One Look

Chapter 21

"Jane where is the hairbrush?" Elaine shouted. I glanced at Jane who looked exasperated as she searched around the room for the brush.

"I am using it", Margaretta yelled from where she was stood fixing her own hair. I ignored the rest of their endless squabbling as Clara finished pinning back my own hair. My mind felt heavy at the possibility of me bumping into Charles tonight. I had managed to avoid him and feign illness whenever he had requested my companionship the past few days but being at a ball may prove more difficult to avoid him.

Eventually we were all ready to venture away from my rooms and head to the ball. Maria and her group of ladies in waiting were ahead of us. I was impressed by the fact that she continued to walk with her head held high in avoidance of the whispers and stares around her.

"I cannot believe people are still talking about the rumour that went around about her", I said quietly to my ladies in waiting. Margaretta giggled and I snapped my eyes to hers.

"We did promise to get our own backs on her after her endless laughter at us after your umm well embarrassing moment in front of the king", Elaine stated a delighted smile on her face that she had been to one to cause Maria distress.

"You mean you were the one who spread that horrendous rumour about her?" I asked and Elaine nodded her head with a proud look on her face.

"I know I was impressed by myself", she giggled, and I let out a breath of annoyance. Elaine's petty excuse for revenge had cost me my mothers necklace and made me on even thinner ice with the king.

We made it to the ballroom, and I hurried in to join the rest of the debutantes who stood in a line on the ballroom floor to await the arrival of the royal family.

"I haven't seen you in ages", Amelia whispered from beside me and I grinned at her.

"I haven't been feeling well the past week, but I seem to be much better now", I replied just before the horn blew to announce the royal family's entrance. We all sank down into a curtsey when Nathaniel approached us to choose his first dance partner of the night.

I was surprised when his feet stopped in front of me, but I stood up and accepted his hand before the floor filled up with other partners. I glanced over at Amelia who was in Oscars arms a huge grin on her face.

"You look lovely as always", Nathaniel complimented as the music began. I rolled my eyes at him and he chuckled quietly.

"I was surprised you asked to dance with me first, I can literally feel Isabella burning holes into my back", I laughed, and he shook his head in response to my words.

"Well I have been meaning to talk with you the past week, but I have been busy helping my father with important court matters", he stated.

"How about we talk about that?" I asked and he frowned.

"No, we are going to talk about Charles, he has been avoiding me ever since you threatened to reveal to him about what we overheard at the ballet".

"I told him", I whispered. "I couldn't stand another moment in the presence of a man who was only with me because someone told him to".

"I still cannot understand why he would do this to you", Nathaniel groaned. "He has always been such a good friend to me".

"Well he has no loyalties to me", I pointed out and Nathaniel frowned further.

"Elle", he started before the song ended and rush of debutantes cut him off. Henrietta basically barged me out of the way of the prince.

"Ah Henrietta, will you join me for a dance?" Nathaniel's voice rang out and I rolled my eyes before I hurried off the dancefloor. I stole a glance at Henrietta who was now in the prince's arms with a gleeful smile on her face.