The Enigma Of Albert Morris By Leo 5

Chapter Five:

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The ball started. Folk music started playing an announcement was made that the dance has started. Every girl wanted to dance with Albert. Albert however searched for Catherine. He found her with Charlotte he came to her bowed and asked "May I have the pleasure to dance with you Lady Catherine." Catherine looked and Charlotte and she nodded. 

"Pleasure's all mine Lord Albert." They began dancing in rounds. As each man would clap and the lady would swing back from his side and reach for his hand. The circle began. " Its indeed a pleasure dancing with you milady. "Albert said in her ear. The ladies moved and circled back and forth. Another man would change their companion and another girl would come in front. Albert hurried and took Catherine from the circle. "You dance very well Lord Albert and I don't think you'll let me dance with anyone else." Catherine gave Albert a compliment. "Its again the pleasure of dancing with you I didn't ask you to dance with them but me." 

The girls who awaited eagerly to dance with Albert were so jealous. Some of them began to leave the ball.

''Mum she has taken all around him and he won't even look at us.'' a young heiress complained to her mother. 

''Look at her she's so pretty and knows everything didn't I pay your tutor enough that she didn't teach you anything?'' another lady said to her daughter who was enjoying dancing with someone else.

''I'll change your chaperone and I'll ask Lady Charlotte to teach you well just like she taught this new girl who's the object of curiosity for all the bachelors of the ball.''

''I don't know who she is but she is really different from all those fancy ladies we've seen everywhere.'' a gentleman said to the other.

''Definitely I know her she's Robert's daughter. She comes from a renowned family.''

''Late Sir Robert yes yes , she's his daughter they are a respectable family.''

Victoria who had overheard their conversation was more proud than ever.

''My my young ladies why are you not dancing and stuck in the hem of your mothers dresses.'' her taunt was replied by one of their mothers, ''If only you had held back your niece they would have enjoyed the ball but this year it seems only she will be the talk of town.''

''And the most demanded lady too.'' another woman included.

Victoria laughed and fanned herself from her expensive uchiwa and went on.

The dance was over and dinner was served. Catherine was not hungry trying avoid the crowd she came in the kitchen,

''My Lady you shouldn't be here if Lady Victoria found out she would skin me alive.'' the cook said terrified.

''Don't worry she wouldn't find out just tell me that if this kitchen has a sneak out.'' her feet were tired in those heavy embroidered shoes in which she had danced a lot. ''That way that gate leads to the back garden fountain.'' 

''Thank you just don't tell anyone where I am and then your secret is safe with me.'' she escaped from there to the greenhouse where the crescent moon's light was reflected in the glass. She sat down on the wooden stall and removed her shoes. She was again thinking of the night when Margaret had beaten her severely and had thrown her out of the cottage. The days when she had no one to talk with and now. Life has changed drastically.

''Albert where are you going come have dinner with lovely Miss Amber, who has just returned from Europe.'' a woman was glued to him and he was finding the best way to escape and find Catherine.

''For Miss Amber I have the perfect suitor for dinner my friend Lord Sigmund will do it.''

Sigmund was standing in front of Albert and he just dragged him and gave his arm to to the glued woman who was obviously miss Amber's chaperone. Albert did everything swiftly even before Sigmund could reply.

He exited the dining right away. Came in the kitchen where he saw Catherine disappear.

''My my.'' A maid slipped the entire tray and it crashed on the floor.

''Lord Albert you shouldn't be..'' Albert cut her off, ''Where's Lady Catherine I saw her coming here.'' The maid looked around at the cook and they both said together, ''She didn't come here My lord.''

''Very well. I'll figure on my own.'' he searched the kitchen until he found the back door.

''Prepare me a nice platter for two please.'' he ordered the servants and within a minute a huge platter was brought. ''I'll deliver it my Lord.'' the maid wouldn't let go of the tray.

''Your work is done I'll take it from here.'' he took the tray by force. 

''But if lady Victoria...''

''I'll handle it please continue your work.'' he cut the cook and maid's sentence.

Catherine heard footsteps approaching and she turned around and found a silhouette of a man. It was dark and hard to recognize who it was. ''A lady shouldn't dine alone that too outside in such an atmosphere.'' he came out of the dark and she saw him.

She got up and lit the lantern.

''You shouldn't rise for me I should.'' he placed the tray on the stall.

''You shouldn't be eating here Albert.'' she realized later that she had called him directly.

''What did you just say can you repeat it?'' he smiled.

''My apologies I am tired and should go and take rest.'' she stood barefoot and her shoes were beside her on the wooden stall.

''Say it again please.'' he was still smiling and beyond doubt aware of her lame excuses.

''Lord Albert.'' she said and sat down facing him on the stall.

''Not this what you said before.'' 

''Albert.'' she was nervous. She was failing in getting away from him repeatedly and he succeeded finding her everywhere.

''This feels so great in your voice you have a sweet voice Catherine and I liked when you removed that title from my name. It always seemed as I was being addressed in the house of  Lords rather than having a normal conversation but now that you have dropped this heavy burden of me I am relieved.'' he smiled again.

''Titles are the stature of limitations in our society.'' she was serious.

''We are equals, your father was no less than a Lord himself. Will you join me for dinner I brought for two.'' 

''If they find out that you are here then won't they all scandalize us for this?'' she was glittering in the moonlight. 

''I am the Lord of my own life and if they say something I'll make sure they never utter a word about you, it is my work to take care of them you don't have to worry about them. They already are devastated how we both get well along with each other and saying practically they are damn jealous.'' this time Catherine smiled with all her heart. Albert who was more interested in her smile than the food had his eyes glued on her.

''Your smile is enough to make a dark day seem bright.'' Albert said taking a look at her and then the moon.

Catherine blushed more on this compliment than she ever did in her whole life. No one complimented her this way.

''You are barely eating anything.'' Catherine diverted his attention.

''I am eating.'' 

''How strange it is that you and I are eating together? A peasant and a lord or maybe out of pity the lord saved the peasant.'' 

Albert' mood changed all of a sudden.

''Don't say this please ever again. If you hold even the slightest value for me please don't say this ever again. If someone else would have said this he wouldn't rise from this place.'' 

Catherine felt a strange satisfaction.

The guests were taking leave, Albert sneaked from there back to the dining room. Catherine followed him too because her leave will now be noticed.

''Lady Victoria it was a great night tonight we enjoyed ourselves like lads.'' an old gentleman kissed her hand.

''Sure Lord Harold the pleasure is all mine although you are no less then a lad.'' everybody laughed.

''Thank you Lady Victoria I was the most joyous than ever in my life, if permissible may I take a minute with you alone?'' Lord Edmund who was one of the acquaintances of Albert looked at Victoria in askance. ''Sure, goodbye everyone.''

"It was a great night Lady Victoria." Albert said while wearing his coat people were leaving. ''The ball is over with a hope that many emerge.'' he kissed her hand and had his eyes on Catherine who was standing close.

"May we have the honor to have you with us again My Lord." Victoria said accompanying him to the door. Catherine was standing away looking at them and Albert said something to Victoria which she could not overhear. Victoria went out with Edmund. Catherine saw both of them talking. She waited for Victoria to return she was tired and wanted to take a leave.

She returned after a while.

"It was a long day my dear I'm tired and will be off to bed. You too go and get yourself some sleep." Victoria went to her room.

Catherine was delighted she didn't know why but she was happy. She would close her eyes and all the moments she spent with Albert appeared in front of her. She was so happy that she was unable to sleep.

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