1856
Bristol, England.
I face plant once again from failing at walking with heels. Hugo just laughs at me.
"Oy! Maybe I would be a better girl. No one is going to think you are actually invited if you walk like poor folk." He says with a laugh.
"You think I'm not trying." I say with a shake of my head. I look at my appearance in the mirror. My face is covered in powder and makeup to hide sunburn and the fact that I'm tan. The gown I'm wearing is a Dark green one with crazy corsets and hoops to make my skirt poof out. My black hair is in a pile of curls atop my head. And don't forget the stupid heels.
"Look at my sister. I remember before mum and papa died you would pretend to be in pretty ball gowns. Look at you now." Hugo says smiling at me.
"Bloody hell! I wanted to wear these?" I say looking at one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever worn. Hugo smiles.
"Remember your name is Elizabeth Hart. And your going with Henry Hart, Your husband. Your twenty three if anyone asks not seventeen. And your there to steel. Got everything?" He ask talking fast.
"Can I really pull off twenty three?" I say. He nods as 'Henry' walks in.
"Are you ready Da- I mean Elizabeth?" Dan says. It's weird seeing him dressed so nice.
We start walking out laughing as my brother calls out,
"Remember Damian, Men don't treat women like we treat you." He says. Translation don't go point things out in men's faces. Don't argue. Be pleasant.
It's halfway through the ball and my pouch in my dress is growing heavy filled with pickpocketed things like watches, jewelry, handkerchiefs, letter openers and all sorts of trinkets. Finally I get a moment to talk with Dan.
"Hey," I say standing next to him.
"I don't know how you manage to dance in that," he says wrinkling his nose.
"Try me." I say with a soft laugh.
"I will." He says and takes my hand. Then all of a sudden were dancing and nothing else seems to exist. As the song ends I stumble on my heel.
"I had such high hopes. You failed the test." He says grinning. Then there's only a few inches apart from our faces. Then all of a sudden there's someone else.
"Mind if I barrow the lady?" A man says behind me.
"Oh sure," Dan says awkwardly. I turn to see a late middle age man. I simply nod because I don't have another choice. We dance but it's not something I enjoyed doing.
"Come with me," he says getting closer than I want.
"I should get back to Henry." I say trying to turn around but he grabs my wrist.
"Your coming with me." He says in a low growl. Then he starts dragging me. Panic surges through me. I don't think. I bring my elbow up to his noes and earn a satisfying crack and trickle of blood. He yells and punches me hard in the stomach. The impact makes me fall to the ground and puke.
"You'll pay for that you slut !" He says yanking my hair.
"You don't treat a lady like that!" Dan says knocking him down. In the process a necklace falls out from his pocket.
"That's my necklace! Theft!" A woman calls out. I close my eyes and concentrate until a tugging sensation filled my gut. Then the back wall of the building exploded.
"Dan we're going! Now!" I say grabbing his hand and running into the flames. We don't stop running until we're on the roof of a library miles away from the building.
