Growing Up, Growing Closer

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"Beautiful," he said truthfully, before showing her his own outfit, first the black tails on the jacket with three buttons, along with a peek and collar of a navy blue shirt, black trousers, and shined and polished black shoes. He looked quite different in this suit from his normal ones. They were less sofisticated. "Like a flower," he continued.
 
Livia's eyes inspected every inch of William. He looked like a prince. She didn't even realize that he had complimented her. "I- I-Uh-" she shook her head. "Thank you. You look quite dashing as well." Her face blushed as he stepped closer to lead her to the ballroom. The corridors were as elaborate as always and when the double doors opened and both her and William were announced, she was surrounded with gorgeous decorations and people. As a servant, she had been to balls before, but only to carry food trays or to assist anyone with a court title. This was completely different, not only was she dressed up and invited, she was practically a guest of honor. People greeted her and gave bows and curtsies. If they found out she was a lowly peasant, they would be humiliated. Livia tightened her grip on William's arm as she grew ever more nervous. From where she stood, she could see Lord Kale watching her. She hoped he would refrain from approaching her tonight.
 
"You're a Lady, you've been to hundreds of these before you could even walk, so calm down," William whispered to her as she tightened her grasp. He knew the courtroom looked much more different when a ball was on. Titania came over to the two, "William, Lady Rutherham." William tutted, "Lord Hulme to those who do not deserve my name." His stepsister frowned, "Lord Hulme." He nodded, "Lady Hulme." He knew she would leave them alone if he said that. She reached his expectations.

A slow, gentle song began to play and many couples began dancing, "Lady Rutherham, may I have this dance?" he asked. He hoped she would say yes since she seemed to like the ball room. He hoped she didn't feel uneasy, she was being treated like a princess and only ever has William done that.
 
This was the part that worried Livia the most. However, she trusted William to make her dancing look graceful. "It would be my pleasure, Lord Hulme." William took her hands and led her to the dance floor. He spun her around and around. She was nervous about stepping on his feet, but she found herself lost in his eyes without a second thought. No one could hear them as they danced. Livia looked at him and said, "I love you, William. Forever, and in both this life and the next. I will never love another. I swear it."

At that moment, Lord Kale interrupted their dance. "May I cut in, Lady Anna? Ah. Forgive me. Lady Rotherham I mean. How improper of me." Kale cast a glance at William. What a pretentious Lord, dancing with a girl as lovely as Annabelle like he owned her. He knew he couldn't be refused. It wasn't within a single Lady's power to refuse a single Lord, even if she was his escort for the night.

Livia looked from Kale to William. From the way William seemed on edge, she knew she couldn't refuse. "I suppose I will endure a dance with you, Lord Mustfield." He smiled and took her hand. She looked back at William with pleading eyes. She knew there was nothing he could do at this point.

As she danced with Kale, her nerves grew exponentially. "Relax," he whispered. "I will not let you stumble. I am a far greater dancer than that small lord. You will look even more beautiful than you already do as long as you're in my arms." Livia swallowed hard at that comment. How dare he insult William? Who did he think he was? She did have to admit, his dancing skill was far superior to Williams, but she would give anything to be twirling in her lover's arms instead of this leech's.

The song ended and she bowed to him. "Lord Mustfield, please excuse me, Lord Humle is awaiting my presence."

"Indeed. I would be missing your company as well." He bowed back, "If you should find yourself ever missing my company, simply send for me and I will be at your beck and call, milady." He took her hand and kissed it. She snatched it back and walked off to William's side. Livia wanted nothing more than to jump into his arms at that moment, but propriety did not allow that.
 
"Have fun, Lady Rutherham," he said as she went to dance with Lord Kale. He did not like this Lord, he had never seen him and he seemed to be a common competition. "That's Lord Mustfield's heir. He's a good young one, you should propose fast if you want Lady Rutherham as your own," his father said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder and pressing a box containing a ring into William's hand, before leaving.

"That was a bit awkward, but he is entitled to dance until you accept this...Lady Rutherham, will you marry me?" He bent done on one knee and offered her the ring. Everyone watched, and many cheered and smiled happily. Lord Hulme seemed pleased with himself. Both of his children were marrying. All they needed now was an acceptance on her behalf.
 
Livia had never been more confused in her life. On one hand, the man she loved was on his knee asking her to be his for the rest of her life. On the other, everything seemed fake and forced. There were people staring and it seemed like this was all just an act. Would she ever get to be herself again? Would she ever be allowed to live freely and without the constraints of being a Lady? She looked down into William's eyes. It was there that she saw her answer. They seemed so full of love, so full of need and desire. He didn't seem to care that there were people watching, he didn't seem to care that this was all according to his father's plans, he just saw her.

