The Compromise

Chapter 1 - A Function for Fear

Court functions were a bore. No brilliant business deals or delectable platter could soothe her opinions on this torture. Why she had agreed to join this one was a mystery to herself. Her mother was very cunning- perhaps a little too cunning for the girls taste. She had been snagged into a deal with the fact that if she were to attend and find a suitor, she would be gifted the few weeks of freedom to travel like her brothers had. And oh boy, did she have everything planned, right down to the itty bitty details of taking and good portion of her family's wealth and running away.

And all she had to do was make it through tonight.

It was easier said than done. Her mother had forced her into a corset so tight, and into a dress of provocative reds, gold and purple that showed more than what was agreeable in her mind. A low dipping front, with golden lacing and embroidery, the dress would have been nice if it showed less than a whore would. Her crinoline was much smaller than her mother's, letting some of her natural form to be seen. It left not much to the imagination, and she knew her mother had exposed her for a reason. It it wasn't hard enough not to be noticed as a high society member, it was extremely difficult now. She was swamped, men flocking to her left and right, drawing in like moth to a flame, but their wings were extinguishing her. She could barely breathe between words and desperately needed air and space.

She was unused to this attention; usually opting to hide behind her mother's huge skirts, or be quietly poised by a window, forgotten in her existence like a wallflower. But her mother had made sure she stayed centre floor, sending possible suitors her way and it was driving her insane.

Her anxiety was rising; breath shallow as her eyes darted around the room, looking for escape like a deer caught in the headlights. She could barely hear the music anymore over her heart in her throat.

Her heart jumped again, in the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of red, intense as her dress, but as she turned, it was gone. In its haste it instilled with a fresh bout of anxiety. She would have excused herself ages ago if her mother wasn't watching her like a panther.

Between declining the men around her, a cool slender hand slipped over hers, drawing her attention behind her to a satin glove. Her eyes traveled up the long ligament, past the pitch black suit and red velvet cape, up to thin shoulders and a long neck. He was frighteningly tall, taller than the other men around her and her neck strains to see his his sharp pointed chin and perfectly manicured goatee. Everything's no about him seems sharp, from his rather large nose, to the glint in his eyes. Malicious.

He is self assured and calm as he leads her unknowingly away from the crowd, like he knows that he's got the prize. She is too shocked to notice that he's danced the two towards the opened window, shocked with his audacity to take her hand without permission and his eyes - a deep burgundy, almost brown. But all thoughts perish when she feels the breeze of the cool night air on her face from one of the balconies.

For once in the night, she tries to inhale as deeply as she can with the limitation of her corset and it is only barely enough. She gulps down the air like a starving dog all the while the man is silent.

A casual smirk is spread over his thin lips, as he peers down his large nose at her, amused and her eyes catch his. The girl tries her hardest not to scowl at the man, it would not be the best introduction and her mother would give her an ear full.

"Thank you sir." She smiles that small smile that wins her father over, and she is only partially thankful for this stranger's intervention. "I wouldn't have known what to do if you hadn't saved me."

The words she speaks are forced from decorum and pitiful in her mind but the man seems not to care. He man nods pointedly, moves to lean against the railing, leg bent - so at ease, that she is particularly jealous. "You looked like you needed air and were going to faint of fright, so I decided to swoop you from the fray."

The man's voice is confident, smooth but has a slight rasp, not obvious enough to notice, but he sounded parched, thirsty. She wouldn't question whether he wanted a beverage or not, he was more than capable and she wouldn't care if he left her there and then, as long as she had her space. But it would be against the social cues she was taught - if she were to not keep up a little conversation.

"Again I would like to thank you for your chivalry, sir?"

"Duke." He smirks over at her obvious probing, deciding to return the favour.

"And you are?"

"I am Missi."

"Well, Lady Missi what brings you to this function?"

"My mother was insistent I come." Missi supplied vaguely, not that keen on keeping conversation, only wishing for him to leave. He eyes pierce her with an almost fiendish delight and it puts her on edge.

"Dressed as such?" He continues unfortunately on, pausing only for a second to stare down at her dress. "One would assume you're looking for attention, but the look on your face says otherwise?"

"You can blame my mother for that."

"Your mother wished her child to wear- and take no offence to this My Lady, - because although you look quite ravishing - you are almost dressed in something women of the night wear."

Missi flushed, left speechless from his blunt comment. Eyes wide she quickly faced away to the dance floor seeing her mother smirk in victory. She glared, clenching her fists in an attempt at calm.

"Your mother, it seems is quite brave if not desperate to get you a suitor. Why might that be?"

"Pardon me for speaking out but... I've never been interested in being chained to the household. I wish to travel like my brothers and tour Europe along with the New lands being established west."

"Hmm no wonder your mother is desperate, you sound like you want to disappear."

Missi's head whipped back over to the man in shock barely registering the calculated look in his eyes. "H-how did you... know?"

He smirked again, leaning down partially to loom over her.

"I'm very good and reading people Lady Missi, and your eyes say it all."

She didn't know what to say for a moment, staring into his almost red eyes - she wasn't sure what she could make out in his.

"But you should be careful, Lady Missi, for if you were with anyone else, you probably ought to. That's revolutionary talk. A little dangerous, even for a woman of your stature."

"What do you think I should do?" She hated herself for asking a near stranger for advice but she had run out of options, and she felt that she needed a second opinion.

"By all means, I won't stop you if it's what you want- I don't know you enough to care what repercussions would happen. But I barely believe that if tonight fails your mother would let you go."

"So what are you suggesting then?"

"That you find yourself a suitor."

---

Author's notes.

Heya honeys, I hope you like this fic so far. This is the first I've posted but not the first I've written, so don't feel the need to beat the bush. Constructive criticism is really wanted and I really want to know what all of y'all think. I've tried to stay true to the time, and to Missi and Dukes characters but if I've got anything wrong just tell me.

Also if this gets good revs I'll possibly post a prologue when I get around to writing it and also the next chapter/s. I'm open to ideas but I have a basic idea of where this is going.

Along the note of chapters, updates may come sporadic but I'm in the mists of the next few which I'll release soon to give me enough time to write more.

Merry Christmas

Watermelon ice x