Angélique (Theodore Laurence x OC)

Chapter 4: Fuss and Feathers

It was now the beginning of spring. Meg and I were at the Moffats' getting ready for a party. The girls gave Meg and me pet names. They called Meg "Daisy" and me "Rose".

"I do like that colour on you, Daisy. It's just like forget-me-nots. And the violet dress compliments your fair complexion quite well, Rose. I haven't seen such fabric for years. But you both have it made up so plain," Sallie said.
"Well, Abby and I do our own sewing, and...," Meg began before being cut off by Sallie.
"Mrs. Finster has silk pieces
ready-made. I'll take you there," Sallie said.

"The Marches don't buy silk. They have views on slavery," Annie said.

"Didn't your father's school close
when he admitted a dark girl," Sallie asked.

"Mrs. Finster's silk isn't from
the South. It's from Linfield," Meg said.

"This isn't China silk," Sallie asked.
"The silk mills use child labor," I answered.
"The poor are always with us. You're so good to remind us. May I tell you something? Those are afternoon dresses. I'll make the two of you my pets," Sallie said.

Then, a maid walked in holding two bouquets flowers in addition to two notes.

"These are for Daisy and Rose," the maid said while handing Meg and me the bouquets and notes.

"Didn't know the two of you had lovers," Annie said.
"The notes are from Marmee and the flowers are from Laurie," Meg said.
"Oh, indeed," Annie said.

"Teddy isn't either of our lover. He's a brother to us," I said.
"Oh, I see," Sallie said.

Soon, Sallie and Annie dolled Meg and me up. They put makeup on us and made us wear lovely, yet fancy dresses. Then, the party began. As the party was going on, Laurie walked up to me.

"Miss March...I thought your family were temperance people? Don't cover up. Maybe someone hasn't seen all your charms. And I promised Jo I'd show you off," Laurie said.
"The girls dressed me up for fun, and I rather like it. Wouldn't Jo stare if she saw me," I asked.
"Yes, I think she would. It reveals a whole new Abby," Laurie replied.
"Don't you like me so," I asked.
"No, I don't," Laurie answered bluntly.
"Why not, Teddy," I asked.
"I don't like fuss and feathers," he replied.
"You are the rudest boy I ever saw," I said before walking away.

I can't believe Laurie had the gall to say that. I just wanted to see how the other half lived. There was no need to be rude to me. I needed to calm down so I decided to stand by a window until I was ready to interact with people again. A while later, I was in a small room sitting on a sofa and heard footsteps. I looked up to see Laurie walk in. I suppose I can't stay mad at him forever.

"Abby...I'm sorry," Laurie said while sitting down next to me.
"Please don't tell Jo how I've behaved. If you won't tell about me. I just wanted to see how it felt to be Sallie Gardiner. All those proposals and gloves," I said.
"You're worth ten of those girls," Laurie said as I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Have you seen the way the March girl
went after the Laurence heir," a man, who was walking by asked, which caused Laurie and me to laugh.

"Please dance with me. Come, I'll be good. I don't like your gown, but I do think you are just splendid," Laurie said as he got up and helped me up.
"Alright," I said before walking out with Laurie and dancing.

As Laurie and I danced, I began to trip over my dress.

"This ridiculous dress! I keep tripping over it," I said.
"Tie some of it around your neck,
where it can do some good," Laurie said.

The rest of the evening was quite pleasant. Laurie and I danced the night away without a care in the world.