“How do I look?” Madame Douvaine asked.
“Madame Douvaine, I do not think you have ever asked such a thing. You look stunning and elegant,” Katrina smiled.
“I am a bit nervous. This is not our kind of gentry,” She said.
“We have never let that bother us before. We shall go in and be just as everyone else and no one can say any different,” Katrina pushed her chin in the air.
“Yes, yes, rightly so,” She said.
Adeline squeezed Katrina’s hand and together they were both nervous for the what the night might bring.
Suddenly the carriage door opened and it was their turn. A flurry of people were around them, footmen helping them from the carriage.
They entered the foyer that was crowded with people taking off their cloaks and coats. It smelled again like cinnamon and citrus and the sound of music reached their ears. Adeline and Katrina giggled with delight as they saw the vast amount of ribbons and decorations.
“Miss Proctor!” Miss Willameena Davis came with a speed to their side. “Happy Christmas!”
“Miss Willameena Davis, Happy Christmas,” They curtsied, as did Madame Douvaine.
Then Mr. Andrew Davis joined them.
He stopped and bowed. Seeing him for the first time in a long time jolted Katrina. He looked just as dashing as ever. His dark grey coat fit well over his white shirt and grey vest with silver buttons. His boots went up to the knee over his trousers and he even looked taller. She too noticed that since he was not wearing a hat, his dark hair was a little longer with a bit of a curl to it.
“Happy Christmas to you all. I am so happy that you are here, indeed I am. Mr. Douvaine and Madame Douvaine it is a delight,” he said to her employers. “Miss Proctor, and Miss Proctor.”
“Happy Christmas. Thank you for having us,” she said.
“Ladies, would you allow me to escort you in?” Mr. Andrew Davis said as he turned between the Proctor friends and escorted them toward the ballroom.
“Thank you, sir,” Katrina said.
“I hope that the journey was not too exhausting,” he said, walking along side.
“Oh no, not at all. Thank you ever so much for asking. You are too kind,” She said as they entered the grand ballroom. She tried not to gasp at such beauty. The floor was a polished marble and behind it was a grand staircase that led up to a galley floor that seemed to go on and on in each direction. There were people already gathered up there and how strange it was for her, for she had never seen a ballroom with a galley before, but then again, she had never been to a ball in London.
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“What do you think of the arrangements Miss Proctor?” he asked with light in his eyes.
“I think they are very beautiful indeed, sir. I have never seen such a room and décor before!” she said.
“Good. I am glad that you approve of it,” he smiled.
At this time Mr. and Madame Douvaine and Adeline and Robert joined them, standing the side of the ballroom.
“I must excuse my brother and myself as we are still receiving guests,” Andrew bowed along with his brother. The ladies curtsied and watched as they walked away. Adeline and Katrina exchanged a smile.
“Can you believe all of this?” Katrina said.
“I can, child. Now that I have seen the way Mr. Davis looks at you,” Madame Douvaine said.
“Oh that. No, that is nothing, we are simply friends.”
Katrina said flushing as Madame Douvaine, Mr Douvaine, and indeed even Adeline gave her a look that said she had not fooled them with her words.
The stares of strangers were on her and Adeline; she simply smiled and looked down at her silk slippers. At the top of the stairs on the galley she noticed him, Mr. Byers. He was pacing back and forth and seemed nervous and she laughed slightly at just how adorable it was. He ran his hand through his thick long black hair as though he was fidgeting.
It was then that he looked up at her and smiled. The flash of white teeth was so charming and she could hardly look away from him. Then he surprised her greatly by making his way down the steps and toward her.
“Mr. Byers,” She curtsied as he got to the bottom of the stairs.
“Miss Proctor, Happy Christmas to you all” he bowed. “Mr. Douvaine, Madame Douvaine, Miss Proctor,” he said politely to them all.
