The Amorous Mate

Chapter 28: Kress

“Lady Greene! Such a pleasant day to see you this evening!”

“Indeed, Lady Vilden. I haven’t seen you for about a month!”

Two ladies met and greet each other with their welcoming smiles and affectionate hug on each other. Everyone may know that they were already old, a mother to their own respective families, but to be in such a grandiose ball such as this shouldn’t be missed by them. In fact, older members of the noble families enjoys balls and gatherings more than their sons and daughters in search for interests and dance partners because of one thing—gossip.

“I heard—” started Lady Vilden— “Lady Kress and her unspeakable daughter would be joining the ball today.”

“Will she?” asked Lady Greene to confirm the gossip.

Lady Vilden nodded with a thrilled and excited smile. “She was invited by the duke and duchess themselves. We all know, before knowing what was about them, her daughter was the best of friends of the duchess.”

The billowing notes from violin and trumpets gave vigor to the surrounding. It kicked liveliness as people talked to each other, laughed over hilarious jokes, or gasp from an unexpected gossip. The Wetherby Hall was one of the most prestigious, highly elegant place in the Nightingale Kingdom. It was ethereally beautiful that it has surpassed the beauty of the Saxton Hall. The decors, structures, and sculpted designs on walls and pillars all gave an enchanting aura, making the place lively and exuberant.

“Will the young Lady Kress visit the dancefloor?” Lady Greene asked.

“Most certainly, she will. Given her . . . nature . . . what could we expect,” Lady Vilden answered.

“How poor those gentlemen who would ask for her hands to dance.” Lady Greene was concerned, even placed her palm on her chest, acting with a sulked face.

“That is if, a gentleman would ask him.”

“Oh, that is right,” Lady Greene agreed, quickly changing the mood shown on her face. “Because none of us does not know her . . . witchery!”

The two ladies of their families laughed.

“Not unless if she uses her nature to force a gentleman to dance with her!”

“A pushover!”

The two ladies kept on laughing as they pull hilarious thoughts and claims over the subject of their gossip. They kept laughing, not knowing that the Duchess of the Wetherby was now beside them, wondering about what they were laughing about.

“Enjoying ourselves, dear ladies?” The Duchess asked.

Lady Vilden and Lady Greene’s chortles stopped when they heard the duchess' voice. Both of them nervously looked at the young duchess with juddered stares.

“Y-Your Grace,” Lady Vilden greeted. Along with Lady Greene, they slightly bowed at the beauty in their front.

“Oh, don’t be perturbed, my ladies. I was only curious about why you were laughing, that is why my feet dragged me into your place.” Seeing the nervousness glaring at the ladies, the duchess started to explain.

“Ah,” the ladies exclaimed, harmonizing with the playing orchestra from the dance floor.

“W-Well, we were only laughing about some random jokes, your grace.”

“Indeed, your grace. In fact, what was the thing we were laughing about?”

“Oh, I could not remember anymore. It was just so random!” the ladies started to explain.

The both of the ladies started laughing once again, but this time it was awkward and edgy. Sweat broke from their forehead and nape, secretly praying to the God, hoping that the Duchess did not hear their earlier squeals.

“Oh, I see,” the young duchess innocently nodded. She looked a bit sad for a moment, but when she shook her head, her smile materialized on her lips once again. “Well, I was hoping that you are enjoying the night,” she said.

“I-Indeed, your grace. We’re enjoying it,” Lady Vilden said with a bow.

As Last Vilden bowed, she did not catch the silent stares from the growing crowd inside. They were staring not at Lady Vilden, but at the family that was entering the hall.

From the main door, the caller of the attendees shouted; “From the South, the Baron Lord of Counterbury Province, Lady Kress and Miss Kress.”

Hearing the caller’s yell, the visitors and attendees of the Wetherby’s Spring Ball stopped their lively conversation. Instead, it shifted to anxious whispers.

Perhaps, the only thing that became lovely in that announcement was the duchess of the Wetherby. Her mood suddenly sprang up as she saw the maiden beside the old Lady Kress.

“Penelope!” the Duchess shouted, widely smiling, waving her hand towards them. She excitedly ran towards the newly-arrived visitors, and bowed at them as a sign of welcome.

“Goodness gracious! I thought the duchess already caught us gossiping about her friend!” Lady Vilden exclaimed. She exhaled the nervous breath she has been keeping inside her chest, when the Duchess was still around.

“I thought we would be shamed,” Lady Greene seconded, holding her chest to control the nervous pump of her heart.

Both of them stared and observed the women of the Kress family, just like everyone else.

“Oh, heaven forbid me, but look at that dress young lady Kress was wearing,” Lady Vilden started gossiping again.

“What, isn’t it decent?”

“Decent, alright. Beautiful, it is. But was it a new dress? No.”

Lady Greene gasped. “I remember! That was the same dress she has used last Spring Ball. Goodness gracious, it was reused.”

“Indeed, Lady Greene. It is an unspoken rule that no woman shall wear the same ball gown twice, especially in special events like this!” Lady Vilden casted.

