Victorian AU

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I like to call this one: Meg has no chill but enjoy!


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Imogen Cadwell

Even from within the lavish carriage, Imogen Cadwell could still hear the bubbling laughter and music echoing out from the stone manor. It poured out of the windows, the doors, into an enchanting symphony that only spurred the excitement within the fair-skinned girl's heart.

Imogen glanced out from beneath her pinned blonde waves, peering out the carriage's window. Everywhere she looked, the best and highest of London's upper society were milling about, climbing the stone stairs into the illuminated manor. She couldn't bear the allure anymore, she needed to be within that castle or else she just might burst.

"I can't tell if it's the excitement making you look so pale or your corset making it difficult for you to breathe, cousin," Came the masculine voice of Imogen's male companion for the night.

Imogen rolled her jade eyes, shooting a look at Kaden Gray seated on the carriage bench opposite her. Her cousin, a reputable and respected businessman in London, gave her his signature smile: one that radiated charm, but was laced with a troublemaker's allure. He was donning a tuxedo for the event, his fingers tightening the white bow-tie at the base of neck.

"Funny," Imogen mused, her voice airy. She wrung her gloved hands, her heeled shoe clicking against the wooden carriage floor beneath her scarlet skirts. "Can we get out yet?"

Kaden held up a finger, as if the gesture alone would stop his eager cousin, and glanced up, as if he were waiting. Imogen gave the boy a funny look, straining her ears to listen, but there she heard it: the neigh of the horses pulling the carriage as they stopped, the descent of the coachman.

Before Imogen knew it, the door to the carriage was swung open. Their coachman, a long-time friend of Imogen and Kaden's family, smiled at his charges and held a hand out for Imogen to take. "Miss Cadwell."

Imogen slipped back into her demure persona like she wrapped her silky shawl around her shoulders. Her rosy lips curled into a smirk, and she reached out to take the coachman's hand. "Thank you," She flashed him a thankful smile as she stepped out of the carriage.

Her gaze immediately averted to the manor, illuminated with some ethereal aura. A red carpet stretched from the threshold all the way down the steps, an invitation in velvet for all to approach.

"Are you ready?" Kaden asked from her side, holding out his arm for Imogen to take. He'd pulled on his cloak, the fabric draping down his shoulders. His top hat rested atop his chestnut hair.

Imogen beamed, slipping her hand around her cousin's. "Immensely."

Kaden smiled at his cousin's happiness, then averted his emerald gaze to the manor steps a few meters before them. And then, they embarked on their way.

--

Warmth filled the manor as soon as Imogen stepped into the threshold. Kaden escorted her through the foyer until a servant darted up to them, offering to take their coats and hats. After, the cousins continued on through the stream of guests, following the music, their only map as to where the ballroom was.

"Woah," Both Kaden and Imogen murmured as they reached the ballroom, standing atop the grand dual staircase leading into it.

The vast room was gilded with gold, ornate with gems and basins of flowers lining the ring of balconies ringing it, as well as the staircases. A crowd of people were dancing in the center of the marble floor, others milling about in a ring around the dancers. A full orchestra was perched in the largest balcony opposite the one Kaden and Imogen and the other guests were standing upon.

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