I was getting ready for Lady Estella's ball with the thought of my dream that had haunted me for the whole day and was still haunting me. Every detail and every scene was constantly repeating in my head like I was stuck in a horrible loop.
I dressed up in a purple lace and silk gown. It was decorated with flower-patterned laces and a silk bodice. There were also matching lace sleeves that started from the elbows and ended before the wrists. I wore silver pearl earrings with a matching silver pearl necklace with two pendants, one at the front and one at the back. My hair was perfectly made into a messy-curly bun that looked more than elegant. I also wore a silver headband over my head.
"Jesus! You-You look gorgeous, my love." Said mother. Her tone was full of love and breath. She wore a magenta and green gown that matched her perfectly.
"Oh, thank you, mama! I am indeed delighted to hear that." I gave her a pleasant smile. The smile that she deserved. I looked at her as I stood up from my dressing chair. The dressers also walked outside the room to give us some space.
"My Aureline. You grew up so fast." She rested her hands on my shoulder. Her eyes were emotional as I smiled at her. "I hope you find a suitor soon."
"Mama, please. Why do you always bring up the word 'suitor'?" I asked with a bit of discomfort.
"My dear daughter, I just want you to be happy. I want you to have a house and a family of your own." She said, brushing my shoulders gently.
"But…" She did not even let me say another word when she said, "Just stop your but,s ok! I hope you meet your Lord Sebastian Blackville tonight."
"Mama!" I spoke again in discomfort and astonishment. Her face was amusing at that time.
"Ok! Ok! Let's go now. The carriage is waiting." She said as she started walking away, ay leaving me and my thoughts alone in the empty room.
∙∞°
The chandeliers shimmered above the ballroom, scattering candlelight across the silk gowns and polished marble floor. I kept my smile steady as my hands trembled slightly. Tonight was not meant for mistakes−not with all of London watching. There were people, there were decorations, there were cakes, biscuits, pastries, drinks, and other food,s but the room lacked one thing: Peace.
"My Lady Felixer! You are finally here." Lady Estella Cruncher approached us. Her silver and royal blue silk and tulle gown was glittering as her black hair looked shinier than usual under the majestic light coming from the chandeliers.
"Oh, my Lady Cruncher! I'm so glad to see you again." She started to advance toward her, glistening with excitement.
"Oh! Aureline darling, you look−exhaustingly charming tonight." She swallowed hard. Her kind eyes were looking a bit kinder tonight.
"Thank you, my Lady!" I bowed slightly, smiling as my mind again replayed a scene from the dream earlier.
"I shall ask you then, to save a dance for each of my sons, diamond." She started scanning me deeply. She mentioned her sons ag, ain like she always does. She does it every time.
"Why not, my lady?" I smiled again, as I covered my disagreement with a gentle agreement.
I scanned every corner of the room, but there was just no sign of Lord Sebastian and his family.
"Have you invited the Blackvilles, my Lady?" I immediately looked at her as she broke her talk with Mama. Mother immediately looked at me with a mischievous grin.
"Oh yes! I have invited them, but this very morning I received a letter from Lady Blackville, in which she apologized for not attending this ball as she would be gone for half of this season to Scotland due to the sudden death of her father." She explained it with complete ease.
"And her sons?" Mother asked her, as she side-eyed me.
"Yes, her sons will be attending the ball." She told mmy mother and me
"My Lady, may I have this dance with you?" A familiar deep voice struck my head as I turned to look back. It was Lord Sebastian Blackville. His smirky smile was charming as usual, revealing his gorgeous dimple.
"Mr. Blackville!" My face was immediately struck with a spring of happiness.
"Lord Blackville! Miss Aureline was just asking about you." That annoying Lady Cruncher was again at her peak. My feet froze as she told this to Lord Sebastian. His eyes darkened immediately as his smile widened.
"Really, Miss Aureline? Was the diamond of the season asking for me?" His eyes were constantly scanning my face, looking for the answer.
"W-Wel,l yes. It is true." I lowered my gaze as my ears and cheeks began to heat up.
