Clouded Innocence (6 page)

Chapter
8

The Ball

I awoke to breakfast in my room. I laid in my bed wrapped in my white quilt that my mother had made me, for a few moments. The curtains were open allowing the sun from the window to brighten and warm the room. Lilly had arranged for me to spend the day in my room allowing me to prepare for the ball that evening. I had never really understood why there was such an ordeal in preparing for a ball or any other social function.

I sat at my vanity against the wall while Mary, along with another maid, I believe her name was Susan, helped to clean and prep me, like a virgin being sent to the sacrifice.

They washed me, arranged my hair and sometime during the hubbub, I was given lunch, and then it was back to the beautifying ritual.
 

When they were finally finished I was already exhausted and the evening had not even begun. The maids summoned Lilly for her approval, before I would be allowed to leave the confines of my room, which today felt more like a prison. As she walked in, she caught sight of me instantly. Her hand flew to her mouth and she nodded in approval.
 

They ushered me to the mirror and I gasped at my reflection. The dress still looked as glorious as before, but I had changed. My hair was pinned on top of my head in curls with a small ringlet behind my ear. The ladies had enhanced my face by pulling my hair away from it and I felt as if a princess was staring back at me. The girl I woke up as was no more. The reflection looking back at me was that of a young woman.

Lilly told me to stay put until everyone was downstairs. She wanted me to make an entrance. 

Moments later, Mary led me out of my room. I slowly descended down the stairs, not to make a better entrance, which I am sure was what Lilly would have wanted. No, I moved slowly because of all the layers in the dress. If I hurried too quickly, I was liable to trip and then my night with being on Conner's arm would be ruined before it even started. My father came into my vision first. His eyes began to water at the sight of me.
 

Once I was to the base of the steps, he wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “You look so much like your mother.”
 

My eyes filled with tears at his words. Very rarely did my father speak of my mother, so I was overjoyed when he did so especially in reference to me. He released me and I saw Conner with his beautiful half smirk, and pale frosted blue eyes locked on me.
 I had hoped the look on Conner’s face would make all the time spent in my room worth it and it most definitely did.

I walked over to him and he offered his arm to me. I hesitated before taking it. My father should not think anything odd of it. After all, he was the one who asked Conner to escort me.

* * *

We rode in two separate carriages. My father and Lilly rode in the first while Conner, Steven, his date, Judith,
 and I followed behind in the second. I knew Judith from town. She was slightly shorter than me and seemed to contrast Steven in every way, with her round plump face, reddish blond hair, whilst Steven had a thin narrow face with dark, almost black hair. I thought they looked adorable together. Her long green dress even clashed with his blue suit.

We were deposited at the front of the Carpenter's house. As we entered, my father and Lilly did the respectable thing and made their way bidding their hellos while leaving the four of us to entertain ourselves.
 

The room was extremely spacious; simple yet marvelous. There were very few furnishings. A few wooden chairs lined the long walls and several guests took comfort in them. We stood on hard wooden floors that were scuffed, most likely from pervious balls. There was a stringed ensemble setup in the corner playing a cheery tune. It gave off a sweet sound in the old hall. Across from the band was a table set up with a cuisine of foods.
 

Couples all around us were spinning effortlessly, like their feet were in control and their bodies simply followed. I watched them spin around the room. They were all so lovely. The ladies were dressed in elegant dresses that swayed with the music, not a plain one among them. The men were dressed in dark suits. All were neat and well-kept.

“Look at them spin
like ballerinas
.” Conner whispered in my ear while placing his hand on the small of my back. My face flushed red with embarrassment. I hoped the other’s had not heard.

“What?” Steven asked as Conner chuckled from my response.

“Oh nothing; I was simply asking if Francesca would care for some punch?” Conner stated. 

“Please,” I whispered. He smiled at me before stalking away towards the refreshments.
 

“Francesca de Bella?” I turned in the direction from where I heard my name. I let out an aggravated sigh when I saw who it was. It was the gossip lot made up of four young ladies, my age, led by the queen bee Cecile McGee. They swarmed around me like bees to honey. I turned to see Steven and Judith had walked some distance away and were busy socializing with others. I knew all the girls from school. They were always on the lookout for their next morsel of information whether it was real or not.
 

“It has been a long time Francesca. How are you this lovely evening?” Cecile was the spokesperson for the whole pack, the others rarely talked. They all stood behind her with knowing smirks. I was curious as to what I had done to bring on their unwanted attention.

“I am well Cecile.” I was not going to bait her with questions, even if it meant not being polite. I figured if I let her take the lead, she would tell me what she wanted and the conversation would be over much faster.

“We saw an unfamiliar face this evening and we just had to know, who is your handsome escort?” She asked like it was a truly an insignificant detail but I knew she was thirsting for the bit of information. I should have known it had something to do with Conner. He was gorgeous and as she pointed out, new and unexplored.

I turned looking in his direction. He held two glasses in his hands and was filling the first one up with punch. “That is my stepbrother's best friend. Mr. Edwards.”

“Mother says he is staying in your home.” The girl to Cecile's right spoke and I believed her name was Jennifer. Her voice was small a squeaky like that of a small child's. I knew no matter which way I phrased my answer, they would turn it around to fit their gossip rants. So I said nothing. When it became clear I was not going to feed them any information, the girl spoke again.

“Mother also says that Mr. Henry has been seen in town on several occasions,
alone
.” The last word came out in a hushed tone, like it was dangerous.

“If Mr. Edwards is not accompanying him, what must he be doing with all his time?” Cecile asked with snotty curiosity.

