August 15, 1889 - London

The opportunity to attend a party, any party, was a welcome distraction for Lucille these days. She didn’t look to them with the same daydreaming quality she once had, hoping for a white knight to swoop in and sweep her off her feet. Now she look forward to such things to distract her from her current situation.

This evening’s ball provided just such a distraction for Lucy. Somewhere in the crowded room Helga and Nora were off entertaining gentleman, Lucy for her part was trying not to hope one evening could change her circumstances. The news was official now and it felt the whole world knew of her impending nuptials. As such most gentleman had maintained their distance and Lucy found her greatest companion to be the glasses of champagne enchanted a delightful light blue.

She was on her fifth, no, sixth? When the world took on a delightful spinning quality. Lucy smiled, there was no one here to impress she had determined when she indulged in her fourth glass. She had stopped counting after that. She turned at a voice nearby, marveling at the bright lights that swirled with a simple half turn, and stumbled on her skirts. “Oh!” Lucy exclaimed, pitching forward.

Ace Lukeson

  

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Parties weren't something that Ace had been up for recently. But his mother had encouraged him to go. At least she was far kinder about it than aunt Jade was to Charles. One was understanding, the other was pushy and aggressive.

He was enjoying himself, though he was tired. But he kept up appearances accordingly. It brought some normalcy, as his mother had said it would. All she ever was was supportive and kind. She would have joined, but had wanted him to have some space.

A familiar face caught his attention. He remembered Miss Flint. She was always kind. They had spoken a few times, but the most memorable was her kindness to his sister while they were in mourning. Her genuine caring nature. Someone like that was one he welcomed the company of.

"Miss Flint." He greeted upon approaching her. It was short lived when suddenly she was falling on him and appeared to be giggling. Was she... was she drunk? Shock ran through him. How unlike her.

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Strong arms caught her, the warmth of their support making Lucy smile. Maybe she would find a prince charming this evening after all. Lucy’s blue eyes looked up at in a familiar face as he helped her catch her balance. “Mr. Lukeson!” She remembered him from school and they had met a few times sense. He was always a kind boy, but why hadn’t she considered him charming before? And handsome, he was handsome. She decided as she took in his red hair and brown eyes.

“It’s so good to see you this evening/” Lucy gushed with a smile, making no move to step out of his arms.

  

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Well she certainly seemed happy to see him. This was not very appropriate, but his concern for her wellbeing outweighed his concern for her reputation. He gave a small, polite smile back, but the worry was there.

"It's good to see you as well. How about we sit over there, hm?" He suggested, motioning to a table nearby. Hopefully that and some water would help to sober her up.

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Mr. Lukeson certainly did seem as excited to see Lucy as she felt to see him. A small frown crossed over her lips, any pretense of keeping up appearances having disappeared after her fourth (fifth?) drink. But he didn’t seem like he’d move on politely out of respect for her engagement like all the other men here, for that Lucy was grateful. His words only echoed this sentiment and Lucy gave a bright, “Certainly!” The dissolved into giggles at the thought that maybe her whole night wouldn’t be as dark as her future. Funny how that worked, right?

She let him lead her over to the table focusing carefully on each step and swish of her skirts so she didn’t go pummeling into Mr. Lukeson again. She doubted he would wish to stay with her all evening if she seemed a fool - or an engaged woman. Maybe he didn’t know? Maybe he didn’t read the papers and hadn’t heard the news. Maybe there was still a man out there that would save her after all.

“You’re very kind Mr. Lukeson.” Lucy admitted as they reached the chairs he had pointed to, her skirts carefully held in one hand with her folded fan. Her blue eyes looked at him guilelessly.

  

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Thus far, he had no idea of the engagement. If it had been in the papers already, he had missed it. There were other things going on in his life. The attack. His cousin's accident. It was more than enough to distract him from someone's engagement. Aside from his own sister's, of course. But she was now married, unhappy as she was.

