September 1873, a cemetery in the city of New York.People are gathered, while the tomb of Sir Henry Grayson descends slowly carried by some workers of his company.
Jean P.O.V
It was the second time a member of my family left me.It broke my heart to think that I had nobody to support me.My mother died when I was only six years old and my father did now.
I looked around and a feeling of rage filled my chest.
What did all these people here?The only one who had the right to see the grave of my father was me.The only one with my mother who had really loved him, and had been a real family.
I kept looking at people and I could view my stepmother's stuck in my eyes.Olivia was a girl of twenty, who had married my father shortly after my mother died.I had not had much to do with it, always trying to avoid it.With her eyes cold and calculating, together with that she has redhead, I was scared of her since I was quite small.
I suddenly remembered I had to live alone with her, and a horrible cry over me.I covered my face with my hands, avoiding prying eyes and wept bitterly.
In my fifteen years I had lived longer than any of those people and had accumulated more suffering than any of them.
Gradually I felt like I was relaxing and I jumped with the contact arms against my body.
Someone had embraced me.Someone really cared about me.Who was this person?I knew I had no relatives who love me or at least show a modicum of interest as I was after a tremendous loss.
Slowly, I took my hands away from my face and I saw him.
I saw the most notorious man in New York, even for me.A teenager who had no social life, but who loved the social gatherings at home, and to hide behind the door listening to the high society gossip.
James Mallory, brother of my stepmother, who I had never met in person, but knew everything about him.It was the center of discussions of high society: Handsome gentleman, refined manners and possesses a high fortune, of course, endlessly and womanizing heartthrob par excellence.
"Thank you.-I gently wiped my tears away and handed it back.He refused it with his hand and put it in the pocket of my jacket.
"Whenever you're sad, you'll remember me and never will be sad again.-my heart gave a little jump and I laughed spontaneously.
Now all eyes of all the ladies were deposited in my two words conversation with Mr. Mallory.
"Thank you again.
"See you at dinner funeral.-with a nod he went back to where He was initially.
I relaxed by observing that no one was watching me and I turned to my father.I wanted to ask for help to deal with everything that was coming.I Wanted help to lead a happy life in his absence and find someone to make me happy.
And when the tomb was completely out of my sight I closed my eyes, imagining that this was all a nightmare and when it ended my mother would be there in my arms.
But the cold voice of Olivia woke me from my dream and took me back to reality.
"Honey, we need to go home to dress for the dinner." I looked into her eyes and nodded.
She grabbed me by the hand and all people, already left the site progressed, as I got into the carriage.
Once inside, I watched the bustle of the streets, movement, life ...What I expected from life?With a slight sigh I resigned myself to thinking and did my best to leave my mind blank.
Now I had the worst of the day.Funeral dinner, where millions of people who I had not seen in my life would give their condolences and would be grateful, as if something really matters to me.
My only consolation would be to actually attend James Mallory and I devote some of their precious time to me, little Jean.
With a slight break, the coach stood up and I took the steps careful not to trip over.I went home and gave my cloak to Claire, my maid since we were small.She Was a year younger than me and had always been very close, relationship that Olivia looked with disfavor.
"Get up and change and down in half an hour, people will start arriving and you have to be ready to greet them’’-I climbed the steps resigned, without saying a word about it and walked down the hall to my room.I jumped into bed and hid my head under the pillow.Which I did from childhood when I was scared.
The door opened and Claire shook me.
"Miss Grayson, come on, I'll help you dress.
- I will not attend dinner!I'll stay in my room! "She grabbed my shoulder, giving me back.
"Do not talk nonsense, you know how Olivia will do if you do not appear." I looked into her eyes and began to mourn.
‘’Claire ...you do not know how unhappy I am ...- again I had a face full of tears and I remembered the handkerchief.I didnt want Claire to see it.
"Everything will work out, calm down.-She turned around to put the cloak in the dressing room and I took the opportunity to keep the handkerchief in the drawer of my bedside table, next to my journal.When she turned around she showed me a black dress, elegant but sad.
I took off the other dress and Claire helped me dress in black.The corset squeezed me hard and I could not breathe.I felt like I was going to faint at any time.But I really did not know if it was the corset or because I was starting to hear the hum of people coming.I touched up the makeup which was ruined with the river of tears that had spilled from my eyes and got out slowly, hoping that the time pass quickly.
"Miss Grayson, my husband and I are so sorry.- Madame Fleur took her hand and her husband shook his head.
"Thanks for coming.-I looked to Olivia seeking approval and she nodded me, saying that I was doing well.
I had to do the same protocol with everyone who came.I had never seen the house so crowded and less, fill in a couple of hours at extreme speed.I started to see new faces, and all looked at me with sorrow and pity.
Between the corset tightened and that I had been quiet all night because I really did not know anyone, I felt lonely, sad and listless.I could not endure the company of people like that any minute.So I went to the closet that was the end of the hall and shut the door, leaning against the wall and fall to the ground with my eyes closed.
"In this house there is nowhere to breathe, uh?" I opened my eyes shot open and saw Mr. Mallory, with a bottle in his hand, of what seemed to be whiskey.
"So you have finally come ...- He tried a few steps towards me but staggered, so it was me who stood up.
"Yes, but I'm tired of the old parrots that try to mate with each of his single daughters." I took the bottle from his hand and took a long sip, until he took it from me.
Wishky felt like down my throat, burning my ducts.Yet felt a pleasant sensation in the head and a tingling in the cheeks that indicated that I would be a little happy soon.
I had never drunk, just once I found a glass half empty, and the next morning I could not move out of bed.Alcohol was not for me.
"You're too young for these things.And you have time to waste your life later, as I did. "I looked hard and I realized why everyone spoke of him.There could be no woman on earth to resist the charm of this man.
Breathing seduction by each of his pores and only by looking at him, you could be lost.
- Do you see something you like? "I turned my head away, blushing.I had stayed too long looking at him and he had realized.
"I'd better get going, sure there is someone else who wants to give me their condolences." I turned around and was ready to open the door when he took my hand, staying in front of me.
"Your are not going to cry anymore, alright?" I could feel his breath on my lips, and his scent mixed with snuff and alcohol in the environment, a very masculine scent.
"I'll do posible." I tried to separate myself but he took my arms tightly, preventing me to go.
"Miss Grayson,you have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen.-I did not looked away and smiled slightly.
"That's what you tell all your conquests, right?Is that what you say to seduce?
"My arms with women are more than compliments, and no, I say this because I really believe it.I am always honest and say what I think.-he came nearer to me.
"Now, what do you think?Lord Mallory., ‘’-his actions spoke for themselves.
James Mallory's hand rose to stroke my cheek and his mouth gently traveled the short distance separating it from mine.
When I felt his lips against mine, my heart was pounding and I closed my eyes, lost in the kiss.
When we got separated, I looked into his eyes.He glowed with intensity and that made him even more handsome.
Neither of us said anything.What was he supposed to say?James Mallory was a gentleman of twenty-two, who had seduced a young girl of fifteen, in the closet of her home, specifically in the funeral dinner for the death of his father.
-Excuse me.-and with that two words, Mr. Mallory broke with all those questions that I had been wondering.
I was there.In a closet, and my first kiss on the lips still wet.