Against Their Wishes

Chapter 6

The night passed much in the same fashion. Olivia and Gregory stayed near the side of the ballroom and away from the dance floor. New people were constantly approaching the couple and asking about the surprise engagement. Gregory found himself repeating the same story many times but was pleasantly surprised when Olivia took over some of the weight and began to tell parts of their fictitious tale as well. Gregory's parents occasionally made it over to speak with them, but they were always quickly called away by new and old friends alike who were wishing to enjoy their company. Neither Gregory nor Olivia saw her parents the rest of the evening. Olivia assumed that her father was off in the study and smoking a cigar with all the other men who were hiding from the festivities. Olivia also guessed that her mother was off gabbing with the other hens in the room. Olivia's mother loved to gossip nearly as much as she loved to shop. It was getting quite late by the time Olivia declared that she was in need of a beverage. Under the watchful eye of the women standing just off to the side, Gregory offered to retrieve the drink while she stayed behind. Olivia was lost in her thoughts and did not notice a man approach her until he started to speak.

"Excuse me, miss, but I have been watching you all night, and I have noticed that you have not taken to the dance floor. Would you care to have this last dance with me?" Olivia's surprise was clearly seen on her face, but she looked towards the band and noted that they were playing the last piece of the night, a waltz. Without further hesitation, Olivia grabbed a hold of his offered hand, and followed him out onto the dance floor. At that time, Olivia did not think about the kind of fuss she would make in the room nor what people would be saying. She was not even focused on her dance partner; she barely caught his name. All she wanted was to dance, and she had been deprived of it the entire evening. Her and her partner had barely made it a half of a minute on the floor before Olivia felt her dance partner being pulled away while being replaced with a new, warm hand. She glanced up and looked directly into Gregory's angry eyes. She gulped when she realized how unhappy he was with her.

"You don't mind if I cut in, do you?" he asked of the young man she had been dancing with, his voice dripping with malice. The man stuttered over his words before quickly replying that he did not mind and made a speedy exit.

"I thought that you do not dance," Olivia stated. Gregory began to gracefully move them across the dance floor as his strong hands cupped her hand and waist. Olivia could feel the heat radiating off of him as they raced around the floor.

"It seems that you have given me little choice," he told her with words full of annoyance. "After all, I cannot have my betrothed gallivanting across the dance floor with another man."

"I was not gallivanting!" she objected.

"You most certainly were! Do you not care at all about our reputations? We spent the whole night trying to convince people we are madly in love, and then you go out and welcome into your arms to the first man in line?"

"Well, you refused to dance with me. What was I supposed to do? It is not like I was going to run away with the poor man. You really are overreacting," she defended. Gregory slowed their movements until they were standing flush against each other. Neither of them paid any attention to the curious gazes of the other guests. Gregory leaned his face forward so that he could whisper in to her ear. Her hair blew with his breath as he breathed his words into her ear.

"Do I have to remind you, my dear, that I never share what is mine?" Olivia gasped quietly as he pulled back enough to look into her wide eyes. They looked at each other for a few moments before he grabbed her by the hand and quickly walked off the dance floor and towards his parents. His mother's eyes were wide, and his father looked on with disapproval as they said their appropriate goodbyes and made their way to the waiting carriage.