Julianna: Chapter I
I raised my head and glanced around as I heard sharp footsteps clicking down the hallway, snapping me back to the real world. I realized how long I must have been sitting there, and decided it was time to give up. Yawning, I glanced one more time at the nearly empty pages on the desk, and the many crumpled papers in the wastebasket underneath. Ah well, maybe tomorrow. I gathered them up and shoved them untidily in the desk drawer, smoothed my dress and stood up to meet my oppressor - or, in other words, my stepfather. Opening the door without a knock, as I knew he would, he stepped in and gave me his most withering stare. "Hello, Stanley." I murmured, forgetting almost-on-purpose his instructions to never mumble. He nodded stiffly, "Julianna. You've been writing again?" I sighed and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I have been attempting to write, Stanley, yes." His eyes narrowed considerably, "Well I would urge you not to. Scholarly young ladies are not attractive, and neither is mumbling. No decent man would ever court you." I smirked slightly. "None of which should be of concern to you, considering the wanton stares you're always giving me. I should think you were planning to keep me here, all to yourself! Now that mama's gone I'm the only woman in the house. Who would cook and clean for you?" Just when I thought his eyes couldn't possibly narrow any more, they did. What an intriguing man, I thought sarcastically to myself! "Julianna, you would do well to keep yourself in check. Now get dressed, you've a ball to attend." He walked out of the room quickly and I slammed the door behind him. Indeed! I thought to myself. I truly didn't want to go, especially with the escort that I had so reluctantly agreed to. Edwin Meisengeister. What a terrible name! Not to mention his personality. He was handsome enough, in a very… foppish, disgusting way, but he was always talking about the weather. Ugh. I shook my head and walked to the closet to peruse my choice of dresses. Nothing wonderful, I thought. As much as I detested high society, I did love to dress up, which was ironic because I hated balls. Finally I pulled out the best of the bunch; a blue velvet gown that I knew looked lovely with my long, dark brown hair and blue eyes. Slipping off the more casual dress I had been wearing, I walked to the mirror and sighed. What a different life it was, here in the America's. Back in England, life had been more leisurely, but more confined also. I had hated the idea of immigrating, but Mama said that it would be a good change. A new life for our small family of three. When tragedy struck on the way here and I had lost her… I told myself I would make a new life here and be happy, for her. And I was more content than I had been, happier. But still restless. Stanley was a horror to live with. I didn't understand why Mama ever wanted to marry him. He usually kept to himself, but of course we dined together, and once in a blue moon he requested my company or barged into my space to tell me how terrible I was, and during those times he often frightened me with his staring - often at inappropriate places - and crass comments. And he thought *I* was impolite! But I could handle him. I was definitely his match in wits and he had never made advances. I just couldn't let him know he frightened me. I sighed and pulled the dress over my head, then decided my hair could definitely use some work. Mussed from a nap I had taken earlier, it looked a sight. I pulled it out of the bun it had been in - a long time ago! - and brushed it out thoroughly, then decided to leave it that way. Maybe it wasn't fashionable, but it looked best that way. I slipped on some rather bold high heels that Stanley wouldn't approve of, opened the door, and walked down the hall to meet my fate just as the chime sounded.
