39. A Handsome Handsome Pirate's Stare

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I stared back at myself in the mirror, and I couldn't believe what I saw. The girl in the mirror couldn't be me. She was too beautiful and too perfect to be me.

She wore the same golden-colored dress I tried on earlier. She had the same green eyes that I had and the same yellow hair I did. The only difference between the girl and I was that this one looked like she belonged here, whereas I didn't - did.

I was that girl now. I was the one that looked like she belonged here, and now I had to act as I did.

"If you don't mind me saying so, miss, you look beautiful," Marie said while brushing my hair. I smiled back at her.

"Thank you, Marie." She blushed and continued to brush. Then, she pinned my hair up to a neat updo and reached in her uniform pocket, pulling out a silver flowered hairpin.

"That Lady said this should complement your dress, miss," she said, pinning in my hair.

I smiled as it twinkled in the light. What an attractive feature it was.

Marie reached for the necklace Lady Wheat (or Katherine) had given me on the vanity table and put it on my bare neck. Finally done, she smiled at me happily. "There, miss. You look wonderful."

I thanked her and stood up, looking at myself one more time before turning to her. "Is my husband down there?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes, as well as the other guests, miss. I believe the Lady is downstairs as well."

Well, here we go then.

I thanked her one more time before departing from my bedroom and walking down the corridor to the staircase, all while trying not to panic.

They were only people. The people downstairs weren't vicious animals ready to kill. They were dignified gentlemen and ladies.

Once at the staircase, I looked down. People seemed to be going in one direction, the direction of the ballroom, I assumed, so down I went. I instantly joined the moving wave of people, all making their way to one specific room where well-dressed and rude people couldn't wait to get to the free food and drinks.

That was the only thing I was excited about anyway. Who cared about dancing when there was the food? If it weren't for the blasted corset I was wearing, I would stuff my face, but it looked like I had to make due only to small appetizers.

What a shame.

The ballroom was a sight to see with tall red walls and a dangling crystal chandelier in the middle of the room. There was an orchestra in the corner, playing cheerful and lively music and even a food table dedicated to sweets and little treats.

Yes, I was in heaven. And you better believe that the food table wasn't going to be lonely tonight.

Standing at the room's entrance, I looked around the packed room for Christopher, hoping that maybe he would save me from my awkwardness.

Luckily, I spotted him near a group of gentlemen, or instead, he spotted me. He was staring straight at me with a smile on his face. And neither he nor I looked away from each other.

I couldn't move, and I couldn't breathe, and it wasn't just because if the tight corset I was wearing.

I blushed hard. Christopher looked so unbelievably attractive. So handsome, so godlike. He somehow made the tailcoat he was wearing look good instead of the other way around. I didn't even think that was possible until now - until I was looking at him.

But he stood, freshly shaved, bathed, and dressed, all in a matter of an hour or two.

I felt embarrassed then - staring, I mean. I felt like a fool. And I guess Christopher felt that way too because he broke eye contact with me and came over, a bright Christopher smile on his face.

"There's my beautiful wife," he said and kissed my cheek.

I blushed harder than before and turned away. Christopher noticed and chuckled. "It's alright, love. I know how loveable I am."

"You clean up nice too," I said. It hurt saying that and not because there was something wrong with me, but because I didn't know what to say, seeing Christopher like that.

Was I supposed to say he looked hideous, disgusting even? I would be lying to myself and the world for saying that, and I hated to lie.

"Funny what a bit of soap and water can do to you, huh?" He said.

I broke out a smile, easing into a comfortable mood. "So, you're telling me that this whole time that I've known you not once did you use soap?"

He lowered his mouth to my ear, and I felt the familiar chill roll down my back once more.

"I'm a pirate captain. I can afford soap, darling." And then he kissed my earlobe. Christopher kissed my earlobe. First, my cheek, which truthfully I thought was because he was greeting me to show that we're married, but then my earlobe?

"Come, the Lord and Lady are waiting for us." He gestured to the Wheat's, standing in a little corner of the room, talking to a young gentleman and Katherine.

I already knew who that was.

And so Christopher pulled me toward them, all while I was trying to steady my breathing from what just happened.

The Lord greeted us warmly. "My, you two are a couple to remember," he said, looking from Christopher to me.

Lady Wheat grinned in agreement while Katherine seemed annoyed that we had taken her parents' attention away. But the young gentleman beside her just smiled. He was around me and Christopher's age, just barely older than Katherine.

He was handsome with blonde hair and green eyes though skinny. He was clean and had soft-looking hands that never experienced hard labor before, which was typical for a man with a fortune.

"You look beautiful, Anne. Simply beautiful. I just knew that gown would look splendid on you, dear," the Lady said. "Doesn't she look wonderful, Katherine?"

Katherine gave a fake smile and said sweetly, "Yes, charming," as if trying to impress the man next to her, which seemed to be the very thing she was doing.

"Thank you, Katherine," I said in return. "And may I say that that dress looks lovely on you."

Then I glanced at the gentleman beside her. "Hello. I believe we've met. I'm Anne Taylor, and this is my husband, Christopher."

Christopher gave a smile and held out his hand. "A pleasure Mr..."

"Connelly. George Connelly. A pleasure, Captain. I heard so much about you. Welcome back to Englan," he said with a kind smile, shaking Christopher's hand.

Katherine seemed pleased by all this because she glowed like she was the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, her smile becoming genuine, seeing the interaction between the two men she favored.

The Lord and Lady seemed happy as well but for an entirely different reason. The reason being that they've finally found a match for their precious daughter. A very wealthy man with a handsome face and an excellent reputation, now what parent wouldn't want that?

For a while, the conversation went on, talking about America, and the growing changes in England, business markets, anything and everything I didn't have the knowledge to discuss. And I started to get bored and hungry.

"Please excuse me. I am a bit peckish. I'll be getting food id you need me."

They all didn't seem to mind, all except Christopher, who had his eyes on me when I left, and when I turned to look back at him, he turned away and jumped back into the conversation.

I shrugged my shoulder and headed to the food table. You wouldn't believe what delicious food it had on top. I could have died and gone to heaven.

I grabbed one of the little plates in the table and looked down that line at the many foods they had. I picked up a truffle and put it on my plate, heading next to the tarts.

And after a few more grabs at the food, I headed back over to my little group, where just in time, I caught Mr. Connelly in mid-conversation.

"I did bring an acquaintance of mine, but I guess I lost him." He smiled. "You should have seen his face coming here. He looked so determined, almost like he was on a mission."

***
A/N

My, my, my a man on a mission, now who could that be? Any guesses? (But I think you guys already know, huh?)

P.S what do you guys think of Anne's dress? Pretty, no?

---Author









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