Chapter Two

“Finally you’re home!” Her mother cried as soon as Kelly stepped into the house. “Now hurry up! We have to get you ready!”

Leanna grabbed her daughter’s arm and dragged her upstairs. “I’ve picked out your gown. I think the red one will be best. It will be good enough to get you a husband, and maybe just good enough for Alistair to pick you,” Leanna let off a giggle, “now hurry up and put it on! Cetta will help you and I shall be right back to do your hair.”

Kelly let out a sigh as her mother closed the door behind her.

“Why is everyone so determined to marry me off?” Kelly said as she began to undress.

“She means well, you know that right?” Cetta was the family maid. “Now breathe in,” she said as she pulled the strings on the corset.

“I guess. It’s just why doesn’t anyone let me have a say? Why do I have to follow what convention says? I’m only eighteen. Marrying now is too soon!”

“You’re eighteen. You’re neither young nor old. Why little Margie next door was married at sixteen and now is having her second child. Your brother married when he was nineteen.”

“Yeah, well...”

A knock on the door interrupted Kelly. Her mother burst in.

“I knew it! This gown is perfect! Thank you Cetta,” as Cetta buttoned the last button. After Cetta left, Leanna turned to Kelly and exclaimed, “Now for your hair.”

Leanna never let anyone do her daughter’s hair. She claimed that it was too beautiful to let just anyone do it. It was thick, long and black and was softer then silk. Soon it was half pinned up, ornamented with petite butterflies.

“Now you look gorgeous! I won’t understand it if there isn’t a young gentleman that doesn’t asks you for a dance tonight. Just remember to put a tad of make-up on. Oh you do look lovely,” Leanna popped a kiss on her daughter’s cheek. “I’ve got to go get ready. See you downstairs.”

Kelly watched her mother leave before staring at herself in the mirror. Her mother had done a brilliant job with her hair. She always did.

Grabbing the nearby pallet, she picked a sparkling brown colour to apply onto her eyelids before coating her lashes with thick black gel. It instantly darkened her lashes, emphasizing her moss green eyes. She smeared pale pink lipstick onto her lips. Smacking her lips together, she examined herself in the mirror. She was pretty, not beautiful, but definitely pretty. Her gown cut across her shoulders, showing off some cleavage, its deep crimson colour complemented her light tan skin. Her gown was made of velvet, fit for a princess and laced with gold embroidery.

Reaching in her jewellery box, she pulled out a string of pearls. Pearls were rare, hard to come by. They were said to only be found off a small bay in Mardonia. How her parents could afford such jewellery was beyond Kelly. Even though her family was considered one of the wealthiest families in Apohn, along with the Orisons, they only had a small portion of money left after food was taken care of. Kelly had once seen a string of pearls selling in the market square, costing as much as a house. That was before foreign trade was banned. Since then, she had never seen anyone in the market square sell such rare jewels.

She loved pearls. They carried an elegance which none of the other rare jewels could master. She had long decided that when she leaves Apohn, she would travel to Mardonia and see for herself what she had read in many books, the Pearl Harvesting Festival.

Once the pearls rested around her neck, she was ready.

--

The Orison’s courtyard had been decorated shiny black and silver balloons and was lit up by fire torches. Tables filled with food lined the edge; a string quartet was playing on a podium and in the centre, many of the villagers were dancing.

Everyone always took the effort to dress up to the Orison Balls. There was always plenty food and drinks to go around, it always brought something magical to the village.

“Oh I think I see Alistair,” Leanna whispered to her daughter, “Oh, isn’t he handsome. You must let him see you, so he can ask for a dance.”

Kelly rolled her eyes, yet let her mother drag her across the room towards the Mr. and Mrs Orison. Sure enough, their son soon walked over.

“Miss Kelly, may I have this dance?” he asked as he reached her.

Before Kelly could answer, her mother turned around from her conversation with Mrs. Orison and replied, “Oh Alistair, she would be honoured to accept a dance from such a lovely young gentleman, wouldn’t you Kelly?”

Kelly had no choice but to accept.

Alistair flashed her one of his trademark smirks before leaning in towards her ear and whispering, “You look beautiful tonight, Kelly.”

Kelly chose not to reply, instead choosing to stare across the courtyard.

“Why are you so quiet? Are you thinking about me?” he winked.

Kelly frowned, “You’re nothing but an arrogant prick.”

