Birthday Ball

"I do not like her hair pulled back," the dowager countess commented. "Change the style right away, we cannot be late."

Florence bit the inside of her cheek. She was already tired before the ball had even started. Her mother had been giving orders to the maids for the past few hours. As usual, she did not ask her for her opinion about any of it.

The dress was a soft cream color mixed with light beige. It was beautiful, the seamstress had outdone herself, but it was adorned with numerous beads and quite heavy. Florence dreaded dancing while heaving it around.

The maids worked their magic and let her hair down, curling it and styling it again. After they finished, Florence turned to face her mother and waited for the verdict. She heard a few sighs of relief when Lina nodded in approval.

"Leave us," she ordered.

'What now?'

Lina waited until the last maid exited and closed the door behind her before turning to her daughter. "Well?"

Florence blinked at her a few times, she was not sure what she was asking.

"Did you find a husband? Today is the deadline of our little deal." Lina pulled on her sleeves, making sure the gem buttons aligned. The gesture aggravated Florence, it made her future seem insignificant in her mother's eyes.

"The day is not over yet, Mother." Her fingers clenched the sides of her dress.

"Oh?" The answer drew Lina's attention. She snickered. "I doubt you can do in a few hours what you have failed to do in three weeks."

"Nevertheless, I still have some time."

"Why can't you just do as I say for once?" Lina shook her head.

"Because the life you imagine for me is not what I want."

"What is wrong with the life I want for you?" She frowned. "I want you to live a comfortable life where you won't lack anything."

"Except love."

"Gods damn it." Her mother stood from her chair. She never cursed, which showed how angry she was. "I blame your father for putting those stupid ideas in your head."

"They are not stupid ideas." It was Florence's turn to push to her feet in frustration.

"Oh but they are," Lina roared. "Love cannot feed you, or give you a status in society, or provide a nice castle for you and your children–"

"Children?" Florence shook her head. "Who told you I even want to have children?"

"What?"

"Mother, please. I do not want to marry Marquis Galley."

"What do you have against the man? Your cousin married a marquis, she was not in love with him when they married, but look at how happy she is now." She waved her arm in the air. "If she can do it, surely you can as well."

"You really need to stop comparing me to Hannah." Florence sighed. "Just because you were always jealous of your sister, I do not have to compete with her daughter."

Lina stilled for a moment, staring at her with wide eyes and parted lips. Florence did not regret one word she had said. "I think Marquis Galley–"

"Maybe if you had not pushed him on me this past week, I might have had the chance to get acquainted with other gentlemen, more to my liking."

"The people who are to your liking are not good enough, just like…" Lina stopped, but Florence knew exactly what she was about to say.

'You.'

There was a chilling silence in the room as the two of them glared at each other, challenging one another.

"As I said, the day is not over yet," Florence said with a calm voice.

"Fine–" A knock interrupted her.

"My lady, it is almost time for the ball to start," Willa informed the dowager countess with a bow.

"You have until the end of the night," Lina uttered. "Now, let's go. We cannot be late to your own ball."

When Florence and her mother walked into the ballroom, it was already crowded with guests. They greeted them and wished Florence a happy birthday. In a matter of minutes, her dance card was filled with names of partners for every dance on the list. And thus started the most tiring ball of her life.

Florence did not get a chance to rest, she was passed from arms to arms as the next dancing partner usually approached her as soon as she finished the previous dance. She wanted to take a break, to try to think of a solution for the situation her mother had put her in, but there was no chance to even think.

'Maybe I can use this to my advantage.'

She tried to start conversations with her partners, she had hoped that she could learn something about them that she might like and maybe it would spark something. Florence smiled at her next partner, Viscount Bauer. Sadly, her hopes slowly died with every dance.

'Am I just unlucky?'

"I believe I am next." The voice confirmed her thought. It was Marquis Galley. Florence gave him a tight smile before taking his hand. The marquis led her to the middle of the ballroom before the music started.

'Of course it had to be a waltz.'

Galley placed his hand on her bare upper-back and pulled her a bit too close than appropriate. She tried to pull away, but his grip was tight.

"I have not had the chance to see you since our last walk," he said.

"Ah, yes."

"And Lord Kalwen was not able to meet me that day."

"I am sure he will soon. I am afraid my brother is quite busy." Florence felt the marquis' body tense.

'Is he angry?'

"I will personally plan your next meeting with him," she said cautiously.

His shoulders seemed to relax a bit. "Good, after all we are almost family."

"Pardon me?"

"I do not wish to sound direct." He grinned. "But the dowager countess has been hinting to me about our relationship."

"Relationship?" Florence's head was spinning, and it was not from the swirling. Thankfully, the dance came to an end.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the fireworks will start shortly, kindly head to the gardens." The butler announced.

"Excuse me, my lord." Florence took a step away but the marquis stopped her.

"But the gardens are this way."

"I need to go to the powder room." She pulled her hand from his grasp and walked away before he could add another word. She needed to put as much space between them as she could.

'What the bloody hell am I supposed to do?'