Chapter 11
Later that day, Judy insisted on curling my dark hair. She even let me borrow her captivating white lacy boots that I am head-over-heels with.
To be honest, I don't know if I can last a night walking in this heels but whatever.
Judy decided to wear a fancy yellow ballgown and a pair of black heels. Her blonde hair tied in a bun. A huge majestic fan in her hand.
As Judy smoothens her blonde hair, I cannot help myself from asking her why she let me join the party since I am just a plain housemaid.
Judy released a chuckle and answered, "My dear, the whole household already knows you're my friend so it's no different for them to see us go somewhere outside work,"
"And besides, I just really want you to meet Raymond," she added which made me a bit nervous for I am not sure i'll end up liking this guy.
Well, unless he's loaded and is about to die. Just kidding.
By the time, Judy and I are finished dressing up, we are now ready to go to the party because as it turns out, the boys are waiting for us for ages.
Standing in the corner with his arms crossed is Jacob, rhythmically tapping his foot. Playing dart is Augustus, his white gloves inside his pockets while Leo is playing chess all by himself with his usual black top hat in his side.
Both Jacob and Leo are wearing black tuxedos while Augustus is wearing a white one.
It was Augustus who first noticed our arrival for he immediately dropped the dart in the table and slightly bow his head to us. I swear I caught him smirking at me.
"Good evening, Mrs. Bennett," Augustus said to Judy which made Judy return a polite smile as she snaked her hands around her husband's arm.
"Good evening to you, beautiful," said Augustus as soon as his eyes landed on me. Giving me a wink.
Despite my huge urge to roll my eyes heavenwards and to blush hard for he seriously looks hella handsome in his white tuxedo, all I can reply is a slight smile and return a bow.
Leo then stood from his seat and bow his head. After that, he brushed all the invisible dusts off his tuxedo. Despite the fact that I am meters away from him, I can still see beads of sweats running down his temple.
His eyes scanning me from head to toe then back to my face. He then ran his eyes around my curly hair. Perhaps I don't really look good in curly hair or in pink ballgown.
"What took you so long, hun?" asked Jacob the moment we stepped out of the room.
"Didn't I told you not to say things like that to women?" Judy answered as she kissed back her husband on the cheek.
Jacob then replied a shrugged. "Let's just go, we're few minutes late already to the party," Judy exclaimed as she began fanning her face with her fan.
Judy and Jacob already made their way towards the carriage. Since the five of us cannot fit inside a single carriage, Augustus suggested we take two.
And since according to Judy, it is utterly inappropriate for a woman to ride a carriage with a male company who is not married or not her relative, I get to ride the carriage with Judy and her husband.
Leaving Augustus and his friend soldier in the other carriage.
It was Augustus who helped me get in to the carriage. "Save me a dance later, my mermaid," he whispered to me before closing the door.
Our trip to the party was pretty much awkward for my side because all Judy and Jacob do is murmur cheesy and steamy things to each other which made me blush hard and look outside.
It almost made me wanna holler at them and say, "Get a room, you guys,"
My jaw seriously did drop when the carriage had stopped for I cannot believe what beauty am I seeing right now.
Judy and Jacob began walking into the house before I have time to react. Judy turned her head in my direction and wink at me and said, "I'm sure the boys are on their way, for now, let us focus on getting you married to Raymond,"
Inside is something that is far more beautiful that I can imagine. In front of me are a dazzling interior and dozens of eye-catching ballgowns. In the side is a man, perhaps in his mid-thirties playing the piano.
I know this may sound totally crazy but almost all of them stop what they're doing to turn their attention towards us. Well, of course, except the pianist who might lose his job when he didn't play the piano perfectly.
I can feel their stares at me, eyeing me from head to toe. In the corner of my eye, the victorian ladies are raising their brow at me. The victorian males just study me as they gently tap their hourglass.
"Why are they staring at us?" I asked Judy, nudging her in the arm.
"Let them stop and stare, my dear," Judy replied as she began fanning herself.
Suddenly, a young man wearing a fancy suit, holding a hourglass came walking towards us with a broad smile plastered in his handsome face.
His auburn hair is perfectly combed, his green eyes are definitely his asset.
"Happy to see you here, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett," said the handsome young fella as he slightly bow his head.
"Victorian women cannot, by all means, miss a single party, Mr. Guevarra," Judy exclaimed, her hands still snaked around her husband's arm.
"I forgot to tell you, Mr. Bennett, the others are already waiting for you in the back," Mr. Guevarra stated as he rise his hourglass and slightly pointed it to the back.
I have a strong feeling that Judy and Jacob are going somewhere because Judy turned her head towards me again and murmured, "Go flirt with Raymond, he's a catch," then wiggled her brows.
The question is, is he a keeper?
My eyes widened at that realization, that standing in front of me is no other than Raymond who according to Judy kept asking about me. Uh-oh.
And please, I have zero knowledge about flirting. I don't even know how to sexily wink.
And with that, the couple is now gone. Leaving me alone with a hundred of unknown guests and Raymond who has his other hand inside his pocket.
"Glad to finally meet you, Ms. Wright. You look stunning as ever," Raymond said, his eyes scanning me from head to toe which made look sideways for I don't wanna meet his eyes.
I wonder when and how he first saw me? Perhaps he saw me cleaning the toilet in the Bennett household or what. If so, that would be super embarrassing.
What happened next almost made me faint for he just snatched my right hand and planted a kiss on it. How...rude? Shouldn't he ask for my hand first?
