12 High Born

The rest of the night at the party went by in a whirl and the week following stayed the same. Vincent came to see Delaney every day and every day she had something planned for them.

They went to balls and parties every night where they would dance and smile and sneak quick kisses when they were alone. On Vincent's arm, Delaney was the envy of every woman everywhere they went. Vincent was well-liked by all the men in their circles so being with him meant Delaney was invited to more social events than ever before.

Delaney's Aunt and Uncle gave her money for a few new dresses and she spent all the rest of her own money on accessories, jewels, and things to make her look more elegant and in style. Vincent smiled every time he saw her and told her she looked beautiful and she made sure to never wear the same outfit twice.

They were at parties every night and most afternoons they would go out riding together or call on one friend or another. Delaney felt this must be what a Queen felt like every day.

She knew she had gotten real notice when some of the high society women began to invite her to lunches and brunches and out for strolls. She found herself escalated into a group she had only ever imagined. Vincent had known all of these women all his life. Some were his cousins and others were in-laws. Delaney realized now when she married Vincent, she too would be related to royalty even if it was only by marriage.

Much too soon their week was over and they were all loading into carriages again to head back to school. When Vincent's carriage stopped in front of Delaney's house she hurried out to meet him. He grinned his familiar handsome grin as he leaned against a post in front of the house.

Her trunks were loaded, twice as much as what she had arrived with, and they were on their way. As they rode, Delaney excitedly told Vincent about her most recent social visits with the women and all the invitations she already had for the new year.

"You'll be able to come home for them won't you?" she asked anxiously.

"I can't promise but I will try."

Delaney took that as a yes and went on telling him her plans for the two of them. Afterward, she told him of the dresses she'd designed for herself and was hoping to commission to be made. He listened quietly with a smile, asking questions here and there.

They stopped to eat and stretch their legs, before starting back on the road. Delaney made an effort to read a bit more from his family book but found she couldn't focus, too excited about everything to come. After being quiet for what she thought was a respectable amount of time, she asked him what it was like to visit the castle and speak to the king.

Vincent chuckled and recounted his visits for her and answered all the questions she came up with. By the time they reached her school Delaney's mind was swirling with possibilities.

Her trunks were unloaded and she stood holding Vincent's hands in hers under the stars. "Do try to come to visit me," she pleaded, "I could ask the headmistress if you could have a dinner here and we could go for rides. I could take you to the shops and I'll sneak out with the girls and we can all play cards at the club."

Vincent grinned and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. "I'll come if I can. I promise." He saw her to the door where she stood and watched until his carriage vanished into the night.

Up in her room, Delaney found her friends all waiting for her. She had hardly seen them since the night of the party at Vincent's. They waited eagerly to hear all about her time with him and tell all about their own weeks. It seemed everyone had spent most of their time with their husbands to be, even Cora, who said she was surprised to find Miles wasn't as stupid as she thought.

Constance was the only one who hadn't had someone to spend time with. She told them brightly though that she had gone to several parties and had even managed to meet some men who were widowed or whose marriage contracts had fallen through. At her age that was really her only chance at finding a husband.

The girls were floating on the excitement of their trip for more than a week. They waited for word of the men returning to visit them. To all of their surprise, it was Miles who showed up a couple of weeks after they had returned to school.

He came almost begrudgingly and didn't smile but bowed and asked Cora if he could take her for dinner and a ride. Cora had bit her lip to keep from laughing at his seeming unhappy but agreed. When they returned later that night he seemed more at ease and even smiled as he said goodbye. Cora had only said they might be able to be friends after all.

Bernard and Duncan came together and took Olive and Selina a week or so later. Olive had become quite smitten with Bernard and even Selina had relaxed and was talking more with Duncan. Bernard was apparently smitten with Olive too because he came back a few days later on his own to take her out. Olive invited Constance along too, the two of them having grown close since sharing a room at school.

Delaney was happy to have Constance home with her most of the time though so she wasn't completely alone in her lack of visitors. But then one day even Constance had a visit all her own from one of the men whose marriage contract had been broken.

Delaney began to worry why Vincent hadn't come to see her. Had he not liked her as much as she thought? Had she just imagined it? Surely not. She found herself wondering if perhaps he'd met another woman. Someone who would better fit in in his world of money and high class.

Snow came and the girls all bundled into their carriages to head home for their new year's break. None of the men came though, and no one had had any word from them. Delaney went to any of the parties she had been invited to that had not been canceled as it seemed many of the men had not returned.

At last, they all went back for their last season at the school before they turned eighteen and were to leave to get married. They had been back only a few days when word finally came from their missing men.