First Encounters, Poor Impressions (2)

Ezra slid his chair back, a loud skidding of metal against the ground alerting everyone. Even Erin jumped back a little, startled. He had just barely missed knocking her over if she hadn't bounced back on surprised feet.

Lady Sutherton pulled her eyes from her husband and dramatically ogled him. "Mister Ezra?"

Ezra straightened his uniform as he stood to his full height. "Lady Erina, you would like to sit?" He gave Erin a honeyed smile. "I apologize for my delay; I was a little surprised. But now that I found my bearings, I can only be honored to be of assistance to the Sutherton family in any way possible."

"Y-you will?" Lady Sutherton spoke before Erin could open her mouth. "Y-you're offering the seat?"

"Of course!" Ezra eagerly exclaimed. "It is my job to be of your family's assistance." He looked away from Lady and Lord Sutherton and sent his joyful gaze to Erin. "So? My lady, please have your seat!" He smiled, pulling the seat out for her.

Lady Sutherton turned to her husband, unsure if he was witnessing the same thing. Erin shared her parents' shock but not in the same way. While her parents viewed him with wonder, she viewed him with repulsive curiosity.

His smile was too honeyed.

Too gentle.

Too joyous.

It reminded her of her mother's flaccid, sugary smile that never charmed nor convinced her of sincerity; and the more she stared, the more she concluded that he was repellent and off-putting. 

Like a butterfly, she thought. He was like a butterfly; those bothersome buggers, pretty and bright, flapping and fluttering, always putting on a show. Oh, those 'pretty' distractions, nice-looking, they really were, but completely useless to the fact that it was an insect, family of the moth. 

She turned her gaze from him and cracked a smile at her parents. "Oh, this one is a bright one, isn't he?" Her eyes went from her parents and back to him. "Where and why did you dredge up this fellow? From some shanty pit?"

Ezra laughed as if the mockery wasn't against him. "It's wonderful to meet you, Lady Erina. It seems the stories about you do you absolutely no justice."

Her smile died, a scowl assuming its position. She looked him directly in the eye. "Excuse me, but was I speaking to you? Haven't you heard of speak when spoken to?"

He smiled, locking his lips.

"Lowborns. No manners these days," she seethed. Rolling her eyes with a huff, she prepared to sit, adjusting the layers in her dress first.

Lady Sutherton, still shell shocked at the exchange, quickly spoke up. "Erin, please. What did I say about calling people lowborns? You must stop assuming that."

"Mother, if it looks like a lowborn and it talks like a lowborn. Can you blame me?"

"Erina no," she said, exhausted. "Please if you would just stop causing issues, we might be able to properly explain that Mister Ezra is supposed to be the new but---."

It all seemed to happen so suddenly.

There was an impact.

Erin's head was first.

It slammed hard against the ground, the force radiating from the base of her head to the front of her face.

Her elbows were second. Bone against the stone.

Then were her legs that tangled together as kicked up and smashed down.

Everything else that followed merged into one mess of shock and brief pain as she collided with the floor. Eyes wide, jaw hanging, and flat back pressed solidly against the ground. She remained paralyzed in both shock and bewilderment.

Just a few moments prior she was about to take her seat. She was about to sit down. She was about to.

She blinked.

Somehow, there she was, flat on her back, gazing into the sky, the world a panorama of dizzy disorientation.

𝔖𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔴𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔲𝔢?