![](https://static.penana.com/images/chapter/1420054/7H_1000016174.jpg)
Ara is utterly and completely bored and right now she wishes she wasn't even at the Ball. The York Ball was the first ball of the season and it is no fun once so ever. The musicians kept playing off key and out of tune. The food is terrible and the men ever worse than the food. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAYSbfPdDMrQ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAZgxp2XOju3
36Please respect copyright.PENANA40y5Rp7Cqe
Ara would love to leave even though it's only been an hour. So instead she hides on the sidelines near the walls. Trying to hide from any men who may want to ask her to dance. Hopefully no one will realize her dance card is empty. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAwvdhKRQGVq
36Please respect copyright.PENANARqwxOB8VtO
36Please respect copyright.PENANAqXxZNZOh3z
"Do you want a husband or not?" Ara hears Theo chuckle as he sneaks next to her. "Am I your sister or not?" She snaps back at him and Theo's smile fades. "No one can know yet" he lowers his voice and takes a step closer. "I know you excepted to be accounted with us" Theo glances around the room to make sure no one hears. "We couldn't risk anyone being suspicious until the accountment" Ara tries to calm the anger building inside her. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAwdnAjE4gg9
36Please respect copyright.PENANAr12Wb7fojE
36Please respect copyright.PENANAM7AjPAveIQ
"You so happened to forget such information?" Ara looks at the crowd of dancers. Some part of her yearns to go over to the dance floor but her fear stops her. She doesn't have the greatest record of making friends. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAP0NjXgoVGV
36Please respect copyright.PENANA9sTsmOJVcf
36Please respect copyright.PENANAROQ4rR0yVX
"I need to leave" she knows if this continues she shall lose her temper. None of them can afford her to make a scence. So she sneaks off to the drink stand to where her sister Gina is standing. She is trying to avoid the offer of a gentleman.36Please respect copyright.PENANATaJWZij7U5
36Please respect copyright.PENANAdPKxddfqxP
36Please respect copyright.PENANASaJW7nv4tp
"Pardon me, sister" Gina and the man she is talking to turn to her direction. The man in question is no other than the Duke of York himself. "Your Grace" Ara cursty to the Duke, "I have come to ask my sister to escort me outside". Ara offers her arm to Gina which she gladly takes. "I cannot handle a crowd very well, unfortunately". 36Please respect copyright.PENANAMnTjnajJSD
36Please respect copyright.PENANAZDM3RHRzQv
36Please respect copyright.PENANAvPzgdIsWoX
The Duke of York just laughs and brushes it off. He truly could not care for he himself does not like Balls much either. "It is no problem" He steps closer and whispers so no one can hear. "You ought to call me Jonathan" he bows his head in respect to Ara and smirks, "Your Highness". 36Please respect copyright.PENANABuqdXET27d
36Please respect copyright.PENANAoGsvpI0HjL
36Please respect copyright.PENANAC3ZwYhuWSG
Both girls look to one another, no one is meant to know that Ara is the Heir to the Avalorian throne. "One of your brothers must have said something" Gina whispers as they walk to the outside halls. The music and light getting fainter and the only light comes from the moon above. "Thank you for coming over" Gina says leans her head closer to see. "Your more than welcomed" Ara says, I thought he was asking you for a dance and that he was an unwanted suitor". "Not at all" Gina laughs, "You always count your chickens before they hatch". 36Please respect copyright.PENANA74eToGJ9Pd
36Please respect copyright.PENANAq0e03tMh6W
36Please respect copyright.PENANAD5PumW8wJl
"That is a ridiculous thing to say" Ara counters and Gina shakes her head. "No you always assume things before you get the entire truth". Ara wishes she could disagree. "Do I need to remind you of the time when we were.." Gina suddenly trails off and Ara almost trips. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAQePOfg6dCk
36Please respect copyright.PENANAfLcJyrjmGi
36Please respect copyright.PENANAAfIv53Jbn7
36Please respect copyright.PENANAveK948pLWs
Looking back Ara sees Gina has frozen in her place and looking at the dance floor. Gina seems almost dumbstruck and almost green in the face. Tears fill Gina's eyes and she says a name unfamiliar to Ara. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAKuXA8QQ86C
