Heartbreak, Betrayal, and The Ball

For the next two days, Aurelia did nothing but mope about her bedroom. Her anger gave way to a deep sadness in her heart. She feared she would never be able to find forgiveness for their betrayal. Evelina broke her heart more than Jacob did, men come and go in a woman's life, but her friends are supposed to be forever.

Ben and Willa worried about Aurelia and her lack of appetite. She sat around thinking about her and Eve's grand times, running about the countryside, chasing after the boys in the county. She had no idea Evelina even liked Jacob. He was always so sweet to Aurelia, giving her flowers to wear in her hair and sweet kisses when no one was watching. She wanted to be his wife, his best friend, his partner forever, she wanted to be Mrs. Jacob Browning, and one day Lady Burnside.

Aurelia got her feelings out in several letters to Eve and Jacob the day before the ball. The knot in her stomach had not faded since hearing of their betrayal. She stood in front of the fire and tossed the letters in the flames that awaited her angry tear-streaked words. As Aurelia watched the paper ignite and reduced to ash, it released some of her anger towards the pair of them. She straightened her shoulders and felt more like herself than she had in days. Aurelia started to look forward to the dancing and laughter a ball brings.

~

The night of the ball came quickly after the drama of the last few days. Willa and her lady's maid wove Aurelia's auburn hair into a complicated braided updo and attached sparkling jeweled pins to hold it all together. Her face was made up with rouge, powder, and lightly painted lips. It helped hide her red eyes and puffy cheeks. The dress Wilhemina gave me fit like it was meant for Aurelia; it helped that they were the same size. The deep green gown was decorated with thousands of tiny emeralds and pearls that complimented her hair and made her light green eyes glow.

"The eligible bachelors will be fighting to get a mark on your dance card, my dear Aurelia," Willa beamed as she took in her sister's complete look. Topped off with a giant garnet gem on her throat and black pearls in her ears, she sparkled and gleamed in the candlelight.

Their brother Benjamin was waiting at the bottom of the staircase for them, and he seemed shocked by Aurelia's transformation from a crying mess to a stunning debutante. She smiled and took his hand when they met him at the foot of the stairs. "My darling sister, you are a vision," Ben complimented. "And you too, Willie," he added after Willa shot daggers with her eyes at him.

Aurelia laughed at her siblings' antics as the trio of them made their way to the carriage at the front of the manor house. Willa and Aurelia squeezed in on one side and Ben on the other. They laughed and talked about who might be there until they pulled in front of the family's massive manor hosting this week's ball.

Ben helped his sisters out of the carriage, and they both took an arm on either side of him. They walked into the main entrance of Marshsire Manor and walked to the top of the staircase where a footman was waiting to announce their presence. "Now entering Lord Benjamin Brooks the Viscount of Carlyle and his sisters Ladies Wilhelmina and Aurelia Brooks," the footman boomed in a loud voice.

About a quarter of the way down the stairs, Aurelia stopped dead in my tracks. Evelina and Jacob were laughing, standing in a circle of well-wishers. Willa and Ben looked at her like she was crazy for stopping until they saw them together too.

"Do you want to leave?" Willa asked frantically as she took in Aurelia's face.

"No," Aurelia belted out. "I'm done being sad. I'm going to dance the night away." The fire in her heart raged again. She wouldn't let them keep her unhappy, for she controlled her own happiness. The pause on the stairs drew many eyes upon the siblings and as they made it onto the ballroom floor. They were unwed caught which caught the eyes of many men who were dying to marry and other young women jealous of their dresses.

By the first half-hour, they were there, Willa and Aurelia's dance cards had been filled with handsome young men's names vying for their undivided attention. She danced every time someone asked her to, wanting to keep herself occupied. After a few waltzes and quadrilles, Aurelia was left breathless and gulped down sweet wine to quench her thirst. She was leaning back on a chaise lounge resting for a moment, fanning herself, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.