Annalise stuttered in her speech. One step inside, the palace shined so brightly that it felt almost celestial. Every corner she turned seemed covered entirely in gold, and the ballroom's centre held the most enormous crystal chandelier she had ever seen. She could not help but marvel at the sight before her.
"Have I told you, you look stunning this evening? Red is definitely your colour." Emmett teased.
"You say that to every shade and colour of dresses I wear." She laughed.
"Would you like to dance?" He said, and she stretched out her hand so he could put his name on her dance card.
"I could dance with you all night long," replied Annalise. Shortly after, the lights dimmed, and the music started to play. Emmett reached for her hand and pulled her closer to him. This reminded her of how she stood on his feet when she was little. Annalise was a terrible dancer growing up, so she and Emmett would spin around till they were so dizzy that neither of them could stand straight.
But look at her now. She was not so little anymore and was as tall as the mountain of responsibilities and expectations she was obliged to fulfil.
Annalise could reminisce no further as the music slowly ended, drawing the first short dance to a close and her back to reality. They both stopped to catch their breaths. Emmett was about to ask her for a second dance, but an overwhelming number of gentlemen swarmed her as bees would do to honey.
From the corner of her eye, Annalise could see Antoinette beaming with joy, no doubt bragging to the other mamas that her daughter was the most sought after. There was no getting out of it, which was why she detested all these fancy parties. What was the point of it all? The most
influential members of society all dolled up to perfection to mingle and associate with people of the same social class, then what do they do? They would flaunt their wealth and riches in each other's faces, each trying to out best the latter and pair their children up in marriages with their comrades to keep the circle of wealth flowing. For now, she would just endure. That was what she told herself as she accepted the hand of the Duke of Muppleberry as he led her into the second dance.
"Forgive me If I am being too forward, but I would be very much delighted to know your interests, Lady Beacroft." The second dance began, and he placed his hand firmly around her waist.
Annalise was surprised at the duke's contrast in behaviour. He was not as proud and arrogant as he had been the last time they met, and she wondered if he was the same person. "Very well, I enjoy horseback riding, and I love to read." She replied as she swayed.
"Your father is a brilliant man and is an acquaintance of my father. It is no surprise that you would take after him." He spun her around. "Since you love to read, you must be vast in modern languages. I speak a few myself. Do you speak any, perhaps?"
"Yes, I do. I speak seven."
"Fascinating," said Lord Shaw.
"What about musical instruments? Do you play?"
"I do, my lord. I play the violin, the pianoforte and the harp," said Annalise, and the duke listened earnestly. Lord Shaw maintained his conversation with her, but the rest of their discussion passed into a blur for Annalise. This was the same for Mr Bradley, with whom she shared her third dance. Her fourth was with Sir Cain, a widower almost quadruple her age whose children were much older than herself. He mentioned all of his allergies which he urged her to take note of as his new bride needed to
know such matters. Lord Morgan drew her into the dance floor again, and after several more dances, her feet were extremely sore.
Annalise finally concluded that she had had enough for one night. So when the Duke of Muppleberry returned seeking another dance from her, she had only one thing to say.
"My Lord, I am feeling rather parched."
"Would you like me to get you some refreshment?" He said eagerly.
"That would be very much appreciated." She smiled sweetly. Once the duke was out of sight, Annalise dashed to the nearest exit, wanting to be as far away from the dance floor as possible. She gathered her skirts in haste, desiring a quiet spot to herself.
"Oh, there you are ma chérie." She heard her mama say cheerily. "There is someone I would like you to meet. This is Sir Philippe Dubios."
Annalise panicked. She looked around to be out of eye-shot from her mama and the gentleman she was so keen to introduce her to. As almost everyone was in the ballroom, it made it less complicated for her to identify a dark entrance at the north side of the palace, which lay unguarded. Annalise ran into it. She breathed a sigh of relief and sought solace, knowing that no one would find her there.
