Chapter 9

And just like that, the days ran till the night before the party and the whole rooms in this humongous castle was filled with people, with even more to come. I stuck closer to my room as I didn’t want any more unnecessary interrogation. People in this time were just too nosy.

Knox sat at her window going stir crazy, she never had so much inactivity in her life. She's not supposed to cook nor clean or so she's been told, cook almost had a heart attack when she offered to help cook, she had to put her foot down on cleaning her own room. She huffed in annoyance at it all and turned to face her room where it was a tornado of pieces of fabrics and laces. This was the only thing which gave her joy, creating new designs. Olivia was appalled when she requested for strictly laces,fabrics and other things to make her own clothes, she only agreed to some slippers,hats, gloves and some riding habits wondering why she couldn’t use regular jeans for doing so. If she were to agree with Olivia she didn’t get enough but she was fine with what she got.

Come morning it was different activities all round with the men going horse riding and the women to play cards after breaking their fast. Not all the ladies were in attendance as some where just rousing from their sleep. The few present had nothing to do but gossip about their clothes and hair or which man they set their cap for. Knox’s entrance brought a halt to their conversations as they all turned towards her especially when Olivia beckoned her to sit by her side and introduced her to those around her, many of the young ladies began to speculate as to who she was with some giving her the looks as they saw her as competition for the attention of the men also. Knox being who she was paid no mind to any of them enjoying her conversation with the duchess and her friends.

After a while, the group broke up for them to freshen up before lunch. Knox had no sooner stepped out the room when Emma and her posse cornered her.

Emma

Who was this lady? She’s so tall that I had to look up to her, she’s pretty too with those exotic eyes and so thin that it didn’t look like a corset helped yet with curves in the right places and a very full bosom. I myself have to watch what I eat to maintain my figure. As much as she would have loved to find the secret to all these even her flawless skin and beautiful dress, she was competition and had to be eliminated immediately as I have big plans for being the next duchess.

I see you know the duchess that you even call her by name, and act like you are of the same class, didn’t you know its not proper to do so? And why are you so tall? Men don’t want a lady who towers over them, that’s if you were even a lady you tramp, while we are on this topic, stay away from Gerard or else and go back to wherever you came from, we don’t need the likes of you here. She mentally gave herself a pat on the back as the ladies all nodded adding their words to hers.

Knox

I look at these wannabes and I had to hold in my laughter, why couldn’t this part of the past be different? Well there was no help for it, have to suffer through it without bloody noses or broken bones, it was high school all over again.

I looked at them all and stepping in lead bitch’s face i asked or else what? just spare me the theatrics evil stepmother and her brood of evil children. She stepped back and gasp asking are you referring to me?yes you, who else? pointing at myself, I stated do not tell me what to do about anything least of all a grown ass man who can decide what he wants just fine. Secondly, never dare to come up in my face to throw childish tantrums and threats because you don’t know what am capable of and you really do not want to find out but just a hint; I ain’t afraid to break some nails honey or get my pretty dress dirty. Now you and your brood of chicks turn back or get the hell outta my way, not waiting for them to react, I stepped past them making sure to hit some shoulders to get my point across well.

Emma could not for the life of her believe what happened, she sought to embarrass and humiliate her but her plans backfired and she’s the one feeling that way now. She had to think of something else.

Unbeknownst to Knox who continued her stroll towards the garden, she had a captivated audience of Gerard and his friend Nathan who while bewildered enjoyed the showdown between the ladies. Nathan watched her go and turned to his friend saying now that there is a lady worth keeping, she stood up to those airheads ,my wife Celia would love to make her acquaintance.

Gerard and Knox rarely saw themselves for the remainder of the week due to her making her clothes and also spending her time with Olivia, while he was busy with entertaining the men . On the night of the ball, everyone was wearing their fineries with matchmaking mamas already eying potential suitors for their daughters and securing introductions and possible dances to help their cause.

Gerard and his family with Knox stood overhead the ballroom waiting to make their grand entrance. Knox was looking especially beautiful in a striking ivory gown,with ivory lace flowers plaited into her hair which hung down her back in a single loose braid, her gown had a soft neckline with just a hint of her bosom peeking out and gloves to complete her outfit. In all she looked so well put together as she glided down the stairs escorted by George’s while Gerard escorted his mother who had a proud smile on her face while looking at her as she still couldn’t believe the lovely creation turned out from the fabric they bought

Most of the debutants were green with envy seeing Knox with the duke’s family as there were speculations as to her being the next duchess. Knox standing with Olivia could see above many heads and heard some of their malicious gossips but paid no mind afterall she was used to it besides they could have him and she wouldn’t be here long enough to find out.

Gerard rarely danced but he was itching to do so and with none other than Knox herself but didn’t wanto bring undue attention to himself by adding more fodder to the gossip being spread. He took a sip from his glass while watching the goings of everyone and paying little attention to what his friends were saying. His mother bless her soul walked over with Knox and after greeting his friends and introducing Knox as Miranda which was a lovely name she asked him to take Knox for a turn about the room. That was the best instruction he ever had to obey. While dancing he noticed she didn’t care if he were the one she danced with or not unlike other women who would be making meaningless conversations trying to keep his attention. It would seem she was also still angry with him, good thing he had her first dance, he could imagine how many more men were waiting to fill her dance card.

For Knox while she would rather dance with George, she was scanning the room, making comparisons of the differences to her time. While the eras were different the general idea was the same from snubby men and women, to catty ladies trying to out do one another, to the men and women looking for their next lay or assignations if she got the gist of it. While the man she was dancing with piqued her emotional curiosity it was all wrong time and place.

After their dance many more men danced with her with some trying to cup a feel. But with a smack here and there, stepping on some toes she was fine. When her legs started to feel sore she made her excuses to Olivia and retired to her room for the night.