The girls quickly ran to catch up with Gemma, adjusting their dresses as they walked.
"Gemma, slow down and walk more ladylike....people are watching us." Natalie grabbed Gemma and pulled her back.
Gemma slowed down and graciously nodded to the lady to the side of her. They slowly walked through the grand entrance staring up at the high ceilings, mesmerised by the oil paintings that hung on the wall, and the swarms of people that surrounded them.
As they continued walking through the entrance they were greeted by a middle aged lady, whose hair was bundled onto the top of her head, possibly Natalie thought, as a nesting place for a pigeon.
"Oh Miss Rose...............how I have waited for you but I cannot understand for one moment why you have made an entrance like this!" She looked around. "Everyone, scurry on in. Come along now. Oh and for heaven's sake Miss Baker sort your pearls out! " She clicked her fingers to someone who came flying in tripping over himself in eager anticipation. Gemma, the now infamous Miss Baker, realised her pearls were on backwards. The lady appeared to know them all.
"Honestly Edward....!" She looked down at the cloakroom assistant Edward as he clumsily dropped a guest's coat. "Could you escort the rest of the guests to the ballroom, immediately. They should all be in there by now." Her tone was rushed with an air of anxiety as she looked at Gemma in distaste. Turning round she spotted Natalie, or Nathanial Jones as she or he was now known. "Oh....Mr Jones....I didn't see you there." She flushed a shade of red as she fanned her face. Natalie looked on mortified at the middle aged woman who was clearly flirting with her. She suddenly jumped back to attention as Edward was still trying to arrange a coat in the cloackroom.
"Edward....Edward.....leave that....the guests are waiting."
"Yes, of course Miss Thorpe."
Lara, or Miss Emile Rose as she was now known, sat down uncomfortably next to Miss Thorpe as Edward escorted the girls to the ballroom. They looked back at Lara who was clearly petrified.
"Miss Rose dear, please take a seat. I'm surprised you haven't travelled with your family. They said you wanted to travel on your own. It's a little bizzare dear, but then again, you are the bell of the ball after all."
As the rest of the girls followed Edward, they reached the top of a long wide stair case that lead to a breathtaking ballroom decorated with crystal chandeliers and Corinthian columns. The clock struck 6pm, it was light and the natural lights seeped through the large windows, showing the warmth of the red velvet drapes, even though candles were lit all around the room. The girls made their way down the stairs, elegantly nodding at people as they passed. The men were all gazing and the women were fanning their faces looking shyly at Mr Jones.
Lizzie whispered to Lucy "What do we do now?"
"I think we have to wait here for.................oh!"
"What do you mean oh...............Lucy? "
"Well I think we are waiting for the guest of honour. Look...!"
"As they looked up Lara appeared at the top of the staircase, her navy gown encrusted with diamonds around the bust line. The tiny gems shimmered in the light, enhancing her dark ringlets as the draped around one side of her neck. Her shoulders, laced with a scarf of soft white silk.
An older gentleman stood at the side of her. "Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you lady Emile Rose.
"Doesn't she look beautiful?" Lucy looked up at Lara in adoration.
"She looks like she has shit her pants...........she looks as nervous as hell!" Lizzie once again used her eloquent speech to get her point across.
"Well wouldn't you?....look there he is!"
"Who?"
"Her suitor, ................her Mr Darcy."
"Is that his name?" Lizzie looked confused.
"I don't know but he is gorgeous...........look at his square jaw line, he looks like a prince. I bet he is an Earl........wait he must be the Earl of this place or a lord or something. I wonder where we are?" Lucy looked around for evidence. "We will have to dance. Soon the available men will ask us to dance. That's where we will know. We can ask them then." She grabs lizzie's arm."She is coming down the stairs. "
Lara walks down the stairs gracefully as everyone watches her. Her audience watches in awe, gasping at her presence. She manages to compose her posture and reach the bottom without any mishaps. At the bottom she curtsy's as the handsome gent takes her hand. Lara smile's. "Please excuse me one moment." She smiles as she gracefully walks over to the girls.He looks confused and a little bewildered.
She whispers to Lizzie. " I'm not sure what to do we have to dance and talk and i'm not sure how to do either."
Lucy is eager to ask questions. "Did you get his name ?"
"He is The Earl Of Plymouth, so that crazy woman says. That woman up there, that's his mother. I swear she is on some 19th century hallucinogenics. I have to go....all these people they are waiting for a dance. I have never felt so embarrassed in all my life." She looks scared as she turns around and heads back to the Earl.
As he leads her onto the ballroom floor, he swirls her around. They fall into a dance as though they were made for each other, smooth and nibble on their feet, it didn't look like Lara was a novice. No this was part of the game. The reality not only created a new visual world but one where you could clearly dance.
As they finished they returned from floor, the older gentleman announced that the gentleman should be asking the ladies to dance. Lucy looked on in eager excitement, and Natalie stood there not knowing what to next.
"You will have to find someone to dance with Natalie." Gemma giggled.
"Fine...I choose you!"
To be continued...