„Good evening, miss.“
There it was. A cliché worth of every Jane Austen novel playing right then n there.
I turned n faced a tall handsome man ive never seen before. I head to lift up my chin a bit to meet his gaze. Playfull smile curved his lips, sharp black eyes examining my half supressed ironic grin.
„Did i say something inappropriate?“ he lifted one eyebrow n i had to smile.
„Not at all, my lord,“ i replied, trying hard for my voice not to sound too taunted.
I wasnt sure what to do. No idea what was expected from me. But i didnt have time to think something out.
„Lord Mayhew, at your service, miss,“ he took a bow n extended his hand toward me. „May i have this dance?“
„Im afraid i should call myself miss Penelopy Featherington for tonight,“ i grinned ironicly again, „ and i have to warn you, i am not familiar with these dances.“
„ Dont worry, miss, i promise to take good care of you on the dancefloor.“ His smile could convince a wolf to have a tea with a lamb instead of eating it. I couldnt help myself but to smile over absurdity of the situation.
„Watch the other dancers,“ he was advising me in a low voice, while he was leading me on the dancefloor. N he kept on advising me as we were dancing. It wasnt so difficult after all, as moves kept repeating and the dancers stood close to each other. It was fun, n i ended up enjoying it. Dance was easy n i had no trouble catching up.
Dance ended and so called lord Mayhew offered to fetch me that lemonade i didnt have a chance to enjoy thanks to his interruption. I slowly made my way to the side of the dancefloor, still heated from dance, watching people getting ready for another rounf of dance. It was amazing, n i felt like i stepped into some alternative world where nineteen century wasnt long gone.
„Your lemonade, miss Featherington.“ The low velvet voice announced my unexpected companion‘s return. I took a better look at him. Tall, dark haired, fair skinned. Piercing black eyes n captivating smile. His costume suited him damn well, n he was so tall n wide shouldered, even i felt small compared to his intimidating frame. Unlike me, he seemed comfortable in his role. It has to been role, i was sure, n he seemed enjoying it in every way.
„Thank you, my lord,“ a accepted the glass n took a sip of lemonade.
„How come you are unchaperoned, miss Featherington?“ he asked.
I grinned.
„Havent you heard? Spinsters dont need to be chaperoned.“
„A spinster?“ he lifted his brow again, i caught myself staring at him. „I doubt theres a single virgin in this room.“
„So do i,“ a chuckled. „But isnt that highly inappropriate, discuss such a matter with a young lady?“
„It is for sure,“ he laughed.
„Lucky im not a young lady.“
„What are you than?“ he eyed me curiously.
„A divorced young woman?“ i replied.
„No husband to consider me too daring, than,“ he gave me a wolfish grin and caught my hand, lifting it to his lips, kissing the back of my hand enveloped in a lace glove.
It was surreal. This just wasnt happening. But it was. I couldnt help myself but think about how lost i felt earlier this evening.
Daaaaaamn. All the gods and demons be cursed. What am i doing here.
Those lines crossed my mind, as i was staring at my reflection in the huge, renaissance, decadent mirror.
I so much dont belong, my thoughts echoed through the blank space of my mind.
I usually wasnt that kind of girl, complaining about her looks even though she knew she‘s a classic beauty. I allways considered myself far from beautifull. Not displeasing for the eye, sure, but neither georgeous, meerly handsome, in my odd way.
Mirror stares and complains also wasnt my thing. Usually i was content with my looks of excentric chubby chick. But this dress….
To be honest, i had to admit the dress was my masterpiece. Regency dress made out of off pink satin, decorated with tiny white fabric flowers and pearl beads across the bodice, accompanied with corset underneath, lifting up my breast, and wide satin shawl, hanging from my arms. In possibilities of my wide frame n round curves, i looked stunning. What caught my eye was how the dress made my breast look almost riddiculously standing out against my waist, thanks to high waist line of the regency dress. Not only i couldnt hide my curves in this dress, they made them even more obvious.
Daaaaamn, i mumbled, sending horrified looks to my mirror image.
Well, nothing i could do about it now, i told myself, took a deep breath n smoothed the lines of the long skirt over my hips with my hands.
Damn the dress, damn the cursed Bridgerton series and damn my friend, who made me accompany her to this event.
I used all my will to unlock my gaze from the mirror n proceed back to the hall, reminding a ballroom with a shiny chandeliers, flowers n even a small orchestra. I doubted i ever seen something so beautifull, so i decided i should simply enjoy the evening.
I wallpinned myself with a small glass of lemonade, listening to music, watching pairs dancing and sipping lemonade. I wished to join the dancers, knowing there was no way i could. Neither i knew those dances, or had someone to dance with.
After two dances i realized, how this watching from side reminds me of the particular heroine of the Bridgerton series, n i started to feel sligtly akward. How predictable. And riddiculous. But there it was. Lonely chubby chick, standing on the side, watching other people, listening to their conversations. Lady Whistledown my ass, i grinned and decided to fetch myself another glass of lemonade.
„No husband to consider me too daring, than.“
„No,“ i agreed.
„Thank you for honoring me with your first dance,“ he made a little bow again, but than he noticed me watching dancing pairs as another song started. „Oh, it looks like you wouldnt mind doing me the honor second time, my lady“ he smiled at me.