She remembered when they were kids, William once proposed to her. It was in a field and there were flowers everywhere. He wove a small ring from one of the wildflowers nearby. He got down on one knee and asked her to love him for the rest of his life, to never give up on him and to always stay by his side. He had told her that he couldn't be without her for even one day. Of course, they were kids and they thought marriage meant you got to play together all day and eat sweets, but it didn't matter. That was her real proposal. She decided to give him the same reply she gave to him as a child. "Of course. I couldn't imagine a better husband in all of the world."
 
He pulled her into a kiss and didn't care who saw or whether he would get in trouble, but he could feel Titania's eyes lying on him, and ready to spill his secret. "We can eat sweets together forever now," he whispered to her. He needed to tell her she could be Livia again after the wedding, because then, nobody would stop them, and he might be only sixteen, but he was ready to marry and he knew he needed her, not as a wife who cooked or cleaned, but as a normal friend.

Lords all around them clapped, and William got thumped on the back a few times by people who he'd grew up around, who were his mentors and his family friends. He smiled at her, "I've never kissed proper, and I'm glad it was with you." He hoped it wouldn't startle her too much.
 
The world seemed to disappear as William kissed her. His lips felt so soft and tender. All of the people and noise were gone and it was just Livia and William. That moment seemed to stretch on forever. We he pulled apart and whispered those words, both a blush and a grin appeared on Livia's face. Congratulations were handed out and many women came to tell her how jealous of her they were. Lord Kale approached. "If you should ever decide to change your mind, my home, and my arms are always open to you." He cast a spiteful look in Williams direction and then left. Livia turned to see William surrounded by people. She walked up to him and grabbed his hand, thankful that she could finally do so. "It was my first proper kiss as well. And I wouldn't dream of having shared it with anyone besides you, my love."
 
"I'm proud of you, son," Lord Hulme said, before leaving the room followed by his court, leaving Livia and William, "Once you marry, we will have to abandon your family. You can see them, but not under the eye of my father," he whispered, stroking her hair. He couldn't forget the spiteful look of Kale. "He seems very much in love with you also," he said. It reminded him too much of the situation they were in, Kale and Titania were much like each other, they both wanted William out of Livia's life. "But he can't give you something I can. It's called humour."
 
"I've been prepared to leave my family as soon as I agreed to become a Lady. It is sad, but I am ready." She reached up and put her arms around William's neck, "And you give me so much more than humor. You give me things he could never in a million years give me." They kissed once again, and then he escorted her to her room.
 
"I wish I could leave mine, but this is my land now," William said as he left her to her room. "Goodnight, Livia."

Titania stopped William on his way back to his room, "Watch out. Father has heard of an assissination that will take place soon." William nodded as a bumberbus bullet fired, narrowly missing, "You aren't kidding." Titania nodded, "I don't like you but I need you alive."
 
Livia shot up from bed with a fright. She could have sworn she head a gun go off. She looked around her room and saw it just as it was. Dark, and empty. Livia hoped everything was alright. She was about to climb out of bed to make sure when her door slowly creaked open. Quickly, she laid back down and didn't move. She could think of no one who would just open the door without knocking. If she feigned sleep, maybe they would leave her alone.

From her sheets, she could hear the intruder sneak into her room. Then, several sets of footprints ran past shouting directions for the guards to search. The assailant slowly approached the bed where Livia remained still. Her eyes were open just a peek and she saw this person tiptoe to the balcony window. Livia opened her eyes wider, thinking this person would just disappear into the night, but when the window's lock clicked loud, the masked figure whirled to look at her. They saw her eyes open and advanced instantly. She wanted to scream, to cry for help, but before she could react, this person's cold blade was at her throat.

The figure studied Livia for a moment, and in that moment, Livia thought she might recognize the eyes, but the assailant simply placed a finger to their lips to shush her and went out the window. In a second, someone was knocking on her door most persistently. She felt so relieved when she heard William's voice that she flung open the doors and jumped into his arms. It was only then that she blushed, realizing she had opened the door in her nightgown.
 
Titania was the loudest voice in the house, "WHERE ARE THOSE STUPID GUARDS?" William put his hands over his ears as his older stepsister called the guards that came running. "Yes?" one asked. "What's this?" she asked, pointing at the bullet pierced through the wall. "It's a bullet mark." Titania signed, "Just find out who did it."

"Search every room! Protect the Lords!"

