The Ball.

            The instruments announced the first dance was about to begin and Nicholas was soon at Kathryn's side to have the first dance. Kathryn saw Emmy dancing with Caleb and Julia dancing with a man she had not been introduced to. When she asked Nicholas if knew the man, he reported it was Mr. John Melbourne. A good man but rather a bore, "poor Julia," he laughed. After a few minutes of dancing Kathryn saw Brandon taking the dance floor with Laurel. No one in Kathryn's acquaints looked particularly happy with their partner minus Emmy and Caleb. After the first dance Emmy was asked to dance by Patrick Castellan, a boy Emmy used to have a crush on but he paid no attention to her until tonight. But after that was the waltz and Brandon James was quick to arrive at her side before any other caller could arrive.

            "Hello Mr. James."

            "Hello Miss Emmy, have you still kept this dance free for me?"

            "I have indeed."

            "I am glad, it seems like everyman here wants your attention."

            "It is amazing what a new dress and some hair styling has done." Emmy had been proper all night but since Brandon had proved himself such a dear friend she felt quite at ease. "No one in this town noticed me before tonight and now thanks to your sister everyone is whispering about me. It feels nice."

            "My sister should not take the credit or your beauty."

            "But she should."

            "Why your beauty already existed."

            "Mr. James, please don't go complimenting me. All night I have listened to false compliments and it has been such a bore do not ruin my night completely."

            "I was not giving you any false compliments."

            Emmy was embarrassed then by her inconsiderate words. "Oh Mr. James I am sorry. Until tonight I was invisible, no one noticed me, at least not for my looks, and now I am not sure how to handle it all. I guess I assumed everyone was being false to me."

            "Even if they were, I would never be false to you. If you think that, then we clearly are not friends."

            "Mr. James do not say that; can we not begin again? I promise this time I will take your compliment and be thankful."

            "Perhaps you are right Miss Emmy I was being too forthright and I could see how could sound false."

            "No Mr. James I was wrong, and now I have ruined this whole dance for us and the waltz is my favorite dance."

            "It was not ruined for me Miss Emmy," he smiled at her.

            They danced a little bit longer but then the song was over. Before Emmy could apologize once again for her words Caleb was at their side. He complimented their skill and joked at Brandon for not realizing how good of dancer he was. Caleb he said that he thought Brandon never danced at a ball because he couldn't. Brandon did not like the joking and made his excuses to walk away. Emmy wanted to go after him but Caleb held her back, he joked a bit more saying that Brandon had such sensitive feelings. Then Caleb swept her up in his arms and began dancing with her before she had a chance to be asked by someone else.

            The rest of the night was pleasant. Fiona stayed mostly on the side lines of the ball and was overjoyed at the warm reception Emmy got. She also enjoyed everyone whispering about Emmy. Usually whispers were not good for a girls reputation but tonight everyone spoke favorable of Emmy Cromwell people were astonished how lady like she looked and acted. People whispered how it was like she had blossomed. And every one noticed how Caleb showed generous amounts of attention towards Emmy. Fiona smiled at those whispers but Laurel also overheard the whispers and shook her head over how flirtatious Emmy was being.

            When Emmy was younger she would pace the floor and wait to hear Laurel's reports of the night. But now as she climbed into the motor coach she took a deep sigh of happiness thinking of all the stories she had to share. Everything about the night seemed like a dream, occasionally she would pinch herself to remind her it was real.

            "You did very well my darling," Fiona said sitting in the coach as well.

            "Thank you mother."

            "Everyone was talking about your poise, eloquence and beauty. The third one I knew well but even the first two were so well performed I was taken back I will admit."

            "I owe everything to Miss James she has been a wonderful coach."

            "Don't give her too much credit she was not talking for you or dancing for you."

            "Thank you but I owe her so much."

            "I found most of the night rather a bore," Laurel said climbing in.

            "Oh Laurel, if you were so bored perhaps you should have danced more," Emmy said.

            "I care little for dancing."

            "Laurel, I do wish you would cheer up. Perhaps Miss James is right?" Fiona said interrupting the little bicker between sisters.

            "Right about what?" Laurel asked.

            "Perhaps you should go to Boston get a new environment."

            "Oh mother that would be wonderful wouldn't it Laurel?" Emmy jumped up in her seat.

            "Miss James was thinking of having you two come to Boston after her honeymoon but my dear friend Iris is always asking for you to visit. And this night is more proof that you two should go to Boston and have some fun there."

            "Oh it is wonderful."

            "Well than it is set I should write to Iris and arrange a trip for you. Maybe a month or so?"

            "I don't know," Laurel sighed.

            "Laurel, don't you want to go to Boston. Isn't Mr. Foster in Boston?" This would be a perfect chance to see him again.

            "I do not prefer chasing after men Emmy."

            "It is not a chase just lucky coincidence."

            "Well no decisions have to made tonight but I think it would do you the world of good to see sights outside of Pine Haven. Both of you are old enough to travel by yourselves together," Fiona said. She silently questioned why Laurel didn't leap at the chance to go to Boston. Emmy was right Mr. Foster was in Boston so why did Laurel want to stay away. But Fiona knew not to ask any questions after she saw Laurel's face stricken with sadness when Emmy brought up his name.

            That night Emmy hardly slept a wink she wanted to capture it all down in her journal before she forgot a single detail. Her feet ached from dancing but she hardly cared as long as they propped up she would manage.

            The next morning her mother let her sleep in later than the normal breakfast hour but when she did make an appearance Gloria hounded her with questions. Emmy gave a vivid account of the whole evening from all the dresses to her partners and all the dresses to her partners and all gossips that floated around the dance floor. With each detail of silk embroidery or the use of feathers Gloria sighed with delight. With the talk of Emmy's partners of tantalizing gossip Gloria whined and wished she had been there. Emmy remembered what it was like to be in Gloria's shoes and promised her, her first ball would be just as wonderful. When Emmy and Gloria finally settled down Laurel was ready to move past the subject of this silly ball and with a huff said the ball wasn't even one of Mrs. Taylors  best but Gloria and Emmy hardly noticed her sour attitude. That day was pretty quiet as the household and most of the town rested from the Taylor ball.