THE BALL IV
“Why were you looking for me during the ball” Madison questioned
“Let’s say I was trying to get rid of a certain somebody” grinning widely at her Madison playfully raised her eyebrows up and down “somebody caught your fancy?”
“Not quite” she scrunched up her nose “I think it’s the other way around” she said giggling
“he was such a narcissist, bragging about all his travels and the time he spent in Paris, I swear I thought I will go deaf with all his bickering."
“Did you get his name?” Madison couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.
“He wouldn’t stop enunciating every letter of it”
Bursting into laughter and pushing a stray lock behind her ear she regarded her friend amusingly, “and who was he”
“The duke of sherryore. Stephen Wilson.”
“Isn’t he one of the most prospecting bachelors of the season?”
“Yes and they were so many women who kept giving me vile looks as if we were already engaged”
“I think they were just jealous”
“They have no need, I am but the least interested in him. I had heard that the Williams were also in attendance but sadly I didn’t get the chance to meet any of them.
“Did you want to meet them?” Madison asked ideally, she had heard about the Williams and how they were the leading family in London along with the Fedinards and Wilsons, but that was all she knew about them.
“Of course, almost everyone was expecting their heir presence as he had just returned from India not long ago but sadly no one saw him. I heard that he is as cold and handsome as the devil himself and were ever he went a train of fare ladies followed him. Did you see anyone as such?
Madison thoughts wandered to the stranger she had met in the balcony for an unknown reason, the man was obviously no gentleman as he had stated so himself and if he was titled he would have certainly told her along with his name.
“No I did not"
“Of course all your attention was on Mr. Jamison” it was now Jen turn to tease her, and the mere thought of Mr. Jamison happened to bring back her smile.
She had found him utterly charming and didn’t mind he was the second son with no title.
From the little time they had talked together she had come to realize that she did fancy him and she intended to spend the season getting to know him but of course without mademoiselle knowledge as she insisted on men with titles.
“He had offered to take me to the theater before I leave London and meet me if I was attending the lord and lady Philips masquerade ball”
“Did we get an invite?” Jen asked finally done with her tea and gently placing it on the saucers so as not to spill the remaining content.
“Yes, earlier this morning an invite arrived and mademoiselle could not stop fussing about it announcing that we were both a great success last night and we should both expect callers later on today.
“Well I certainly can’t wait for the masquerade ball am sure that everyone will be in attendance knowing that the Philips have recently gotten associated with the Williams, and am sure the Williams will also be in attendance.”
Standing up from her chair all excited Jen dashed to her room to look for something to wear for the masquerade ball. She need to look her utter best as her face won’t be on display but her clothing, so they had to be of the finest silk and satins.
She was a little worried about Madison’s fast growing affection towards the man named Ronnie Jamison, but if he was her choice and she was happy then she too will be happy but she had to meet him and judge him by herself.
…………..
As expected lord and lady Philips ball was filled with people all decked in the finest of clothing and colorful masks which made it difficult to know who was who,but one thing was certain each and every body invited was of high social status. And unlike the Fedinards ball the Philips party was extremely exclusive as it consisted of mostly the younger part of the ton.
“Isn’t it all beautiful” she had Jen say beside her, looking startling in her white ball gown which made her look like a princess. Today she had won a green dress with beautiful flowers designs on it and a green mask with feather on it and her hair was braided and left at the side with flowery pins attached to it.
“Yes it is” she also admired the beautiful view in front of her with all the colors and designs.
“Come on girls” mademoiselle excitedly led them to the ball room where several people were, some were leisurely chatting within their selves while others were making their way to the dance floor.
“It must be him”,
“I can bet my whole allowance on it”
Madison turned around to see some girls all over her fussing with their gowns and straitening their fans, some were brushing their already straight hair while other were simply looking straight ahead while blushing profusely.
Turning to take a look at what made them all go hay wire, Madison saw a man draped in all black standing with a dazzling woman at his arm deck in a lovely shade of dark pink with her long auburn hair left out in the open.
The woman was without a mask like a few others who preferred to show their beauty to the world while the man wore a black mask with intricate design covering almost all of his face with the exception of his mouth.
Facing the group she was previously talking too she asked the girl nearest to her “who is he?” she giggled first before answering.
“Of course he is Robert Williams, the duke of Frostway and the heir to all the Williams property.”
“And we are certain of it” another girl with raven black hair whose name was Anna butted in. “it’s had been confirmed that the duke associates himself with only one woman after his arrival from India as they were seen in each other company several times at balls and soirees and that woman is nobody other than Catalina Philips” the first girl finished and the two of them eyes were still very much glued on the both of them.