The Lady of the ton

The decisions

Chapter 1; The Decisions
Adaline Corteer
I stand next to my father quietly crying while my dearest brother is laid to rest. If father would have looked down at me, I know he would scowl. Father is always telling me that it is not lady like for a young woman of the ton to cry. Since Joffree’s death, father has been stricter toward me. Joffree was fathers only son, and I his only daughter. I try to think of the times, before mothers’ death, when mother would tell Joffree, and I stories on how father and she met. She would tell us how wonderful her first ball had been, she always said she knew father was the one when their eyes locked on to each other. One night while she was telling us the story father walked in and listened. I can’t recall any other time he has smiled like the way he smiled at her. I remember it being a love that I wished to have when I grew older, unfortunately I know now more than ever I must marry for the sake of keeping my father’s legacy alive instead of love.
Its April, the start of the season. Father has reminded me multiple times that I must find a wealthy husband to take his place as head of the household. I stand in my room after taking an herb infused bath while my ladies maids work on getting me ready to be presented to the king and queen. I remember my mother would tell me how nervous she was while she brushed my hair before I went to sleep. Sarah and Malina work on curling my hair and dressing me in a baby blue dress with lace that lines the sleeves and hem of the skirt. This dress is the same one my mother once wore, and I fell in love with the baby blue color. Father attempted to burn it once, but Joffree stopped him, telling father that I would wear it one day. The past two weeks since Joffree’s death have gone by fast. I wish more than anything that my elder brother could be the one to present me to the royal family today. I’m pulled from my thoughts as Sarah, an older ladies’ maid that once served my mother, pulled me into a hug. I tense at the contact knowing that if father were to walk in Sarah would be dismissed from serving me. I relax and give her arm a small squeeze giving her the message to release me before she is caught. She sighs, wipes the tears that have strayed from her eyes and apologizes to me for her moment of weakness.
“Adaline, seeing you in this dress, you remind me so much of your mother.” She tells me in a quiet whisper and a sad smile.
I smile back and get lost in my thoughts about my mother. I was four when she passed and every day up until his own death Joffree would tell me how much I looked like her. I asked him once how she died, and he gave me a soft sad look and stated that the doctor had said her heart was diseased. Everyday since I have wished she was here so she could see me on this day. Once I had asked father about what she was like, Joffree was at school while I studied at home. Father had looked at me angerly and told me that I shouldn’t ask for I was the one who killed her. When Joffree returned home that evening I asked him what father had meant and cried while my brother held me. Joffree had been my rock since that evening. Someone I could go to since I had no one, now I suppose I really don’t have anyone. Pulling myself from my thoughts I stepped towards the window and peered out. I watched the outside world chatter with each other and smile. I know of the rumors that surround my name and think that the people outside have no clue what it means to be Adaline Corter. The people outside could not survive a day in my shoes after all that I have been through. I am Adaline Corter, the last remaining heir to the Corter family legacy.


Bodin Carmichael
I sit as I read the newspaper in the family drawing room. Emily my younger sister is playing the piano as I read silently. The song she plays is sad and it makes me wonder why she picked it to play. I have been home from Prussia for two days now and since she has had a dreary look on her face. As I sit and think about what is going on in Emily’s Head she stops playing.
“Brother?” She says so quietly I barley hear her
‘Yes Emily?’ I replied to her.
‘Before you came home Joffree Corter died.’ She says while she looks up to catch my eye.
‘Lord Corter refuses to let me in to see Adaline. He says that Adi is a lady of the ton now and has no time for childish games or people.’ She sobs as she speaks of her friend with worry.
The Mention of Adaline brings memories of when we were children. Her brother and I were always climbing trees and laughing while Adaline pouted up at us with her full lips. To think that the sweet innocent girl from back then is now participating in this season of debutantes gives me an idea. Since my arrival home, my elder brother has been badgering me about settling down. For the last couple days, I was against it since the one girl I wanted to settle with was not supposed to participate in the season until next year, however due to the situation of her brother passing it so seems that she is going to be participating early.
“My dear sister, could you please go and fetch Derek? I wish to speak with him.” I ask my sister who looks at me with a look of confusion. I give her a small smile and nod at her. She turns and skips out of the room to get our older brother. While I wait, I stride to the window and peer out and up to the Corter manor. I can see Adaline up gazing out her window and start to wonder what is on her mind. As I gaze up at her I hear my brother clear his throat.
“Bodin This better be important. I was working on the monthly billings when Emily came in.” HE says to he with a look that could kill. I smirk at him.
“Brother you have been pressuring me since I arrived home to seek out a bride ant settle down. I would have thought that you would want to know if I have decided to do as you wish.” I could tell by the shocked look on my elder brothers face that he did not expect me to say this. He takes a seat as my reply finally registered in his head.
“Bodin what has changed your mind? A day ago, you were strongly against marriage.”
“Derek, Em told me about Joffree. It would not be right to allow Adaline to go into the season and let her marry someone who doesn’t see her for what she is.” I tell my brother at I continue to look at her through the window. I hear my brother stand back up and walk towards me. HE put his hand on my shoulder and I turned to look at him.
“Get ready for tonight’s ball brother” Derek says to me “You have a childhood crush to woo.” And with that he turns and walks out of the room to get ready for the evening.
I take one last look out the window and up towards hers. She has already disappeared, but I can’t help but think that tonight starts a long season of getting Adaline Corter to be mine by the end of it.