Origin

Chapter 5: Waltz

"BLOODY WANKER !!!"

A curse escaped her lips, louder in her head than in person, where it was barely audible. When she realized what she would do, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. She scanned her surroundings to see if anyone had caught her in the act but sighed with relief when she discovered herself alone. By sulking, gritting her teeth, and feeling humiliated, she found her way back to The Ballroom. Anger brought the best out of her as she made up her mind to pull out some strings and take her revenge.

The Ball was arranged by The Earl of Eithanburg, Lord Giordano Bennett for his daughter Miss Lindsay Bennett, who had recently turned eighteen, and for his niece Miss Elizebath Ackford who recently turned nineteen this year.

She spent hours buying a perfect gown for The Ball, and her excitement was over the moon when she found out that Lord Leoandro Hughes accepted the invitation.

Moreover, she was thrilled when she caught sight of a familiar carriage on the patio from the balcony of the second floor.

She ran down while descending the stairs as a puppy for its master to attend without caring about her lady maid who was screaming from behind to behave. But all she welcomed by his distant behaviour.

By collecting all her emotions she finally entered the luxurious Ballroom with beautiful medieval architecture. The three-tire Chandelier illuminated with yellow candlelight made the appearance of the room more lavish.

Then her sight caught him, standing there beside her cousin Lindsay and Lord Bennett, chatting and laughing as if they were quite old acquaintances. Her eyes twitched as her stomach twisted with an unknown feeling.

The Ballroom was packed with all the nobility from Eithanburg. Elizabeth secured her place on the right side of His Lordship as he addressed the guests with a welcome speech and showed his gratitude to everyone present in the room. He stretched out his hand, a request for a waltz which his wife accepted happily.

The couple commenced the first dance as the host and hostess of The Ball. After one round the other young couple joined in. Leo was the first one whose request Lindsay accepted. Both of them waltz around the spacious Ballroom quite rhythmically and the scenario was romantic and eye-catching.

But all this could not stop Leo from stealing some glances at the fuming beauty around the corner. Beth thrived as an elegant and beautiful young woman. He would lie to himself if he said he didn't feel anything when he first saw her on the patio.

His heart raced up as it thumped furiously against his ribcage. However, he pulled the reins of his emotions, he attended The Ball for a reason and this reason had to be fulfilled. After his father's death, his family business was falling apart and The Earl of Eithenburg was quite a wealthy man.

And similar to others, he knocked down on his door as a fortune seeker for his daughter Lindsay. The weight of responsibility was heavier than his heart and he didn't risk failing them. Therefore, being cold toward Beth and drawing a clear line was the remaining option.

However, the second explanation for his behaviour, he didn't dare to give them words.

In The Ballroom, Beth was dressed in a pink-coloured ballgown and it looked wonderful against her pale skin. A pearl necklace was fastened around her neck and her Auburn hair was tied in a bun while some curls were loosely hanging around her ears and jawline, kissing her cheeks, mocking and burning him with jealousy.

Her soft but prominent features made her more gorgeous than any lady present in the room. But her elegantly wild personality was the first thing he was attracted to. It reminded him of their first meeting in his room.

Soon she joined the dance when The Duke of Huntley requested her. Leo's body stiffened at the sight but he composed himself. The woman in his arms was a chatterbox but hardly paid any attention to her words.

Shortly, the third or the last round began and the partners got switched. And fortunately this time both of them were standing in front of each other. They exchange greetings by bowing down to one another out of courtesy and initiate their dance.

Leo felt a jolt of spark travel throughout his body, in an instant when he held her hand. His sanity was solely focused on her, they were dancing rhythmically over the soft piano music.

On the other hand, Beth shivered a little when he placed his hand on her waist, she felt the warmth of his hand spreading and growing in her body. She was melting under his touch, however, she didn't want to reveal herself as vulnerable thus she decided to avoid his gaze.

More than fifteen pairs were dancing, yet Leo felt as if they were only one present at the moment and everything around them was magically beautiful. He couldn't tear his sight from her while her eyes remained on the ground for the whole time.

Suddenly, she changed her motion and lifted her eyes to look dead into her opponent's soul. Their gaze met and an awkward silence engulfed them, meanwhile, their feet never stopped at the music.

" My Lord, may I trouble you to fetch me some answers?"

Finally, she broke the icy silence between them and took the initiative to converse. Her Emerald green eyes were piercing through his heart.

"Yes, please!"

He permitted her, however, he knew what was about to come, therefore he prepared himself to give her some account of the truth which she deserved.

" My Lord! I left Eithanburg at the age of ten and I'm turning nineteen this year, in these nine years I wrote you 320 letters, and never a single letter was answered...can you please honour me to explain WHY?"

She accused him and let out her scepticism. She hissed her last word while maintaining a stoic face. The rim around her eyes was already red as if she was holding back her busted heart.

" My dear, Miss Ackford...I would love to give my explanation...but I think your question is pointed toward the wrong person. In my opinion, Lady Ackford is the best person to cure your curiosity. And let me suggest to you it would be best if the daughter and mother shared a lovely chat over the tea..."

He exclaimed softly, as he took a turn in the dance and spun her vigorously but held her at the right moment. He wore a knowing smirk all the time with cold eyes and it made Elizabeth more anxious. He tightened his grip on her waist and drew her closer, enough to share their breathing.

" If I remember Miss Ackford, I confess my darkest secret to a friend and in that moment, she promised me, she would sit with me in the dark until I found my light. But still, she was not there when I needed her the most, I was alone in the dark.
SHE BROKE HER PROMISE. "

He added further as he leaned in and whispered the last words into her ear while gritting his teeth, in pure anger. His breath was fanning over her neck, her whole body trembled at his action and it didn't go unnoticed by Leo.

Their proximity could attract attention and make it scandalous but he was a gentleman enough to push her back again at the previous position.

As soon as the music stopped, he dropped his hand from her waist while turning his tail, he fled from the scene. He didn't dare to look back and witness her tears. He already squabbled a lot with himself in articulating the truth and now he was incapable of carrying the weight of guilt.

Meanwhile, Beth was standing alone in the middle of The Ballroom. She was in bewilderment by his words and lost in the thought of what truth her mother would possibly hide from her.

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