Chapter 4

Dinner was silent as usual. Father exchanged short words with Mother about having a dress made for me for the party. She obliged and the only noise to be heard was once again the clanking of silverware on our plates. Mother wanted to discuss colors for the dress that would best suit my skin tone with me, but I explained I was too tired and that I would tomorrow with her. She accepted my excuse and kissed me "goodnight" on the forehead.

I walked passed my father's study where a warm fire burned in the fireplace. Father sat at his desk looking at some paperwork with a small glass of what seemed to be aged scotch. "Goodnight, Father." I called from just outside the doorway.

"Goodnight, Amelia, sweet dreams!" He smiled and then I was off to bed to attempt to sooth my raging thoughts of William.

I tossed and turned in bed. My thoughts of William flooded my entire being and my spine tingled as I imagined being in his arms. For the first time in forever, the legendary beast didn't consume my every thought.

I awoke to a light knock on my door. My mother opened the door and lightly closed the door behind her. She turned to me and smiled as I sat up in bed. She sat on my bed next to me.

"It's a bit early to discuss dresses don't you think, Mother?" I spoke as I rubbed the last of the sleep from my eyes.

"Yes, I know, but your birthday is just around the corner and we can't waist time. We'll decide today and then we can go into town tomorrow to get you fitted." She stood and

walked to my wardrobe.

"If it'll help me get back to bed sooner, I like blue," I said half jokingly.

"Sweetheart, you can't just sleep, eat, and read your life away." She placed her hands on her hips, pretending to scold me.

"I can because there is nothing more for me to do. I flew through my tutoring sessions, all my piano and violin lessons, I've learned all I can with Art; the only thing I can do now is read to expand my mind more. I only sleep and eat because they are necessities to life." I watched a smile creep across my mother's face. She knew I was right. She knew I was too intelligent for my own good.

"You're so wonderful, Amelia. You are going to do great things in the future, and you know that. Your pride is your Achilles' heel. Be cautious, my dear." She was right. I was very prideful of my intelligence. After a moment her voice broke the short silence. "So, you like blue. Well, would that be a color you would to your seventeenth birthday party?"

"I think so, yes. As long as you don't make me wear pink. I also like red; it's bold." I said with a smile.

"Just like you." My mother's smile brightened the room again. "Well, you make the final decision. Do you wish to wear red or blue?" She smirked knowing my answer.

"Red." My smile made my cheeks hurt from my mother letting me wear something so bold.

"Well, it is a ball in celebration of you. So it was going to be your choice of course." She read my mind. "Get dressed, your father and I want you to have breakfast with us outside today."

I walked out into the sun absorbing every ray possible. I was careful not to get the hem of my white dress dirty as I walked towards my parents to join them for a late breakfast.

"Good morning, Amelia." My father's voice boomed through the short distance between us.

"Good morning, Father." I said as I came closer to him. I sat with them and listened to my father fill my mother in just a little on his business.

Eventually, the conversation turned to discuss my party. "I was going to invite a new neighbor of ours. They moved here recently, so I only think it fitting to welcome them and invite them to come to the ball." My mother spoke to my father of the new addition to the guest list.

My father nodded in approval. "Who is it?"

"Veronica Barker and her son, William." My mother said before taking a sip of her morning tea.

I froze at the name. It couldn't be the same William that I met only yesterday. I took a sip of my tea before either of them noticed I was thinking something. The warm tea did no good to stop my internal panic.

"A son? How old is he?" My father was doing his very best to hide that he did not want a boy near me.

"Eighteen, I believe." My mother thought for a moment before she gave her answer.

"Is she not married?" My father sounded almost shocked, but he hid it well enough that my mother hadn't noticed.

"She was. Her husband passed away a few years ago. William was only fourteen. His father was very ill and there was nothing the doctors could do for him." I knew my mother didn't like gossiping, but she knew that when Father wanted to know something, you tell him.

"That's horrible. I hope they are doing all right now." My father showed a small sliver of sincerity in his words.

"It seems as they are." My mother smiled. She cared for everyone, even people she didn't know. That was one thing I envied her for, besides her beauty. I wished to be more like her. I struggled when it involved my people skills. "Also, Amelia," my mother brought me out of my wishful state,

"Veronica said she wants to have us over for tea before the party. Is that all right with you?"

"Yes, of course!" I tried not to sound overly excited to do so.

"It's just that she would like to meet the birthday girl before she attends her party. Her words, not mine." My mother smiled.

"Of course. When?"

"Well, we can go later today if you wish. I know you're running out of books to stick your nose in, so until we get you more, we'll go out every now and then. I know you don't like being bored, so I'm willing to help." She winked as she took another small drink from her tea. I smiled at her as a silent "thank you."

"Well, I should probably go get ready then," I said as I got up to make my leave.

"Well, why can't you just wear that?" My father persisted.

"Well, I've probably got a stain or two on it from wearing it outside. I want to look presentable of course." I smiled at him knowing he'd see right through it.

He sighed. "All right, have fun."

I stood at my wardrobe brooding because I couldn't find a dress to wear. If I was going to see William again, I wanted to look more than presentable to him. I decided on a light green dress with gold detailing, prefect for an afternoon visit.

As the maid did the last touches on the dress my mother walked in. She smiled, "Are you ready?"

I nodded as I put the last pin in my hair, pulling one side away from my face and letting my curls hang down my back. "Ready."