embe

, Carlisle Crest was

n they were arriving at, she was marvelled by how magnificent it was. Raising her head, she saw that the lights f

women giggled into their fists and a group of young men clustered together, stealing glances a

ud and upbeat, fun and worthy of a good dance. She couldn't wait to be a part of it,

to the door and to her dream: to acquire a husband and marry as soon as she became eighteen. U

s. Any ball at Carlisle Crest was worthy of the talks, she said. Gwen sent her gaze upon the people she could so far see, they all had the

quire hers t

to her. "Is there something entertaining out there

he had quickly improved her humour, and the pitch of her voice. "I have simp

attending any ball here excites me even befor

rs. She turned to her Aunt. "Aunty M

th. "Yes you can, dear, but be mindful. Don't forget,

ma'

It would be embarrassing to have you swoon from overindulging. If you should ever

ent, could not help her smile. Gwen shook her head. Aunt Mar

y would never do so. The older woman whipped out her fa

aw the sadness that could not be hidden, the same

s to be welcomed. The door opened at the pull of the servant of the mansion, and wit

liam, Aunt Marrily and Beth. She erected her 'perfect' smile and kept it in place for everyone she saw, people she didn't know and had never met before, peo

d never seen. The candlesticks to the wall, and the draperies on the window must have cost a fortune. And as big as it was,

at a bevy of ladies, gaggled up together, waiting for eager young men to ask them to dance, and a few gentlemen, deciding if to approach the ladies or not. She hoped they came to ask h

ever letting a needing guest go without; and the music players at the corner of the room, created a perfect melody, a fine piece that encouraged the dancers to continue and the onlookers to join. She stared even for a while at the piano forte, at how

s in a matter of hours she could become as acquainted with the vicinity as Lucy, she thought. While they stood smiling at

, smiling sweetly, even though the dance meant nothing to her soul. Even though she was neither enjoying it, nor the touch of the man who held her. She espied over his shoulders and saw Beth with her introduced partner and it caused a

ther for wealth nor societal obligations, and she was upholding her oath perfectly, rejectin

e enough to live her life on her own, she belonged to the Fitzgerald family and she wished to marry; for hersel

d become

eductive smile. She had over the years learnt to keep one in place for the benefits of her fami

, for she

herself dwell on them, it would consume her far greater than it had consumed her sister. It was the only way she could live. It was the only way she had learnt to live. Long ago, she had decided that her life had to be filled with gu