At the last second, I remembered my manners. Gathering the thick garment of my dress between my fingers I gave him a respectful curtsy. His eyes widened as he took me in while standing there completely speechless. The wonder in his eyes was flattering, almost as if it was the first time he has recognized me as a woman and not only his childhood friend. And just maybe he truly has.

He was devastatingly handsome in his black double-breasted west and a dark silk bowtie. His honey-colored short hair was neatly combed backward and his blue eyes sparkling with emotion I couldn’t quite place.

My mother loudly cleared her throat, reminding us we weren’t alone. “Jared? Why don’t you accompany Lady Abigail and Edith to the carriage? I need a word with Ashlyn.”

“Of course, My Lady,” he slightly inclined his head and spun on his heel toward auntie and Edith. He extended his elbows for both of them to link they arms through his. Aunt Abby seemed ecstatic as she pressed her bosom against his side with her lashes fanning her cheeks, half-covering the sultriness in her eyes which held undeniable wicked promises. Jared offered her a wide smile making her nearly melt from the attention he was giving her.

Mother caught my wrists and stirred me closer to her. “Please, be careful around him. I know he is young and handsome, irresistible to young ladies like yourself,” she ushered with a hushed voice. “I don’t want to see you heartbroken.”

“And I won’t be,” I wanted to appear confident, however I sounded anything but. The brave smile I worked so hard to maintain faltered, exposing my badly composed cloak of determination.

“Go now,” she lovingly placed her hands on my cheeks and pecked my forehead. “May luck be in your favor.”

I was about to follow the direction of my chaperones when I heard her call my name one last time.

“Whoever you choose, try to follow both - your heart and your instinct.”

“All right Mama,” her advice caused the sorrowful trembles inside my chest. I was quite certain there was no need to worry about matters of my heart for it was already taken.

***

“My Lady,” Jared politely offered his hand to me as I stepped out of the carriage. His courteous attitude and newfound manners were unfamiliar and quite suspicious to be fair. Looking up, I found him smirking at me, his lips dangerously close to my earlobe. “Isn’t this fun? Ashlyn Caldwell playing a graceful Lady. Honestly, I thought I’d never see the day.”

I was pretty sure my mouth hit the floor at his rude remark. “Pardon me?” I made sure no one was eavesdropping before I threw him a glare. If he will have the audacity to ask me to dance this evening, I will stomp his feet until he cried from the excruciating pain.

“You were always the one wearing man’s breeches and sneaking around. Rather taking interest in man’s affairs than ladylike activities,” his expression suddenly turned from teasing to warm. His eyes lovingly darted to his sister and than returned to me. “I will really miss you, kiddo. When you’ll be given away, there won’t be much time for us run around like we used to.”

I wasn’t sure which caused me more pain – the fact that he called me a child, or that I’ll soon be parted from him forever. For a moment I was almost convinced that the look in his eyes held a certain undertone of yearning, but now I wondered if what I saw was just my imagination playing cruel tricks on me.

I tried to banish the troublesome thoughts that twirled inside my mind. I gripped Edith under her arm as we slowly followed Jared’s lead. I could not stop myself to openly admire the large property, surrounded by a beautiful park with flamboyantly carved hedges – the grandiose mixture of concepts variating from mazes, boxes to sculptures and topiaries. Bushy creatures of all sorts stared at us as we walked by, encircling the stony fountain which stood in the middle of the gravel driveway. Arrington’s manor was without a doubt a beauty to behold, built and designed in Georgian architecture style. The u-shaped estate consisted of several different wings, including a red-brick cylindrical tower which topped over the grey mansard roof.

The line of carriages parked at the side was waiting impatiently for gentlemen to accompany the fashionable looking ladies inside.

At last, we stepped into the great hall, adorned with a large stony fireplace and a grand display of mounted deer, boars and antlers. A short walk on a colorful lotto carpet led us out of the hall and straight into the ballroom. The details of the long rectangular space were absolutely astonishing. There were frescos decorating the walls on either side of the golden-rimmed spacious windows. Eight wide chandeliers hung from vaulted stone ceiling with crystal pendalogues sparkling in the flickering light of the candles. The flooring was an expressive mosaic formed of the mixture of stone and glass. A refined piece of art must’ve been freshly manufactured as it was still unblemished and held an emotional glorification of the romantic era. My eyes traced the exposed bodies as they melted into one another in a grotesque depiction of a battle, their hands reaching out in a desperate manner to grasp the Holy creature rising above them. Napoleonic wars I wondered?

I straightened my pose the minute I noticed we were being watched and hurriedly let go of Edith’s arm.

“Oh dear. Here we go,” I hear her murmur under her breath.

Cautiously, we descended the imperial staircase with marble angelic statues sitting on top of the wrought railing – each accountable for a different task. I reminded myself not to gawk and most importantly – to keep my hands to myself as I’ve never been on the estate this large and spectacular before. We’ve permanently moved to our London townhouse as we were forced to sell our family property back in Sussex.

“Oh! Viscountess Abigail, I am pleased you joined us,” announced a large-framed man with a protruding stomach. Buttons on his tux were dangerously close to succumbing under the pressure of the stretched fabric.

“Duke of Arrington! What a delightful sight you are, Your Grace,” my auntie batted her eyelashes, clearly enjoying the lustful stares of our host, albeit not directed at her face but rather at her generous bosom.

Gentleman clearly forgot his wife was standing behind him, shooting daggers at aunt Abby. I smiled apologetically, but she brushed me off with an arrogant glance as if gazing down on underprivileged and diseased vermin. I reminded myself to be brave underneath the harsh stares of the ton for I was but a minor nobility - similarly to Edith - a daughter of a bankrupt baron in a dire need of securing a prosperous marriage.

We’ve barely arrived and yet I felt a presence of ominous energy hanging heavy in the air. Jared must’ve sensed my dampening spirits as he placed a hand on the small of my back. “How about I introduce you two to my loyal friends and gambling companions?” He smirked at his sister’s poorly covered outrage.

“Should you be mentioning such a shameful flaw in the company of two ladies, brother?” Frowning Edit hurriedly plastered a smile on her face as she realized where she was.

“Well, I wouldn’t, but you two are hardly called ladies,” Jared leaned forward and whispered confidentially, his blue eyes gleaming with playfulness.