"T-thanks?" I replied. I told you, I am totally a noob when it comes to flirting or any social gathering.
Raymond then chuckled and said, "Would you like some wine, Ms. Wright?"
"W-water would be fine, Raymond, I mean, Mr. Guava, I mean, Mr. Gevur-"
"Mr. Guevarra, Ms. Wright," cut Raymond, raising his brow.
Goodness gracious, I seriously want to kill myself right now due to humiliation. Stupid me. I cannot even properly say his name.
What was I thinking? Mr. Guava?
Part of me is wishing he'll slowly walk away from me and just leave me here alone in this party but no, he snatched my wrist and began walking to God knows where.
"W-where are we going, Mr. Guava, I mean, Mr. Guevarra?" I asked as I tugged my hand away from his grip.
"We're going to have a drink and enjoy the party, Ms. Wright," replied Raymond and I can now feel the stares of the other guests. Raising their brow at me as they began whispering to each other.
"I'm going to show you all the things I bought abroad. I hauled them inside my bedroom," he stated as he smirked devilishly to me.
The moment my ears heard the word "bedroom", I knew something bad is going to happen. Call me paranoid or what but I don't care, this man is mad.
"I'm going to tell you about the country I visited last month, Miss Wright. They're rich in resources but no beautiful women, I must say," he added.
I am so close to screaming on top of my lungs and making a scene in where this guy right here would be humiliated in front of everyone.
I was about to pinch his arm or like bite his hand when suddenly, we heard a familiar faked cough. It's my first time feeling really thankful to hear this cough.
And there in front of us is Leo with his hands right hand on top of Raymond's shoulder.
"Thanks for entertaining her for a while, Mr. Guava, I mean, Mr. Guevarra," said Leo.
"No problem, Mr. Finley. Have a great night," replied Raymond and I can tell he was about to continue walking along with me when Leo held my wrist.
"Wouldn't it be rude for you to just leave your other guests here?" asked Leo, his brow raising.
"They can wait, Mr. Finley. A little chitchat with Miss Wright wouldn't hurt, right?" I can tell Raymond is getting pissed at what Leo is doing.
"The thing is, I don't think Miss Wright is interested in listening to your boastful and exaggerated stories so if you don't mind, excuse us, Mr. Guava." said Leo as he shook Raymond's hand which made him let me go.
"Oh, I do mind, Mr. Finley and may I remind you, you are in my house so watch it," Raymond stated and I can tell he was about to hold my hand once again when Leo began walking away from him, his hand wrapped around my wrist.
And now, we are all alone outside. Here in this garden. Here in Raymond Guevarra's house. The sounds of laughter and music can still be heard here. It's dark here.
As Leo lead me outside, we, I mean Leo was greeted a thousand times by the other guests. Some were saluting since he is a soldier even though he is not wearing a soldier uniform. This only means he is a famous soldier. I wonder what his rank is.
Raymond even managed to holler, "Let's dance later, Miss Wright," at me. His unexpected action made the other guest to look at me.
"T-thanks for rescuing me from that psycho, Mr. Finley," I stammered, looking down at our shoes.
Suddenly remembering what happened few hours ago. That he just saw me in my undergarments. How I wish I have the power to erase memories.
I heard no reply from him which made me look up from the ground.
That just made me realized that his hand is still wrapped around my wrist, his eyes focused to my face and is few inches away from mine. His face unreadable.
For some reason, it's starting to worry the other guests will began noticing Mr. Finley's absence since I figured he is one prominent Victorian person.
And when they saw us, standing here outside, just the two of us, they'll think we have a relationship. That Mr. Finley, the well-known soldier has a secret relationship with the Bennetts' housemaid.
"He may have a nice hair and eyes but that doesn't mean he can sleep with me," I said, rolling my eyes heavenwards.
Leo then look at me directly in the eyes which made me want to look sideways but i'm afraid that if I shifted my eyes somewhere, he'll think I like him or something.
So, yes, let the staring contest begin.
"I don't really find his eyes really...you know, nice, Miss Wright. In terms of his hair, he only managed to get it so shiny because of the products he kept on using from his trips," Leo replied which seriously made me wanna laugh really hard.
"Remind me later when I see him to tell him to please give me a couple of these hair products for you to use," I uttered as I forced myself to look serious.
Leo then unconsciously ran his fingers through his dark hair and said, "I-i don't need any of those silly witchcrafts,"
"Hair products are not witchcraft, Mister Finley," I exclaimed as I forced myself not to laugh out loud.
Even in the dark, Leo's temple is still full of sweat. Why does he keep sweating so much by the way?
"Where's your legendary top hat, by the way?" I asked, rolling my eyes. Doing my very best in forgetting the scene a while ago in where he saw me in my undergarments.
But Leo didn't reply. Instead, he just stared at me. Creepily. Goodness gracious, I want to punch him in the head or where it hurts the most right now for acting like this.
"I-i told you, Raymond is far from being your dream guy," he suddenly blurted out.
I found myself thanking that it is dark outside because in that way, he cannot see how hard I am blushing right now.
"What made you say that? You don't even know what I look for a guy," I replied, rolling my eyes. Trying my very best to make this conversation light. Less awkward.
I can tell Leo was about to say something when we began hearing footsteps and there in front of us is Leo's friend.
"What are you guys doing here?" Augustus asked, his arms crossed.
Augustus' brows immediately met the moment his eyes laid on Leo's hand wrapped around my wrist.
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Guys, whoever is reading my story, thank you very much. Regardless of its views and votes, I will do my very best in finishing this novel. :))
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