In Her Element
Chapter 16

It was the night before the ball and the entire Carlton household was in upheaval in preparation. Servants frantically ran to and fro, setting everything in its place, skirting around the maids who were dusting and scrubbing the manor from top to bottom. An abundance of diverse aromas seeped out from the kitchen, where the cook had begun to make all the many appetizers and courses that would be served throughout the next night, so as not to leave it all for the day of.

It was also the place where Almyra sought refuge from her mother, whose excitement level had risen from enthusiastic to bothersome. The kitchen staff had all had run-ins with her mother at one time or the other and sympathized with her tremendously, hiding her away and allowing her to taste all the many different delicacies, and even some of the miniature cakes. She took advantage of this for she knew that her mother would be keeping her engaged at the ball with potential suitors, so she would never have time to sample them otherwise. Besides, her mother would think that she would explode in her expensive gown if she ate too much. So Almyra elected to escape it all. She sat comfortably on the wooden bench that was nailed to the floor and against the wall on the left side of the kitchen, where every so often a tray was presented to her, from which she would take the samples for tasting. Really, she felt quite pampered and content where she was.

There was a soft meow, and the resident mouse-catcher leaped onto her lap. She reached to scratch the cat—Flaky—between his ears, where he loved it best, and he purred; the vibrations ran through her and were surprisingly comforting. The cat’s owner, Liam, had followed him in with his belle, Nicole. He stopped by the cook and gave her peck on her round cheek. “My beautiful mother,” he said fondly. She blushed, brushed her frazzled hair from her cheerful eyes, and smiled, slapping his hand as he reached out to grab a small pastry. He managed to snag one anyway, split it and gave half to Nicole. The cook shot him a mock-angry look, then shooed him away. He grinned, and, spotting Almyra, moved to her. He laughed when he noticed that she had a pastry of her own that she was attempting to keep out of his cat’s reach.

“Everyone is searching for you, Almyra, and you keep running away.”

“I’m not running,” Almyra answer with a pout and a shrug, “I’m hiding.”

Liam laughed again, the edges of his eyes crinkling as he did. “You know, if you had agreed with your mother when she suggested a masked ball, you would not only be able to hide now, but by the ball as well.”

“Please,” she scoffed. “My entrance is announced, remember? Everyone would know who I am anyway, and I think it’s only fair that I know who everyone is too. Besides…” she pursed her lips.

Liam raised his eyebrows. “Besides?”

She looked down at her fingers that still petted Flaky, and said coolly, “There are some people that I would rather not dance with and if they were to be masked, then I could not avoid them.”

He did not ask who, nor did he have to as it was common knowledge at this point. He motioned for her to slide over on the bench and sat down next to her. His cat immediately jumped onto his head, the feline's claws messing his hair as they dug into his scalp. He winced and pulled Flaky off, placing him on his lap. Annoyed at being deprived of his favored nestling place, the cat licked his owner’s face, dodging quickly and lithely when Liam reached out to give him a scratching as Almyra had done. Flaky dropped to the floor and strutted out the kitchen door, his rump in the air and his tail waving at them, almost tripping a servant laden with trays.

With the cat out of the way, Almyra leaned into Liam. He put his arm around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. He leaned down and whispered into her ear, “Here’s something to get your mind off the ball,” and he stood up and walked to Nicole, who was chatting with the cook and several others.

Liam looked around the room before offering his hand to Nicole. “I think basically everyone I want is here now. This is a good a time as any.” The woman looked at him questioningly, but let him take her hand and lead her to the bench. He sat her down next to Almyra and then kneeled in front of her. The kitchen fell silent and all eyes went to the couple. Nicole gasped, her hands fluttering delicately to her mouth. Liam gently pried them away and held them tightly. “Nicole. In front of all these witnesses, I ask you: would you do me the utmost honor of becoming my wife?”

He let go of one hand to reach into his jacket to pull out a small box. He struggled to flick open the lid with his thumb, as he was reluctant to let go of both her hands for even a moment. Almyra reached out to help him but he shook his head, determined to do it on his own, which he did, and he showed her the ring that shone brilliantly from within the small box. Nicole was speechless, and could only manage a small nod. He looked at her inquiringly to make sure and she nodded again, stronger this time.