“He has been attending business in town,” I said trying to hush them up.

“I was not talking about Mr. Henry,” Cecile said snidely before an evil smirk spread across her face. She looked over my shoulder, then quickly back at me. “Have a good evening Francesca.” She spun around taking off in the same direction from which she had come and the rest of the hive followed. Conner appeared beside me seconds later, handing me a glass. Our finger touched briefly, his eyes held my gaze at the contact. I turned wallowing in their splendor before me.
 

Once I finished with my punch, Conner took my glass setting it on the nearest table. Taking my hand, he slid it back into the cradle of his arm then leaned in to whisper to me, “May I have this dance?”
 

I could feel the warmth of his breath flow across my skin. Goosebumps tingled up my arms as a result. I nodded instinctively with a small smile dancing across my face.
 

We strolled to the area of the floor where other couples had been dancing as new couples graced the floor. Women around us turned their gazes to Conner, then slowly to me. Pure jealousy was in their expressions. They looked at me as if I was not worthy. Perhaps I was not, but I tried not to let their envious glances ruin my time.

I felt Conner's hand on the small of my back as he pulled me close. My mind emptied of thoughts of those envious women. Conner had my undivided attention and I seemed to have his, which was all that matter. My heart began to race and I worried that he could feel it too, but if he could he gave no notice. I hesitantly placed my left hand on top of his shoulder. He smiled brilliantly at me, grasped my other hand firmly and we flowed smoothly around the floor with the music. 

I inhaled deeply, his sweet scent filling my lungs. It was more taunting at that close of a distance.
 

“You look very lovely this evening, Francesca.” I felt the heat of my blushing cheeks take over.

He seemed very confident in his steps which caused me to follow with ease. The background dissolved around us and it was just Conner and I alone in the room. No envious, admiring women. No other dancers. Just us. We swayed like flowers in the wind gazing into each other eyes, never breaking contact. There was no sense of time or space. There was nothing but Conner and me, and the peaceful music in the background.

Once the song ended, Conner leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Would you take a walk with me?” I nodded, as he offered me his arm.

We stepped out onto the terrace. The sound of crickets filled the air. The night sky was a veil of dark velvet with an abundant number of glittering orbs scattered aimlessly. The full moon glistened brilliantly amongst them, bathing everything in a soft glow. It was very calm and incredibly romantic. 

“Are you enjoying yourself?” He asked.
 

“Yes, very much so.”
 

“Good. I am glad.”
 

A breeze blew the cool summer night air causing chills to run down my arms. I rubbed my hands up them in a warming fashion.
 

“You are cold. Would you like to go back inside?” He responded.
 

“No!” I said quite hastily, and then began gazing out beyond the terrace. “It is a nice change from the warmth inside.” I was nervous and I did not know why. Conner and I had been alone before, more privately than we were at that moment. I could hear the swarm of people just inside the terrace proving we were not entirely alone.
 

Another cool rush of air whistled past us blowing a strand of my hair into my face.
 Conner leaned into me slowly raising his extended fingers and brushed the strand of hair delicately behind my ear. He looked at me with admiration in his eyes. All was silent, with the exception of the breeze rustling through the trees and the pounding of my heart in my chest. The noise of the ball seemed momentarily silent. Even the crickets quieted their song as if sensing the building tension between Conner and I that was begging to be released. 

Slowly, he bent down toward me, pausing inches from my face almost like he was asking for permission. We were so close I could feel the warmth of his sweet breath on my skin. His blue eyes pierced through me.
 

Running the back of his hand down my jaw to my chin, he gently tilted my face up until his lips pressed softly against mine. I closed my eyes as his touch overwhelmed my senses. His lips were so soft yet firm. My mind emptied of everything except thoughts of him and how wonderful his lips felt pressed to mine. He slowly deepened the kiss, molding our lips together and to my surprise my body responded on its own. My lips moved against his as I ran my hand through his hair and down his neck pulling him closer.
 

Suddenly the silence was disrupted by laughter coming from inside the doors jolting us back to reality. Conner pulled his lips away with a groan resting his forehead against mine. His breathing was ragged, matching mine perfectly. Staring straight into my eyes, he pulled his lips up into a half smile then brought them back to mine for one brief kiss.
 

“Shall we?” Conner said, gesturing to the door.
 

I hesitantly ran my hand through my hair assuring that the strand was back where it needed to be before returning to the ball. Our moment was over, now it was time to return to world.

As we entered the room, I saw my father and Lilly standing with a few of their friends carrying on a conversation. Steven was out on the floor dancing with Judith. They looked wonderful together. It seemed no one had even noticed our brief disappearance.

Conner placed his hand on the small of my back leading me into the room. I looked up at him, and he gave me quick encouraging smile. Placing my hand in the crook of his arm, he escorted me toward some vacant chairs along the wall.

As we made our way, I noticed someone staring at me. I recognized him as Nicholas Jackson. I had gone to school with him. His father was a successful business man. Conner and I were taking our seats when I saw that Nicholas was approaching us. 

“Francesca, I was wondering if you would do me the honor of giving me the next dance?” His eyes never broke from mine as he spoke. He seemed to be ignoring Conner's existence entirely.
 

I looked to Conner; after all, he was my escort for the evening. He gave me a small nod to go ahead. I really did not want to, but I also did not want to be rude. After Cecile, how many more ill-mannered things would I be allowed before I became labeled as impolite? I gave Nicholas a nod, taking his arm, he led me back out on the dance floor.