Then There Was You

V

The morning of the audition had come quickly.
It had been an intense three days of role studying. I managed to watch all the first season of the show and done extensive research of noble ladies of that period. Copying and creating a believable English accent had been the most gruelling of tasks. But I managed nonetheless. I was too scared to revert back to my own Scottish accent that I stayed in English accent when talking to my family and James. It drove them crazy. But needs must.
I also studied the character I was supposed to seduce- Charles Brandon. To be honest, he seemed like a womaniser, my character wasn't going to need to do much seducing at all. The actor that played him was handsome and young- Henry Cavill. I hadn't seen him in anything before. Nor did I recognise any other of the characters. It made me doubtful of the series apparent success.

I was packed and ready to go, ten minutes ahead of schedule. Rachel was picking me up at 7am for our 10.05am flight. It would get us into London for 11.10am and give us plenty time to get to the studio for role call at 1pm.
I was waiting patiently in the living room. My mother and sister had got up to see me off.
Louise was playing absently with my hair, an envious look in her eye. It wasn't necessary. She too had beautiful hair. It was long like mine but it curled wildly and it was the same chestnut brown colour as mums.
Rachel's black Mercedes finally pulled up and stopped in front of our drive.

"Now be careful! And give it your all!" My mum said, as she pulled me in for another hug and kiss.
"Good luck, sis," Louise says, as she joins our now three way hug. I give them all a tight squeeze and kiss them both on the lips.
"Do not fear for me my dears. I shan't fail you!" I say dramatically, not dropping the English accent. They both roll their eyes at me and laugh as I make my way hastily outside.
Rachel gets out the car and puts my case into the boot. As I get in the car, she runs up to my house and hugs my mum and sister on the doorstep. My family love Rachel. Especially my mum. Seeing them together this way, makes me think of simpler times when we used to have sleep overs when Louise was just six years old. Now she's nearly eighteen, and she's taller than me and Rachel!
How time flies...

The rest of the morning and the flight passed in an easy, fleeting manner. Then suddenly it was 1pm. It was audition time.
I was sitting in the well lit lobby of the studio, with a bunch of pretty young women. The oldest looked to be twenty seven. But she was still very pretty. I shifted uncomfortably for the the hundredth time which earned a firm swat on the arm from Rachel.
"Stop fidgeting!" She hissed quietly. I childishly stick my tongue out at her in response. She tutted at me but stuck her tongue fully out, beating me at my own game. I laughed and turned my attention back to the other girls in the room. My competition.
There was fifteen of us in total, but only one would get the part. And I had to make sure it was me.

One girl in particular stood out. She'd made eye contact a couple of times with me already, but when I caught her eye this time, she smiled. I smiled back willingly. There was something about her I liked. She had short dark hair, that contrasted with her pale skin. Her face was pixie like but very pretty, and she was petite in the extreme. She must have been even smaller than me.
Just then, the door to the studio opened, and out came a smartly dressed man. He looked to be in his late forties, his posture was excellent.
"Good afternoon ladies!" He addressed us all, looking at each of us briefly. "We're ready for you. Come on in."
There was a flurry of excited whispers as the girls got up to follow the man into the room.
Rachel got up with me, she wasn't considering waiting outside an option. I smiled, as she linked her arm with mine, and we entered the room together.

It was in that room, surrounded by nervous women and curious eyes, that I seen him for the first time.
He was sitting down, but as we filed into the room, he slowly stood up. He was much taller than the others that stood next to him.
I knew he was tall from what I'd seen from the TV, but he seemed much taller in the flesh. It always made me feel strange seeing someone I had watched only from the screen. My eyes tried to search for differences between the screen version and the real. But the only thing I could see, from here, that he was somehow more handsome. If that was even possible.
"Oh my god," Rachel gasped quietly. I was grateful for her outburst. It allowed me to finally tear my eyes from him. I blushed as I realised I had been staring at him.
"I didn't know Henry was going to be here too!" She whispered to me. "Look at him! Oh Lara, please get this role!"
I bite my lip to stifle a laugh and turn my attention back to the table at the end of the hall, trying to not look at him.