“Poor Baron Family they are.” Lady Greene shook her head from empathy.

Suddenly, from the whispering voices, the crowd started to become alive. The music from the violin, cello, and trumpets seemed to have more sense, when, another notable family started to arrive in the glistening ball.

“Oh, and here comes the most awaited figures of the evening.”

“They were all beautiful. Glistening, with all their sparkling gowns, I may say,” Lady Vilden chuckled, fluttered from the displayed beauty of the newly-arrived maidens.

“Bow before the ethereal majesty!” the caller from the main door started shouting.

Unhesitatingly, the visitors bowed with smiles curved on their lips.

“Third Princess Cassiopeia Nightingale!” The caller yelled.

Cassiopeia smilingly walked inside the Wetherby Hall, dashing with her pure-white, simple hence elegant gown. The fleur d’innocence—which she planned to have in this day—was achieved. With the simplicity of her dress, paired with her ethereal beauty, she looked pure. Innocent.

“Second Princess Demeter Nightingale!”

From the smiles glued on the visitor’s faces, it turned gasps and surprised when they saw the elegance of the second Princess. If one could clap or bend their knees in her front, they would have done it already. She is a beautiful princess fit to be the next queen. Her royal blue gown complimented her tan-shaded, shining skin. Her hair, all silky and long, were braided and tied, enough to reveal her back, her nape, and the line of her cleavage. It was only a strapless, simple gown printed with glittering sparkles, with high slit at the right leg part of the gown. If one would wear the gown, she would be the laughing subject of the ball—for to wear the gown requires confidence and grace. Fascinating as always, the second princess always managed to exude those requirements as she walked towards the dance floor.

“I would bet my life, she will be the next Nightingale’s queen,” said Lady Vilden.

“But to whom are you competing your bet, Lady Vilden, if the rest of the country hopes that indeed, she is,” Lady Greene argued.

“And the First Princess Androme—”

“Ahh!”

The caller of the ball’s visitor was interrupted by someone who squealed so loud enough to disturb the entourage ceremony. Everyone’s attention went from the about to enter first princess, to the maiden who interrupted the event.

It was Miss Kress, the daughter of Lady Kress.

She was sulking at the corner, beside the chaotically ruined table filled with food and drinks. Her dress was smeared with wine, fruits, food, and other delicacies found on the once displayed table—now ruined because she fell outbalanced, and dragged the table to her fall.

Everyone looked at her with disgust and rage. Their judging stares made her more anxious and pitiful. She sulked, crouched and hugged her own knees, then sobbed.

“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Penelope!” from the back of the crowd, the duchess exclaimed with genuine worrying to her friend. “What happened? I was just . . . I only told I would get my gift for you, and then . . .” she walked near to the lady. Her eyes were teary and worried.

“Don’t come near me, your grace,” said Miss Kress. “My filth was not worth to your nobility.” She sobbed even louder.

Yet, in her front, someone kneeled down, and started wiping off the food that has pasted on her hair. Everyone started to whisper things about the current happening.

Miss Kress looked noticed that someone is wiping her head. She hesitantly looked at the cause of the act.

From her sobs, her eyes started to pour more tears. She cried. Seeing a man concerned at her as he wipe off the food on her body made her more emotional—both feeling pity of herself, and thankful to the man.

“P-Prince Nigel, please do not do this. I am not worthy of your kind act,” she said.

“I plead you to think that this is a kind act, Miss Kress. It is only but a little help. Everyone is worthy of help, despite that heinous things they are saying to you,” said Prince Nigel. His face were serious and grim as he tell those words, and hus voice was deep and dominating.

The whole crowd, after hearing the Prince’s words, felt guilty. Everyone was talking ill of the lady, as if their intention was to cast her away over something that is not proven true.

Tears fell even harder from her eyes.

Prince Nigel was about to wipe off the food’s sauce on her face, along with the tears that kept on miserably falling from her eyes. However, he noticed that his handkerchief was already dirty, and it would it would only make more mess on her face if he chooses to use it to wipe on her.

“Use this instead.” Beside Prince Nigel, someone offered his clean handkerchief.

When he looked to check who was the owner of the kerchief, he saw the cold, emotionless gazes of Lord Matthew.

“Are you sure?” asked Prince Nigel.

To answer, Lord Matthew solemnly nodded. When the prince confirmed his intention to help, he unhesitatingly grabbed the cloth from Lord Matthew, then he used it to clean Miss Kress’ dirty face.

Miss Kress looked at Lord Matthew. She smiled and muttered a word of thanks.

Everyone’s mouth were stripped of the ability to speak. They were all shocked—silent. They could not believe that this rare event was happening in front of their eyes.

A miserable woman being helped by the two of the most eligible bachelor of the season—one is a dashing prince, and one (though his rank was the lowest among the noblemen) is a man desired by most women because of his desirable attractiveness.

Everyone was watching. Everyone was shocked.

Even Chelsea. Even Princess Demeter.