Welcoming Ball
Tales from the Kingdom of Tyndall #9
Josephine and I stood in line, looking up at the massive building. The pride that had been building up inside me over the past couple of weeks seemed to dissipate all at once. I had been so proud of the little cabin I had built and the progress Josephine and I had made on clearing some land for farming. And here, in front of me, was the reminder that Lord Remington was nothing more than a title at this point.
Lord Wedgewood’s manor stood tall, dominating the landscape around it. The host himself could be seen on a balcony, waving to those starting to file in for the Pride Island Welcoming Ball. The line was long as all 30 landowners and their families were in attendance, well 29 now, since Nostrum had decided to sell his property. The rumor was that some guests from the mainland would also be at the ball. Josephine and I seemed to arrive a little later than the rest, as few people were in line behind us.
“Remy,” a nervous Josephine said, “I am not so sure about this. I mean, look at those dresses! We shouldn’t be here.”
Josephine’s saying out loud what I had thought just a moment before, didn’t help that deflated feeling. But I pushed that away and responded with what I hoped sounded like confidence. “Don’t worry, you look beautiful! We will blend right in.”
In truth, she was right. The other lords and ladies looked magnificent and dapper in their suits and dresses. Although we did the best we could with the means available to us, my suit and her dress were not on the same level. Even so, she still did look beautiful in her pale blue dress, as stunning a girl as I had ever had the pleasure to stand beside. That part, at least, had been true.
“Okay, remember the plan,” I said. “We will be announced as we enter the ball. The other guests will turn to see us. We may not be the best dressed at the ball, I grant you, but arriving with a girl on my arm will at the very least garner some attention. Once that first impression is made we can begin to socialize with the guests. And don’t forget to scan the crowd as we are announced. Any reactions may give us clues to unravel your mystery.”
Josephine let out a nervous sigh. “I still think you are placing too much hope on merely my appearance. I mean, look at those other girls.”
I dropped my hand to the small of her back and leaned close to her. Her scent filled my nostrils and my heart quickened. “There is only one girl I want to have on my arm this evening.”
Her cheeks blushed and she turned her face toward mine and our eyes locked. Too many thoughts came into my mind at once, fighting for space. We continued to be transfixed; it was as though she stared into my very soul. I started to lean closer and then…
“Next,” the man’s voice broke us out of our temporary trance and the present came rushing back to me. I cleared my throat, and with Josephine on my arm, stepped forward.
“Name,” said the man.
“Lord Remington,” I said with perhaps more bavado than required.
The man checked his list, nodded, and ushered us inside. We continued to slowly follow the couple in front of us as we filed toward the ballroom. I kept my gaze trained on where we were going, as opposed to taking in all the luxury on display around me. As we drew closer to the room, Josephine’s grip on my arm tightened and I laid my opposite hand on top of hers. The lords were being called and, one by one, they would enter on their own or with their wife and family.
The way it was working out, we would be one of the last to enter, meaning most people would already be in the ballroom. It was a chance to grab attention, positively or negatively. My stomach felt like it was riding in the back of a carriage as we came closer to the balcony that overlooked the ballroom. Josephine’s grip on my arm had not lessened. If anything, it increased as we stepped up to the man who would announce our arrival.
“And how would you like to be announced?” asked the man.
“Lord Remington and Lady Josephine,” I replied. The man gestured for us to take our place on the balcony at the top of the extravagant stairway, and I stepped boldly forward, feeling as though I almost had to pull Josephine along with me. We stood there overlooking the crowd, my heart beating rapidly, my hands sweating. And the man’s voice rang out above the conversations going on below.
“I present to you, Lord Remington and Lady Josephine.” Many in the crowd turned to see who the newcomers were, and many turned just as quickly away. I scanned the crowd as quickly as possible hoping Josephine was doing the same. There were a few onlookers but none seemed to have anything more than a passing curiosity. Apparently, Josephine hadn’t had the same experience, as she quickly, still anchored to my arm, started to descend the stairs. In my haste to keep up, I nearly tripped on the stairs. A few chuckles were heard from the crowd and my frustration with Josephine threatened to make itself known.