"Hmm! Then I shall offer you a dance!" He offered me his gloved hand. "We can talk more deeply while dancing." His eyes widened as he looked at Mother and Lady Cruncher.
"For sure, my Lord." I accepted his request as my heart said. We immediately came to the dance floor as the violin and orchestra started to bloom steadily.
"I shall complement you." His smile was just never leaving his face, like he used a very strong adhesive to attach it.
"Complement me? Complement me for what?" I asked him,m raising my eyebrow as I forgot to breath looking at him.
"You look pleasantly breathtaking tonight!" He confessed as we danced steadily. It was like the peace no longer lacked.
"Oh! Um, thank you, my lord!" My breathing trembled as my body heated up more.
"Why were you asking for my earli, to Lady Estella Cruncher?" His face was waiting impatiently for the answer, as I struggled to find the words for the answer.
"I-I-I was just looking at everyone, but I couldn't find your family, so I just asked her about yo,." I told him half the truth.
"Really?" His body questioned as he was for sure waiting for another answer.
I nodded in agreement, smiling.
I started to feel dizzy as my brain again started to focus on the dream earlier. My body trembled as I stopped the dance and held my head.
"What happened?" He asked me as his smile finally faded away, revealing his pale face.
"I-I just need some fresh air. Can you please give me a hand?" I asked him as I struggled to stand up on my own. This had never happened to me before. I've got many dreams, good and bad, but nothing like this has ever happened to me.
"It will be my pleasure," I said as his arm wrapped around me, helping me to walk slowly outside in the garden.
He made me sit gently at a bench outside in the garden, as he sat beside me, giving me warmth out in the cold.
"What happened?" His face questioned as his body was unsure. It just happened to me suddenly.
"I am not feeling wel,." I said, still holding my head, as my hands trembled constantly. Cool wind blew, however,r it didn't even bother me as I had my warmth beside me.
"But you were just alright a few minutes ago!" He said. His hands began to advance toward mine slowly.
"I know! It's just..." My voice cracked, my head ached, my lips twitched.
"Look at me!" He held my hands in his hands. For amomente,nt it made me forget what was ggoing on as I looked at him.
"You can tell me if something is bothering you!" He moved a bit closer to help me relax.
I was unsure about telling him that secret, but something about him was making me trust him blindly and was forcing me to just tell him everything that was locked inside my heart.
"I-I sometimes..." I was just about to tell him when someone called my name, "Mrs. Aureline!" I looked up.
"I've been looking for you everywhere." It was Lady Cruncher's eldest son, Lord George Cruncher. His dark black hair matched perfectly with his mother's. His sea-green eyes were deep. He was tall, but not taller than Lord Sebastian.
"Mother said that you have saved me a dance." His face was constantly smiling, as he scanned my face, which was ready to cry its heart out.
"Oh, um..." I didn't know what to answer him, so Lord Sebastian spoke for me, "Can't you see that she is not well at this momen?." He stood up to face him.
"Who are you to her, Sebastian?" His smile disappeared as he questioned Lord Blackville.
"A friend." He looked at me. His words gave me warmth and peace.
"Mr.Blackville!" I stood up. "I indeed saved him a dance, on behalf of his mother, my Lord." I went closer to both of them.
"But Mrs. Felixer, you are feeling unwell." He turned toward me.
"I know, but the one who came to me should know this very fact that I am feeling unwell." I glared at Lord Cruncher.
"You should not waste your night, Mr. Blackville." I disappointed myself and Mr. Blackville with a heavy heart.
"So you're feeling alright then?" Lord Crunched said, smiling at me.
"We shall go inside now." I completely ignored his question and started walking away. I knew that Lord Blackville was standing right there where I left him, waiting for me that I might return but it was for the sake of my mother's friend.
"Mrs. Felixer!!!" I turned back to look at him. His face was without a smile this time. "If you need someone to lighten your heart and soul by sharing the thing that is troubling you, remember that I'll be available." He smiled a bit. It looked like he was still waiting for me. But all I did in his response was to smile gently at him and nod slightly, leaving him alone in that cold garden.