Jovial music thrummed and vibrated in Cecilia's chest as she stood beside her mother and Mr Sholer in the great hall. Curtsying she greeted each and every guest, just as her mother instructed her to, till their names and faces seemed to blur into one dizzying entity. What would she have given to be hiding upstairs in her room ...
" Oh Mrs. Stroman how are you?" her mother beamed, a beautiful smile upon her lips as she curtsied low to the small old woman in front of her. The old woman leaning on her walking cane, crinkled her nose as she looked to her caregiver who stood quietly beside her. Their gowns glittered in the soft candlelight
"Quite a storm outside, for such a ball don't you think?" she asked brazenly.
Suppressing a gasp Cecilia quickly looked down at her feet. No one had ever addressed her mother in such a way...especially not in public. Taking a quick glance up at her mother she could see her eyes were blazing.
"Yes quite," Mr. Errington laughed cheerfully, "But nothing like a good hearth, good music, and good company to warm the bones!"
Mrs. Stroman shared a skeptical glance with her caregiver as she let out a quiet hmph.
Perhaps her mother's influence wasn't as fierce as she thought.
Suddenly Mrs. Stroman's green eyes lit up as she turned her gaze towards Cecilia, a small smile upon her lips.
"And this must be your daughter," She beamed, " What a pleasure to meet you!"
Cecilia felt her cheeks flush as she could not help but return the smile,
"It's a Pleasure to meet you as well Mrs. Stroman, " she curtsied.
"My!" Mrs. Stroman gaped, " if you don't mind me saying so, your gown looks lovely!"
Feeling her mothers gaze beginning to burn her, Cecilia cast her eyes down quickly onto the marble floors below, her smile slowly fading,
"Oh Thank you Mrs. Stroman. Mother had it picked it out for me," she said, her voice sounding soft in her ears.
"Forgive me, what did you say, dear?" Mrs. Stroman smiled, leaning in closer towards her, " Your voice is as soft as a doves, "
Just as Cecilia was about to speak up her mother suddenly took hold of her arm tightly,
"Mrs.Stroman you and your caregiver have traveled far, perhaps you'd care for some punch? It's just in the next room there," Her mother gestured gracefully, a polite smile upon her lips.
Mrs. Stroman's smile seemed to dim as she looked at her mothers piercing blue eyes and then back to Cecilia.
"Why yes we would! Thank you, Mrs. Errington!" And taking hold of her caregiver and walking cane, she curtsied low to them and walked away deep into the crowd.
Suddenly Cecilia felt her mother jerk her arm closer towards her as her mother hid her hiss behind a smile,
"Why not make yourself scarce, won't you dear?"
Feeling her mother's claws release her, Cecilia nodded, her heart pounding.
"Yes Mother," she said keeping her head bowed, curtsying to both her mother and Mr. Errington, as she made her way through the crowd.
The sounds of laughter and cheer blared in her ears as she bobbed and weaved through the crowd. All around were signs of joy, excitement, and romance- everything she wished she could feel. But instead of dancing and enjoying everyone's company, she instead hid herself away...
Finding a quiet corner where many of the elderly and spinsters sat watching the couples dance. She spotted an empty loveseat nearby, where she quickly took a seat. Feeling a weary sigh creep up on her she tried her best to hide her loneliness...what would she have given to dance. Seeing all the couples with their flushed smiles...she wondered what it would be like to dance with someone you loved... suddenly her imagination ran away with her as she imagined a handsome man approaching her. She could practically see him in front of her as He bowed low and offered her his hand to dance. Could feel his strong hand as he gently escorted her towards the dance floor, where their eyes would meet and...Feeling her cheeks burn she quickly raised a hand to hide her blushing cheeks.
"oh, what foolishness!" she murmured under her breath. She knew deep down no one would ask her to dance this evening...' perhaps It's best I keep my feet on the ground,' she thought, ' no sense in dreaming the impossible...'
"Excuse me Miss Errington?"
Blinking away her sorrow Cecilia quickly looked up and saw Mrs. Stroman and her caregiver standing in front of her.