36Please respect copyright.PENANAcdY0n3RBzm
36Please respect copyright.PENANA5uA0Gc04mt
"Claudel". 36Please respect copyright.PENANAa0IvMsKRs1
36Please respect copyright.PENANA0CG3jJdjtC
36Please respect copyright.PENANAxiVBdMAqBZ
~~~~36Please respect copyright.PENANAlVGgrfDmXV
36Please respect copyright.PENANA48qSU6bsll
36Please respect copyright.PENANA2Sxk98v7aM
36Please respect copyright.PENANAuQwknYtIzq
She can't believe what she is seeing, Claudel, he is here. How is he here? She has so many questions and no answers. "Might he have a doppleganger?" Gina thinks to herself as she calms her heart.36Please respect copyright.PENANAUZvMOAQYwD
36Please respect copyright.PENANAIchfthmPnl
This cannot be Claudel, she can't let herself hope it's him. If she did and it wasn't she would be sorely disappointed to say the least. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAqPDxjryny8
36Please respect copyright.PENANAujBt1flZ23
36Please respect copyright.PENANABRE7mUCGA6
If he was than she could marry him like she has been wishing she could. Gina shakes her head and scoffs. It's more than silly to keep your head in the clouds. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAOdkUNe1zP0
36Please respect copyright.PENANA3fYQKvCoMM
Gina heels quickly turn around as if to walk away and just as she is to do so, she stops. 36Please respect copyright.PENANA6fQe8kTNhB
36Please respect copyright.PENANA6OAAI8nAYC
36Please respect copyright.PENANAIcRDzgeTJV
She can feel 𝒉𝑖𝑠 eyes on her. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAOePpfR3M21
36Please respect copyright.PENANAjapXyu6qnW
36Please respect copyright.PENANAvvoJhz0gPd
It sends shivers down her back. "Someone must be walking on my grave", Gina thinks as she turns and returns his stare. The corners of her mouth widden as she plaster in her polite smile. Hoping that she doesn't show how nervous she feels. 36Please respect copyright.PENANALm8K1V8Bxo
36Please respect copyright.PENANAlIf7XjDf0B
36Please respect copyright.PENANAqmPWE8JzOg
The closer she gets the more details she can see. Gina sees that the man is wearing a fine linen white shirt and black breaches. Both are embroidered with purple designs along the seames. Status of money and power. Quite the contrast to Claudel who wears the same shirt again until it's torn and completely covered in ashe. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAMb3WHlGjTa
36Please respect copyright.PENANAm7Fh0aQO81
36Please respect copyright.PENANACBaffqeiOm
He has the same cutt and shade as Claudels hair but his is tidy and clean. Because Claudel unlike this man was working class, his hair often went unwashed. 36Please respect copyright.PENANABFmBqyPqGE
36Please respect copyright.PENANAJuaJugUqoM
36Please respect copyright.PENANAzm0jxA3Qmd
Gina and the man meet and at first no one says a thing. "Hello Gina"his voice is filled with emotion. Gina feels her eyes water and chokes on air. "Claudel" she whispers and he cringes at the name. How are you here?"Gina asks in a low voice. "That is a long story, I have something for you". 36Please respect copyright.PENANAdEQaTPObj1
36Please respect copyright.PENANAUN7LXrmBQD
36Please respect copyright.PENANAgmVFGqhyFX
36Please respect copyright.PENANAPpSQaqwepg
36Please respect copyright.PENANAjPAbjoM2BC
Claudel reveals a letter and she gingerly takes it, her hands shaking. Gina puts it in her red reticule to match her marron and burgundy dress. She didn't have enough time to choose her dress. Her mother picked a dress with marron undertones and the main tones on top were burgundy. Layered on each other they turned into the most beautiful shade of purple. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAlGvDETcKWN
36Please respect copyright.PENANA4qFncjRTtE
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWWGNxzoh6Y
"Wait, how did you have time to go from my house and here" Gina hisses at him and looks at him disapprovaling. He just shakes his head and thinks. "𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝒉𝑦 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒." Instead of saying that he offers her hand, "May I have this dance?". She contemplates saying no but figures she can get more information by saying yes. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAiaTwPetol8
36Please respect copyright.PENANAMNjvBLGp4F
