A True Southern Belle

       But instead of going there she grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen and went to the library, aware than not many Southerners  in this county liked to read hoping to find some peace among the books that could not talk or play loud music. Books, thank heavens, were silent.

       She sipped her water, leaning back against a bookshelf, and stared out of a thickly curtained window. Charlie had been the Belle of the Ball, yes, but now she was reminded of how much she preferred the company of a good book to the loudness of irritating, dim people.

   "I thought I might find you here," drawled a voice Charlie had heard before, and was glad to hear again, however unexpectedly.

    She knocked down the rest of her glass with a quick, flourishing movement of her  wrist, the way she'd seen Daniel and her father  drink, before turning and smiling. "Oh?"

    Jason Asher grinned. "Bella mentioned you liked to read - she can't stop talking about you, in fact."

    "Can she? That must be driving you up a wall. Though you must have great patience, to be listening to speeches about my character without end. I admire you for that."

    "Don't put on those ridiculous fake airs with me, I know you aren't a Lady and you know I am not a Gentleman, so let's be honest with each other, shall we? Haven't you made enough of a fool of yourself?"

  "I was a smashing success tonight and you know it." Charlie turned away in embarrassment. She wanted to say, "I don't think you want me to be honest with you," but held back.

    She couldn't see him standing right behind her, but she knew he was there. Tall but lithe, brown haired, with dark eyes  and a dashing, devilish smile. He had the look of a Southerner and spoke like one, as he should coming from Alabama, but despite the drawl, his words hinted at something more, though he did not seem like a Yankee. She hated how he appraised her, like he was deciding whether she was worth something or not.

      She sensed him moving, standing beside her now, and she heard the creak in the word as he leaned against the bookcase with her. A gentleman would never sit so close to a Lady. "Though I can't blame you."

       Charlie looked up at him, confused.

      "I like to read too -believe it or not, that a cad like me can read and decipher elegant literature -  and I can't imagine a better place to hide in. This library is not  as fine as yours though, if I may say so."

    She nodded, not taking her eyes off the window. If it had been anyone else, she would have asked what kind of books he liked, and to name his favorite authors.

   "Drink?" he held up a bottle of brandy she had only just noticed he'd been holding.

    "How dare you, I am a -"

   "Lady? If you insist... but then I would like the title of King."

   "Oh! You vile creature! How dare you?" But Charlie's anger fled, and she actually laughed. It was really funny. And she had tried brandy before, when her father offered it to her. She couldn't understand how men could stand - or down the hot, disgusting stuff. She wouldn't admit that to him though, not in a million years.

  "I'm sorry if I offended you. I would offer you punch, but I'm afraid if I leave you'll be discovered by someone else."

     "I wouldn't take it anyway. The Bradford boys are here, and they and John Foster undoubtedly added whiskey to the punch." Charlie cursed herself for this slip; Ladies never mentioned liquor.

    Jason laughed. "Lemonade?"

     "It's too sweet."

    "Tea? Now don't tell me a fine, Southern Lady like yourself objects to tea?"

    "It depends."

  "'It depends?' How scandalous! A Southerner who doesn't like tea."

     Charlie could not stop herself from laughing; she had thought the same things for years.

    "This isn't right."

    "What?" Jason asked.

   "If my mother walked in- " She began.

    "You wouldn't really care, would you?" He studied her with his brown eyes.

    "No, But I would get in trouble."

    Jason sighed. He shook his head and started to walk towards the door. "I was wrong about you. You aren't fun. Live in the moment, not the future, Miss Winter. Don't worry about consequences if you are living now."

     "Like you did?" Charlie asked. That made him stop. "And I am fun."

      His demeanor was colder, but his eyes never changed. "It looks like you know more about me than I do you. But no, you are not fun at all. Rather boring in fact." A wicked smile lit his features.

      "Probably. Than you should find out the truth about me."

       "No, I should have done more research before tonight."

    "You should have."

    "I still want to learn more, even if I am defeated."\

   "But I thought I wasn't fun?"

    "Well, then prove me wrong."

   "How?" Charlie was up for any challenge.

    "Dance with me."

   Except that one.

     Charlie immediately walked out the door, passing the hand he offered her. "Will you?"

   "No."

   Jason reached out and grabbed her arm. "Why not?"

    She scathingly laughed, facing him. Had he no sense? Was he so far gone he believed decency did not exist? "My mother - "

    "Does not want you to be seen with me, like she does not want to be seen with you. Which is why you like disobeying her."

    That stung. Mrs. Winter always stayed with Jane or one of her other sisters at parties. Just like Mrs. Bradford often walked around with her girls. But Charlie's mother left her side the moment they stepped into the room tonight. Part of Charlie had accepted it for what it was a long time ago,  and relished the fact she did not have supervision. But another part of her wanted to dance with Jason just to get stick it in her mother's face. A third part, wanted still to earn her mother's respect and be worthy of it.

   She shook her arm free and continued back to the ballroom. It was time she checked in with Julie.

    Jason stood alone in the dark hall. Her absence and rejection only made him want her more. And he would get what he wanted this time. He just had to figure out how.