The Lady of the ton

The Wooing Begins

Chapter three: the wooing begins

Adaline

Three days have passed since the first ball of the season. My home has had more visitors than it ever has. Father has not approved of any of the gentleman that have called on me. I am at the modiste with Sarah and the whispers going around are scarce but noticeable. I feel the eyes of everyone in the room on me and I can only blame my father's outburst at the ball for this. Tension builds as I am fitted for new dresses had it not been for Emily Carmichael walking in with her usual perky self I would have been suffocated. Emily smiles as she strides towards me, her smile causing me to smile back at her. She has always had an addictive smile. Had it not been for Emily introducing me to her family I would have never had a friend. We were supposed to participate in next season together however since Joffree's death Father suggested I Participate early. I take Emily's hands and ask the modiste if she if finished. She nods at me, and I step off the podium. Hand in hand with Emily, I lead her to a nearby table and sit.

"Emily, it feels like it has been forever since we have seen each other." I say to my dearest friend. She gives me a faint sad smile and lowers her head.

"Your father refused to let me see you after your brothers passing." She spoke causing me to sigh sadly.

"Father has kept me under watchful eyes. It was hard to get him to let Sarah bring me here today, but I needed new dresses. How are your brothers? I know they were close to Joffree." I asked her. She raises her head and searches my eyes, I wonder if Bodin told her of the events at the ball.

"Derek has practically locked himself in his office, working up until late night. Bodin Returned from Prussia with no knowledge of your brother's passing. I told him the day of the ball. When Derek returned home without Bodin that night I wondered what would happen0. I stayed up late waiting for Bodin to return and when he did the look on his face is not one, I wish to ever see on my brother. Adaline, he will not tell me what happened but the look on my brother's face was one to kill. Adi, he went to the ball for you, and he came home beyond angry. Do you by chance know why he would be angry?" She says to me while pulling her arms away. I look into her eyes and see that she thinks I may have done something to cause Bodin Carmichael to be angry. I have seen him angry before, but Emily never has. Bodin angry is asking for a death sentence.

"Em, Bodin and I danced for an hour before my father appeared. I am sure you have heard what happened, things do not stay quiet for long when it comes to the gossip ladies of the ton.' I tell her and cast my eyes down with a look of embarrassment. It is times like that night that I wish mother or even Joffree was still here instead of father. "When I returned home that evening I wrote to my grandmother and snuck the letter into the post." Emily gives me a sidewards glance.

"Grandmother Agatha Will be on the first train home when she reads your letter Adaline. What do you suppose your father will do when she shows up?" Emily, who has the right idea to be concerned, asks me. I shrug at her question, the only thing in my mind that anyone would be better to escort me to season events than my father.

"Father will not say anything. Grandmother Agatha is the only person father is afraid of. She. If she comes, Will be the one to escort me to the next season event. I would prefer her over father any day." I say to my friend who peers up at me with wide eyes. I can see the fear she has for me when it comes to the plans my father has. He, unlike Joffree, has never liked the Carmichael family.

I sit and talk with Emily for an hour or so when Bodin comes walking up to us. He smiles as he sits. "Emily are you ready to retire?" he asks her with affection for his sister. Looking at them makes me a little jealous of my friend, she unlike myself still has her brothers. Mine left me behind.

Bodin

I couldn't help but notice the distant look on Adaline's face when Emily and I Left. Anyone who looks at her can tell she misses her brother. I sit in the library with my sketch pad on my lap. Emily is playing the Piano down the hall, and I can't help but think about the next event that is happening tonight. It's been three days since Emily met with Adaline. I wonder who will be presenting her at this next ball. Emily told me Adi sent to a letter to her grandmother after the last one. Adaline's grandmother is not someone that will tolerate the scene her father presented at the first ball. I am lost in my thoughts when Derek sits next to me. He pulls the sketch book out of my hand and smirks at me after he sees what I drew.

"Really brother? She's in your mind so much now that you drew her. You normally do landscapes" Derek laughs

I give him a look that stops his laughter. "Her father has basically locked her away in that house. The look on her face the last time I seen her was lost. I can't help but worry about her" I say to him with a sadness to my voice. I can only home that Mrs. Felicity Corter comes to help Adaline during the rest of this season.

Samuel Corter

My mother showed up to the house yesterday evening with a look that one would describe as beyond rage. I am unaware what she would be mad at but the look she gave me I can not shake. I am sitting in my office doing the household budget when she comes in.

"Adaline is asleep" she says to me. I did not reply. Since Adaline danced with that Carmichael I have not spoke much to my daughter.

"You should know she is the reason I am here. She told me what you did at the first ball." With that I look up to see my mother glairing at me. I go to speak but she holds her hand up and I stop.

"From this point forward, Adaline will be under my care for the rest of the season. She will be coming to stay at my townhouse until she finds a suitable husband and you will not interfere." She states with a final look to me and walks out of the room. My mother's presence and her wanting to take Adi puts a dent in the plans that I had for Adaline. I can't help but that what my mother will do to me when she finds out Adaline was promised in a gambling bet.