A lovers waltz

chapter one

I was called for dinner by my mother knocking on my door, I must have drifted off. Hurrying I cleaned and started dressing in my evening formal however I became caught up and needing help. The problem was the images were still on the bed; just as I started panicking a quiet rap sounded and Philip's chuckle entered the room.

"Is it something that one can help with or is someone indisposed with some other problem of," voice dropping a few octaves lower and quieter. "a more personal nature." After this he sniggered.

"Good lord friend you can be so repulsive." My laughter though could be heard in my voice.

"You only say such mean things as you have been doing the 'unmentionable.'" looking directly at the images. "I'm your family so, you must love me. it's an obligation." I rose my brow at that hiding the images in their compartment.

He started to button up my shirt, standing close looking down at me. "Tyron, you're frowning."

Sighing I replied. "what happens if this is how close I get to another man? Someone who loves me."

"Is that what frightens you?"

"Yes, I'm not meaning not having children or a spouse, dads sorting that out. I'm talking about a true marriage, a one of the heart." We embraced, then pulled apart upon my mothers heals coming towards the door.

"You will never want for someone like that to love you, you just need to discover where they are hidden. My friends and I will help you with that fret not."

"Dears come down stairs." Mothers voice cut through the door.

"Yes, mother."

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We entered the dining room and had supper. While mother and father were discussing the estate my sister Annalen decided, much to my dismay to grace us with her thoughts.

"I would love to be a ballet dancer, they look like they walk on air.

" I turned looking to look at Philip. "Philip say something."

"Annalen, you know as well a I do that often these graceful women that 'walk on air,'' twiddling his spoon dramatically. "also are graceful off stage and in a paying mans bed. All one has to do is look at the stage door and see them all waiting to be picked up."

Annalen glowered at this, giving a sharp retort. "well if men such as your self who say they so highly prise such women in they're dancing skills kept they're fly up then they wouldn't need to."

sighing I responded. "in this wold, at this time there is little else such women can do, its a cruel world"

"Well, dear brother would look well in a tutu and out there with the rest of them."

"Lady Annalen Gettarreny watch that mouth of yours this instant!" mother had looked up uncannily at the same time as Annalen had uttered those vulgar yet hilarious words. Cousin Philip's eyes twinkled in merriment while my sister quietly smouldered but, the twitch of her lips told otherwise. Soon after we retired to the drawing room till eight.

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As the clock struck the hour we all rose from our seats. At the door the staff handed us our coats and hats, for me that included my new frock coat. Mother and father got into the first car with annalen while I entered the second with Philip. I was bubbling with excitement, Philip was leaning against the door with a smirk directed at me.

"You look as if you might explode, your smile is rather disturbing." I laughed at his comment. We both turned to look out at the large houses of Belgrave, their lights on. we sped on, past the palace and down along the strand.

I turned to Philip, "You do know that mother hates Aunt Elizabeth. I quote, 'she is an arrogant, uncivil woman who enjoys lauding her wealth and power that she doesn't even own over others."

"Imagine living with her, she is incredibly entitled though that is often slapped down by father."

"At lest someone can; she is a bit like society. I think she is still rather irked that my father chose my mother over her." Philip nodded smirking.

"I think she always saw herself as his wife and queen in all but name. Father said that when told me in confidence that when she heard that lord William had met your mother on his travel round Europe she was livid, not sad but livid."

"I bet she was more so when she met her."

"As a matter affact she very much was. Upon entering the room father said that Catherine was greeted with gasps of admiration and became immediately the centre of the party. Before then mother tried to but often came off as arrogant and stuck up."

"well, I'm glad he found her and partly for her sake. he would most likely have given her a small house far of in the middle of the estate and left her there after giving him children." Philip smiled at that.

after half an hour driving across London we arrived at the royal opera house. we both stepped out onto the bustling December streets. our driver pointed us to where mother and father was who were quite a distance from us being the first night of the performance. the rain had made it particularly difficult with members of the public dashing hither and thither. mother however made those round her instinctively be weary of jostling her. father too held his own amongst the crowd being head and shoulders above most.

I turned looking up at the palace of plays, a temple for the gods of the stage; it glittered and gleamed in the rain, rising up above the grot and grime of streets. upon entering we were hit by the warm, organised bustle of ticket collectors, audience members and sellers selling trinket and refreshments. there were ladies in large, sweeping dresses, men in black evening wear and children young on old darting in and out of the crowded atrium. with all the mayhem it was easy for us to be swept apart, mother however held on to my sister and I while father looped his arm with Philips. we headed up the crowded stair way up to the boxes, once there we took our seats.

the ballet was of the possessing of a young novice by the devil, this takes place in a French abby at night. This was its first night here and was expected to be stunning in set, music and choreography. I had heard and discussed it with our, Philip and I's group of bohemian friends who most had gone to boarding school. We had all agreed while discussing it that it was of a man falling for another or a partial autobiography of the ballet choreographer who many suspected as a homosexual. I had hoped that I would be able to view it one night. Just as the last of the theatre goers sat down a silence fell and all eyes turned to the curtain that began to rise.

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the second chapter is for now done, I do hope you appreciate it. I apologies that there is no racy parts in this however this helps set the scene. again vote and do comment on what you think, I would love to hear your thoughts.