A Chance With You by Paula Camille Wong (the snowy day read aloud TXT) 📖

Enjoy yourself," She waved goodbye while the carriage lurched forward and into the dark cold night.
Chapter 2

Miguel opened the carriage door and helped Jane out of the carriage. It did not take them long to arrive in the front steps of the grand front doors of the masquerade ball. Carriages come and go, dropping off families, couples, and friends along the smooth cobblestone pavement. She almost fell as she observed the place where the ball was located in. It was sponsored by the Queen and King of England to celebrate Britain’s victory against Napoleon. In the morning paper, it had been said that soldiers from the war who survived and some injured, was seen entering the docks. Tonight, the celebration was not just for victory, but Jane had a feeling it was also for the soldiers who sacrificed their life to give Britain power in Europe. Thousands of soldiers died and a number of few survived in the tragic battle. Tonight, the signing the second Treaty of Paris will be signed. And Jane cannot believe she is present of such an important part of history.

The battle of Waterloo was said to be the last war with Napoleon and everyone hoped that it was right. No one would want to go through all the pain and the loss again. “Madame, I will wait for you over at the corner of the street. Do enjoy yourself,”

Jane smiled nodding. She walked into the palace. Thick red velvet curtains draped over the window tied by a single golden knot. Warmth seemed to fill the entire palace. Everywhere she had looked every gentleman and woman were wearing masks, their gowns unique in their own way. Some men were dressed in black, some brown, and some dark red.

Though winter was over and spring was in the air, no one can dismiss the cold climate yet. It is not like she has never been to balls. She had plenty of times, but not without someone telling her directions so in a way… she is still new to this. Jane guessed that the ballroom was where the lightened room was. She smiled nervously and gave a slow and polite nod, handing the shawl over to the kind butler. “Welcome to the ball miss,”

Jane entered and caught her breath. The room was at least the size of her whole house. And it is just a room out of the entire palace! And additionally, her house was big. Royalty, she thought in a daze. No wonder why they are so grand.

Making her way toward one of the tables, she sat herself down. She was conscious that some of the eyes were on her and she did not like the feeling at all. Her pale cheeks suddenly grew the color of light red cherry. Blast her blush! Sighing, she picked up a glass of wine from the tray that was offered to her and took a sip. The flavor of the wine suddenly filled her mouth and she let out a small moan. This was only the only time she can drink wine. At home, her family never offered her any. Not even tea.

Just plain water from the well that was beside their home.

A voice from behind her almost made her choke on the drink. “I do think,” a woman said. “That you should not be drinking alcohol beverages. Your mother and step father will scowl on you,”
Jane jumped from the seat and gleefully turned around. One of the Sapphire Club members was standing in front of her wearing a soft light blue gown, blue crystals surrounded the hem of her sleeves and gown. Her brown curled hair was up in a neat bun, all pins securely in place. Red lips the color of the wine that was being served. “Loretta,”

Loretta Chase smiled and wrapped her arms around her smiling. “It has been too long indeed, I haven’t seen in you in forever!”

She happily hugged her friend back, fresh tears teasing the corner of her eyes. “Snow White. Oh I’ve missed you,”

“We all have,” She announced then her smile suddenly transformed into a frown, then to a glare. “What have you been doing? It has been years since you attended the club,”
Jane laughed shaking her head. “It has only been months. You elaborate,”

“It felt like years. We are completely and utterly lost without you. BEING the president of the club and yet you don’t come, I ought to strangle you,”

“How did you know it was me?” She asked smiling.

“Strawberries,” She mumbled sitting down beside her. “You always smelled of strawberries,”
“It’s my favorite jam,” Jane declared proudly.

Loretta laughed and looked around. “Vivian, Christine, Avery, and Savanna are not attending. They told me they had better things to do than go to a flimsy ball,”

“I take it you didn’t want to go too?”

She shrugged and took a biscuit out of the tray that was on the table. “Like always, I have no choice. My parents wanted me to go. They hope I would meet an eligible bachelor. So far, I have not seen any eligible bachelor. All I see are soldiers. And the others are rakes, scoundrels, and more rakes.”

