The Adopted Debutante

The Opera Excursion

Eloise had only been to the theatre a few times before. Every time, the productions enthralled her. She would be transported to another world, a place where love seemed stronger than any grief or loss. How often she wished to be strong like the heroes she watched before her! Brave and true, able to conquer anything that came their way, like Portia in the Merchant of Venice.

She never told anyone how much she cried over tragedies; how much the pain she felt while watching them would harken back to the heartbreak of that dreadful day.

Even now she felt nervous as the play in question was Romeo and Juliet, which she had heard was very tragic. As she settled in her seat beside Sir Carroll, she clutched and unclutched her gloved hands many times, trying to keep herself calm. 

Of course, once the play began, her anxiety melted away. The characters truly came to life. For a few breathtaking moments, it seemed like she might forget about the life she lived outside, beyond this magical world come to life. 

But then, the feud between the Capulets and Montagues reminded her forcefully of how the richer folk treated those beneath them. She had grown up among the commoners. Her family may not have been the most sociable, but they knew their neighbors well enough. Now she wasn't allowed to speak with anyone she had known from her former life.  

These painful comparisons vanished from her mind as she watched Romeo wooing Juliet. How Jeremy was like her Romeo! That comforting stranger from her new world, who loved her from the start, no matter that she was not like him at all. Jeremy truly was that ray of sunshine in her stormy sky. She never let on how hard it was for her to adjust. It never felt hard at all when Jeremy was around. He understood. Why did no one else?

Then, the tragedy of the duel crushed her hopes for the lovers. As Romeo left Juliet after the night of love, Eloise could barely silence her tears. Juliet lying in state forcibly reminded her of her family's funeral. Romeo's lament over her sleeping form shattered Eloise' heart in a thousand pieces. His bright future was right beside him! His true love! His new family! 

...then the goblet was emptied...the knife fell...and two souls were snatched from this Earth too soon. 

As Eloise watched the Capulets and the Montagues reconcile, she could not stop thinking about the two lovers lying dead. She tried hard not let it remind her of her family, but the effort caused her to break into a cold sweat. 

She wished the play would just stop, would end somehow. But the cruel irony of the reconciliation drove the pain in deeper. No good ever happened without bad 

She wanted to run out of the theatre right then and there. Who could blame her?

"For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

The curtain fell and the audience applauded the performance. Eloise clapped with them, but she felt cold and dead inside. 

"It's over, Sir Carroll," she murmured to him as those around them began to take their leave.

"What? Erm, yes," he cleared his throat and stood up slowly. 

Eloise knew he'd dozed off once or twice during the play. How he could sleep during something so heartbreaking was beyond her. Then again, he didn't lose his whole family in a day.

Sir Carroll rose and began to make his way down the row. With a sigh of relief, Eloise stood up from her seat, only then realizing how weak her knees felt. She nearly tripped on the long hem of her opera dress. Her small fists clutched a handful of the skirt and pulled it up enough to allow her feet to follow her guardian. 

When she reached the aisle, she quickly stepped out. However, in her haste, she nearly bumped into a rather prestigious young lady. 

"Oh I'm so sorry," Eloise said, stepping back into the row quickly.

Without deigning to reply, the young lady merely waved the matter aside until she happened to look down. Her eyebrow arched as a she looked back up, a poisonous smirk on her lips.

"Still accustomed to running amok in the smithy?" she asked viciously. 

Eloise was taken aback. "Miss?"

"You're not gunsmith's daughter, anymore, though I wonder how Mr. Delend chooses to forget that when you can't seem to."  

Eloise stood agape. She knew her origins must not be viewed kindly by the peerage, but she had never felt so small when hearing one of them tell her so. Her fingers ground tighter into her palms.

"Neither can you?" she managed weakly.

 The flash in the young lady's eyes told Eloise that perhaps a different response would have been wiser. She flustered quickly, "Which is probably because--"

"I can see your ankles." 

The barbed reply made Eloise unclench her fists as swiftly as if her palms had been burned. The hem of her skirt plopped softly to the floor. Her neck broke into a cold sweat as her cheeks flamed.

To her confusion, the minx before her only nodded.

"We Hartfords own the courtship ring, Miss Trellis," she said snidely, "and you do not belong in it."

"Hartfords? Jeremy never mentioned you," Eloise murmured.

Miss Hartford laughed as if she expected this.

"Neither did his father."

The smirk disappeared. "Perhaps that is because Lord Delend can only be bothered to notice the weak little birds he can train to fly as he wills," Miss Hartford said stiffly, "He's already taught his son so well."

Eloise gasped. "How dare you say that about Jeremy?"

"Jeremy? So informal, Miss Trellis," the young lady laughed, "I suppose it doesn't much matter. Every Romeo has his Juliet."

