Simple Servant

Chapter 13 - Bombarded

Chapter 13 - Bombarded

~~~ Alexandria

Lady Jade, found herself whisked onto the dance floor the moment she retreated back to the ballroom.

"Pardon my forgetfulness Sir Brown," she said the moment he found her at the edge of the dance floor, "I was unaware of how quickly the time had gotten away from me."

Sir Brown offered her a small smile, "No trouble at all, Lady Jade." He assured adding a grand bow after he spoke. He stood and straightened his attire, "The wait, I assure you, was well worth it."

She couldn't help but notice that his manners were the epitome of perfection. It felt odd to see a man act that way after what nearly happened with Lord Coal on the garden steps. Sir Brown offered her his arm and led them to the dance floor once the music began.

Alexandria couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as a fast paced song rang throughout the ballroom. She barely had to touch Sir Brown during the entire dance, which was nice since her heart still fluttered at the mere thought of her earlier actions.

Unlike the slow dance that she had enjoyed with Lord Coal, her dance with Sir Brown seemed more real, less like a stolen dream.

She realized that time always felt fleeting around Lord Jenkins. They only shared a few minutes here, or an hour there, and even though everything stood still when she was near him, time flew by. She never felt satisfied with the few moments they had together.

Why had she left him on that balcony?

She should have stayed.

"Forgive my pertinence," Sir Brown said apologetically when the dance brought them close enough to talk, "but I must tell you Lady Jade, you look very beautiful."

His words pulled her out of her thoughts about Lord Coal. "Thank you Sir Brown." She managed to say with a smile, although the dance made her slightly breathless, "It's kind of you to say."

The dance soon ended and Sir Brown moved to escort her off of the floor when a cough alerted her that someone was behind them.

Feeling flustered at having danced with another person, she turned quickly to apologize. But Lord Coal was not behind her. Instead of the blue-eyed sandy blond haired man in a dark green suit, there was a brown-eyed, mousey brown haired Tilly, in her formal work attire.

"Forgive my interruption," she interjected, "but Lady Jade is needed elsewhere at this time. Alexandria couldn't help but notice Tilly's agitation. Was she uncomfortable about something?

"Must you take her away?" Sir Brown asked with a sad frown, but still handed her over to her escort, "Very well, it was a pleasure meeting you Lady Jade."

Alexandria curtsied to Sir Brown, and allowed Tilly to lead her to a small hidden alcove where her mother sat watching the Ball. She wasn't surprised that her mother had called her over to talk. She heard the music start up again, and found her eyes looking off in the direction of the balcony doors, surely he would come back soon, or perhaps he already had.

What would he think about seeing her dance with another man?

"Are you looking for someone?" Her mother's voice cut through her thoughts.

"I'm just looking at the guests in general mother." She answered a bit too quickly.

"It brings back memories of the night your father and I met on this dance floor." Her mother divulged, surprising Alexandria. She new very little about her parents' past.

Queen Valerie smiled fondly at her memories, but she didn't say anything more on the matter. The smile on her mother's face eventually faded and she asked, "Who is he?"