Between the Pages and Lines

Chapter 5: Ballroom Fallroom

Evelyn smiled up at Travis and took a deep breath as the double doors were opened. A large ballroom filled with more people in regency clothing than Evelyn had ever seen filled her view. The heat of the room was thick and Evelyn couldn't help but turn her face to the closing doors as they entered the room hoping for one last taste of cool air. The heat surrounded her like a suffocating blanket.

The doors shut soundlessly, an unforgiving reminder that it was time to socialize. A thing that Evelyn was not known to do very well. While she had thought she would be able to speak her mind to anybody looking around she couldn't help but feel intimidated. Anxiety crept up her arms leaving goosebumps in their wake. It felt strange to have chills but also begin to sweat at the same time.

Evelyn finally understood the need for Lady's to be carrying around fans all the time. Looking around she saw many older married women using them more vigorously. Fanning their faces and gossiping to their neighbors behind them laughing with one another. While the younger ladies seemed to be more reserved in their fan use flirtatiously fanning below their eyes hiding much of their face. Running it down their jaw line to bring attention to their cheek bones accordingly.

Evelyn remembered reading somewhere that young girls learned how to use fans to communicate their feelings. To other lady's or even to gentlemen about their intentions. She tried to remember what she had learned about signaling and tried to interpret the nearby fan arrangements that she could see. It was all too confusing to her and she gave up easily. The heat of the room pushed every other thought from her mind, as she tried to focus on the simple act of breathing.

Looking to the older women who were using their fans more functionally to bring air to their faces. Evelyn couldn't help but feel envious of them for having some form of relief to this sweltering heat that seemed to envelope every living thing in the room.

"Is it always so stuffy in this place?" Evelyn leaned closer to Travis to not be heard by the other guests.

"Hmmm," Travis answered, distracted by another gentleman who was trying to call him over with a swift motion of his hand. "Oh, yes it seems to have risen in temperature a bit. You will get accustomed to it in no time I assure you. Now allow me to lead you through some introductions and maybe we can coax a dance out of you yet."

"A dance," Evelyn almost choked on her words, stumbling a little as she was led forward. "I don't know how to do these old dances. I thought we were just going to do some simple introductions, and then it was off to my room I go."

Travis laughed aloud as he walked along the edge of the ballroom careful to avoid the dancers in the middle of the floor. His laugh led others to look at him and in turn Evelyn curiously. A couple of girls wearing extravagant white and pale colored gowns glared at her. Seeming to shoot daggers at her hand resting in the crook of Travis's elbow.

"You must not worry," Travis assured her, patting her hand with his and looking down at her sympathetically. "I wouldn't lead you astray. I will be the first to pen my name in your dance card this evening. I am a trained dancer and we shall participate in a country dance just once. I have been known to lead even the poorest of dancers into looking like a graceful swan on the floor. Besides if you simply follow the ladies on either side of you I am sure the steps will come easily to you."

Evelyn rolled her eyes at his pridefulness, but felt herself relax knowing she wouldn't be dancing with just anybody. Looking around at the other dancers she couldn't help but feel envious of the way they seemed to glide along the floor. Everyone looked like they were having a grand old time of things. Giving themselves to the music and seeming to express their desire to be near to their partner in that moment. It was just as awfully romantic as she had read about many times. Both lines of men and women facing one another as they travelled down the length of the room.

Evelyn couldn't help but wonder if they all looked so enthralled and happy because they were in a book, and that is how they were written to look. Or if they were really happy to be out there on the floor with their chosen partners. She glanced up at Travis. He looked good in his jacket and tight fitting pants; he wore this century well. Blushing Evelyn thought about how much better these guys looked than the sagging jeans most men wore in her day and time.

"Duke Warlington," Travis called to his friend when they neared his position. "I have someone you have longed to make introductions with."

"Ah yes," The Duke turned to meet Travis and Evelyn, his eyes alight with mischief that his friend could only bring out in him. "I have long since burned with the desire upon hearing about her arrival not more than an hour before this very much anticipated meeting."

Earnest turned to look at Evelyn, a friendly smile still on his face. His eyes were full of curiosity. As if he wondered if she had the same somewhat untoward humor as Travis seemed to have in abundance. Evelyn looked at him as if in a daze. She had read his innermost thoughts for a few days now and meeting him in person was shocking to say the least.

He stood taller than she pictured him; his broad shoulders were pushed back in a sense of nobility that showed off his class without him seeming to be too prideful. Earnest was everything that Evelyn wanted in a leading man and he was right in front of her. Fighting the urge to reach out and touch his arm, seeing as how she was in the 1800's that would be deemed wildly inappropriate for a first meeting.

Evelyn wanted to say something but the words caught in her throat. How did one even address a Duke? What if she said something to offend him and he threw her out of the house immediately? Why had Travis brought her in this overheated room of people for a first meeting? She was beginning to feel very overwhelmed by all the changes.

A curtsy came to mind at a first meeting that was what people did back then right? Evelyn thought that was at least somewhat of a good decision. Leaning down she went to grab her skirt to lift up and curtsy like she had seen done in movies.

Before she even knew what was happening the world seemed to slowly become covered with black dots. Quickly she tried to straighten herself out locking her knees in place as she did so. The blood rushed from her face and she felt herself falling backwards, her arm sliding from Travis's elbow as she began her descent to the unforgiving ground.

An arm was wrapped gently around her waist and she felt herself being held just above the ground by someone with a strong grip. She still couldn't see anything. The darkness overwhelming her eyesight.

"Lady Darcy?" A voice called out in concern.

She tried to open her mouth to respond but before she could form any words everything was thrown into the blackness that clouded her vision. 

Authors note: I know I know it's so short! I also hate when there is a short chapter when I was hoping for something longer in getting a notification from my favorite book that it was updated. Ah well how do you spell it say la vee? Not the right way to spell that but if you sound it out you get my meaning well enough. I have this horrible way of fainting at the worst of times. I am an small town actress and I was the leading lady of a play produced and written by one of my friends at a local theater sold out show and I pass out right before my first line right on stage because I was so sick haha just my luck. Have any of you ever passed out? Why and Where?