Alistair drew back and stared at her, before letting off a deep laugh. “But I’m a very handsome arrogant prick. I can tell when you are thinking about me. Besides, you don’t want to disappoint your mother. She wants you to marry me.”

Kelly was fuming, “My mother will understand and respect my wishes not to get married.”

“Are you sure about that? I mean, you’re eighteen this year and you aren’t going to be getting young. All unmarried women desire a handsome young gentleman like myself.”

“You? A Gentleman?” Kelly snorted.

Alistair led her across the floor, twirling rhythmically to the beat of the music, allowing her to complete a spin, before answering. “Your mother said I was. To her, I’m a lovely young gentleman.”

Kelly glared at him. She could fell her angry tickling up the tiny blood vessels towards her face.

He flashed her another smirk, as the last note settled in the air. As they came to a halt, he picked up her hand, bowed down and placed it on his lips. He stayed there, bent over as his eyes meet hers. She saw him laughing through his bright blue eyes. Without another word, she pulled her hand out of his grip, bit her lip before twirling around on her heel and stormed off, leaving Alistair with his trademark smirk plastered to his lips.

“Arrghh! How I hate that… thing!” Kelly splat out, as she reached Maya and Kimmy.

Kimmy turned around, and glanced behind Kelly. “Oh, you mean Alistair?”

“Of course I mean him! Who else is as arrogant, so full of himself as Alistair?”

“But he’s so pretty,” Maya sighed, as her eyes wandered up and down his figure.

“Stop it! Stop it! Seriously. His bloody smirk! Arrghh, I hate it! He’s just mocking me.”

Maya and Kimmy just nodded, their eyes still glued to Alistair.

“Seriously people. Especially you Kimmy! You’re married! What would Tim say about it?”

“So? I’m just looking; I don’t plan to jump him. A girl can just stare!” Kimmy said as her eyes still fixed upon golden hair boy.

Kelly shook her head, “Arrghh, and do you know what he said to me? He said, and I quote, “all unmarried women desire a handsome young gentleman like myself’. Gentleman my ass…”

That caught her best friends’ attention. They both raised their eyebrows.

“He is a handsome young gentleman,” Maya pointed out.

“No he isn’t! He then continues gloating,” Kelly pinched up her nose and mimicked, “I’m a lovely young gentleman.”

Kimmy’s eyebrows rose up again, “but I heard your mother…”

Kelly rolled her eyes, “okay, okay, so he was quoting my mother. But who says stuff like that about themselves?” Kelly shot him again glare, “And every time he does that, I can never think of a comeback! Arrghh! Why can’t I be quirky, witty? Say something which will wipe that frustrating smirk off his bloody mouth.”

Maya gave her a sympathetic pat on the back. “Come on girl, calm down. You know you’re passionately in love with him. Just admit it and be over with it. I want to be a maid of honour! And at the rate you’re going, I’m never going to a maid of honour.”

Kelly stared at Maya before whacking her own forehead.

“What?”

“You want me to marry that fool? That arrogant little…?”

“Hey girls,” Mrs Orison chirped, as she reached the girls. “Enjoying the party?”

Kelly felt her cheeks heat up. If Mrs. Orison noticed this, she didn’t show it.

“It’s great. I love the food! Is it a new recipe?” Kimmy answered.

Everyone knew that Mrs. Orison loved cook, and would try out her new inventions at her balls.

“Of course. Bob had just picked two baskets full of the sweetest apples from our orchard this morning. I just couldn’t resist.” Bob was her husband, Mr. Orison. “Oh, that reminds me. Kelly darling, will you drop by tomorrow? I’m baking some Ottis tomorrow, and I know how much your family love them.”

Ottis were Mrs. Orison’s specialty. She had been baking them for as long as Kelly would remember. Everyone knew that they were Mrs. Orison’s finest invention she ever discovered.

“Of course, I’ll be around after lunch,” Kelly smiled, her mouth starting to water. Ottis were truly heaven. They were encased in a crispy crust and when you bit into them, the buttery bread would cushion your mouth, as a runny explosion of flavours, caramel, chocolate, an assortment of nuts lead by hazelnut, coated in a tangy zesty, slid down your tongue and into your throat.

“Well I’ll see you around girls.” With that Mrs. Orison continued her duties as a host.

The rest of the night was filled with twirling music, food and chatter. Kelly danced a few more times with other village boys, and soon forgot about her annoyance with a certain blonde hair gentleman.

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Author's Note

So what do you think?