🌸The Promise 🌸[18+]

Chapter 39

Myself, Trudy and Angeles walk down the stairs till we get to the hall where the Drawing room is. The sound of violins and flutes excite our ears as Trudy turns us to the open door opposite the drawing-room. I've never been in this room before and I look with amazement as we enter this huge room decorated with Christmas trees and men and women sitting down at small tables laughing while rolling dice and shuffling cards.

We squeeze through all the people making our way through the room following Trudy who knows where she's leading us too, the music gets louder and I turn to Angeles who has a huge smile on her freckled face.
But it doesn't take long till we reach another doorway at the end of the room with double doors that are pushed and an explosion of people fill the extremely large ballroom. So large that there's plenty of room for the people dancing in large groups, weaving in and out of lines as the ladies dresses twirl and move around so wonderfully while taking the hands of the men that spin them around in time to the music.

It's such a sight to behold that I stare routed to the spot in amazement. It's like I've fallen into the pages of my novels I love to read.

Around the outside of the ball room, I see many people standing holding their glasses of liquor. I notice the men stand with one of their arms around their backs and the other holding their drink or patting another on their backs in laughter.

We see Isaac to our left and Angeles gasps as he makes his way towards her. I can sense she's nervous but also very excited. He nods to us all in greeting without taking his eyes of Angeles and eagerly takes her hand in the promise of dancing.
Angeles squeaks with delight as she turns back to us with a huge grin on her face as Isaac takes her away.

We see Mr Laywood coming over with a drink in hand and tells me how magnificent both myself and Trudy look. I blush at his compliment and thank him again for the beautiful dress I'm wearing.

"I'm so glad your feeling better my dear girl, and that you could come and join us." He says kindly.

"Thank you Mr Laywood." I say smiling "This Ball is wonderful." As I look around to all the happy laughing faces.

"Oh my dear, isn't it just? I always find surrounding myself with people who are having such fun is a lovely way to lift one's spirits."
I can detect the kindness in his voice and I nod agreeing with him.

"Now if you could follow me, I would like to introduce you to some dear friends of mine." He places his arm on his side waiting for me to place mine through his. I turn to Trudy who smiles in encouragement.

Mr Laywood takes his time to introduces me to a lot of guests, I've had a hard time trying to remember their names and faces as they all seem to blur into one after the first dozen. All I know is that the Laywoods have lots of friends and a very large family. After meeting his brothers who all share the same family resemblance of dark brown eyes, he quickly excuses himself to greet new guests that have arrived.
I politely say goodbye and walk to the other end of the room and scan my eyes for Trudy or Angeles. But I can't seem to spot them in the crowds of people.

I then realise I haven't seen Xavier and I'm glad, I don't think my stomach could take seeing him wrapped around Cordelia. My heart beats painfully at the image in my mind. I smile at people dancing with their partners, drinking glasses of champagne and having a very merry time. But I can't help but feel out of place alone watching these people. I decide I will escape to the comfort of my room if I can't find Trudy or Angeles soon.

I start to move closer to the door, but a familiar set of dark blue eyes and sandy hair walks towards me, Toby the man the Laywoods have hired as security since the Mr Travers incident is heading in my direction.
He's smiling showing the dimples on either side of his cheeks, and as he gets closer I see he's wearing a dark brown suit. I can tell it's not as expensive as most of the men here are wearing and that seems to please me. Things like that matter to most, but not to me.