36Please respect copyright.PENANAMpnNaFzNky
"Of course" She takes his hand as they glide to the middle of the ballroom. "What should I call you, now?". He thinks on her question before replying, "Well my name is actually Edmund". Her eyebrows scruntch together and her lip pouts. He finds her very adorable when she thinks. "Yet you let me call you, Claudel" she pointsout as her hand goes in his and the other on his shoulder. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAVOyTIc09I5
36Please respect copyright.PENANAKyisJtS7i6
36Please respect copyright.PENANA2PeqH4avEj
"You just assumed, my name is Joshua" he tells her as his hand is place on the middle of her back. Gina body feels hot and yet she shivers. She isn't use to a man this close to her. "I suppose their is alot you don't know about a person. I thought I knew you quite well". 36Please respect copyright.PENANA1fSFTW9twd
36Please respect copyright.PENANATYjBGUoLXb
36Please respect copyright.PENANAmiOnJ2OyBZ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAk8ySyDMxW7
He laughs he shakes his head, "You can't know someone within six months". The dance end and they move to the drink stand. "Maybe or maybe not" she says she frowns to herself,"It seems we weren't as close as I thought". 36Please respect copyright.PENANAZLH3e3JkAE
36Please respect copyright.PENANA0ldCINafmX
36Please respect copyright.PENANAr9dxHWbRoj
"That's not at all the truth. Something happened, something changed.. I can't say in person" he explains. "Please read that letter". The grandfather clock chimes twelve and fear appears in Joshua's eyes for a second. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAbKKZ99G4om
36Please respect copyright.PENANAbkiLsmMRDp
36Please respect copyright.PENANA3P8mTOpjhM
"I have to go, I'm sorry" Joshua steps back and weaves between the crowd. Gina tries to keep up but with cluster of people it's impossible. It doesn't help Joshua's legs are longer than her own. "Georgina" she hear Fitzwilliam call her. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAeF2nkRYGsg
36Please respect copyright.PENANAghVOqSAEcd
36Please respect copyright.PENANAkmpX6CF8bY
She doesn't even think when her snaps towards her brothers voice. Fitz seems dazzled and nervous. She looks back to where Josh was and he is gone. "We have to go" Fitz grabs her arm and through the crowd. To the front doors of the York Mansion and the Darcys carrige is ready. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAWrVaEOyGpo
36Please respect copyright.PENANA2um7lnQ7uE
36Please respect copyright.PENANAoi62OlJTRM
Her sister and mother are already there and they both look sickly pale and as if they hadn't slept for days."𝑊𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝒉𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝒉𝑒𝑚? 𝑊𝒉𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛?" Gina thinks as she sits down and her brother follows suite. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAmi3m1nPpuc
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFyGnvfQJ5h
36Please respect copyright.PENANAf3wZZXEDYu
"I know you want to know what's going on but it isn't safe here" Miranda explains as the carrige goes twelve miles per hour. They have never had the horses go this fast. "I wish eveyone would stop saying that" Gina huffs in frustration and crosses her arms. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAurCnbSZLB7
36Please respect copyright.PENANAFsKr7P3yCo
36Please respect copyright.PENANA23y19iLb0l
"What do you mean" Ara asks, "Did it have to do with that man at the ball?". Gina thinks for a second, the letter is to private until she knows what's going on. "Oh, we had a lovely conversation and then ran off when the clock stuck twelve". 36Please respect copyright.PENANA7owXPXd5C4
36Please respect copyright.PENANAxLLxFGaAbK
36Please respect copyright.PENANANjPkyI9Gv2
The three of them all glance at one another with anxious faces. Gina is getting tired of being the only one to not know. "We are home, Your Grace" the horseman tells them as he opens the door. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAX8vKAkQHaT
36Please respect copyright.PENANACmPXmKFV2N
36Please respect copyright.PENANAcWUia48lMG
All of them quickly exit the carriage and into the house. Her mother orders tea as they all sit on the sofa. Finally the answers she has been waiting for. 36Please respect copyright.PENANAApHzV8YBs5
