Mrs, Hardwicke enetered the party. Of course the mansion was amazing as always, she immediately found her group of friends, they chatted about stupid things, their conversations sounding much like the ones of the younger girls. Slowly people started going elsewhere and Mrs. Hardwicke was left alone. She sighed these things were boring sometimes, especially withouth her husband here.rnrn

"Elizabeth!"rnrn

Mrs.Hardwicke turned towards the voice, seeing an old aquaintance of hers, when she was younge the two of them were the best of friends. But time and marriage got in the way of things, but it was nice to see her again. "Aloise."(Hope you dont mind me giving her a random name.) Mrs Hardwicked said as she gave the woman a brief hug. It was so nice to see a real friend.rnrn

The two chatted and caught up, falling back into routine as if no time had passed. "I have a son." Aloise said pointing to Lancelot on the dance floor. Elizabeth smiled, before saying "I have two daughters." Aloise looked at her expectantly. "You wanna tell me who they are." Elizabeth cringed inwardly. "I can't say you'de approve," she motioned towards Callista surrounded by gentlemen. "My eldest, Callista." Aloise raised an eyebrow and grinned back at her. "Reminds me of you." She laughed and Mrs, Hardwicke hung her head on shame. "I know, the one in the blue dress over there is my daughter Aven and her friend." Aloise smiled. "Looks like a sweetheart."rnrn

"I worry about her."rnrn

Suddenly a look was exchanged between a women, a smile spreading across their lips. Aloise waved her son over. "Lance!" When he son came over she hastily made introductions. "This is my old friend. Mrs. HArdwicke." Elizabeth smiled and nodded. "Come Lancelot lets meet her daughter."rnrn

She pretty much pushed her son towards where Aven stood talkking to Dawn.rnrn

The colour in Avens face slowly drained when she noticed her mother making her way towards her with another woman, a gentleman in tow. "Aven darling, this is my friend Aloise, this is her son, Get aquainted." She smiled and Aloise shoved Lance forward, then the two ladies went off. Aven looked horrified at her mother, not registering what had just happened. She looked back at the taller guy, her mouth hanging slightly open, her blue eyes wide. She closed her mouth but soon felt her face growing hot. "Good Evening." She stuttered curtsying slightly, looking anywhere but at him.rnrn

((SOrry, I got sloppy XP))

Aven felt her face's colour deepen, and she looked down and muttered a hello. She wrung her hands again awkwardly, this was horrible, she couldn't believe her mother had done that, wait, but she could. Her mother pulling a stunt like that was nothing new, normally though Callista was here to take the attention away from her, they sort of had a thing worked out. Cal might not even like the guy but she'd lead him away from Aven's sake, it was the only time the too really seemed to get along.rnrn

Aven's eyes went wide again, she already had doe-eyes but if this continued her eyes would looked like saucers. There was no way Dawn was leaving her, but the girl already had. Once again, she was left with her mouth hanging slightly open. She looked over at Lancelot when he mentioned her mother and a small smile spread across her lips. "My sister Callista takes after her." she said motioning to the girl who was still surrounded by men, only she seemed focused on one. She looked down at her hands once more and suddenly felt stupid. She looked back up. "Sorry, I forgot to intrduce myself. My name's Aven." SHe nodded and looked back down at her hands. "You don't have to hang around me anymore, feel free to go."rn

Aven's eyes grew wide and she looked at his outstrached elbow. She noticed her mother watching giving her a look that told her she had better not mess this up. She shot a look over at Dawn but couldn't see her anyways. She looked back at Lancelot, it would be rude if she refuse so she nodded and took his arm. She glanced back once more for Dawn. How could she leave her like that, though her mother seemed happy enough as she and her friend were grinning like little girls at the candy store.