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I shivered as I sat down on the edge of the fountain, despite the warm June weather. I'd told Edwin that I needed a breath of fresh air, and insisted I wouldn't be in danger if I went alone. Men these days! I thought. I wondered why they always thought women were in so much more danger than men. So much weaker. Probably those daam corsets made them like that! I'd given up on wearing those long ago. I didn't want to be one of those pale, fainting women that often hung on the arms of men like Edwin. My mother had been strong, and I would be too, I hoped. I breathed deeply and looked up at the sky. No stars, just clouds. It was a full moon, but you could barely see the light shining through the fog. The warm, moist, night air enveloped me like a blanket and I finally relaxed. Deep in my reverie, I didn't even notice the man walking up to me until he had been looking down at me for several seconds. Startled, I stood up and backed away. "Excuse me," he said, and the depth and smoothness of the voice surprised me. I couldn't see his face well in the shadows, but he stood a good foot over me. "I didn't mean to startle you," he began. "I was just wondering what a lady like yourself was doing out here on your own." I raised an eyebrow, prepared to defend myself and besides, what business of his was it… but… I didn't. "I… was just getting some fresh air. It's far too stuffy in there… or maybe it's the guests." He didn't speak for a minute, and I suddenly wondered if I had offended him, but then I heard him laugh softly. "I'm thinking it was the guests." Suddenly feeling even bolder, I smiled and inquired, "well then, what's a gentleman like yourself doing out here on your own?" He laughed again, a deep, throaty laugh, and said in the most foppish voice possible, "it was far too stuffy in there, I simply HAD to catch a breath of fresh air or I might have fainted!" We both broke into peals of laughter at that and I had to sit down to catch my breath. Sitting next to me, he let out a final chuckle, then stated, "forgive me, I never properly introduced myself." I smiled, "ah, neither did I. Julianna Noelle…" I paused… "Christian." My mother's maiden name. I wouldn't claim my stepfather's name, and I'd never known my real father, so that was the name I would use. I held out my hand in a bold gesture and he took it, holding it for a second and then raising it to his lips. A chill ran through me as he did so, and I pulled away. "Nathaniel Eric Traven", he said softly. I nodded slightly. "I'm pleased to meet you, sir." He smiled and nodded. "The pleasure is all mine, milady. And please, call me Nathan." "Well then, Nathan, I insist you call me Julianna." He nodded, and I smiled. "It's a deal," he said. "Good!" After a long, awkward period of silence, he finally spoke up. "Julianna, might I be so bold as to ask you a question?" I smirked playfully. "I don't know, you might be!" He smirked right back at me and ventured his inquiry. "Are you from England? Your lovely accent would suggest so." I nodded, "yes, I am. I loved it there, but I love it here too. I feel much more free." He nodded quietly and then spoke, "I, too, am originally English. I immigrated quite a few years back, with my family." For the first time I noticed a hint of the familiar lilt in his voice that you often hear when speaking with the English, but it was missing the haughtiness that was present in the voices of many a "well bred" English man. I didn't miss it one bit. I looked at him, and as the clouds cleared somewhat, the moonlight shone down on us and I suddenly realized how handsome he was. He had a tall, muscular build, flaxen colored hair that was pulled back at his neck, and large, soft green eyes that reminded me of the deep green carpets of grass that covered the rolling hills and meadows that are so prominent in England. It made me homesick, just looking at him! Realizing suddenly that he was staring at me also, I looked down at my hands that were behaving so well, neatly folded in my lap. Strangely, rather than embarrassment, I felt a strong kinship between us. I untangled my hands and reached up to brush a strand of hair out of my eyes… he was still staring! I cleared my throat and he finally spoke. "Well, Julianna. It was a… pleasure… meeting you tonight, but I'm sure you have an escort inside waiting for you." I looked up and sighed, "Yes, I suppose I do." At that, we both shifted position slightly, and he opened his mouth as if to speak, then decided against it. But we didn't get up. I heard the click-clack of someone walking along the stone path and decided I would take the initiative. "I'll go in now… Nathan… " I paused, and he looked up expectantly. "Nathan, I… Would like to see you again." He jumped up in surprise, nearly knocking me over. Flustered, he stumbled over his words. "I… you… usually… don't you… usually *I* would be the one to say that… but… well… since you asked… I would like to come calling on you, yes." I laughed, slightly embarrassed at my audacity. "I would love that… Well, I suppose I'll go now. Goodbye, Nathan…" I sighed reluctantly, stood up, and started walking away. "Julianna!" I stopped and turned my head. "Yes?" He took a step forward. "I can't call on you if I don't know where you reside…" I laughed, "Ah, yes! The King estate. I'm sure you'll not have trouble finding it. Goodbye!" At that, I took off running down the path.
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Back inside, instead of heading back to Edwin, I scanned the room for my best friend, Mary Moore. Spotting her, I walked to her, eager to tell her of the mysterious man I had just met. Catching her eye, I smiled and waved, and she followed suit. Reaching her, I gave her a quick hug. "Mary dear, I must tell you -" I was rudely interrupted by a rough hand on my arm, tugging me in the opposite direction. "Miss King…" I winced at the use of my stepfather's name. "Would you please join me now?" I sighed and as I was pulled away, and threw an "I-really-need-to-talk-to-you" look in Mary's direction. After 2 more excruciatingly boring hours of dancing and frivolities, I was finally returned home to find Stanley unconscious from drinking, not an abnormal thing. Slipping under my covers that night, I smiled and sighed, hoping I would see Nathaniel again, but doubting I would. The clouds had cleared and the soft light of the moon shone through the window, singing me a silent lullaby, and I drifted into sleep.
More Chapters
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Email: littllucy@collegeclub.com