As soon as we were down the stairs I turned to Josephine to scold her. But before I could, she was locked in an embrace with a woman. I stood there, dumbfounded. Unsure of what to do.
“Josephine, is it really you?” said the lady. “My heart is glad to see you!” The women let go of their embrace but they held each other’s hands in front of them. The unknown woman was more than a few years older than I. She wore a black dress with white flowers, her dark hair was tied up above her head, and she carried with her a confidence that could not be missed by even the most unobservant.
“Yes, it is me,” Josephine was saying, “Lady Ambear, how lovely to see a familiar face.”
As they continued the conversation, I scanned the crowd again. This time I noticed one man seeming to observe the ladies’ interaction. Pretending to not notice and to follow the girls’ conversation, I continued to take account of the man. Then everything seemed to stop at once as the man who had been announcing names called for attention.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present your host for the evening, Lord Wedgewood.”
Lord Wedgewood stepped to the balcony as applause greeted him. I had never seen the well-known lord before, but he certainly looked the part. Dressed in a suit that cost more than I cared to know, average height, and probably approaching his fifties. But everything about him exuded an air of extravagance. His suit, the jewelry, his posture, all of it.
Once the applause had died away, Lord Wedgewood waved at the crowd and said, “Welcome, fellow citizens of Pride Island. I am pleased to have you all here. I must ask for one more round of applause if you will. Lady Wedgewood, please join us.”
The extravagance continued as Lady Wedgewood stepped forward. Lord Wedgewood led her by the hand, presenting her to the crowd, knowing full well what he was doing. Ladies gasped, placing their hands on their chests, and men tried to not stare for longer than was appropriate. Hushed voices of “she is gorgeous,” or “such beauty” were heard throughout the ballroom. Finally, Lord Wedgewood stepped forward again.
“What a great day! What a great adventure we have all been on, claiming our lands and building our estates. I am so happy to have my home opened to you this evening,” said the Lord as he spread his hands out wide and looked over the whole room. “I do not doubt that this island will live up to its name. It will be the pride of Tyndall. And bring honor to us all.” Cheers erupted from the crowd and Lord Wedgewood seemed quite pleased.
Turning my attention back to Josephine and Lady Ambear, I heard Lady Amber begin the conversation again. “Your parents have been looking for you. They will be so happy to hear you are safe. But what are you doing here?”
“That is a long story and one I do not entirely remember,” said Josephine. “But, first, you must meet Remy. Oh, sorry, Lord Remington. I owe him my life.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Ambear,” I said. “May I ask…” but my voice trailed off. “Sorry, if you would please excuse me for just a few moments.” I didn’t wait to hear a reply. The gentlemen I had spotted earlier had continued to stare at us and I had had enough. I walked quickly across the ballroom heading in his direction.
“Lord Remington,” a familiar voice called from the top of the stairs.
I looked up to see Lord Wedgewood looking down on me.
“Lord Remington, please join me here.”
Unsure of this unexpected turn of events, my heart pounded in my chest as I ascended the stairs to stand by Lord Wedgewood.
“Now, Remington, I had hoped you would share a few words about yourself. You are unknown to us. So please, share with us everything that makes you Lord Remington.”
I was in shock and completely caught off guard. Lord Wedgewood let a smile play at the corner of his mouth as he watched me. I looked over the crowd looking up at me. Many nodded their heads as if this was what they wanted to hear as well.
“Um, well,” I stammered. “My name is Oswald Remington. Um..” My mind went blank, as I tried to figure out what else to say. “I worked in textiles,” I finally said.
I started to hear a few chuckles in the crowd as I tried to say a few more things, but the volume in the hall had grown and the group lost interest. I turned my head back to look at Lord Wedgewood. A smile full of malice and meaning was upon his face. He backed away a few steps and started chatting with someone else.
I stood there. By myself. Humiliated. I had failed to make an impression. No, that is not accurate. I made an impression. I showed everyone in that room that I did not belong. My quest to be respected as a Lord had just taken a drastic turn for the worse. And Lord Wedgewood had made sure of it.
