Obscure Occurrences |C. BAREBONE|

☛ Eight ☚

• December, 1925 •

Compared to the Burnett house, the Shaw's accommodated a mansion, situated in a rare part of New York City (still populated with many trees). However, Genevieve refrained from gawking at the huge establishment. She didn't want her Father to seem less than equal to such a man. After all, she knew of her Father's ego and what he expected of his little princess.

Once they stepped out, Genevieve assessed everything surrounding her small form. And she didn't miss the man standing at the window, his hand full with a glass of bronze liquid.

While she ran her eyes over every inch of him, the cold nipped at her exposed skin and created a song as it rustled in the trees and kissed her cheeks. That's when she knew she would come to no harm, nothing could cause alarm as she climbed the marble stairs with her arm interlinked with her Father's. So far, he was proud of Genevieve and how she looked on at the mansion with a glowing aura.

... Once Henry Shaw Jr saw her.
He was gone.

He thought just as she had. Nothing would pull him from the late nights downtown with the giggling girls and dealing of cards. But the look that Goddess' eyes held was like nothing he had seen. And considering he was a man of high status, he thought he had witnessed it all. Henry didn't believe in whatever fairytale or bedtime story that had been spouted. However, this was the closest thing to one.

From the distance -far down the hall from the parlour- he heard the voice of Bailey and how he welcomed the two with a calm forbearance.

No, the Burnett's were not as well off. Yet they held an air or royalty that gathered in buckets around them. In all honesty, when he heard of this dinner, Henry was expecting some pig for a daughter with half a brain. He wasn't prepared for the shadow of a sultry form. Despite being so small, in assets and height, she sparked a familiar feeling that he had easily cured before seeing her silhouette.

As Henry thought with swirling ideas of her features, Mrs. Polly Shaw introduced herself and quickly became a familiar face to Genevieve.

"What a beautiful dress you have Miss. Burnett!" Polly exclaimed with delight potent in her voice.

"Thank you Mrs. Shaw".

"Aw, don't worry darlin'. Just call me Polly" She laughed as Genevieve smiled.

"Then you can call me Genevieve... And thank you for inviting us to your lovely home Polly" Genevieve praised with a soft curl of her plump, pink lips.

"Aren't you an adorable little thing-" Polly complimented before whipping her head around behind her, "-Emma! Come introduce yourself".

With the exclamation, a girl just a few years older than Genevieve happily approached and took her into a overly, warm bear hug.

"It's so nice to meet you!-" She shouted excitedly (nearly popping Genevieve's eardrums at that). "- and I have to ask... Where in God's name did you get that dress?".

"Emma?" Polly warned, raising a thin, arched brow at her language.

"Sorry Mama" Emma apologised before finally pulling Genevieve away from the front entrance and toward the parlour where she, Langdon and Henry were remaining until dinner was plated. During Henry's thoughts, however, he had forgotten that his siblings were close by.

"So these are my brothers-" Emma began with a smile, "- over there is Langdon and at the window is Henry".

When Henry turned the breath nearly caught in his throat. Where Langdon -on the other hand- couldn't see what was so special about the girl before him. And with this, along with nothing much to see, Langdon silently excused himself; ultimately, leaving his sister and Henry to acquaint themselves with the girl.

"I'm Genevieve Burnett, it's a pleasure to meet you" Genevieve introduced, her smile nervous as Henry -all too quickly- took her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. He felt her flinch but he remained in position for longer than expected. But he eventually he had to let go and meet her eyes.

Genevieve had to admit, the forest that sat in his orbs had her mesmerised. And from Emma's perspective, she could only see a match made in heaven...

Well, if only she knew.