Chapter 19: Prelude to the evening dance I

After the preliminary court hearing, Emily has been quite busy. Although Serena was designing and making the dress that she would be wearing for the first event she would be attending, Emily had to take care of the rest. Not that she's complaining.

After all, she has been doubly inspired to make it work between Christopher and Serena after she saw just how powerful and influential Christopher truly was in the ministry. If she had doubts then, now, she was sure that he was the answer to their predicament. 

When the preliminary Hearing for Leonard's case began, she did not know where to sit. So, as she was the one representing Leonard, she chose to sit at the dock. From the look on the faces of the ministry officials, she could tell that starting that very moment she had already made a complete blunder.

When the judge asked who she was and what she was doing there, she explained that she was representing Leonard. He asked if he was his wife or immediate relative, but her answer was that she was none of the above, but she explained that she was his life partner.

It seemed like the Judge wanted to say something even perhaps scold her, but she saw him look behind her and then just pressed his lips together. She knew that the Judge must have looked at Christopher. She didn't know what Christopher did or say as he was sitting at the public gallery, but the Judge only cleared his throat and let her say what her purpose was.

From then, she explained Leonard's situation, handed the medical documents, and after the judge looked through it, he said that given the valid reason, they will postpone the preliminary Hearing at a later date. He concluded by saying that another Court Summons would be sent to Leonard within 30 days for the next scheduled Hearing.

After witnessing how Hugo's Hearing went compared to Leonard's, she could only acknowledge the sharp contrast. From then, she already understood that if Christopher were to decide to save Leonard, he can do so without much effort.

--

Serena felt her anxiety creeping up on her by the minute. It was the 6th of August and later that evening, she would be attending the Evening dance party at Duke Ligeti's.

The past two weeks have been a blur. Granted that she has been feeling apprehensive, anxious, and worried even then, she was able to distract herself with all the preparations she needed to make.

Particularly the dress she would be wearing was something she painstakingly prepared. In the past, she would only ask the designers to do it a certain way, and they would work with it. This time, from the drawing design, choosing the materials, even the stitching of the appliques, she did herself. Then again, she wanted to prepare the dress to be something she could confidently and comfortably wear.

Aside from the dress, she treated herself with a beauty regimen. Though there was not much needed, she still made the effort. Her mission was, after all, to seduce a man.

So, every day she would apply moisturizer not only to her face, but also to her hands. She would also brush her hair 100 times every night and would even place cucumber on her face. She groomed herself too. Thankfully it all paid off, because as she stood in front of the mirror, she could see her hair positively shining, and her face glowing.

Serena looked at the time, it was 6 in the evening. Emily should be arriving soon. The Evening dance party was scheduled at 10pm, and though they talked about her, arriving more than fashionably late, she can't possibly arrive when the party's already about to end. Besides, what if Christopher left early? It was customary for males, particularly the popular ones, to leave earlier.

In any case, she decided to start with her make-up. She thought for a moment what style she should go for. At first, she thought of sweet and innocent, but changed her mind. She didn't want to look too meek especially knowing that the meeker you are the more the ton would circle you like vultures and tear you apart.

--

Emily arrived at the Leonard and Serena's at 7 in the evening. She knew that she was a little late but there were things she had to take care of. Particularly, the automobile Serena would be riding, where it would take her after she leaves the party, and how to come back to the humble abode she shared with her brother without people knowing. After all, they didn't want people to know her address and disrupt their, or more particularly, Leonard's life.

Anyhow, she went to knock at Leonard's room first to greet him.

Leonard heard the knock and knew that it should be Emily. He asked her to enter. When he saw her just wearing casual clothes and not even wearing make-up, he could only ask if she's not joining Serena.

Emily shook her head and told him that she was just there to help Serena prepare. When Leonard asked why, she could only answer, she doesn't have enough time to prepare herself, and besides, what would her purpose in attending the party be? The man of her life was already waiting for her at home.

Leonard gave an eyeroll at her cheeky response. Still, he frowned and told her to go ahead since Serena was waiting for her upstairs.

--

When Emily saw Serena, she was positively taken aback. They see each other almost daily the past year and the past two weeks she found Serena to be extra beautiful. But now that Serena made a full-blown effort, she could only be rendered speechless. She walked forward, circled Serena, and stopped right in front of her face to study her makeup.

Serena, she noted, made a light-handed, natural approach to her makeover, choosing to enhance her features, rather than mask it with too much makeup. Her lips were painted with a color that's bordering between pink and red, her cheeks looked naturally rosy, then there were her eyes. She wore a mascara making her long eyelashes more pronounced, and her neutral subtle smokey eyeshadows made her eyes tantalizing and full of charm.

No wonder that Christopher could not forget Serena despite barely having anything to do with her. If Emily were a man, she was sure that he would have been long lost in Serena's eyes and fancy himself in love. "You should definitely do that make-up for me." she could only finally say.

Serena laughed quietly despite her nerves. "Sure. On your wedding with my brother."

Emily also laughed along, but she noted the slight tremble in Serena's voice. "Relax, Serena. Whatever happens, you are sure to be the most beautiful lady later. Granted that I'm not attending." She ended sassily.

Serena just smiled and nodded. She was too nervous for later to engage in a light banter.

With that, Emily started arranging her hair.

--

TBC