章節 95: A Mother's Relief

Will and Elizabeth were the first to walk down the ballroom staircase.

A steward shouted, "now entering the Lord of Games, Baronet William vont Ballard, accompanied by Lady Elizabeth vont Whitby!"

After Will and Elizabeth entered, they were followed by Emili and Emma. The last to enter were the duke and duchess. Everyone in the ballroom applauded as the duke and duchess entered.

Stopping midway on the staircase, the duke waved his hand to stop the applause.

"Countrymen, we are here today to welcome our newest nobleman, Baronet William vont Ballard, our new Lord of Games," Duke Francis vont Whitby proclaimed.

In the ball, most applauded raucously, while a contingent barely clapped at all. Will got clear of the noble fractions. Mr. Murphy had told Will there was a growing conspiracy against him. His rise to baronet and piles of money upset some.

"Now, let us hear from our new baronet," the duke said happily.

"I am honored that the Duke and Duchess vont Whitby would welcome me into their home and host a welcome party for me," Will began his speech. Will spoke about his first experience meeting the duke and duchess, and their daughters. Will offered praise and flattery to the Whitby family and thanksgiving to his family.

After Will finished speaking the orchestra began playing music. Will bowing farewell to Elizabeth, Will found his parents.

Will greeted his smiling father and crying mother. Rebecca spoke to another woman, who resembled his mother's face. The woman had silvery blonde hair and green eyes.

"Congratulations son! I am so proud of you. Now, your future is more secure. Do you best to best to make it to the baron and choose a safe territory?" James said encouragingly.

A landless noble was still an unsecured life. That is why James encouraged Will to rank up to baron.

"My son is a baronet," Helen cried. She wanted to say more, but emotionally that's all she could say. There was no higher honor for a mother than seeing her son bestowed a peerage. In Fermion, women were not allowed in court, except for special honors. Having a son gain a peerage, was a special honor. Other than the queen, no other woman had been in court for over 100 years.

"Little Will! Or should I say Baronet William vont Ballard," the women hugged him?

"Thank you!" Will bowed.

"You don't remember, do you? I left when you were so young? I'm Kathryn your oldest sister," she said with a curtsy.

"Kathryn!" Will was surprised. He hadn't seen his sister since she got engaged at an early age.

"Yes! The duke sent Rowan's family an invitation. How could I miss my youngest brother's introduction to society? It's been too long Will," Kathryn let a tear loose.

"Alright, that's enough. It's my turn to congratulate Will," Rebecca said, muscling her way into Will's embrace.

"Will, do you want to dance? Your first dance should be with the woman you love?" Rebecca said, burying her blushing face into her hands.

"I agree, mother may I have this dance?" Will asked his flattered mother.

After Will and his mother finished dancing in a circle, he was besieged by several noblemen. The noblemen were extremely nice and mostly asked Will about his auction. Some more bold men asked Will to join their fraction.

"Baronet, join my fraction, and you can have my daughter," said a viscount

"You dare to hawk your daughter to the Lord of Games? How outrageous! My granddaughter is much more suitable, what do you say baronet?" another viscount asked.

"You fools seek to recruit this child to your fraction? I do believe Lord of Games, is an appropriate name for a child. How fitting," said a vulture-looking earl.

Will left the quarreling men, only to be surrounded by a group of beautiful women. Seeing Will unencumbered they rushed to invite him to dance. The duke whispered to Will; these women were from powerful families. Knowing this, how could Will refuse.

By now the party was in full swing, the orchestra music could be heard over the crowd and various performers entertained the guests.

After dancing with several women, Will made his way to the terrace for some fresh air and a bit of rest.

As Will found a quiet place to rest, he heard a voice ask, "Are you having fun?"

"Of a sort," Will answered truthfully.

"I don't remember seeing you inside. Did you dance?" Will asked her.

"No, I'm a bit of a social outcast. Not many boys asked me to dance anymore. But I bet Emma and Emilia are having fun," Elizabeth looking up at the starry night sky.

"Then dance with me, once I cool down," Will said.

"Are you enjoying the capital?" Elizabeth asked looking over in Will's direction.

"It has positives and negatives, why do you ask?" Will was curious.

"I detest this city!" Elizabeth said. "Everyone is always scheming, trying to get ahead. The older I got, the more I heard and saw. Everyone is plotting something, cunning men and women trying to one-up the other. You just became a titled noble, people are already recruiting you their fractions, offering up their children, and plotting against you.

In the capital, no one does you a kindness of their heart, without asking for a pound of flesh. People are too devious. When I lived here, all I thought about was running away. Coming down in the carriage, I dreaded coming here, and now that I'm here all I can think is returning to Guidon.

Everything is done in the shade, behind closed doors, or dead of night. Even worse, you are considered rude if you bring to light a person's mischievous plans. I hate this place, Will, I just hate it!" Elizabeth cried.

Will had never seen Elizabeth so open and candid before. She was always reserved around him. He wondered why now, she decided to bear the truth to Will.

"Elizabeth, I understand. But, know that I am a man who also plots and plans behind closed doors. I am comfortable being devious in the dark if need be. But I also agree with you, people could accomplish much more if they were open and honest with one another," Will said.

"Do you remember what you said to me in Death Valley, it impacted me that day? Elizabeth asked.

Seeing Will shake his head no, Elizabeth reminisced, "You said, 'Actions don't lie. What people say is meaningless, until they spend their coin.' Those words helped to understand you better. Unlike the power-hungry nobles in the capital who bring misery to one another. You bring joy, happiness, and laugher."

"You may not know this, but several nobles make fun of your title. They think your title is juvenile. But, I disagree. Games bring people together and create happy memories. I think that's lovely!" Elizabeth confessed.

"Thank you Elizabeth, that means I lot. Most people see merchants and think greed. I see a merchant as a servant. Merchants serve people, by helping people meet their wants and needs," Will gave Elizabeth his heartfelt thanks.

"Are you ready to dance Lady Elizabeth vont Whitby?" Will asked bowing.

"Why yes, Baronet William vont Ballard," Elizabeth said placing her hand on top of his.

As Will led, Elizabeth to the dance floor everyone paid close attention. On the duchess command, the orchestra played a sonata. Will and Elizabeth began to waltz across the floor. Will's hand gentle graced Elizabeth back and the couple gazed into each other's eyes. A beautiful melody echoed in the ballroom as Will and Elizabeth glide across the room.

People watched the young couple with great interest as the pair twirled across the center of the ballroom. Seeing they were the center of attention, they whispered and lightly chuckled to each other.

Several nobles saw them whispering and mistook that for intimacy. The duke and duchess locked eyes and smiled. Helen began to cry once again. She was sure Will chose to court Elizabeth. Her son married the daughter of a duchess, she offered up prayer gratitude to the goddess Gaia.

"I didn't realize you were such a good dance," Elizabeth said as Will spun her.

"Don't tell anyone, but I spent two weeks practicing before coming to Yorkshire," Will said to a giggling Elizabeth.

"People keep staring Will!" Elizabeth whispered.

"Let them stare, then!" Will as Elizabeth laughed again.

When the music ended. Will escorted Elizabeth to her parents.

However, what surprised the duke and duchess was how mannerly their youngest daughter acted for the rest of the evening. Their most unruly daughter was now the image of etiquette, made the duke and duchess laugh for joy in their hearts.

Watching the young couple dance, the duchess could tell Elizabeth was happy, truly happy for the first time, in a long while. As a mother, she knew Elizabeth did not like the capital's culture. When she last saw Elizabeth in the Guidon, she could tell Elizabeth was happier. Now, she felt relief. she had finally found Elizabeth a match.