His handsome face lit up, and losing all dignity, he jumped up and whooped with joy. The entire room burst into laughter and applause and watched with delight as he kneeled again, this time taking her left hand and slipped off her glove, sliding the ring on instead. He stood slowly, pulling Nicole to feet and gave her a hug that lifted her off her feet. The now-engaged woman was blushing fiercely, but she too was smiling joyously.

The beaming cook rushed to them, grabbing them both into a three-way hug. Almyra took her turn after, announcing to all that “her little boy was all grown up and engaged”, bringing on another round of laughter. Then the kitchen turned into a celebration.

A young boy started banging a ladle on a humongous pot that he was in middle of rinsing, spraying soap suds everywhere, while two girls got their hands on some rice and started throwing the small grains. Everyone else cheered and offered their congratulations to the betrothed pair. The door to the kitchen swung in and out as maids and servants came to check out the source of the noise and joined in the festivities. Trays of all the imperfect pastries and cookies that could not be served at the ball were brought out and passed around. They were polished off in minutes, the desserts seen only for a second before disappearing into the party-goers mouths.

Almyra, too, was immersed in all the laughter and merriment, stamping her feet and whistling shrilly—a trick taught to her by Matthew years ago. So involved was she that she was failed to notice the figure standing behind her until he leaned forward and inquired in a whisper as to what the cause for celebration was. With her eyes still focused on the center of the commotion, she shouted over her shoulder, “Liam proposed! Nicole said yes!” She could not contain her excitement, and wishing to spread it, she turned around to give the inquirer a hug.

Frederick stood there, completely still in Almyra’s embrace, not wanting to ruin the moment. He knew she only hugged him because she was not aware that it was he, but he could not resist; his arms went around her and he held her close. She moved closer, for some reason, and relaxed, her face in his shirt, and all thoughts of how mad she would be when she realized who she was embracing flew out of his head. In fact, he had no coherent thought except for how much he had come to care for the girl he held in his arms, this girl who despised him so. He went so far as to imagine what it would be like to be able to hold her as he pleased, and with her willing.

In his small moment of paradise, he grew a bit careless, and while his hand moved up and down her back, his mind joined in the rhythmic caressing; he forgot her sensitivity to his mental touch. She stiffened in his embrace, and then began to squirm, and he winced at his own stupidity.

Almyra felt someone in her conscience and immediately understood her error. She had her suspicions that Frederick could enter minds and surmised that the man she had hugged must be him. Frederick always found a way to meddle where he did not belong, particularly where it concerned her. She blushed when she realized she was still in his embrace.

She tried to extract herself from his hug, but he was not loosening his grip. Self-consciously, she looked around the best that she could, but no one noticed her and Frederick in their inappropriate position; they were all still cheering and shouting at Liam and Nicole. Almyra cleared her throat and raised her eyes to Frederick’s to replace him looking at her, his gaze filled with something that she could not describe, but still, it scared her. He held her eyes and once again she felt something in her mind; she was now completely certain it was him. He lifted his eyebrows in a silent dare, and in her mind she heard him.

No one is looking, Almyra.

Almyra was sure he was enjoying putting her into this uncomfortable position. But his clear blue eyes darkened to a smoky gray as he spoke in her head, and suddenly Almyra was drowning, those eyes the only thing that existed for her at the moment. He gave a mental tug and she leaned forward into him without thinking. He was now stroking the back of her neck. She shivered, and a familiar smirk appeared on his face. He was entirely aware of the effect he was having on her, and a small voice in her head whispered to her to pull away, even as she enjoyed his touch.

Save a dance for me tomorrow, love, his deep, sensual voice once again sounded in her mind.

The words burned in her mind, angering her, and she placed her palms flat on his chest and pushed. He released her then, and the rebounding force of her shove made her stumble back. He caught her arm swiftly, and let go just as quick. He chuckled then, openly, his sparkling eyes shifting back to their original blue and they seemed to invite her to join in, had she not known better, that he was mocking her.

He left the room, turning back at the door to blow her a kiss. She gasped, appalled at his forwardness. She stood there in that position, mouth open, hands limp at her sides, and her mind reeling. She remained so until she was pulled back into the circle of celebration, her encounter with Frederick somehow having gone unnoticed.

With her concentration elsewhere, Almyra found it difficult to throw herself into the joy and excited shouts that still ricocheted off the kitchen walls. She retired to her room for an early night, her exhaustion from the day’s events immediately pulling her into a fitful sleep.