36Please respect copyright.PENANAGm7Xj53tEH
36Please respect copyright.PENANAQbRtx95Rak
36Please respect copyright.PENANAe2GMxeEQTm
36Please respect copyright.PENANAVzuH9oV5BE
36Please respect copyright.PENANASKKxm95xso
36Please respect copyright.PENANAqpWSfWvrLT
36Please respect copyright.PENANAGT4ulsnv8m
36Please respect copyright.PENANALaRNwehOPL
36Please respect copyright.PENANAIR24bhzlnl
36Please respect copyright.PENANAuT3lmAjTtM
36Please respect copyright.PENANAsYMYZeYXqV
36Please respect copyright.PENANAbneSfZYwjQ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAiqGNHZhBDe
36Please respect copyright.PENANA0rUAPmUPEG
36Please respect copyright.PENANAeRURs9iLVO
36Please respect copyright.PENANAhXHFdRHzPV
36Please respect copyright.PENANA9GKpaPPkZA
36Please respect copyright.PENANAl6ICIaJfc1
36Please respect copyright.PENANAtnRTlwePuJ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAcx7uMncFZb
36Please respect copyright.PENANAXtbY1W2LFT
36Please respect copyright.PENANAcX3B0AbQgO
36Please respect copyright.PENANAKVBkz4hZJ9
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWeTkCOkHTy
36Please respect copyright.PENANAGvuosDP8WI
36Please respect copyright.PENANAhIwBOmegRI
36Please respect copyright.PENANAdY2mgowMId
36Please respect copyright.PENANA2FDnOsAWbC
36Please respect copyright.PENANA04kZLICIXK
36Please respect copyright.PENANA8dkNPL94xq
36Please respect copyright.PENANAmGtzYSOjIx
36Please respect copyright.PENANAbe5ZLXeTpH
36Please respect copyright.PENANAnEvCGo4mKa
36Please respect copyright.PENANAOOOfvfGU4g
36Please respect copyright.PENANAceaKs3ewrY
36Please respect copyright.PENANAgmbpF2CBtU
36Please respect copyright.PENANAYLmh0i0BC4
36Please respect copyright.PENANATzjgESHgC2
36Please respect copyright.PENANABjYgH8EDXL
36Please respect copyright.PENANAjxpHNOkp1L
36Please respect copyright.PENANAnE5R2qneNf
36Please respect copyright.PENANACdPQmTJ8dw
36Please respect copyright.PENANAD7N9dksCuN
36Please respect copyright.PENANAGqFwo0CrZM
36Please respect copyright.PENANAVzqpUVOlWC
36Please respect copyright.PENANAsQyMVvXFMU
36Please respect copyright.PENANA3aMhxrkXUr
36Please respect copyright.PENANAS4f51qsXZ6
36Please respect copyright.PENANAawExswPs1a
36Please respect copyright.PENANAwgDhm2Gk3k
36Please respect copyright.PENANAQMEQ1Ceu4F
36Please respect copyright.PENANAWvjeqRUjOP
36Please respect copyright.PENANAsvt1W7xj9T
36Please respect copyright.PENANATNnWN7Ikqx
36Please respect copyright.PENANAo6YEtnjQK7
36Please respect copyright.PENANAIXT7SKLgqd
36Please respect copyright.PENANAYpXAuye6mA
36Please respect copyright.PENANAv2Qme8u6T1
36Please respect copyright.PENANAiff8hNzvjK
36Please respect copyright.PENANAzb2psIMo7F
36Please respect copyright.PENANABOvQjzQfQF
36Please respect copyright.PENANAJe8DnES6F0
36Please respect copyright.PENANAI3rSFXoSuJ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAyb5uRaOF2p
36Please respect copyright.PENANAEH7cVCQZmS
36Please respect copyright.PENANAslwSwQrwew
36Please respect copyright.PENANAUvk5ybMTbB
36Please respect copyright.PENANAgJ7FNKHMBu
36Please respect copyright.PENANAeyyfZYkly3
36Please respect copyright.PENANA8FdrRcCzPb
36Please respect copyright.PENANACuHYJR234y
36Please respect copyright.PENANAf7trJ6mTAP
36Please respect copyright.PENANACka23F98gy
36Please respect copyright.PENANA8nwU4nXr49
36Please respect copyright.PENANATv55U5Wf9D
36Please respect copyright.PENANAko4blhrnMg
36Please respect copyright.PENANAk0GhI9fmkJ
36Please respect copyright.PENANAOH3Dm15SX9
36Please respect copyright.PENANAH9G57YY3oE
36Please respect copyright.PENANAbdNcV25S90
36Please respect copyright.PENANADoq0gSj00J
36Please respect copyright.PENANAi3BoeYbsXV
36Please respect copyright.PENANABTr8YiiPlo
36Please respect copyright.PENANAZDH34Ip1v2
36Please respect copyright.PENANACc2U74yrOG
36Please respect copyright.PENANAp0fCCwor15
36Please respect copyright.PENANAnOMpZm0up1
36Please respect copyright.PENANAjILznoKL4V
36Please respect copyright.PENANAjUoTaKJZln
36Please respect copyright.PENANANakTpyz7DI
36Please respect copyright.PENANAZptWS1C2NI
36Please respect copyright.PENANAe5uEKlEoK2
36Please respect copyright.PENANAhNwUuKw8As
36Please respect copyright.PENANAbvEGU5jE1n
36Please respect copyright.PENANADMvvaSVqxf
36Please respect copyright.PENANAoxkfI0n9c2
36Please respect copyright.PENANArQolw6RJLK
36Please respect copyright.PENANAbS0t0iJo9P
36Please respect copyright.PENANAY82PfEKtHC