close your eyes and feel me

11

There she was again, in this beautiful house, with this wonderful music and all of those rich and interesting people. Charlotte was wearing a light, pink dress, a new one that Susan had bought as a gift. Charlotte was feeling peaceful and blessed.

It wasn't until later, when the party was long started, that he arrived.

And there she was, dancing with that stranger, looking this delectable. As soon as he got in, he forgot that Eliza was on his arm and couldn't take his eyes off Charlotte on the dance floor.

Some rebellious hair had fallen down on her face and she was smiling and giggling innocently.

In Sidney's eyes, she looked like an angel.

He remembered the two dances he had shared with Charlotte, particularly the last one, and his heart skipped a beat.

- «You'll never get that again» he heard his own voice say in his head.

Sidney had to forcefully bring his eyes to Eliza to stop himself from fixing Charlotte. His fiancée had yet realized that her man was admiring another woman.

No, Eliza didn't see anything. In fact, she was far more too joyful about her situation to be worrying about anything else. On a daily basis, she would happily sigh to herself, pleased with her reality. 

Finally, she was rich enough to not depend on anyone, she was safe from doing whatever she ever desired to, and finally, she had the man of her dream. Things had started badly but now was their second chances. She knew that Sidney was still holding back, she had indeed hurt him 10 years ago, but Eliza knew deep down that he would come around soon enough.

After all, Sidney wasn't stupid enough to let go of his true love, she would remind herself.

Charlotte was dancing with a duke, a charming man, who danced marvellously. It wasn't an intimate dance, but rather a very festive one, leading them to laugh and talk while doing it. It wasn't until the end that she got a glimpse of them.

Eliza was wearing a dark green dress that fit perfectly with her hair. Charlotte had to admit it, the woman at Sidney's side was extremely elegant...

She thanked her dance partner before leaving, looking around for Susan. Clumsily, she walked into someone.

- "Miss Heywood!"

Lord Babington was standing in front of her, all smiles.

- "Lord Babington!"

- "I heard you were in London for the winter!"

-"What you heard was right, indeed...Where's Mrs.Babington?"

The lord's smile got even bigger at the mention of his wife, and he turned around to see her walking towards them, glass in hand.

-"Miss Heywood..." she simply said. 

Uncomfortable, Charlotte smiled to the new lady in front of her. Their past conversation had always been bumpy, and even if she had assisted happily to the wedding, Charlotte couldn't say Esther really was a friend.

- "I'll leave you two to it, ladies", said her husband before leaving, completely unaware of the coldness between the women.

In an awkward silence and with avoided eyes contacts, Charlotte took one of the glasses of wine on the plater and took a sip.

- "Oh, if you want to survive an entire winter in this place, you'll need more than a sip!" Commented Esther, taking one glass and leaving another empty.