I wondered about my mother's words for the next few hours. Her every word, her every sentence, her every expression, even her tone, was circling in my mind like running children. I tried very hard to ignore her words−by trying to read some poems and books, but it was not helping, even a little. I started to think if I actually loved him or not. It looked like my heart was begging me to claim that love, but my heart was still rejecting it.
There were only three hours left in Lady Gress' ball. At that time, Mary was in mother's room−as I had sent her to ask her if I could stay home, or not tonight−as I was feeling bad. I lied.
"Aureline!" It was Mary's voice, again pulling me out of my depressive thoughts.
"Mary! What did mama say?" I asked her, as I stood up from my sofa, but this time I threw the book at it, as I was anxious to hear her answer.
"Eh! She said that..." She paused. The way she paused made me a little bit more anxious. "She said that you can stay." He smiled pleasantly.
Mother permitted me to stay home tonight. Moreover, tonight I was going to have the perfect time to investigate my dream.
"Have you informed Lord Sebastian about it? I asked smiling at her answer a bit before.
"No, I was just going to!" She said. Her face started to scan me deeply as I mentioned his name.
"Aureline, I know that you have started to like him!" She said, as she approached me.
"Mary! You too?" I said as I held my head. Everyone, even my heart and soul were agreeing to it, but somehow my mind was still confused.
"You don't have to get stressed about it. Think about it with an open heart, Aureline. First time it can be difficult−think about it peacefully." She said as she held my shoulders and patted them as she spoke. Her words were heavy, yet gentle.
"Ok then, I'll go now. I need to invite Lord Blackville tonight." Her tone suddenly shifted to teasing as she stepped back to walk out of the room.
∙∞°
"She's just left!" Except for Mary's face, her whole body was hidden behind my door as she opened it to let me know.
"Has she?" I stood up from my dresser as I was looking at myself. I saw my reflection, but it was different. It was not this Aureline. It was Aureline that I saw being taken away by those creatures in my dream.
"Yes! Come along." She said as she gestured for me to follow her. We walked across the house to the kitchen. There were no house cleaners and cooks.
"Where is everyone, Mary?" I asked her, confused. I glanced at every inch of the kitchen that was empty.
"Lady Felixer had sent them outside for some time as they had no work behind, and she has left me for you." She said. Her tone was clear and gentle.
"Well, that is genuinely good for us," I said, smiling proudly.
"Oh yes, and Lord Blackville is on his way. He will be here at any time now. I told the doorman to let us know about his arrival." She had the same tone.
"But what if he tells Mama? You know she thinks that I like him." I told Mary. Suddenly, my hands became cold as they began to sweat just thinking about that gentleman. Somehow, I was still refusing my mother's words.
"Oh, won't. Leave that on me." She said, smiling and even consoling. She was a friend. A friend of mine.
"Mary! Your guests are here." The doorman approached and knocked. His periwig was modest, while his face was innocent. He was roughly the age of twenty-six.
"Please send him inside!" I ordered him as he bowed and walked away.
"Aureline!" Mary said. Her voice was rather confused this time.
"If I am not wrong, did he just say your 'guests' instead of your 'guest'?" Her voice was more complex this time.
I just realized that he actually said 'guests' when we both saw those guests.
"Greetings, my Ladies!" It was Lord Sebastian Blackville, but he was surely not alone. His brother Lord William Blackville accompanied him.