Second Chance

Showdown At The Ball

Showdown At The Ball

After giving her greeting to the King and Queen, she was quickly dismissed and forgotten. Julianna made her way towards the refreshments when her Father cut her off by dragging her by her elbow to the open French door that led to the balcony that over looked the rose garden.

"Don't you dare embarrass your sister tonight!" Harvey growled through his teeth. "Tonight is too important for the Brooks family for you ruin!"

"Whatever do you mean Harvey?" Julianna said. "When have I ever said I wanted to ruin Maria's engagement party or her marriage?"

"Just don't do anything stupid or make a fool of yourself!" Harvey commanded. "You'll regret it if you do!"

"As my dear Father wishes." Julianna said sarcastically.

Looking at Julianna again and what she wore, Harvey breathed a hard breath out and clicked his tongue to his teeth. Looking at her disapprovingly he turns around and leaves her outside.

From the shadows Julianna felt a presence standing underneath the balcony. Knowing full well whoever stood there heard their conversation and chose not to reveal themselves.

"Eavesdropping is considered rude you know." Julianna said out loud. "But I'm guessing you're hiding in the shadows for that very reason. I suggest you hide your presence better should you find yourself in a more difficult position."

Turning around Julianna walked back in to the ballroom. She did not notice the shadow jump up to the balcony from his hiding place and land on the rail. His black attire blending into the darkness as he watched her. His amused lips slightly curls up and his eyes looks at the retreating figure with curiosity.

That night was still young as she danced her way through the gentlemen in the ballroom, never dancing with the same gentleman twice. Julianna charmed her way into the hearts of the men making them laugh and shamelessly complementing them on their best assest. Prince Ivan looked at all the men that surrounded her with jealousy. She was never this charming or captivating when she was his fiancée. She was never this beautiful either. When he looked back to his fiancée Maria, he did not know why but he couldn't help compare the two. Between the two, Julianna captured everyone's attention around her, drawing everyone's eye to her laugh, her smile, her wit. Although she lacked cultivation and fighting skills, Julianna was completely an alluring woman. While although Maria is strong in cultivation and fighting, she did not have Julianna's current charms. Her looks were on par with Julianna, however Maria seemed not to know how to best accentuate her beauty.

"Look at her," Maria said out loud to anyone who was listening. "Look at her acting wantonly! She's embarrassing not only me, but the whole Brooks family name! Father! Do something about this!"

Harvey made his way towards the group of men surrounding Julianna. Pushing his way through the men, when he reached her did he clear his throat and excused the both of them and pulled her towards the balcony again. Once outside the only other person outside was a young man in black leaning against the rail watching the party from the outside. Leading her away from the man, Harvey finally stopped before the stairs to talk to her.

"Did I not warn you not to embarrass your sister tonight!"

"Whatever do you mean, Harvey? What did I do to ever embarrass Maria tonight?"

"You know perfectly well! You have been acting wantonly in front of everyone!"

"How?" Julianna questioned him.

"How!?" Harvey yelled. "You have danced and flirted with all the men in there! Now if that is not wanton, I don't know what is!"

"But Harvey, although I danced with the gentlemen in the ballroom, I've never danced with the same man twice. Never ruining my reputation by giving one gentleman more favor then the next, according to etiquette. I can't help it if the gentlemen want to talk to me. Should I be rude and ignore all those who want to talk to me? You did say I should not embarrass the Brooks name, I'm just following your orders."