Jane looked around. There seemed to be no sign of any soldiers she was referring to. There is only a bunch of gentleman with masks and their suit. She can understand about her saying about the rakes and a scoundrel, the ton is filled with them. “I do not see any soldiers Loretta,” She looked back at her friend who only smiled.

Loretta motioned for the man across from the many tables that was splayed about in the room. “Tell me. What did you know about the soldiers?”

She thought for a moment. “Well, I knew they were recruited by Queen Victoria. They are merely commoner’s aren’t they?”

Her friend shook her head. “No. That is when you are wrong. Queen Victoria selected mostly all of the royal families to send their sons into battle,”

Dumbfounded, she dropped her gaze on the plate, her thoughts trying to make sense of this information. “Why would she do that? Does she not know that there are lots more commoners than royalties?”

Loretta shrugged. “I do not know. That is one of the gossips that were splayed across London. See the man over there?”

Jane looked over to see what she was referring to, and then nodded. “Yes,”

“Every soldier that fought from Britain received a medal. So they would be wearing it tonight. Each person you see with a medal is royalty and did serve as a soldier in the war.”

Now that she had mentioned it, a soft light glinted off of their coat. Funny, before she did not see them but now they are clearly visible. “What about the women? Who are they?”

“Now you have to remember. Some men here are not a soldier. They may have come for the victory party and as for you question about the women,” she shrugged. “They can be family, wives, mistresses…,”

“Mistresses?”

Loretta smiled. “Most men are not innocent and dependable,”

Jane knew that very well. In the past, her step father’s son, John had tried to persuade her to bed him. It disgusted her. Until now, she had barely managed to escape his grasps. Thankfully, John did not live with them. He only came over whenever there was a special occasion that was in the past though. But now when she turned of age, he started to come by frequently. He had asked many times for her hand but she refused. And each time he grew angry. She knew it was only a matter of time till he does something reckless.

She shivered.

“Are you alright Jane? You’ve gone awfully pale.”

“I’m alright,” She whispered smiling.

“It isn’t about John?” In the past years, between her and the members, they had been passing letters about what had been going on with their life. She had mentioned John often. They all knew that John was not a good companion the first time they had seen him.

She opened her mouth to lie but knew better. Instead, she kept silent. “It was finally peaceful when I married Marcus. John had stopped coming. But when Marcus died, it started again.”

Loretta’s features softened and held her friend’s hand. “You are a widow now, Marcus and John is no more to you. Forget about them, tonight is the night you will have fun.”

Marcus married her when she was eighteen exactly when she inherited the title. Her parents were really the one who arranged the whole wedding. They married not out of love but out of duty. It was the longest two years of her life. When Marcus died, she did not know if she was supposed to be sad or grateful. A year later, she was out of mourning and be able to finally go out to places. “I suppose you are right,”

Loretta stood up from the chair and motioned her out of it, leading her towards the wall. Together, they both watched as the orchestra began playing again, the couples from the dance floor twirling, staying in rhythm with the music. She smiled softly. They moved so fluently, like they were the music.

“Oh no,” Her friend said beside her. Jane looked over at Loretta, concern in her eyes. She had gone paler than normal and immediately followed her gaze. Her insides turned cold and her body stiffened. A man was approaching them slowly, taking his time. But even with the mask, she would not have to guess who it was. With the way he walked and carried himself, she knew immediately who it was.

John.

As he stopped in front of them and gave each of them a bow, he held himself steady. Then his gaze landed on Jane. “May I have this dance?”

Jane’s stiffened body suddenly went even stiffer. Even if she did not attend balls regularly, she did know the rules. If you refuse a dance, that would mean disrespect and she knew John will not take no for an answer. She made her tone change slightly, thankful the mask was hiding her identity. But whenever he looked at her, she can’t help but doubt that he did really know her identity.

Before Loretta can speak for her she nodded. “Of course,” Placing a hand on his arm, she let him lead her onto the center of the ballroom. He smiled and turned her to face him. He wrapped a hand around her hand and the other to her waist. An unpleasant pleasure ran through her body. Her only instinct was to run but in the midst of this entire people, she couldn’t.