He lead Miss Flint to the table and sat next to her. He requested waters for the both of them, as it felt more natural than to simply request one for her. In all honesty, he agreed less and less with arranged marriages. While it had never been one he had considered until Avril had gone off on her little adventure, he now regretted those brief thoughts. Seeing her in this unhappy marriage. It was not something he wished on anyone.

"Thank you, Miss Flint. How has your evening been so far?" Perhaps whatever had made her act this way had only happened recently. Or perhaps the night could help distract her. He wasn't certain, but he did want to help if he could.

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Lucy felt rather proud that she managed to gracefully take her seat, arranging her skirts in what felt like a rather lady like manner despite the bright lights swirling around her. While Mr. Lukeson ordered Lucy looked around them, enchanted by the myriad of colors the dresses of ladies wore against the stark black suits of the men. It was almost as if she were in one of her fairy tale books, the fae folk dancing around them. She smiled gently at the thought.

Mr. Lukeson's words brought her attention back to him. "Oh?" Her mind whirled as she caught up to what he had said. "Honestly, rather dull." Lucy had intended to sound like a sophisticated woman brushing off the statement, much like she imagined Miss Zabini would do. Instead her voice came out morose and almost a tad whiny. Perhaps she could recover though, "But I think it might get better now." She smile was gentler, more genuine as her thoughts whirled back to Mr. Lukeson and away from her future stepdaughter.

  

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Miss Flint looked like she might not have been all there. How much did she drink? That was not something he wanted to question, as it felt like something that could be viewed as an insult. As far as he knew, this was a one time thing. Could he really blame her? Recent evidence showed that he was not perfect either.

Rather dull? That didn't sound right. And her words did not quite meet her eyes. But he didn't want to be rude by snooping into her business. Especially with the state she was in. He was trying to remain respectful. Her next sentence made him raise an eyebrow. "Oh? How so?" He asked.

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"Well to start, you are the first person to actually approach me this evening." Lucille's smile was softer as her face openly conveyed her gratitude. "It seems my days as someone to be considered good company as slipping away." A frown replaced her features as a servant brought of their drinks. Lucy gratefully accepted her's and took a sip, surprised at the lack of bubbles that brushed her lips and tongue as she swallowed it. The cool water felt refreshing, she probably could use something over than champagne to fortify herself this evening.

"But don't let me dampen your evening, Mr. Lukeson. How have you found the ball this evening?" Lucille's charm warmed with the fact that she had something solid to focus on.

  

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This was genuinely confusing for Ace. How could anyone see her as bad company? Was this why she had been drinking? Had this anything to do with the drama regarding her family? It wasn't her fault. But he gave her a kind smile. "I do see you as good company. Marvelous company." He said with sincerity.

"It has been nice. Getting to be out and about. And having a kind person to talk to always makes it better." He responded. He took a sip of his own drink. Best not to mention that it was his mother's idea.

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At his compliment Lucille’s smile brightened into genuine happiness. “Thank you.” She murmured, feeling her cheeks turn ever so slightly warm. She glanced down at the glass in her hand and took a sip.

“They’re not very kind, are they?” Lucy, who had always seen the best in people, had been seriously shaken by her recent meeting with Miss Zabini. She looked around the room with a thoughtful frown, as if this were the first time she was admitting it to herself. Most of society, their society was like Miss Zabini and her father. Even Lucy’s father, whom she had never met, had been rumored to be that way. Much like her deceased uncle. High society looked at where you came from and who you tied yourself, not who you were, or what your dreams were. Mr. MacMillian’s engagment had hammered this in. Once upon a time she had dreamed of seeing him in ballrooms, waiting for her prince charming. He too had faded like a memory not often thought on, or fae dances when the morning dawned.

  

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It was good to see that smile. It made his smile brighter and more warm. Less worried. She was beautiful, but that genuine smile was the highlight of her grace. "You're welcome. I mean that Miss Flint. You are a kind person." Not many stopped to have a genuine conversation with those who were grieving. A pity look here, an 'I'm sorry' there. But Lucille Flint had shown compassion that some in their society seem to forget.