A rush of heat rushed over Katrina at his sudden politeness. Indeed she did not know who this man was. He was only being a gentleman, but it was hard not to let it affect her.
“Do you find Christmas in London agreeable?” he asked.
“Oh yes, perfectly so, thank you,” Katrina replied. At this time the Douvaine’s engaged Adeline in their own conversation, giving Mr. Mason Byers the privacy he wished for.
“Thank you for coming,” he said. “I cannot tell you how nervous I was that you might change your mind and not come at all.”
“Really? You thought so?” Katrina’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Well yes. You are a woman with a decisive mind. You do not care for such social engagements as these. So where others wouldn’t dare miss this ball, you could take it or leave it. It is what I admire about you.”
“Admire?” She asked looking up at him and into those dark eyes framed by dark lashes.
“Yes. I admire many things about you Miss Katrina Proctor.” She stared at him almost in shock. She turned back toward Adeline who was smiling at her. “May I be so bold that you might get a glass of refreshment with me before the dancing starts?”
“Oh, I would, but I do not wish to leave my sister...”
“Please, Miss Proctor.”
“As you say, sir.”
She turned to her relations. “I shall return. I am fetching a glass with Mr. Byers,” her eyes were wide with astonishment, but the Douvaines could not be prouder.
“This way,” Mr. Mason Byers put his arm out and she took it. Together they walked quietly and nervously to the side room, where a large banquet of refreshment was set up. A servant handed Mr. Mason Byers a glass of fine crystal filled with sherry and he handed it to Katrina and received one for himself.
“Shall we go this way onto the terrace? It is quite warm with the fires lit outside,” he said. “And the gardens are something to see.”
“Yes, the gardens. I would like that very much indeed.”
She smiled as they stepped through the door and onto a vast terrace.
“Oh, this is lovely,” She said taking it all in.
“You approve of London, then?” he asked.
“Of course. How could I not?”
“I am glad you approve. I would think you would not always want to stay in Hertfordshire. Perhaps a country home and a London home would be more suitable for your sense of being. You are never idle.”
“Why I... I had not thought...” she stumbled on her words.
Sensing he had shown his cards too much on his thoughts of the future, Mr. Mason Byers changed the subject.
“Allow me to show you the formal gardens on this turn,” he said. “They are not as substantial as country gardens but the Davises have the entire block to play with.”
“Yes please, I would like that very much.”
They strolled down the stairs and into the gardens. Many guests were strolling and greeting each other. This was a world she was not familiar with at all. Once again, stares started to come her way. She could hear the whispers as they passed, that Mr. Byers did not seem to notice as he spoke of the gardens to her. But she could hear.
“Who is she? With Mr. Byers?” were the various whisperings she heard from different people. Her hand started to sweat and she was glad for the gloves that she wore. She continued to smile and averted her attention from the whispers to focus on the words of the charming gentleman at her side. But their words continued to echo in her head.
“Shall we sit?” Mr. Byers asked as they came upon a bench under a long arbour that created a t
unnel of flowers. It was slightly private but still in the path of other guests strolling.
“Yes.”
She sat down and then he sat beside her. He smiled and looked at her, and she thought how odd this was.
“Miss Proctor, if I may be so bold to say that your letters kept me right as rain for these long days since I last saw you.”
“You may say so, sir. Your letters also were very welcomed on my end.”
“I do value our friendship greatly.”
“Me too.”
She looked at him. He locked eyes with her and they simply looked at each other for what felt like forever. Then she started to laugh. She could not help herself as it started to seem so ridiculous that she could just stare at someone for so long and say nothing. He began to laugh as well.
“We are a pair, are we not?” he laughed.
“Yes, I think so.”
“But you are more to me now than when I first knew you, Miss Proctor. You are a woman of value.”
“Thank you, Mr. Byers, that is too kind.”
“I also noticed that you are wearing a dress of green silk. It is beautiful indeed. Is that...”
