9

December 24th, 1804

Henri looked incredibly handsome. His hair had been slicked back and his suit looked sharper than usual. His posture was impeccable.

"Are you ready?" Henri asked. He smiled. I felt encouraged. I nodded. He offered me his arm yet again and we walked down the stairs. The entryway was already beginning to swell with guests.

"How many people did Cosette invite?" Henri whispered. There had to be at least 100 people in the entryway alone.

Henri looked at me.

"Don't forget you're Sylvie tonight," he said. "A family friend."

I nodded and took a deep breath.

They smell fear.

Eyes seemed to be on me. My dress felt a little extravagant. Then Cosette walked down and my mind was changed. Her red dress was bright. It was more revealing than most; a lower neckline, tight on her hips, and the skirt was narrower than mine.

"What is she doing?" Henri asked, slowly. The whole room seemed to be in shock.

Could she be attempting to divert attention away from me?

Henri pulled me deeper into the crowd as Cosette reached the bottom of the stairs and began conversing with her guests. The doors to the ballroom opened and people slowly entered. I could hear the small band playing and the loud steps of dancing.

Henri introduced me to multiple people, mostly older political officials. They spoke business while I spoke to their wives about trivial matters.

I looked up while speaking to an heiress about sleeve lengths and saw a figure lurking in the shadows of the second floor hallway. His green eyes reflected the candle light.

We finished up that conversation and Henri steered us in the direction of the ballroom. We entered as a dance was finishing.

"Henri-" I said, shaking his arm.

"Yes, Sophie?"

"I don't know how to dance," I said. I watched the applauding dancers with fear. Cosette was among them, dancing with a young man who looked to be a decorated soldier. She moved so effortlessly as if her skirt was doing all of the work for her.

"That's okay," Henri said. I sighed. But he continued to pull me towards the dance area. "It's easy."

He left me standing, paralyzed with anxiety, in an open position for the next dance number. The music began before I could run or protest.

"Just watch the others," Henri mouthed to me. I knew fear was etched across my face.

They can smell fear.

I tried to do my best to watch both the girl next to me and Henri. I tripped over my dress multiple times and heard a few quiet rips.

"You're fine," he assured me as we spun in circles around each other.

I didn't believe him.

As soon as the song was over, I left the dancing, leaving Henri behind thus forgetting all social customs. I poured myself a glass of water and gulped it down in a corner. Henri came up seconds later.

"Little scared?" Henri asked, trying to hold back a grin.

"Don't make me do that again, please," I said. He smiled.

"What would you like to do then?"

I sighed. These social events weren't my forte.

"Do we have to stay here?" I asked, desperate to run away with him somewhere.

"I'm afraid that would be too suspicious with such a large crowd," he said. A sulking figure came up behind Henri. Henri turned around to face Gabriel.

"What would look suspicious?" Gabriel asked.

"Nothing," Henri said.

"Can I have a dance, Miss Sophie?" Gabriel asked. I immediately panicked.

"She doesn't dance," Henri said.

"Dancing is easy," Gabriel said. "At least, it is with me."

He grinned and took my hand, pulling me away. I looked over my shoulder and saw Henri fuming. But he couldn't do anything.

This dance put Gabriel and I in close proximity.

"So tell me, Sophie," he said as he placed a cold hand on my waist. "Are you and my brother engaged?"

"No," I said.

"But he is quite the handsome fellow," Gabriel said.

"I hadn't noticed," I said. But as we spun I only watched Henri who still stood in the corner. And he was gorgeous.

"He's actually experienced at betrothals," Gabriel said.

"Oh?"

"He's officially been engaged twice. One was killed by the plague. The other ran off with a common boy."

"Hm."

Was I surprised?

The music stopped.

Gabriel grabbed my wrist.

"Don't confuse his desperation for love, Sophie. I'd hate to see you get hurt," Gabriel said. He smiled and slinked off. I hurried over to Henri.

But he was gone.

I was alone.

The room started to spin. My corset was too tight. My shoes were too tight. The room was too small for the massive amount of people.

I had to get away.

I stumbled through the crowd until I found myself in the kitchens somehow.

Noise in the kitchen stopped as I searched desperately for an escape from this.

"Miss Sophie?" Diana's voice called. Suddenly, she was in front of me. "Get her a glass of water."

"I'm so sorry," I started.

"It's perfectly fine," she said. Someone had brought a chair; Diana sat me down in it.

A glass of water was handed to me. I took a sip.

"You must think I'm crazy," I said.

Diana was wiping the sweat away from my forehead with a cool cloth.

"No, miss," Diana said. "We'd all be doing the same thing if we were in your position."

After a few minutes, Diana forced me back out in the violent world of the rich and prestigious.

Nothing had changed in my absence.