She punctuated these last few words, every word stinging Eloise's heart. As the poor girl tried to think of a response, Miss Hartford--content that she had emerged victorious--at last continued down the aisle. 

Broken and defeated, Eloise stepped into the aisle and followed the stragglers in their route to the entrance. As she came out into the cool breezes of the summer night, she realized she had no idea where Sir Carroll.

She must have remained farther behind Sir Carroll than she intended to. No wonder, given her unexpected conversation with Miss Hartford. How had she even known Eloise? They had never been formally introduced and Eloise had only begun her entrance into society a few months prior. Perhaps the young lady had assumed a fresh face could only belong to the unusual heiress of Trellis Manor. Still, the whole incident was unnerving...and painful. 

Eloise didn't like the way Miss Hartford spoke of Jeremy. What did she mean by Lord Delend teaching Jeremy how to fly as he wished? Jeremy was simply of a calm, sensitive temperament. His relationship with his father had no bearing on that.

The word relationship recalled to Eloise' mind Miss Hartford's last words: "Every Romeo has his Juliet." All of the pent-up agony from watching the play began to rise in Eloise' chest. She pressed her palm to her chest. Why couldn't she just forget?  

The theatregoers came out in droves and she ducked back behind a column to stay out of their way. That and to hide her tears. She hated the production, hated every bit of it. Why couldn't they be together? Why did good only come at the cost of pain and loss? She pulled out her small handkerchief and wiped the tears already slipping down her face.

"Is that why they all died?" she murmured brokenly. "To--to let the good happen? But why was I left behind? I don't know how to make anything better, I don't--"

Eloise pressed the handkerchief against her lips, drowning her sobs. She wished Jeremy were here. She'd be able to hold his hand, hear his comforting voice, and know everything would be alright. 

Reaching into her glove, Eloise pulled out a small little piece of cloth. Its edges were embroidered with vines flowering with morning glories. A little butterfly flew in the bottom left corner. In the center of cloth was sewn a single wooden button. Little golden threads spread around it, an adorable attempt to make the darkened thing a imitation of the sun. 

Eloise rubbed her thumb on the button. A sob finally released from her chest. 

"Mother always loved the morning glories," she whispered, "and...butterflies always carry your good wishes to the people you love...that's what Father..."

She bit her lips. The button belonged to her little brother. Eloise leaned against the pillar.

"Why did they have to go?"

A hand grasped her shoulder firmly. "What on God's green Earth have you been?" 

Eloise squealed and turned quickly. Mr. Bylious stood beside her, looking flustered and displeased.

"Mr. Bylious? You--I didn't know you were here," she stammered.

He ignored her comment, "Carroll strikes up a conversation with me, then turns to see you've clean disappeared. Why? Whatever for?"

His grip on her shoulder was strong and she winced. 

"I...the concourse...It was hard to find the way out..."

"You could have followed him out," Bylious said.

"Eloise!"

She turned to find Sir Carroll striding toward her quickly. His eyes were filled with concern. To her, the concern made him look ten years older. He grasped her hands and Bylious released her shoulder.

"Are you alright, child? Where did you go? Are you hurt? What happened?"

Eloise heart broke at the sight of his worry. She felt terrible that she had put him through that.

"I lost sight of you," she said contritely, "I suppose I walked too slowly."

The memory of her lifted hem made her flush.

"We looked all over for you, child," Sir Carroll breathed. He patted her cheek softly. "You mustn't frighten me like that..."

"I'm so sorry to have worried you," Eloise said. "And I'm sorry to have worried you, Mr. Bylious."

"I wouldn't have forgiven myself if something happened to you," he told her vehemently.

"None of us would," Sir Carroll said. Eloise looked up at him and the tired eyes smiled. "Shall we go home now?"

Eloise nodded, slipping her arm over his.

"Goodnight, Bylious," Sir Carroll said.

"Yes, goodnight, Mr. Bylious," Eloise said, "Thank you again." 

"Carroll, Eloise," he bowed and stepped back.

Eloise clung to Sir Carroll's arm as they made their way through the other gentry loitering near their carriages. She was suddenly very tired. The emotions of the evening had finally worn her down. She wanted to forget everything and simply disappear in the comforting folds of her covers. The very thought made relief wash over her as she and Sir Carroll neared their carriage. 

"Miss Trellis! Miss Trellis!'

Surprised, Eloise turned around in time to see Austin Flintworth stumble and fall to his knees before her.

~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~

Poor Eloise! Romeo and Juliet really hit her hard. Which part of the play makes you guys sad the most?

Miss Hartford sure was a b*tch to Eloise! Hopefully Eloise won't have to see her again...

Uh oh, why is Flintworth falling to his knees? What could do you guys think he wants to tell Eloise?