Emily ◇ Cinderella

Chapter 5

William's POV

Setting my glass down onto the table, I stepped around conversing couples as classical music filled the hall, signalling that a dance was not about to start. My eyes fixed on Emily, although they did flutter down to the floor or to a family member as I passed. She looked completely and utterly bored. Family member after family member decided that, in that moment, they wanted to hear my life story. I answered politely and smiled when I needed to. All I wanted to do was dance with her.

I curved through the crowd, standing a foot away from her as she sat in her seat. I cleared my throat to get her attention, and when she turned, her beauty hit me like a frying pan to the face all over again. "Yes?" She asked in a soft, melodic voice that had me captivated. She stood, embarrassed she had spoken that way to her customer's son. "Oh, I apologize, I didn't realize-" 

"It's perfectly alright." I reassured, smiling gently at her. She seemed to accept this, gifting me a smile of her own. Her lips curved upwards, her eyes seemed to understand every emotion she had ever felt and conveyed it all, like green, fogged glass. "Please, allow me to introduce myself. My name is William Thatcher." 

Her head bowed, acknowledging that I was of a higher station than her. "Emily Tremaine, it's a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was so gentle, it reminded me of the way her hands would sit on the piano keys. I lifted her hand in my own, gently kissing her knuckles in greeting. Warmth shot through me, just as it seemed to shoot through her, at the contrast of our hands. Hers were so soft, gently kept, while mine were rough and scarred from swordsmanship. 

"May I have the next dance?" I gently request, my eyes softly meeting hers. Her lips were slightly parted already, her mind set on an answer. 

"Oh, I would be -"

"There she is! Miss Emily!" A middle aged woman, short and slightly rounded, came bounding up to us before she could answer. I sighed in frustration at my mother's antics. "My name is Mrs Thatcher. My daughter is very interested in learning to play, and I fear your performance has her heart quite set on it! I must ask, will you perhaps be willing to teach her? With payment, of course." My mother rushed out all at once, heaving out of breath before she could finish her sentence. This didn't seem to faze Emily, who simply smiled and replied calmly. 

"Of course. If you would be so kind as to give me your address, a time and a day, I shall be most happy to teach your daughter." She replied, her voice neutral and sophisticated. I observed her face, noticing how her expression changed, but her eyes did not. 

"Oh, excellent! Thank you! We live here, darling, this is our party." Mother laughed, gesturing to the people that grouped in social bunches. "I see you've already met my son?" Mother gestured to me. Emily nodded, her eyes flickering towards me. Mother seemed utterly delighted, so much so that I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing. "Ah, I see! I shall leave you two be, then." Mother commented suggestively, drawing a confident and unbothered laugh from Emily as she walked away towards my Uncle. 

"That was an interesting conversation, as always with mother." I said, a little exasperated. Emily laughed, a sound so beautiful it could be used in one of her pieces and not sound out of place. 

"It's no worry. My parents were rather interesting too." She said, looking happy at the mention of her parents. "We were always a queer family, our heads in the clouds." She smiled, happiness flitting across her face. I knew from the usage of 'were' that they are dead, but she looked so happy, and I didn't want to ruin it by asking unnecessary questions.

Instead, I extended my hand to her once again. "Would you still like to dance?" I repeated patently. She looked slightly relieved by the change of topic, and just as she was about to accept my offer, the clock's chime startled her. She looked up at the clock and gasped.