“Yes, it is. It is made from the silk you purchased for me. Thank you again for such a gift. I do not deserve it.”
“Yes, you do indeed, Miss Proctor.”
They were silent for a moment once more.
“Mr. Byers,” a regal couple stepped on the path in front of them. Mr. Byers stood.
“Lady William and Sir William,” Mr. Mason Byers bowed. Katrina stood.
“How very agreeable to see you here, sir.”
“May I introduce to you Miss Katrina Proctor.”
Katrina bowed.
“Proctor? I have not heard that name before. Oh, are you a relation the Duke of Benton?”
“No ma’am, I am not, I am sorry to say.”
“Oh, then who?” Lady William asked.
Mr. Mason Byers cleared his throat, “Miss Proctor is visiting with her sister from the countryside of Hertfordshire. They visit their employers, Mr. Douvaine.”
“Oh, I see. And Mr. Douvaine resides in Mayfair?”
“No, ma’am, on Gracechurch Street,” Katrina replied.
A look of horror overcame Lady William. She looked to Mr. Mason Byers as though he had brought a leper into the party. “I see. Good evening, Mr. Byers.” Then the couple walked off. Katrina’s breath quickened as she felt the sting of being put in her place. Of course she did not care for such things, but she knew that Mr. Byers did. Would he still be all politeness to her now that he had been reminded of her station?
“We should return you back inside. Your Madame Douvaine must be expecting you,” he said bluntly.
There was her answer. The words and look of utter disgust from Lady William had influenced him and now he wanted to rush her inside and be away from her. This time he did not offer his arm to her as before, he simply walked beside her with his hands clasped behind his back. She was mortified and could not wait to get back to her sister and employers.
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“Pray, excuse me,” Mr. Mason Byers said as he left Katrina with Madame Douvaine, Mr. Douvaine, and Adeline. Adeline immediately came to her side.
“What was that about, Katrina?”
“I do not know, Adeline. I must say that I am extremely confused by Mr. Byers’s behaviour toward me. Is he a gentleman or is he a scoundrel?”
“Perhaps you were wrong about him visiting the room of Eleanor Dawson in the night. Mistakes do get made Katrina,” Adeline whispered.
“I guess that could be so, but I do not know, Adeline. Something has been very odd with him since the night we dined here at Davis House with him in attendance. I do not know what has changed.”
“Perhaps Mr. Davis’s affection for you caught Mr. Byers’s eye?” Adeline teased.
“Oh Adeline, that cannot be so, and even so Mr. Mason Byers would not stoop so low to court a woman of my station.”
“No, I suppose you are right,” Adeline said. It was then that Katrina saw the look in her sister’s eye that she was thinking of Dawson in such a moment.
“This does not matter at all. It is Christmas Eve, and you and I shall have a merry time. As our friend Sally Cox would say – look at all these gentlemen to dance with!” Katrina teased. Adeline laughed.
“Oh you are right, Katrina. Happy Christmas!”
“Happy Christmas to you, dear Adeline.”
Suddenly, Robert Davis and Andrew Davis stood before them.
“Miss Proctor. The first dance is about to commence and you promised me the first two if you have not forgotten?” Andrew said to Katrina.
“As did you, Miss Proctor,” Robert said to Adeline.
“It would be my pleasure,” Katrina smiled, for after the dealings with the upstart Mr. Mason Byers, she was glad for the fresh breath of air that was Mr. Davis.
Together the friends were escorted onto the dance floor. The first dance began and Andrew Davis was an elegant partner. Indeed, anyone that saw him dancing with Katrina remarked on how beautiful and elegant a couple they made. Katrina’s green silk dress shined in the candle light and Adeline’s white dress made her look as pure as Christmas snow. Indeed, all eyes were on the lovely Proctor friends as all enquired as to whom they were.
After the second dance with Andrew and Robert, the gentlemen led the friends back to their employers in the corner of the room.
