It's over

It was finally over, Pris sat me down.

"Everything will be just fine" she assured me and I nodded. I sniffed.
"I'll go look for him." Nicholas suggested. I shok my head.
"If you two would excuse me, I need to clear my head." I said and got up and left the ballroom to go to the gardens.

I took a long stroll in the gardens and settled on a stone bench and sighed. I looked up at the sky, and tried to forget everything that had happened. I heard the gravel crunch and I looked up.


"Well, well. We meet again." John Smith appeared. I snorted and got up the leave.
"You are not leaving till I get what I want." he said an came foward and grabbed my arm forcefully. I struggled and he pushed me onto the ground. I stuggled somemore and screamed.
"I bet you wanted more of what I was not able to give you previously." he sneered. He smelled of whiskey. I pushed against him and tried to get away from him, but only seems to encourage him.
"Got off me!!" I shouted, but he planted his mouth onto mine and shoved his tongue into my mouth. I pushed again, but he tighten his grip.


It was then I felt him being lifted off me. I looked up and heard a thud. I tried to get up, then I felt a strong hand on my arm, but I instantly knew it was not Gareth. I looked up and Grayson was smiling down at me.


"She wanted it!" John shouted. Both of us looked at him, and he was holding onto his nose.
"Who would ever--" I began, but Grayson gently touched my shoulder.
"Whatever it is you are intersted in, she isn't. Get out of here." Grayson warned him.
"You don't know what a slut she is. Ask her yourself." John insisted. Grayson stared daggers at him.
"You will pay Ashford and I will have her." John threatened.
"You will never have her. Everyone knows what kind of a person you are. Get lost before I get Scotland Yard to!" Grayson bellowed. John turned and left, stumbling at he went along.


Grayson then turned his attention to me and squat down to help me up. He held put his hand, and I took hold of it and tried to get up. Grayson smiled.


"Sit." was all he said and he settled in beside me.
"No, I have-" I said and tried again. He gently touched my arm.
"Sit. Trust me on this. Until you are ready, then we will head back." he said with a smile. I looked at him and nodded. He looked at me then reached out the adjust the strap of the dress that had fallen off my shoulder. As he did so, I reached out and hugged him tight. It caught him off guard.
"Everything's over. Don't worry." he said as he hesitantly pat my back. I nodded into the crook of his neck. He awkwardly rubbed my back. I quickly let go.


"I'm sorry." I said and sat properly.
"No worries, anything to make you feel better." was all he said. We satin silence for awhile.
"Thank you Grayson." I said softly.
"It was nothing. Society knows that John is a pervert. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." he said with a smile. He looked around.
"You know, I thought to seduce you when I saw you leave the ballroom for the gardens. But I guess it will have to wait." Grayson admitted. I laughed.
"What's so funny?" he asked, giving a look. I laughed somemore. He genlty nudged me with his arm.
"You. You're funny." I said still laughing. He gave me a shocked look.


"In what way?"
"I don't know, but it's cute on you."
"Cute? I'm cute? I'm an Earl, not cute."


I laughed somemore and Grayson was laughing along. I stopped and giggled.


"Are you feeling better?" he asked. I nodded.
"Ready to face them Society again?" he added. I nodded.


Grayson got up and held his hand out for me. I took hold of it and he helped me up. I straightened my dress as best as I could while Grayson waited patiently. He held out his arm when I was done, and I rested my hand on this arm, and he led me back into the ballroom. Back in the ballroom, I excused myself to the ladies to freshen up. I entered the powder room, and shut the drssing room door and sat on the chair available. It was then I heard oter women enter the powder room, I stayed put.


"Did you see her?", a voice sounded out.
"Lady Autumn? Yeah, I saw. Every male here has their eyes on her. It's infuriating!" a second voice sounded out.
"What do you think Rachel?" the first voice asked.
"I think she looks like a nice person." Rachel said cheerfully.

"Nice? She's a commoner. And with a background like hers, who in the world would want to mix around with her? And besides, I think every guy here wants her in their bed one way or another, but none of them want a serious relationship with her." the second voice said.
"Sophia, you say that because you are jealous of her. " a fourth voice rebutted.
"What do you know Sage? You're only 17." Sophia snapped.


"Oh shut it Sage." the first voice snapped.
"We are at her family's party you know Genevieve." Rachel told that first voice.
"Well, it's does not make any difference, because she is not blood related. I wonder what Garet St Claire sees in her." Genevieve said.
"I think he loves her." Sage said happily. Genevieve and Sophia laughed shrilly.
"What do you know about love Sage? We're wasting our time talking to you two." Sophia said and I heard the door opened and click shut.
"Bitch!! Sophia and Genevive are just witches!", Sage blurted out. I giggled to myself.
"Ah! Forget them, because I think Autumn seems like a nice person.", Rachel declared.


I unlocked the door and stepped out of the dressing room. Rachel and Sage gasped in surprise. I smiled at them and adjusted my dress in front of the full length mirror.


"Uh, Uh.. Lady Autumn, ignore Sophia and Genevive, they don't know anything.", Rachel stammered and Sage nodded vigourously. I smiled at them through the mirror and turned to look at them. I shrugged.
"I can't please everybody, can I?" I told them and tilted my head to the right. I smiled and let a long breath.
"I'm Autumn Ridges." I introduced myself as I held out my hand.
"I'm Rachel Huntington and this is my cousin, Sage Huntington.", Rachel introduced and shook my hand, after which I shook Sage's.
"Huntington?" I said to myself. I studied Rachel and it hit me. There was a similarity. Rachel kind of got my understanding.


"Yes! I'm Grayson's younger sister." she declared with a huge smile. I laughed.
"I thought so. Nice to meet you Rachel, your brother never mentioned a sister." I said with a grin. Sage rolled her eyes.
"He never mentions Rachel when he is besotted. He's like a total blockhead when he is with the girl he likes." Sage said.
"Sage!" Rachel looked at Sage with surprise.
"What?! It's true." Sage rebutted. I laughed.
"I figured as much." I said to both of them. They looked at me in surprise.


"Anyways! You girls are interesting. How about you drop by for lunch one day and we can gossip all we want about your brother?" I suggested to them.
"Really?" Rachel asked excitedly. I nodded.
"Oh! But we won't be able to gossip about Grayson if he came along. If he is allowed to come along." Rachel treaded carefully. I smiled.
"Then, we'll just gossip about him in his face and talk about women's underwear until he face is so red that it looks like it might pop." I said casually. Sage and Rachel laughed out loud.
"Which reminds me. I do actually have an appointment with a corset maker on Monday. Maybe you girls would like to drop by then?" I asked them both.
"Corset maker? Oh!! This is so exciting!" Rachel exclaimed.


"Say you'll come then." I said to them, and both girls nodded.
"Is Grayson allowed along?", Sage asked.
"Well, if he is not uncomfortable discussing women's underwear then by all means. Just don't tell him about the corset maker, and let him deal with it when she arrives." I said and dropped my voice at the last sentence.

With that, I left the powder room and joined the others back in the ballroom. I looked around for Gareth but her was no where to be seen. I shrugged it off and returned to Pris and Nicholas.