One Look

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I smoothed down the front of my gown for the opera. It was a stunning blush colour made from fine silk. The lower skirt was beautifully trimmed in four places, giving the impression that the skirt had four different layers, which were edged with a darker shade of the pink silk. In the centre a few pink flowers were placed with trimmed lace coming from it in graceful lapels which connected to my upper skirt.

"The evening is chilly, miss", Clara smiled, as she placed a small white shawl over my shoulders.

"She cannot wear that", Margaretta complained. "It spoils the dress".

"Thank you, Clara,", I smiled, ignoring Margaretta's protest. A knock on the door ripped us from our reverie and Clara scuttled over and swung the door open.

"Miss, your carriage awaits you", a butler said, his face stiff and his nose upturned, my guess was because off the smell of perfumes and sickly-sweet flowers that littered my room.

"I am so nervous", I groaned.

"At least you are going to the opera", Elaine complained from her seat at the window, as she looked out longingly.

"Elaine", Margaretta sighed. "Enjoy your night". I gave my ladies a little wave before I followed the butler out of my room and through the corridors until we arrived at the entrance.

"Gorgeous", Charles sighed when he saw me, and I gave him a nervous smile. "This way". He led me to the carriage and inside already seated was Oscar and Bethany.

"Good evening", I said as I entered and took a seat in front of Bethany. Charles got in beside me, and I caught sight of Nathaniel walking by. I strained my neck to see who he brought along but I couldn't catch sight of her. If he brought Henrietta, I would refuse to speak with him the whole night.

"Your dress is marvelous", Bethany said softly, her voice as sweet as her face.

"Yours definitely outshines mine", I stated. She was wearing an emerald green gown with diamonds glittering the waist and lace trimming on the edges.

"Ladies you both look equally stunning", Charles said flashing a smile. I looked away a smile on my face and stared out the window.

"Have you ever been to the opera?" I asked Bethany after a moment of silence had passed.

"Once. My father brought me last year. It was wonderful", she sighed in content.

"This will be my first time", I said, and she flashed me a kind smile. How the hell did Oscar win a girl so sweet? She seemed like someone who would be unable to kill a fly, even if someone offered her all the gold in the world.

We eventually reached the opera, and Charles helped me out of the carriage.

"Was Mary-Anne livid that she didn't persuade her mother to bring her?" I asked Oscar when I seen the King and Queen had left their carriage solo.

"She basically threw a fit", he chuckled, and I smiled at him, but my eyes were on the king. His gaze met mine and a scowl took over his face. I quickly averted my eyes away, wondering what I had done wrong. We walked inside and up the stairs. We were guided into a booth were Nathaniel and his debutante were seated. He had brought Isabella whose dark hair was placed in some intricate hairstyle on the top of her head. Some tendrils fell down which framed her face perfectly and she was laughing at something Nathaniel was saying to her.

I tore my gaze off them and looked at Charles who had now stopped beside two chairs for us to sit at. Nathaniel and Isabella were seated at front centre with Oscar and Bethany behind them, slightly to the left. Charles and I to the far right of them.