The News

##### I am switching the POV of this story, please bear with me while I make the changes!####

***Jacob was guiding me around the dancefloor, my pink dress swished around his legs as we waltzed, he held me tightly and I clung to him as if life depended on it. The candlelight made his brown eyes gleam, the light flickered in them as I stared into their endless depths. I sighed contentedly, this was where I was meant to be.***

A knock on the door from Winona startled Aurelia out of my dream, her eyes snapped open as she appeared in the doorway. She sighed at the memory of the last ball Jacob and she danced at two years ago. It was one of the last times Aurelia had seen him before he went off to university. She was excited to see him again since he was done with school now and ready to be married. Aurelia smiled to herself at the thought of being his wife.

"Miss, are you ready to get out of bed and dressed for the day?" Winona asked.

Aurelia yawned and nodded her head. After a quick bath, Winona plaited her auburn hair into a braid down her back and helped her into her chemise and morning dress. Aurelia sauntered down the stairs and went to the dining hall to break her fast.

There was a ring that announced the arrival of the messenger, smiling, Aurelia was excited to see what news and letters awaited her. The messenger left his delivery on the small table in the entryway by the massive double front doors. She was anticipating the weekly newsletter. It was the only way to find out any sort of information in the country when the social season was still in the beginning stages. She snatched up the newsletter off the top.

Aurelia walked into the parlor where her sister Willa was already sitting engrossed in her embroidery. She sank down into one of the armchairs across from her and began to read. Skipping over boring news like the war raging with the Saunomans and rising taxes, she came across the wedding announcements for the week. Aurelia read about all the joyous nuptials of several couples until she came across two names that make her heart drop to her stomach.

'Miss Evelina Lawrence and Mr. Jacob Browning, the future Lord Burnside, tied the knot this Saturday in a small ceremony at the Burnside Estate. Please wish Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Browning well good luck,' the small announcement read.

Tears fell down her cheeks as she tore the newsletter that dared to write such horrid news in half, some of the ink smudged from her tears. How could he marry her? Of all people he could have chained himself with for eternity, he chose her. Aurelia missed her chance, how could she have missed her chance?

She threw the pieces of paper to the floor and ran up the stairs to her room. Willa looked as if Aurelia grew a second head for tearing out of the parlor like a bat out of hell.

Aurelia was warring between resignation and a building fury in her heart. Her best friend, her sister not by blood but by bond, betrayed her very soul. Receiving the news from a piece of paper that Jacob had wed her ruined everything. Aurelia would have professed her love to him at the first ball of the season this upcoming weekend. She was the first person Aurelia told she had feelings for Jacob when they were eight years old.

Did he already forget about the pledge that they made to marry those many times throughout their childhood? She paced the length of her room, my dress swished in a violent manner as I turned.

Willa knocked lightly before popping her head through the door. "I just read the newsletter," Willa said, sympathy etched in her eyes. "That was quite cruel of Jacob to do."

"I cannot believe Eve more than Jacob," she huffed. "I just spoke with her last week, and she said nothing of this match." Looking back, Aurelia's heart sank even deeper. Eve had been looking like she was hiding something, she acted like something grand was about to happen, and Aurelia wasn't allowed to know. She should have known something was wrong. Friendship could be blinded from the truth.

Aurelia spilled her heart out to my sister, who listened kindly to her plight and held her hand tightly. They sat side by side in Aurelia's bed until the housekeeper called them down for dinner. She didn't have much of an appetite and picked at her chicken and roasted vegetables. Ben and Willa tried their best to convince her between bites of their dinners to come to the weekly ball hosted by the gentry of the area at rotating houses and estates.

"You know you will have a grand time dancing," Willa said after setting down her glass of wine.

Aurelia shook her head. "You know Evelina and Jacob will be there."

Ben grabbed his napkin from his lap and stood up from the table. "Aurelia, you need something to distract you, all the young men of the county last season were battling for your attention, and this season will be no different, don't let Eve and Jacob ruin a good time."

"Ben is right, Aurie," Willa joined in. "It will be a good way to have fun, maybe even find a new potential husband."

She stared at my older siblings with disdain, "You know I don't like it when you two gang up on me."

"So we've worn you down then?" Willa asked eagerly. "You'll come with us? If you do, I know just the dress I have that will do wonders for your hair and complexion."

She narrowed her eyes and stood up. "Yes, I am coming to the ball."

Willa clapped her hands together. "Oh, we will have a grand time!" Aurelia couldn't help but smile, her sister was a bright spirit.

As she walked upstairs, the thought of another social season starting without her best friend at her side and in the arms of the man Aurelia loved was too much for her to bear. She thought back to the first season she was a part of, introduced into society with my parents by her side, the only season they were a part of with her.

Evelina was right next to her as they called thier names to be presented to the Queen. Jacob was her first dance partner at Aurelia's first ball. When she closed her eyes, she can still feel his arms circling her around the ballroom of the Lord of Scarbury's estate.

After that, Jacob and Aurelia were inseparable until he went away to school for two years. She thought upon his return, he and she would be wed. The letters he sent were so full of love and passion that it simply does not make sense as to why he would choose Evelina over her. Aurelia crashed into her bed as thoughts of them plagued her mind.