I've been excited about this event but now I'm very nervous. Apart from being around new people, they're rich kids who are expected to meet certain standards.
"I'll be really embarrassed if anything goes wrong."
I say quietly to myself using my cold hands to warm up each other. Opposite me is Letitia who's looking as confident as ever. We're taking the same carriage since we have to go together and I'm sure she won't leave me behind to protect her dignity.
We finally arrive at the venue, It's a large building with golden statues and decorations around it. I could see other carriages stopping in front of the building too. Our carriage also stops and the door is opened by the man who had brought the invitation to our house the other day.
The middle-aged man extends his hand and Letitia takes it with a smile.
"It's an honor to have you here my lady."
The man says helping Letitia get out of the carriage. The man then turns to me offering his hand and bowing slightly.
"I believe we've met before my lady, I'm Byrne George. It's an honor to have you here."
I chuckle and hold his hand slightly trying to be as ladylike as possible.
"Nice to meet you, I'm...I'm Vivian Diane Sullivan."
I get down from the carriage and follow Letitia towards the building entrance. A chandelier lights up the way as we enter a huge ballroom. The bright room is filled with people, music, laughter and whisperings.
Letitia immediately walks away to a group of people leaving me alone to deal with the strangers. I'm standing there feeling awkward when I feel someone touch my dress.
"Your dress is pretty, where did you get it from?"
I turn around to see a group of ladies smiling at me, they don't look like they're trying to make fun of me but are just genuinely curious. I smile and move closer to them.
"I got them from Madam Grace's shop, she's really good at her job I'd say."
The ladies chuckle and one gives me a drink from one of the servers.
"I'm Susan Trenowyth, You can call me Susan. Who are you? I don't think any of us have seen you before."
The other ladies nod agreeing with her.
"I'm Vivian Diane Sullivan, the youngest daughter of Count Sullivan. You can call me Vivian."
The lady's expression changed for a second and I'm sure they're probably thinking of me being a mistress's daughter. They still smiled again politely.
"It's nice to finally meet you, we've heard about you a lot. I often wondered why you never attend social gatherings."
"It's not like being a mistress's daughter is a disease."
Another lady who looks my age with pink hair says. A normal person might get mad thinking she said this in a sarcastic way but you can tell she meant what she said genuinely.
"Watch what you say Claire."
Susan says pinching the Claire girl.
"You're right Claire, it took me a while to realize that too."
She and I chuckle and everyone laughs along. It was awkward at first but the conversation goes smoothly as we continue talking.
The girls later go out to talk to other people leaving me and Claire Norwood together. She's a really fun person to talk to.
"Do you see that guy, last year he slipped when he was trying to act like he could dance to impress a lady?"
I and Claire burst into laughter when I see Elmira. She waves and comes towards us.
"I've been looking for you since I arrived. I see you've met Claire."
Elmira smiles and waves at Claire who also waves back. Our conversation is cut short when a group of people walk towards us.
"You must be Letitia's sister, why haven't you come to introduce yourself?"
At the far back from us, I could see Letitia looking at us with a small smile on her face. Did she by chance make them pick a fight with me?
Dropping my empty glass on the table near me, I turn to the girl who spoke in a rude tone to me.
"I didn't know it was customary to go greet people who aren't even elders or my friends when I arrive at an event."
"How am I supposed to know who I should introduce myself to when I've never been here before?"
"I've been looking at your group earlier as you disregarded everyone who tries to talk to you.
"This is an event that's supposed to encourage friendliness but you shun people and try to pick a fight with me isn't that quite rude?"
The girl and the people behind her scoffs now attracting the attention of others.
"As expected, a mistress's child will always behave like one. I wonder who allowed you here."
The others started laughing but that only made me angrier instead of depressed.
"A girl who bullies someone she's just met and talks of hierarchy as soon as she opens her mouth. That says a lot about the family you've come from."
Anyone can tell I made her furious.
She tries to slap me when someone holds her hand. Hmm, the person should have just let it happen so I can double it back to her.
"We're here to represent our respective family, I'm sure Sir Cobham won't be pleased with what you're about to do"
The blonde guy says holding the rude girl's hand with a smirk on his face. The room starts brimming with whispers.
"How could she dare to slap her?"
"Does she think being rich is everything"
"I'd take a nice illegitimate daughter over a rude rich brat anytime."
"At least the illegitimate daughter won't soil my name in the mud."
The "whispers" are very loud as everyone looks at us. The rude Cobham girl snatches her hand away from the blond guy and leaves the room.
"Are you okay my lady?"
The blond guy says smiling at me. The author must have a favorite cause damn... He's fine.
"I'm okay, thanks for your help. Things would have escalated if you didn't interfere."
He chuckles, about to say another word, but someone interferes.
"Vivian, are you okay?"
I look to my left to see Letitia looking "Worried".
"I should have stuck closely to make sure no one bothered you."
Everyone looks at Letitia like a goddess and an angel.
"I'm fine. Sister just wanted me to bond with others on my own."
"I can't blame you for someone else's rude behavior, can I?
I say with a light smile on my face. The blonde guy suddenly holds my hand.
"Will the beautiful lady like to have a dance with me?"
Before I can reply, Letitia interrupts. AGAIN!
"I don't think my sister will be able to partner with you, she's not attended this kind of event before so she hasn't learned how to dance."
Who is she to say I can't dance? Michel Juckson will bow if he sees me dance.
"My sister is just being worried for no reason, If I don't start now how will I learn?"
I turn to the blond guy still holding his hand.
"I'll be honored to have a dance."
The blond guy pulls me to the center of the ballroom where other people are also dancing. He holds on to my right hand and put my left on his shoulder.
His right hand is on my waist with his left holding my hand.
"One step to the front and now to the back"
The routine continued and I got hold of what we were doing quickly. I notice a lot of people looking at us and could guess why already. He's handsome.
~~~~~
The night goes by quickly and we're already preparing to leave. I walk towards me and Letitia's carriage after saying bye to the girls.
"Wait! Excuse me!"
I turn back to see the blonde guy from earlier, after the dance I went back to Elmira as there was a queue to dance with him.
"I didn't introduce myself earlier, I'm Carlos Hampton, son of Duke Hampton."
"I'm Vivian Sullivan, daughter of Count Sullivan. It's nice meeting you."
His face looked confused a little.
"We've met a lot though, I often came to see the Count with my father when I was younger so we saw each other a lot, though we never talked to each other."
Ahh. This Vivian girl, why will she ignore someone like this, she also ignored Elmira.
"I'm a little reluctant with talking to new people, that's why."
He smiles brightly and walks me to the carriage.
"I hope to see you again soon, you wouldn't mind being my friend would you?"
He extends his right hand for a shake. I smile and shake his hand.
"Of course not friend. See you later."