((I think we should stick to the stables, there'd be no reason for him to be inside the party. SO yeah, at the Stables))rnrn

Aven, though light on her feet, was so nervous she felt her little body shaking. This dance she could have done with ease though she had never danced this dance with anyone except with her father or the many servants in the household. She must of stepped on Lancelot's feet twice before she noticed her sister beside her, gliding, not nearly as graceful as she thought Aven felt the need to out do her, especially when her sister shot her a look, daring her to just try and out do her. Aven's eyes narrowed at her slightly before she straightened her posture and continued the dance with Lance. She now moved gracefully, keeping in time with the music. Music was always her strong point, she could play the piano, organ and violin. Music was the only thing that she felt good about, mostly it was because the one thing Callista couldn't to better than her.rnrn

When the dance was done, Callista smiled at her, a genuine on this time, she knew competition would shake her sister out of her nervousness. Callista nodded before walking off arm in arm with the man she was dancing with. Aven looked back up at Lance. "Thank you." She said her nervousness suddenly coming back, her cheeks slightly flushed from embarassement. "I'll leave you now." She said and she quicjly turned and hurried away, back to the spot where she and Dawn were hanging on, wringing her hands.rn

Aven jumped when her friend came and took her elbow, asking her how it was. Aven rubbed her temples embarassed, "It was the most horrible thing, I stepped on his feet." She said, a light chuckle sneaking in. She looked over at her friend, a slight smiled on her face. "He tried so hard to act as if anything happened, but I made such a fool of myself." SHe shook her head once more and noticed her mother looking at her, trying to stare her down. She looked away uneasily. "He was very nice though, if not withdrawn."

((Fail XP))

Aven was about to comment that he was the best dancer she had seen but stopped when she noticed Danw let go of. She looked over and saw Samuel making his way towards them. She stiffened slightly when Samuel took her hand, though nonetheless she smiled and nodded. She then did what she did best and stood there silently, watching the exchange between the two, before Dawns sister took his away.rnrn

"Samuel is so amiable and handsome. I just can't... See myself with him. I'd rather become an old maid."rnrn

Aven nodded, though she honestly didn't understand. It was clear the man adored her in such a way Aven was sure no one would ever feel for her. Would it really be that bad if Dawn gave the boy a chance? It was something she always secretly envied about Dawn, she always figured if no one went for Dawn she'd always have a fall back on Samuel, until he went and got engaged to her sister, which she as sure he did out of spite. They had made their ways to the food table and she gingerly reached out and grabbed a small piece of cake and put it into her mouth. She looked back at Dawn. "Did you see that look your sister gave him, I'd hate to admit it but it amused me." She looked back down and took another bit sized piece. "I can't beleive he's still trying to go after you. I swear you turned him down how many times?"rnrn

Aven shrugged and took another piece of cake, though she hesitated before putting it into her mouth. She could feel her mothers eyes, it felt as if she was trying to burn holes into the back of her neck. Aven quickly gulped it down and wiped her fingers on her dress, she was going to get it later. She looked over at the dancefloor at Samuel and Dawns sister. They were a cute couple, and Dawn was right about her sister being a little young, she was also naive. Aven had a felling that Sam would break the poor girls heart sooner or later.rnrn

Aven nodded at what Dawn said. She looked over at her friend. "Sadly, having money we don't always have the choice of who we marry." she sighed looking back on the dancefloor. It was true, she knew a few girls who's marriages were more like buisness contracts between their fathers. One girl was married to the biggest playboy in the whole society, Aven couldn't imagine what climbing into bed with that man was like, though she had heard they had seperate rooms seeing as sometimes he would bring others home.rnrn

"True love seems like a truly unatainable thing." she sighed her eyes scanning across the room, she didn't know who she was looking for now. Though she felt kinda awkard when she couldn't find the guy she had danced with earlier, not that it really mattered anyways. She reached back over for another piece of cake. "Gee, I kinda feel like a killed the party mood." She said looking at Dawn. "Though it really may have been dead before we even entered the room."rn

"I'd had to do that to Mr. Fontaine but, He's probably gotten bored." Aven sighed, taking Dawn's arm and walking towards the exit. Her mother could tell she wanted to leave and let her go with a peep. Atleast the girl had humored her by dancing with the man When Aven steped outside she motioned to the butler who went and called on Williams who soon brough the carriage around. He smiled at the women and opened the door. "Going home early girls? No man to your liking?" He asked.rnrn

Aven rolled her eyes this man was really something else, no other driver would have spoken to her in such an informal way. She climbed into the carriage, he didn't offer his hand this time, keeping it on the carriage handle.rnrn

He was bored out his mind the entire time, the though it was ridiculous that he had to wait around until the Hardwickes were done, man was he relived when he was told to the bring the carriage, only it was just young Aven and her friend, he would have to come back later fo Callista and her mother.rnrn

((So just thinking, how is this Aven and Lance thing going to work out?))