"I was worried. There's an assassin in the building. It's not safe. My father and his lady are safe and in Titania's bedroom. They tried to shoot me, but I want to know, are you alright?" William babbled, holding her close. He didn't want to let her go. "There may be more, perhaps we should evacuate?" Lord Holme ruined the moment. "Lady Rutherham, please, our greatest apologies, this does not normally happen. Was Angela not with you?"
 
"I- I'm fine," she lied. She was trembling and frightened. She didn't want William to let her go. His father appeared in a moment's notice though. "Lord Hulme! Please, forgive my improper dress. Though, I suppose given the circumstances, it can be overlooked for tonight. Angela was with me until she dressed me and I asked for solitude. It was a very exciting day and I would need to be alone if I wanted to achieve sleep. I sent her to the laundry room with my garments for this evening. She should be there washing them now." She turned to look at William, as she stared into his eyes, tears began to fall.

"Please forgive the hysterics, it's just that the perpetrator entered my room and exited through the window. They held their knife to my throat for a moment before leaving. It was quite frightening." she said grabbing onto William's forearms trying to stead herself. She had begun shaking violently now. So many feelings were rushing through her. There was the adrenaline, the fear, the confusion, and that undeniable feeling that she somehow knew the assailant.
 
"A nightdress is, of course, understandable at this hour and in this situation," Lord Hulme agreed. William was clearly angered at the way she had been treated, "If the guards don't find them, I will," he growled, and his father nodded. William began to rub her shoulders. "But they will, I can beg that," he assured. Maudie frowned. Titania frowned. Lord Hulme smiled, "Well, if that crisis is over, I bid you all goodnight."

When everybody had gone apart from Livia, Titania and William, he sighed. "Strange, strange people," he said, shaking his head in disapproval.
 
Livia didn't want William to leave her tonight. She knew she had to be proper and that he couldn't stay with her because they had yet to be married, but she was scared. "Do you have to go?" she said, clutching onto him. The thought that the assailant might be someone familiar, and might return to permanently silence her, had her scared stiff.
 
William nodded. "But I can send a guard to your bedroom door if you want?" he said, knowing for a fact that there'd be practically every guard his father had hired to be in the house. "Or Angela. Since you had dismissed her we can't give her trouble, so maybe a night shift servant." She seemed so scared that he felt like he was keeping something from her.
 
Livia didn't want to cause trouble. "No, I'll be alright. I just don't understand. Why would they shoot you?" Her eyes grew wide. "Is it because of me? What if it's someone that's mad that we're betrothed? Is it my fault? Did I do this to us?" Her mind was racing a million miles per hour. These attacks didn't come until they got engaged. She must have made many enemies the second she said yes and William probably made even more than her by asking. What were they going to do?
 
"There were many people at that party. Some may not be pleased, perhaps, but the guards will take care of it," William assured. He knew it was most likely that it was the wedding, but he couldn't jump to conclusions. He knew it was probably a jealous young Lord or Lady who had wanted either William's or Livia's hand in marriage, or perhaps the parents of a teenage heir who had had their eye on one of the two lovers. "Don't worry, I'm just down the hall..."
 
Livia kissed William goodnight and went back to her room. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep, but she laid in bed anyways. It was early morning when Angela came in with her breakfast. "Good morning, Lady Anna. I've brought food this morning."

Livia got up and ate it quietly. She had way too many thoughts rushing through her mind. Her love had been almost killed last night and she was most likely the cause of it all. "Angela, you heard what happened last night, correct?"

"Indeed Miss. However, I was doing the washing and then the guards sent me for questioning as well."

"You were suspected? But why? I would have known it was you right away. You're basically my only friend here besides William."

"I am a servant with a peasant bloodline. And since I am so close to you, it was inevitable that they would suspect me. I answered all of their questions and had the support of the fellow maid staff who were also washing at that time, so they let me go. I'm not sure that I would be here if it wasn't for that."

"Well, I would have sounded my voice to your innocence, so you needn't worry. You are far too valuable for me to ever lose, Angela."

Angela smiled at that and after breakfast, helped Livia get dressed. "You will be busy today. You have to meet with several Lords and Ladies of the court to give more formal introductions. Everyone wants to get to know you on a more personal level since you will be the one to marry Lord Hulme. It may be a bit dangerous, but I doubt Lord Hulme will allow any harm to come to you."

Livia was dressed in a dark blue gown with a black lace corset wrapping her waist. She had silver and sapphire jewels on her neck, and in her hair. On her hand sat the engagement ring given to her last night. It was a large diamond with smaller rubies on either side on a gold band. It didn't exactly match her other jewels, but it was lovely. She walked down the hallway, passing Titania who gave her a sharp gaze, and finally arrived at the study where William and his father were waiting.
 
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