„I was just admiring the beauty of it all,“ i said quickly, not wanting to sound too eager.
„What do you admire the most?“ he asked.
I took another sip of lemonade, getting some time to think about my answer.
„Its really hard to tell,“ i said slowly, „there’s so much to admire. The place itself looks stunning, the decorations are glorious, music is divine and people here… I feel like i stepped into a different world, and it feels wonderfull and a little scary at the same time.“
„Why does it feel scary?“ he asked, lifting one eyebrow curiously.
„I dont know, maybe… i feel like a different person in a brand new world. It feels like i could do anything and everything is possible. But i also feel a bit lost, not sure if i belong, if i should be here.“
My answer sliped from my lips before i could stop myself and consider my words better. I was wondering if honesty wasnt a bad idea. But what could possibly happen. There was just one night, that would be over very soon. Too short time to be too afraid to enjoy it.
So called lord Mayhew seemed pleased with my answers, though.
„And what would you like to do, considering everything is possible?“ he continued with his tricky questions.
I took another sip of lemonade, n realized i emptied a tiny glass. This excuse was beginning to be too obvious, anyway.
„I…“ i paused and looked away. „I would like to try keep up with another new dance steps,“ i admitted.
„And whats stopping you?“ i heard a voice with undeniable chuckle.
I gave him a suspecting gance. He obviously ment it.
„Nothing?“
And then we were dancing again. One, two, three, four another dances and lot of laughter and light conversation. I was enjoying his company and completely forgot about my previous nervosity. After all that fun balroom seemed a bit crowdy and i was wishing for a single breath of fresh air.
„Unchaperoned lady with a gentleman in the garden? How scandalous,“ i teased, as we were walking around in the dark garden. Air was chill n fresh.
„Whats so scandalous about that, my lady?“ he asked with a soft laughter, and wolfish grin was back.
„Maybe, this?“ He took a stray lock of my hair and placed it behid my ear gently, brushing my cheek with the back of his hand.
„Or this?“ he whispered, wolfish grin widening, his hand sliding around my waist on my back. He leaned down and kissed me softly.
I stayed still for a moment, suprised. My eyes closed withouth my brain giving them an order to do so, my body seemed to act on its own will.
„Yes, this,“ i said. But then i grinned.
„The most scandalous about that is how sadly little scandalous that kiss was,“ i added.
He didnt give me time to say anything else. He cuped my cheeks into his hands and kissed me fiercly, not ending his kiss untill i started to gasp for air, but he only let me take a deep breath and than he took me by the back of my head with one hand and the other one grabbed me around waist and slammed me against his body.
„Was this scandalous enough?“ he asked after two breathless minutes.
I was still trying to catch my breath, but i giggled anyway.
„It was a good start.“
„And you would like to continue in this scandalous behaviour right here, lady Featherington?“ he said teasingly. From the look on his face i could say he wouldnt mind at all.
„Not really,“ i admitted. „I prefer more comfortable places for these things. And its Elis.“
„My pleasure, Elis,“ he kissed my hand again. „ Im Thomas.“
I took a bow, suprised myself by managing to make a proper ladylike bow. „Nice to meet you, sir Thomas.“
„Would you care to enjoy the last dance, lady Elis?“
I blinked in suprise.
„Is it a last dance already?“
„It is, my lady.“
„Oh… i surely would.“
„Than dance we shall,“ he smiled and acompanied me back to the dancefloor.
After last dance, romantic and so cute, he took me by the hand and leaded me outside the ballroom. I thought he was leading me outside again, but he took a huge staircase instead.
„Where are we going?“ The nervosity in my voice was obvious, but he kept on leading me up, throught the corridors of unknown mansion, not bothering to answer. The situation seemed quite alarming, but i realized the man was too huge, too strong for me to resist him even if i tried.
He opened some door and we entered a dark room. After litted corridors, the room was pitch black. Heavy courtains seemed to cover the windows. As my eyes was slowly adapting to the complete luck of light, i noticed a huge continental bed. I spinned around to face him.
„What the-?“ i didnt have a chance to finish the sentence. He grabbed me and kissed me hard. Protests were impossible. I could hardly breathe. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close to his body, his hands sliding up and down my back. Before i could realize, he unzipped my dress, took a step back and slide them down my shoulders. My dress turned into a small pack of fabrick on the floor.
„Are you sure u-„ his lips crashed on mine again. He pulled me back to his chest and than he leaned foreward and grabed me by my ass and lifted me up like i weight nothing. I was shocked. I was no thin small pixie, i was really heavy, and he lifted me up like a feather, still kissing me, and he took a few steps to the bed with me in his arms.
I was returning his kisses for a whole… few seconds. Than he tossed me on the bed. I giggled.
„Scandalous,“ i whispered and chuckled.
„Yeeeees, very scandalous,“ he agreed and though i couldnt see it, i could hear that wolfish grin in his voice. I could watch his sillhouet stripping down his clothes. „And im gonna do a lot of scandalous things to you, my lady.“
With these words he kneeled on the bed and pulled up the fabric of my chemise. His wide shoulders squeezed between my tights and he went down on me, his hands sliding up and down my legs, my hips, my belly....
...
My dearest reader,
this writer is asking u now, should she share more of this story?
Urs truly
So called Lady Whistledown
