was laced up and fitted into the dress it was an hour until the party. Mother painted a gentle amount of silver powder along my lids, cheekbones, and collarbones. It was supposed to "highlight" the goods, but I saw it as a waste. I was pretty enough bare skinned. My hair was elaborately twisted up and braided and once done, tiny butterflies were clipped into the hair and a small beaded crown was placed on top of my head. I admired the hair, but thought the crown was too much. Mother insisted.

We made it to the party with just enough time for them to call our names and us to introduced. This time was different though. I sauntered forward and eyes were on me in awe. Many people stared with a shock they had not had before and as I approached the Queen, I admired her. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Priscilla Kingston was married to Harold Kingston, a much older King of the house. He spent a lot of time in his bed now a days, but welcomed the social seasons happily. She lived for social season and always wore her best. Today she wore the hugest golden dress I had ever seen. It was outlandish with her already golden ringlets, but who was I to judge?

I bowed to her deeply, "My Lady!"

"Nora Griffons. Such an honor to have you here tonight. I hope you have a blast." She winked at me as my father paid attention elsewhere and I wondered what she meant.

I proceeded into the hall with caution and knew it was coming when Jack Lavenpool slid up beside me.

"Nora!" He exclaimed happily.

I inhaled sharply, "Dear God! You scared me."

"I apologize, Lady. I wanted to know if you wanted to dance." He asked nervously.

"There is no music." I shrugged.

He clapped his hands and a violin began playing in the distance. I wondered how he did it, but I blinked and didn't ask any questions. He was playing this game the hard way. I took his hand and he held me close as he twirled me around the room. I frowned at his attempts at romance and as the song ended I was happy to be off the floor, but he followed swiftly and still taken aback from last night, I spun around and pointed my finger at him. He stopped, but as I turned, I found myself face to face with the man himself.

"Barrows." I greeted him.

Nathaniel stood there like a vision and grinned a white smile at me, "Nora! You look like a vision."

I snorted at the irony, "Thank you."

"Care for a dance?" He asked, extending his hand.

I became aware suddenly of the eyes on me and watched as Peter Barrows made his way around the room and shook hands with people, eyeing us every so often. Others were generally interested to see what we were doing. My heart pumped in my chest heavily and I took his hand slowly. That was not his approach. He spun me into his arms and then adjusted me to face him, putting a hand on my waist. I gasped and blushed, the heat traveling well down my chest. He held me close and his head was craned down to me.