Before the Ball
"A ball how wonderful," Gloria said dancing around the table.
"Indeed but Mrs. Taylor hardly needs advice on how to throw a ball, she has thrown the same summer eve ball for the last six years, she must be a seasoned pro."
"But Miss James must know all the latest trends when it comes to balls," Emmy said to her mother. "She is so well cultured."
"Yes indeed she seems to have a way of making friends where ever she goes. Nicholas could not have chosen a better partner."
"Partner? Mother, you make it sound like a business."
"It is in some respects, and not an easy one."
"But a marriage should not be a business?"
"Only in some respects, you will discover a great deal more about it when you get married."
"If I get married."
"You must have hope dear Emmy you are only sixteen."
"You met father when you were seventeen and married him by twenty."
"Four years is a long time you still get plenty of time," Fiona kissed her daughter on the forehead.
"Yes mother."
Emmy didn't know then if she ever wanted to get married and she didn't know if she was to morn or rejoice over it. She wanted to passion that was for sure but she also wanted adventure, to see the world and everything in it but how could one do that and be a wife and mother? At sixteen she didn't have the answer.
Gloria distracted her thoughts for awhile as she begged their mother to go to the ball.
"Are you mad? You are far too young."
"I will be thirteen soon."
"Thirteen is still far too young."
"But?"
"You will just have to wait till you're older."
"When will I ever be old enough to do anything."
Fiona turned to Emmy "I think though Emmy you are old enough. You are sixteen and Laurel went to her first ball at sixteen."
"But I barely know how to dance and I have nothing to wear."
"Well I can teach you more and you can borrow one Laurel's dress. You just have to promise to be careful with it."
"Oh I will."
"Good then its settled, Emmy will be going to her first ball," without keeping a beat seeing Gloria's sad puppy look "and you will go when you are sixteen and not a moment sooner."
Gloria sighed.
The girls had a mostly quiet afternoon until a surprise gift came for Emmy more flowers a beautiful arrangement from Miss Dashwood's nursery in town. The card did not say who they were from giving the house mild gossip over dinner time.
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Emmy's Fluttering Heart
That night at dinner everyone noticed the change in Emmy. Even Caleb who took a shine to her and insist that play a hand of cards together and as no one would join in they were left in conversation to themselves Emmy kept doing as Kathryn told her to do and she did glow as Kathryn had predicted. By the end of the game Caleb had requested two dance with her.
By the time of the ball it seemed Caleb and Emmy were hardly inseparateble. He taught her how to drive around the driveway and he took a keen interest in being shown the woods. As they could not convince anyone else to go out on their walks they were often alone. Emmy loved theses moments alone with him. She imagined them being caught in rain storm with no place to run for shelter, the air would smell fresh as it always did during a summer rain, and he would kiss her. But they were never caught in a rainstorm and when they walked together he was always a gentleman not standing too close to her. He would offer her his hand if they had rocks to step over but would never hold onto to her longer than needed. Those times with Caleb were far better than any moment she had had with a crush and figured this was what ultimately true love; like Guinevere and Lancelot or Romeo and Juliet except a lot less violence and no death, Emmy told herself.
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Emmy's Fluttering Heart
That night at dinner everyone noticed the change in Emmy. Even Caleb who took a shine to her and insist that play a hand of cards together and as no one would join in they were left in conversation to themselves Emmy kept doing as Kathryn told her to do and she did glow as Kathryn had predicted. By the end of the game Caleb had requested two dance with her.
"Well done Miss James," Julia said to Kathryn. "It looks like you might have a new sister."
"No Caleb is a good brother but he gets amused quickly and then fleets away even quicker. Though I do think she will break more hearts than she realizes."
"I doubt it, the family has no money."
"Money hardly matters when it comes to matters of the heart," Kathryn said taking a sip of her champagne cocktail.
"Besides Aunt Fiona will never let her marry till Laurel is well settled. All their hope depend upon Laurel marrying well."
"Yes do you know of any attachment for Laurel, she seems so distant."
"There was a young man the family had hoped would propose but nothing came of it."
"How sad."
"Yes it is, Laurel was so alive when he was around."
"Well we must find someone to replace that man perhaps Nicholas has a friend I could math them up when they come to Boston. Both of them would do well out of the house."
"You are so kind Kathryn it makes me wish I had such a generous nature," Julia took a large swig of her drink and left Kathryn's side nothing she said was going to un-charm Kathryn away from the Cromwell girls.
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