02: NO, YOU’RE PERFECT.
1566 Words
ELLEN
"Ellen..."
I stepped out of my closet immediately I heard my nanny's voice.
Her eyes settled on me. "Oh dear," she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands and moved closer to me, her eyes beaming happily at me.
"How do I look?" I asked her, twirling around as my flare skirt swirled.
"Beautiful, tan bonita!" She said in her Spanish accent, and I chuckled, checking out my dress. I felt satisfied with the choice of dress I picked.
It was a white mesh net dress with colorful embroidered flowers and crystals, a two-piece set. The corset had built-in pads that pushed up my breasts slightly, along with boning and draping. The sleeves were short and puffy, it had a decorative bow in the nape, and the skirt was short and flared which stopped right before my mid-thigh.
My nanny grinned. "The dress is lovely, and it made you look so gorgeous, mi amor," she grabbed my cheeks and I laughed.
"Thank you," I smiled, my nanny took a few steps backward to stare at me giving that proud look of hers.
"Nana, do you think I would make a good wife?" I asked, nervously fondling with my fingers.
I looked at her, and she had a warm smile on her face. "You will, my dear."
"A sweet and elegant girl like you will make just the perfect wife every man wants, I'm sure your husband will fall in love with you immediately he sees you." she teased.
"Are you sure?" my mood lifting, I've been down with so many thoughts of my future husband not liking me.
"Come here," my nanny took my right hand in hers, and we walked over to my dressing table.
She pulled out the chair for me and I had my seat, now I was staring at a large round mirror on the wall showing my reflection.
"What do you see?" Nana asked, her smile showing the wrinkles springing up around the corner of her lips and eyes.
"Me," I muttered, and she nodded. She took a brush from the table to brush my wavy dark brown hair, which was long, almost reaching my lower back.
I had refused to cut it because Nana said it made me stand out.
After the death of my parents, Nana was hired, and she had been taking good care of me since the age of seven, I grew fond of her immediately because she was nice and always there to comfort me when I was down.
I see her as my mother...
"I see a beautiful, elegant, gorgeous, and warm-hearted lady who will make a good home and lovely babies,"
She spun my seat around to make me face her, her index finger on my chin. "Don't let anyone make you think otherwise."
I nodded, staring into her gray eyes. "Yes, Nana."
A knock sounded on the door, which made Nana and I turn our heads towards the direction.
"Come in," Nana spoke, and the door opened, one of the maids entering inside.
"The guest for Miss Ellen has arrived and is waiting for her downstairs." She announced, and my heart skipped a beat.
He's here. I thought.
I turned the chair around to apply some pink gloss on my lips.
"She would be down in a minute," Nana said, and I heard the door close with a light thud.
"Are you ready?" Nana asked, and I pressed my lips together.
I can do this...
"Yes," I replied and rose to my feet.
A quick glance at myself in the mirror, telling myself for the hundredth time that I was ready for this, I walked out of the room with Nana trailing behind me.
The click of my heels against the stairs was heard, and my heart felt like it would burst anytime soon.
Many thoughts ran through my head, I was meeting the man I would be getting my life entangled with.
Is he handsome like the men I've always imagined?
Will he love me?
Can I be a good partner for him?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I missed a step, lost my balance, and tripped.
I was expecting the worst, to fall and find myself on the floor, but instead, I was resting on someone, my head on a sturdy chest and a firm arm wrapped around my waist protecting me.
"Careful, you wouldn't want to get hurt a few days before your wedding." A deep voice whispered close to my ears and a chill ran down my spine.
I swallowed and mustered the courage to look at who had saved me.
My heart drumming heavily against my chest.
I was speechless, my lips parting slightly as I stared at the man before me.
Oh my goodness!
He was handsome I would say, he had a classic pompadour cut and a scythe-shaped eyebrow. His Roman nose and half-dome cheekbones sat above an oaken jaw. His broad shoulders were part of his burly physique, and his hazel eyes twinkled as they settled on me.
His intoxicating scent filled my nostrils, he was tall, and he looked like the gentleman every girl wished for.
"Ellen, are you okay?" I heard a worried Nana behind me and I coughed, getting a hold of myself as he let go of me.
"Yes, I'm fine, Nana," I glanced at her and gave my attention back to the man standing close to me.
"Thank you," I muttered sheepishly.
He must think that I'm clumsy. I sighed inwardly.
"I believe you must be Ellen Young," He spoke softly, a slight smile on his pink lips which were beginning to do justice to me and I gazed in his alluring eyes, getting lost in them.
I was smitten. I believed.
"Ye-yes," I stuttered, feeling my cheeks heat up.
What's wrong with me?
"You must be Nich—"
"Tommy," He interrupted, staring intensely at me.
I gave a confused look. "Tommy?"
I thought Grandfather said I would be meeting the man who goes by the name Nicholas.
"Yes, a close friend of Nicholas," He introduced, and my heart sank.
He is not coming?
"Oh..." I mumbled and looked away.
Why was his friend here and not him?
"Don't get things wrong," He started. "Nicholas had an emergency at work, and asked me to fill in for him for the dance practice with you, he sends his apologies."
"Will he still come?" I forced myself to ask, staring at him.
So, I was getting married to someone who would prioritize his time with work over me.
"Uhm... yeah." Tommy smiled to convince me, but his looks said otherwise.
"He should."
"Okay," I muttered.
"Don't give that dull look, birdie, Nicholas isn't like that, I'm sure he will make it up to you." He winked.
Did he just call me birdie? I thought, amusingly staring at him.
I smiled.
"So, let's get you ready to dance for your wedding day."
"I'm sure you want everyone to know how good of a dancer you are." He teased and I laughed.
I glanced at Nana, who gave me an approving nod.
"Shall we?" I stared at a bowing Tommy with his hand stretched out to me.
I placed my hand on his which he held gently and with a soft laugh, I said, "Yes."
I like him already, and I hope Nicholas has good humor as his friend.
"I'm sorry," I apologized for the tenth time after stepping on poor Tommy's feet.
"It's okay," he let out a chuckle, his hand on my back made me flush as he pressed me closer to him.
I shouldn't be so flustered with a man who I won't be ending up with, yet I couldn't deny the attractive features Tommy had.
He danced beautifully, and he handled me with so much care.
"Is Nicholas also a good dancer, like you?" I asked, taking three steps together with him.
"Yes, far better," He answered with a charming smile and twirled me around before pulling me back to him.
I gasped, placing my left hand back on his shoulder as we swayed to the soft romantic music playing.
"What is he like?" I inquired.
"I see you're curious." He bent me slightly so that our faces were an inch apart, and his eyes traveled down to my lips.
I inhaled sharply. "I want to know the man I would be ending up with," I muttered, watching his jaw clenched as we straightened.
"He's a charming man who would sweep you off your feet."
I searched his eyes and smiled. "If you say so."
"Take four steps now," He whispered, I felt his lips brush my ear and I shuddered.
We took three steps and on my fourth step, I stepped on him.
"I'm sorry." I apologized, moving away from him.
"I don't think I can do this," I said truthfully, I was frustrated with the dance steps.
"No, don't say that, you can." He assured me, stretching his hand to me again, a soft smile dancing on his lips.
"I'm not good with dances." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"No..."
I sighed when he took my hands again gently and placed them around his neck, his arms wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
"No, I mean... You're perfect, Ellen." He uttered, staring deeply into my eyes.
- Writer