For a moment he hadn't understood what she had meant. Then he watched her look around the room. He took a moment to look as well. Most of these people wouldn't accept him if they knew. Knew what had happened to him. Knew the curse he now had to live with. He looked back to her. "No. They aren't. Most of them, anyway. It's sad. Makes it harder to trust others. But, there are good people. I believe it." He saw his mother as good. His father. Some of his family. But no, not all were very kind.

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Something in Mr. Lukeson’s tone had Lucille peeking up at him. The earnestness with which he complimented her rewarded him with a shy smile. Their set tended to compliment more based on looks than personality. Such a personal statement almost seemed… intimate. “Thank you.” She murmured again before taking another sip of water in hopes of cooling off her cheeks.

“There are.” Lucy agreed with a smile. “Like yourself.” She said with another of her smiles.

“I remember in school it seemed like perhaps everyone could be redeemed. But the more I live, the harder it is to trust that instinct. My mother was an exception, but my father was not from what I’ve been told.” Lucy found herself telling him. “It was part of the reason my mother felt it important to allow me to find my own marriage, rather than to arrange something for me. Despite what was expected because of who I am.” The Flint Heiress was what most of their set desired. A good name, wealth in her own right, the right bloodlines, and decent looks. The only reason she had not yet married was her own decision, her own desire to find someone perfectly suited for herself. “But now…” Lucy spread her hands out in a gesture of defeat, surprised she was admitting her circumstances to the only gentleman who seemed willing to talk to her. But Ace was kind, he deserved to know, before she got him into trouble. “Now I’m to be married to someone who is just like the rest of them.” She looked out at the crowd dejectedly. Not to mention the catty step daughters who felt themselves better than her. She was beginning to think they’d do anything to tear her down, despite her own good attentions.

  

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It was refreshing to have an honest conversation. To be able to talk to someone without it feeling like lines rehearsed. 'Good day madam' or 'The party is grand'. While small talk was all fine and good, conversations like this always felt better. More real. "You're welcome." He once again said, glad to see that the complement was well recieved.

To be complemented in turn, it felt nice. He smiled gratefully at her. He tried his best to be a good person, whether he liked them or not. And he was finding that he liked Miss Flint.

Ace had never cared for bloodline status. His aunt did. His grandfather did. And they were not kind about it. His grandmother was... hard to read sometimes. A kind woman at heart, though the way she had been raised did peak out at times. He listened to what Miss Flint had to say. And in the end, it did shock him. He hadn't realized... but what had he expected to come of this? He had to question himself on why this revelation made him, in some way, sad. "Oh." A dumb response, he was sure. But nothing else came to mind.

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When Ace didn’t stop her or change the conversation Lucy found herself continuing, quick to explain the situation with the look on his face. “Despite my mother’s own experiences she arranged for me to marry a man twice my age, with daughters older than myself.” Hurt seeped into Lucy’s voice as did a small amount of panic. She finished off her water, suddenly thirsty. “All I know of the family is that they care about bloodlines and old names.” Now that she had started it seemed she couldn’t stop. “Not for feelings or dreams or hopes, or anything else I had wanted for myself.” Lucy found herself, rather embarrassingly, close to tears, her eyes glued to her now empty glass. “I always wanted to marry for something more than a name, but now…” Lucy trailed off unsure how to explain what she meant.

  

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This... this was exactly what Ace had never wanted for his own sisters. For anyone. He was still shocked, but he also felt a sympathetic sadness for Miss Flint. Seeing that she had finished her own drink, he slid his own glass over to her as an offering. He wasn't even sure if he had taken a sip or not by now.

"I'm sorry." Ace said after Lucille had trailed off. This didn't seem like an ideal circumstance at all. Perhaps her mother had done it because of what happened with her cousin? That wasn't either of their fault. He wasn't sure what other words he could offer.

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