"You don't mind if we sit beside you, do you?" she asked smiling down at her.
Seeing the empty chairs beside her, Cecilia smiled politely,
"Oh, not at all! I would be glad of your company!"
Grinning from ear to ear the old woman sat down beside her.
"Oh splendid and perfect timing too!" she said, clutching onto her cane in front of her, her eyes sparkling. With a flick of her hand, she gestured towards her caregiver, who quickly took a seat beside her.
"I was hoping we could get better acquainted," Mrs. Stroman smiled, " You seem like such a nice young lady-everything your father spoke of!"
Sitting up straight Cecilia blinked,"You mean...Master Errington ?" she asked
"Oh no, dear! Mr. Hawthorne!" she laughed,
"You knew my father?" she asked, astonished. Hearing this the old woman's eyes sparkled.
"Of course dear! What a true gentleman he was...You know when we were first introduced" she said leaning towards her, " All I could think about was how you have his eyes!"
"Truly? I never knew..."
"Well, you certainly do not have your mothers! Quite a gaze she has..." Mrs. Stroman said crinkling her nose in disdain.
Seeing the old woman's expression Cecilia quickly looked down at her hands. How was she supposed to respond to that...
With a cough the old woman leaned on her cane and looked to her caregiver and smiled wearily,
"My dear could you get me a glass of that wonderful punch? I feel a bit parched dear,"
With her eyes alight the caregiver smiled and nodded,
"Of course Mrs. Stroman, "
Reaching out to her she patted her elbow gratefully,
"Oh thank you my dear!"
And with a curtsy, she disappeared into the crowd.
For a moment everything was silent and nothing was said between her and Mrs. Stroman when suddenly the old woman turned towards her with a stern expression.
"Are you happy my dear?"
Cecilia gaped at such a question and at first she was silent, her gaze falling to her hands in her lap. Looking up at Mrs. Stroman Cecilia did her best to put on a polite smile.
"Yes of course," she said softly, "I'm having a splendid time-"
"That...isn't quite what I meant dear" the old woman smiled wearily, " Are you happy?" she asked again,
Looking into the old woman's dark green eyes and how they glinted with concern and worry Cecilia suddenly felt raw and exposed...as if suddenly everyone knew how her mother treated her...how she lived a life of solitude and loneliness...
"I..." she heard herself begin, "I..."
Before she could stop herself, she felt tears prick at her eyes.
"Oh no need to answer right away dear-I shouldn't have asked such a difficult question to one so young," she smiled, resting her hand upon Cecilias.
Suddenly the old woman reached for her purse,
"Here dear, I've been meaning to give this to you for some time now,"
Not knowing what the old woman meant she blinked away her tears as she watched the old woman's gnarled, bony fingers take out what looked to be a card?
"And seeing it is Christmas, I suppose now is a good time to give you your present," she smiled, handing the card to Cecilia.
Holding it in her hands she looked down at it in confusion. The card itself looked worn and tired along its edges, and on the front was a naked woman draped in a silken scarf. She looked beautiful kneeling down with her golden hair cast about the wind, as she leaned over a glittering pool, holding two bowls in her hands. Shining down upon her was a bright star. Cecilia felt the air escape past her lips as she gasped softly.
"This...this is a tarot card isn't it?" she asked in awe.
"Indeed it is! And I think... it's best you hold on to it! You see..." she spoke softly, leaning in close as if to share a secret, " with this card you are protected. And if you ever feel trapped," she tapped the card, " it will help you..."
Cecilia's eyes widened at such a statement. It will help you....what did she mean by that? Confused yet in awe at such a special gift Cecilia could not help but smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Stroman, it's such a beautiful gift-I just wish I could give you a gift in return, "
the old woman's crows feet crinkled as she grinned, patting Cecilia's knee.
"There's no need dear, I'm just happy you like your gift,"
Staring down at her gift Cecilia smiled again. She knew the gift was just a simple card and nothing more, but to have someone give her a Christmas gift...it warmed her heart. For once in her life she didn't feel so alone.
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