~Malia~
"And which spoon do we use during dinner when having been invited to a royal function?"
I grabbed the spoon which I thought was the correct answer but by the resounding sigh that my grandmother exuded, I realized I must have chosen incorrectly.
"I'm sorry, this is all just so brand new to me. Back home, I ate to-go food out of the container with plastic silverware and I had to basically shovel it into my mouth otherwise I'd be in serious trouble if he found out that I'd bought food..." I trailed off, realizing that that was the first time I'd spoken about Robert and my home life without breaking down into hysterics or mania.
Maybe I was getting...better?
My grandmother looked just as taken aback as she'd never really heard me speak about my time back home, and she had probably assumed that I never would.
Her blue eyes misted over but she quickly composed herself and we continued our lesson as if I hadn't just made serious progress with my damage.
We were looking through dresses for my introduction to society party when the doorbell rang, and I wondered who would have been coming by so late when I knew that we had to keep the ruse up with my family as well that I was on the outs with Louis.
Mar came into the room and fashioned a confused stare my way.
"What is it, dear? Malia and I were just trying to pick from the pale pink and the traditional white."
"Traditional white is too outdated, always go with the more modern choice nowadays, it resonates well with the younger generation. Malia, you have a...gentleman at the door for you."
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Surely Louis wouldn't blow our cover so soon, would he?
I thought back to our amazing night just twenty four hours earlier and about how perfect that night had been. I had been itching to see him in person ever since we said our goodbyes but I knew what was at stake if we weren't careful.
"Okay..."
I followed Mar to the landing of the stairs and to my surprise Henry and Daniel were standing in the entryway of our house, dressed far too formally for a casual night after school.
My day had been relatively quiet as Louis had royal business to attend to that day so I didn't have to worry about him hanging onto some random girl after the epic night that we'd had less than twelve hours before.
"Daniel, Henry...to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" I asked dryly, hardly hiding the disappointment that it wasn't Louis waiting for me at my door.
"Lady Spencer, we were hoping to make your acquaintance this evening at my mother's annual charity ball. Would you do me the honor of being my esteemed guest?"
"I-but I was just in the middle of my lessons and-"
"Oh dear it's no problem we were just finishing up anyway. She would love to!"
I turned wide eyed to my grandmother who had just spoken for me. No help there, I turned to Mar and got the answer in her half smirk and slight nodding of her head.
"It...would be my honor to accompany you."
Henry's usually arrogant face transformed into a bright smile and I immediately regretted my decision, meaning that I would probably have to be nice to him the rest of the night.
Although he did look dashing in a black suit coat and black button up with matching slacks and shoes, I wouldn't forget the nasty encounter we'd had in the bunker after the bomb had exploded at Big Ben.
"Just give us one moment, and we will have Malia ready to go."
My grandmother showed me back into my room where we had been trying on dresses and I only had half a second to glance back at Daniel who looked inconspicuous in all black as well, but he wore it so much better than Henry ever could.
I caught the wary expression on his face just as the door was slammed and soon the females of my family were running around me and trying to turn me into a life sized doll in less than fifteen minutes.
Hair thrown in a half down half up hairstyle with the ends wavy, my makeup was kept neutral and dewy.
"She should wear the pink dress we were thinking of for her coming out party."
"Yes yes, that would work perfectly!"
I slipped on the floor length blush gown with a half see through bodice and floral accents dotting the top half with dotted lace trailing down the rest of the gown.
We finished off the look with champagne strappy heels and Mar gave me a dark mauve lipstick that she said stood out against my pale features and dark hair, but I didn't believe that it would look good until I saw myself in the mirror.
I had never seen myself look so different and like the girls I had always wanted to look like...I looked like someone who could actually be seen on the Prince's arm.
Except I'd be on his cousin's arm. That thought alone made me want to throw up but I couldn't force myself to back out, not looking the way I did.
I reached the top of the stairs and took one last longing look towards my family and began to descend when my grandmother stopped me.
"This will be a very important party for you. Try to remember everything in our lessons. Don't speak on subjects you know little about and keep your head high, they smell fear and they will tear you apart. We weren't even invited to this event so the King and Queen might be in attendance, try to steer clear until you're ready to meet them. Good luck."
And then I was practically shoved down the stairs, and my arm was placed in Henry's (gag) as he drank in my appearance appreciatively.
My grandfather joined Mar and my grandmother as we left, waving as he did so and although I knew they were practically sending me off to my doom, it felt like the prom I never had.
