Learn your place (book 1)

The Party

The next day the men were getting ready for the party, shining their faces, comparing colors of certain articles, picking buckles for their shoes, and fastening cuff links. When Diana was about to get dressed she watched Benjamin decide which hat was best to suit him, and James and Thomas tying each other's jabots. Still she hardly gotten ready at all. She wondered if she should be scrambling like the others. Maybe a bath would help encourage her to get moving. With the cast it was extremely hard. When she finally did get out, she made her way to her room in her towel. Not that the boys would see. They were too busy taking care of themselves. When she got in her room Clara was there to get her dressed up.

~~~~~

It was almost time to open the doors, and begin the party. Alexander was placing on his white gloves, straightening his clothes, and trying to present himself as the perfect host. When he was completely finished, he decided to check on his personal guest. Fortunately she was directly outside the door. The outfit he picked for Diana was breath taking. She wore the blue and gold dress decked with ruffles, and bows, with sleeves exploding with lace at the elbows. A gold ribbon was woven into her hair. Alexander didn't know what to say! He knew he picked the perfect dress, but... it was more than what he originally pictured. "My dear Diana. You look absolutely stunning!" She smiled, her face turning slightly red. "Thank you. You look nice, too. Really nice! Are you wearing cologne?"

"Of course." He said proudly. She wondered if it was for a reason. Was there a lady that he was interested in meeting? His hat was a hat she had never seen him wear. The white feathers on it were impressive. Whoever he was trying to impress wouldn't be disappointed. "The Coventry's will be the first to arrive, I hope." Of course. Those neighbors. She should have known. He just wanted to impress those old golden turds. He led her to the front doors, and in no time they were inviting people in. There were so many gold watchers. This many? How many gold watchers did Malak truly own? Some of them even had their own unique looking hairstyles! The ladies wore flowing hairstyles. A few even had little model boats in their hair! Was that some sort of status symbol? In any case Diana liked it. When the flow of guests died down, Diana retreated into the parlor room.

She passed by some of the posh people and saw Peter carrying a tray full of champagne flutes. He let her take one, and looked her up and down. "You look lovely. How are you holding up?" He asked trying to give her somebody to talk to. "Not at all. I don't know any of these snobby people. If anything, you and the staff are the only ones I like being around." He slipped her a note. "Well, tomorrow a bunch of staff members from different households are going to a pub party. Maybe your masters will let you go." It was time she told somebody the truth. "Oh, Peter I can't read. The only way I'd be able to go is if I knew where to go already." She explained. "Go where?" Thomas asked walking behind her. She froze up. "I say, what's this?" He asked taking the paper. He read the directions. His eye sockets got wide. "Oh, you want to go to the staff's pub." He grinned. "Well... we do owe you." He nodded giving her permission. "I'm sure nobody will mind. With your broken wing, you can't help around the house much anyways." He chuckled walking away. Diana smiled giving Peter a thumbs up. "Don't worry. I'll get us a carriage." He promised. Before she let him escape to serve more guests she looked at his powdered wig. "Also, nice ponytail." She said flipping it with her finger. He giggled knowing his mandated wig was ridiculous.

Diana wandered into the drawing room to check on what was going on inside there. Benjamin was sitting with young lady that that was chatting with him. He seemed a bit too lost in romance to pat attention to what she had to say. She was happy that he found somebody to admire, instead of fighting for attention in the house. In the foyer, James could be seen dashing up the stairs with a woman that was laughing having obviously decided to have some err... fun with James. She decided that she saw nothing, and left to the ballroom. The orchestra was playing some waltz worthy music. She went down the stairs to the ballroom, and found somebody using a little trinket to draw the attention of a few guests. Diana joined them to see what the guests were looking at. The man had a picture of a bird on a string, and a picture of a cage on the other side. "Bird on one side, cage on the other. But with a simple spin..." The guests were enchanted with how the bird appeared to be inside the cage. "It is called a thaumatrope. Entertain your friends with it." He handed it to Diana as a friendly gift.