“Miss Proctor,” Robert said. “It would please me greatly to dance every dance with you this night. Indeed, it would be a superior Christmas gift, but I’m afraid I have cousins to dance with as it is my duty as host. I hope that I might come find you for more dances later this evening, and perhaps you would take supper with me when the time comes?”
“I would be honoured, Mr. Davis,” Adeline curtsied.
“I shared the same sentiments as my brother for you, Miss Katrina. I want to dance with only you all night, but I have cousins and relations to appease and mingle with guests. Please save another dance for me as well,” Andrew said.
“I will indeed, sir,” Katrina said.
The brothers bowed and were on their way. Adeline was all smiles.
“Well that was a very honest conversation, was it not,” Katrina whispered to her sister.
“Girls, you made a marvellous prospect with the Davis brothers I should dare say, don’t you think Mr. Douvaine?” Madame Douvaine said.
“Aye, indeed. Beautiful and elegant as ever. I dare say all eyes were on you four.”
“Thank you, this is indeed quite an amusing ball. So many people in fine dresses and the décor is beautiful,” Adeline said excitedly, but then her smile fell. Katrina followed the direction of her gaze. Mr. William Dawson and Mr. Byers were walking straight toward them. Katrina herself stiffened.
“Mr. Douvaine and Madame Douvaine, happy Christmas!” Mr. William Dawson smiled with bow.
“And to you, Mr. William Dawson,” Madame Douvaine replied.
“Miss Proctor, a very Happy Christmas to you. I hope you do remember that you promised me your third dance,” Dawson said to Adeline.
“Of course sir, I have not forgot,” Adeline said.
Katrina looked to her sister. Why had Adeline not told her of such a thing?
“And you, Miss Proctor, promised me the same,” Mr. Mason Byers said to Katrina.
“Of course, sir,” she curtsied. The gentlemen led the friends onto the floor. Katrina felt overwhelmed by Mr. Byers’s topsy-turvy emotions toward her. For now he was being quite short and abrupt as he had been in Hertfordshire, when just mere minutes before he had been all politeness. She wondered if he were dancing with her now simply to keep his promise to not be seen as a gentleman not of his word, and not because he desired to dance with her.
She faced Mr. Byers as she stood in the row of ladies, across from the gentleman. He stared at her with such harshness she felt furious at him
. How dare he treat her in such a manner? Did he think he could play with her? Of course he did, just as he played with Miss Eleanor Dawson.
The dance began and the two came together, then apart and together again, until he finally spoke as they danced.
“You danced a great deal with Mr. Davis,” he said, sternly.
“Yes, as you know I promised him the first two dances,” she said.
“Yes, how could I forget? But this seems like more than that.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I mean that you parade around with him as though you are his wife.”
Katrina gasped. “I do not.”
“It is how I see it.”
“Then your view is wrong, sir.”
“And I do not like it.”
Katrina huffed. What in the name of God was going on here? Was he actually practicing jealousy in this moment?
“I should think your attentions would be elsewhere instead of watching myself with Mr. Davis.”
“And where would that be?”
“On Miss Dawson, of course, or do you only seek her attention in the middle of the night?”
“What?” He said abruptly, and as he did so the music stopped.
“Mr. Byers,” she curtsied and quickly walked away, not waiting for him to escort her. “Ugh! Such a proud and disagreeable man,” she said as she stomped out of the ballroom and into the drawing room, where the banquet tables were set. She grabbed a glass of refreshment to cool herself. But as she did so, her temper was not to be quenched as she saw Miss Eleanor Dawson headed straight for her.
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“Miss Proctor, a word,” Eleanor Dawson said.
“Yes, of course,” She smiled. She pulled her to the corner. She stood looking toward the guests and she had her back to the room. She briefly saw Mr. Byers in her eye line and he was giving her his full attention, even though he was on the other side of the grand drawing room.
An Alone and Destitute Girl (#3, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 11