I felt Daniel's presence at my back and it was so weird but it honestly gave me a little bit of peace knowing he was there and knowing that he was with us when it came to the King's Horses.
I took comfort in the fact that I basically had a trained assassin watching out for me, so how bad could a few socialites be...and the crowned monarchs of England?
Oh god, I was so screwed.
I plastered on a fake smile and entered into their limousine. Daniel put his hand up to his mouth and began speaking. I guessed he was communicating back to the rest of Henry's security team.
Once we were seated in the back, Daniel was put in the front seat so that meant I was alone with Henry. Great.
"You really do look ravishing tonight if I haven't said so already."
He had. Four times and counting.
"Thank you, it's nothing," I added, trying to seem modest when in reality I just wanted to slap the lights out of him.
His hand found its way to my thigh and I grit my teeth and crossed my legs so that it fell off, getting him off of me without making it seem rude.
He leaned back and placed an arm around my shoulder and it was all I could do to keep still and not remove it completely from my body.
"So, you and Louis are no longer an item? I thought for sure you'd be the one he'd settle down with. I can't believe he let you go..." he trailed off and I could feel the bile beginning to rise in my throat.
"I guess some things just aren't meant to be."
How much longer was this car ride supposed to last?
"So, where is the charity ball being held?"
"My family's estate. There will be many diplomats on attendants and our very own rulers will be there as well. It's mainly a grab for more money for the charities my mum runs but everyone gets to be dressed up and ply themselves with alcohol so of course it's the event of the year."
"Nice. So why did you decide to invite me? And why so last minute?"
"Well, of course you were my first choice."
He paused to grab a glass of champagne from the ice bucket on the floor.
"But you were with Louis, supposedly. I assumed he would be bringing you, so when I asked Lizzie and she turned me down at the very last second and I thought I could come back to my first choice-the lovely Malia, considering she was single once more."
The sneaky smirk dancing across his face was enough to make me want to open the door of the moving vehicle and run away from him but we were pulling through a set of large gilded gates before I had a chance.
"Ah, here we are. It might be much more grand than you are used to, so I have to apologize if you become overwhelmed by its sheer size."
I was sure he tried to use that line on girls before he bed them, but I bit my tongue when I almost started laughing at the thought.
"I believe I will survive," I said in mock humility and thought he glared at me but if he did it was gone in an instant and then Daniel was opening my door and lights flooded my vision.
The pavement was sparkling as someone had sprayed it down to make it glow in the evening light.
The party lights flickered against the gorgeous backdrop of a two story mansion, made grandeur by the width of it.
Windows adorned almost every inch of the building and it looked more like a museum than a residence.
The white exterior was almost blinding from the flood lights shining onto it and dozens of gorgeous looking people were filing into the entryway as if the last piece of chocolate cake was being handed out to the first person through the door.
"Lady Spencer, if you'll please follow us," Daniel said as he walked in front of us and then Henry insisted on grabbing my elbow again but I relented and allowed it even though it burned my skin jus try touching him.
If the outside was grand, the interior of the mansion was beyond extravagant with sparkling chandeliers dripping with crystals hanging low and illuminating the golden accents in the flecks in the white tile below and the matching gold in the wallpaper.
We were led through the packed main entrance with only a few curious looks and I was tempted to grab a glass of champagne as Henry had but I resisted, not wanting to cause trouble as I was underage in this country still, although my eighteenth birthday was right around the corner.
My heart skipped a beat when I noticed in the grand ballroom in front of us a familiar shock of black hair and I almost ripped my arm out of Henry's elbow until I remembered that I couldn't run to him like I wanted to.
Of course, he'd texted throughout the day and had even called me to tell me good morning, but the need to see him in person became exacerbated when the thoughts of the previous night invaded my mind.
It was suddenly our turn to walk out onto the landing from the foyer into the ballroom and my heart fell into my stomach.
Everyone's eyes were upon us as a hush descended upon the room unlike when everyone else had been making their entrance into the room.
My eyes locked with Louis' and an astonished expression danced across his features and I remembered I hadn't texted to tell him I was coming as I was in the company of people we were trying to lie to about our connection and I couldn't find a second alone.
I suddenly realized why there was a little bit of fear laced into his expression and noticed Lizzie hanging onto his arm dressed in a gorgeous yellow flowing gown fit for Belle.
I almost puked, but made my way forward and wondered just what the hell I'd gotten myself into.
*******
Author's Note:
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Until next time my lovely readers,
Kristen :)