Dalliance

Chapter Eight

"A dance?" Holly's eyes lit up as Nicholas spoke the words. He nodded as he removed himself from behind his desk and made his way towards her. Placing his hands on her waist, he pulled her close before kissing her sweetly-a kiss she did not enjoy, but had to play along in fear of him hurting Dawson.

"I want us to be happy. I want you to feel for me as I do for you, to not fear me as you do now. And I know that your time here thus far has been difficult. I want you to have something that makes you happy...and I hope this can...Along with this..." Moving back to his desk, he removed something from a wooden box before having her open the lid. For a moment, she froze in shock.

"It is far too nice...what would I do with it?"

"Wear it." He chuckled before pulling the necklace from its container and placing it on her neck as she held her hair up. Fitting the clasp in its proper place, she slid her fingers along the gem before looking down at it-enamored by its beauty. The lavender stone accented her pale skin and emerald eyes to make her appear almost as a doll.

"Wear it tonight. The ball has already been arranged with my best coordinators...and I will be expecting a dance..."

"Of course." In shock over his kind nature, she left his quarters before making her way to her room to find Dawson sitting in her window with one foot dangling down and the other upon the wooden wall. When he saw her, he spun her in his arms before placing her down and moving for a kiss before she pulled away.

"Have your feelings changed so rapidly?" He teased as he followed her to the other side of her room. Upon seeing her necklace, he slowly nodded. "I see...you have made positive progress with your husband...and I am now...a loose end..."

"You are never a loose end, Dawson...but he is trying to be sweet...he is allowing me to have a night of joy and-"

"What about when you deny him again...or will you not?"

"He is my husband..."

Dawson scoffed. "What did he promise you that was so grand that made you change your feelings? Not even an hour ago, you were looking to me with eyes of love, and now they are full of sadness. What has he promised you?" Before she could answer, he continued. "Or is it that he can support you? That he can lavish you with diamonds and...and everything I cannot?"

"I have never cared for jewelry..."

"I do not believe it...you were in my arms last night, begging me not to bring you back. And now you wear his necklace and you are suddenly his..."

"His what?" Her expression changed to offended before he moved towards the door.

"You are nothing to him but property, and you know this. I will not wait around for you to be hurt too harsh to move...I have tried to save you in every way I know how..."

"You cannot save someone who is not in trouble."

"Perhaps that is the saddest part...You do not see just how much you are."

Leaving her and closing her door, she fell into a mess of tears before getting ready for the ball that night. Choosing a black gown with a lace bodice that matched that of her necklace, she slid a veil into her long dark strands before allowing the servants to tighten her gown. Hearing the music echo all the way to her corridor, she took a deep breath before following the tune. Making her way into the ballroom, she realized it was a room she had never seen before. It was quite spacious and consisted of golden outlining and a giant chandelier in the center of the room. Large windows with long, heavy drapes were positioned on either side of them while expensive paintings and large statues were along the walls and floor spaces. An orchestra played an arrangement of tunes from beautiful melodies to quick-step pieces, allowing each guest to become exhausted and satisfied. On the other side of the room sat a long table with a bright crimson table cloth with food placed along its back. Pastries and meat dishes ranging from sweet to sour rested in chrome bowls along with jugs upon jugs of wine.