~~~~~

Alexander was looking around, noticing everything was going exactly as planned. The party was a grand success. No blunders so far, there were plenty of guests enjoying the dance, the rest enjoying the company and food, but he was confused. He must've sent one invite short. He was expecting somebody very important and so far they were nowhere to be found. It was starting to worry him. He decided sitting down would calm him. When he headed toward the couch, Diana was laying on it, twirling some toy in her hand. He stood over her. "Seems like you found your own means of entertainment." He said raising an eyebrow. "The couch is for sitting, not laying." He propped her up to sit next to her. She looked his way. "For somebody throwing a great party, you're in a pretty bad mood." She said turning to him. He seemed to be in a huffy mess. "Apologies. It's just I expected some guests, and they aren't here." He said in a fit.

She looked up. "Is it the Coventry's because they just walked in." When she looked up she spotted the portly Lord Coventry with the thin twig like Lady Coventry. They walked down the stairs, and Alexander shot up like a spring. Diana rolled her eyes. "I still don't understand why you and the others are so in love with that old couple." She said trying to find the appeal. He didn't turn away. "You don't understand. It's not them I pine for." He said lighting up. He pointed a finger. "It's their daughter."

When Diana looked up, she was met with a gorgeous sight. On the top of the stairs was a young lady with a large gold Marie Antoinette wig, with blossoming red roses around it. Long thick ringlets fell around her neck. She was a lighter shade of gold, and her red dress complimented the floral arrangement in her wig. She held a shy smile behind her fan. Slowly she walked down the stairs. Diana was blown away by her beauty. "Wow!" Her mouth hung open in shock. "W-wh-who is-is that?!" Alexander saw that she now noticed the reason he was waiting for her, and smirked. "That is Lord and Lady Coventry's daughter, Isabelle Coventry." She turned her head toward them though it was hard to tell if she was staring in their direction. "She is the most unapproachable woman in the county. Many men have struggled in vain for her hand in marriage." So that was why Alexander invited the Coventry's for a visit. "I have been trying to win her parents good grace, and I believe tonight my efforts will finally pay off." He said practically swooning.

Diana kept her eyes on her. "I believe that too. Especially considering she's coming this way." She said urging Alexander to notice. "Don't be daft. Lady Isabelle would never approach-oh my God, she's coming this way." He said in shock. They watched as she took long strides approaching fast. "I can't be seen conversing with you. You have to go." Alexander said losing his calm demeanor. She looked confused. "But I want to meet her too." She argued. Lady Isabelle turned away for a moment, giving Alexander his chance. "She's coming closer you must get lost." He shoved her toward the wall covering her with drapery. "I'll make it up to you." He promised. When she came over, Alexander's cheeks were rosy. She curtsied. "Lord Alexander." She smiled. He bowed in response. Was this truly happening? He was in heaven. "I say, were you just speaking to a mortal?" She asked confused. He held up his hand, shaking his head. "She was just lost, and left." He chuckled. She looked disappointed. "Oh dear, I hope not. I wanted to meet her. Mortal? Mortal where did you go?"

Both of their attentions were grabbed when Diana finally wrestled her way out of the heavy drapes. "What the Hell, Alexander!" She said untangling herself. Lady Isabelle's face grew excited as she walked over to meet her, leaving the gold man standing alone. What had just happened? He watched the two ladies walk off. "You must be Diana. My father said that this manor finally had a staff member. The boys are very lucky." Diana smiled looking down shy of her compliment. "Not a chance. I'm nothing compared to you. You're like a magical princess." They continued talking, until the orchestra played their next song. "Oh, this is one of my favorites! Diana you must dance with me." She insisted. She took her hand leading her to the dance floor. Diana stopped. "Wait, I don't know how to waltz." The beautiful lady smiled sweetly. "I'll lead the dance. You just need to follow my movements. Ready? And one two three, one two threee.."

As the taller beauty was dancing around with the smaller maid, Alexander stood there feeling ruined. He worked so hard to win her hand, when in reality it seemed his own maid was more desirable then himself. He snatched a wine glass off the refreshment table, tossing it back. Thomas came into the ballroom finding his superior. "Ah there you are. I assumed you were courting Lady Isabelle. Wait where is Lady Isabelle?" Alexander tapped his finger annoyingly on the table, his gaze straight ahead. Thomas followed his sight, seeing Lady Isabelle dancing. "Oh, she's right there. Is she dancing with Diana?! Oh, she is! Ha ha! Look at her glow." Alexander didn't even notice that the wine glass in his head had smashed to pieces in his firm grip.