Turning around, she noticed the moonlit path to a flight of stairs. Curious by nature, she followed it, and it led her further to an enormously dark hallway. Several doors lined up next to each other. The floorboards creaked loudly with every step she took, and the uncomfortable eerie stillness which hung in the air worsened as not a single soul in sight could be found.
As she progressed, she found it very strange, for there was neither a guard nor a servant who passed by. This would have been good reason enough for any sensible person, especially an unchaperoned proper young
lady, to turn back for fear of being compromised. Still, Annalise thought it to be the perfect opportunity to fulfil her one wish as her family made their venture here, which was to explore the palace.
With the moon lighting her path, off she went, admiring portraits of some haughty stiff-necked royals that decked the walls. Although the images merely captured their appearance and likeness, Annalise could not help but think the scowls on their faces were directed at her. She inspected the decor and was fiddling with an antique grandfather clock when suddenly, she heard voices.
Her head spun in the direction of the noise. She should not be here. What explanation would suffice for her presence here? But an answer would only be needed if she got caught, Annalise thought.
"The clock!" An idea lit up inside her. "I shall hide behind the clock." She rushed behind it.
"But what if I get caught?" Annalise panicked once more. "Surely, It would be much safer to hide in one of the rooms in this large hallway." She scurried to a door and tried as hard as she might, yet the door refused to open.
The voices got louder, and footsteps echoed loudly. Annalise repeated the same action for the three more doors that followed, but they, too, would not open. The shadow cast by the light from torches slowly ascended the stairs, and Annalise began to lose hope as she was overcome with great fear. In that instant, the moon shone brightly on the darkest door in the hallway, and she scurried towards it. With one flick of the wrist, it opened, and she immediately broke out in sweat and goosebumps once she was safely on the other side.
"I made it." She exclaimed with a burst of almost deranged laughter.
"Hilda, can you please pass me my dissecting kit?" A male voice echoed in the darkness.
"Dissecting kit?" Her relief was short-lived.
"Hilda?" He called again when he received no response. The light from a lamp revealed his silhouette as his footsteps drew nearer. His brow furrowed in confusion. "You are not Hilda." He stated. "Who are you?"
"I…I," Annalise was at a loss for words. This was not because she was scared and alone with a stranger. Quite the contrary, she was speechless because of his eyes. Even in the darkness, those emerald green orbs of his pierced hers as he spoke. But those were not the only green thing in the room. Pots! Pots of green plants were strewn all over what seemed like a laboratory.
"Can I help you miss? Are you lost?"
"Good God." She exclaimed, not answering his question. "It is beautiful." She said nothing in particular. Brushing right passed him, she asked, "Is that Epiphyllum oxypetalum, the queen of night flower?" She rushed over to the table where he was working on.
"Yes, but how did you know?" He looked surprised. "I see you are familiar with your plants."
"Indeed. I have read every book about plants in my papa's collection." Her eyes twinkled. "It rarely blooms and only at night. Its petals which have the neatest spiral geometry, wilt before dawn. It is a shame if you ask me because they are extremely fragrant." She moved closer to it, closing her eyes as she took a deep whiff of the flower. "Producing the most amazing and wondrous scent."
The door opened, and someone walked in. The person's presence lit the room with the bright torch in her hand. "Your highnes-
"Ahh, Hilda." He called out in a high-pitched tone, cutting her off. "There you are. I am afraid this young lady has strayed too far from the flock. Could you please show her back to the party?"
"Of course." She nodded. "Come along now, miss." She guided Annalise out of the room.
"It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss…?"
"Beacroft. Annalise Beacroft."
"It was a pleasure Miss Beacroft." He bowed.
Hilda took her down the steps whence she came, and she later found Emmett pacing, wondering where she had wandered off to. "Oh, thank God." He embraced her tightly. "I thought I had lost you. Where have you been?"
Annalise chuckled nervously. "Hiding from mama and any potential suitor?"
He shook his head in disbelief. "Come now. Our cousins have been in search of you."