A Kiss for the Future: The Masked Companion - Extract

     She daringly ran her fingers down the red, silk material that clung provocatively to her curves.  The texture of it as it caressed her skin was nothing of the likes in which she had ever experienced.  The plunging cut of her neckline, decorated with small amount of black lace, evoked a blush to form across her chest and to spread along her neck as she envisioned the display she would put forth to the many men of the gentry.  Her hand lifted to touch the soft material of the red mask that adorned her face.  Her fingers then dropped to clutch the ruby necklace her late husband gave to her on the eve of their wedding.  It hung delicately around her neck with the ruby charm resting so as to draw the eye to the tempting glimpse of cleavage.  It was the last and only gift he gave her.
     She could not believe the drastic turn of events, not yet a wife of a year and already she found herself a widow.  At the tender age of one and twenty she disliked the idea of being in mourning, she was too young to experience the loss of a husband.  To forgo the joys of what married life could bring.  This should be the time for celebrating, for her husband to show her off to society, not to be draped in black from head to toe and to hide away from the outside world.
     It was with this thought in mind she decided to go against propriety’s rules of mourning and to embrace the entertainment on offer.  Tonight she would be able to hide behind her disguise.  Hide from all the scandal, the gossip surrounding her husband’s death that caused the ton to gaze at her in pity or disgust.
     There were accounts of drunken brawls, gambling debts not paid.  There was even a rumour that her husband held a French mistress, but said mistress’ husband discovered their secret liaisons and in the heat of an argument, killed them both.
     Pointed stares and whispers of tainted words against her person followed her everywhere she went.  She couldn’t hide.  Her name became a stigma.  But tonight would be different.  She would no longer cower behind her husband’s disgrace.  Tonight she would step out as a new woman.  A woman who was still in her blossoming youth and not cloaked in the black veil of death.
     So it was with baited breath that the Duchess of Warwickshire stepped down from her carriage and cautiously proceeded towards the magnificent town house already alight with entertainment and glee.  The soft glow of candle light and the decorative lanterns engulfed her the moment she crossed over the threshold and into the rush of people strolling from one room to another.
     In a daze she let the footman take her coat.  She smiled a quick “thank you” before deciding to follow the stream of people bustling into the elegantly decorated ball room.  The instant she entered she immediately felt at ease.  This was how it should be; embracing the magic that surrounded her like she used to do every time she was invited to social gatherings of this magnitude.  It was her.  She was always the life and soul of the party.  It was time for Lady Anne Harding to regain her sparkling wit.
     As she strolled the perimeter, she gazed in wonder at the multitude of colourful people she could see already crowding the wooden floor.  The room was full with the wealth of the ton chattering away in small groups, laughing and sipping pink liquid contained in crystal cut glasses.  The joyful music the orchestra played in the background brought back memories from long ago.
     So absorbed was she in her observing, Lady Anne lost herself in the moment and neglected to pay attention to where she was walking and soon came to an abrupt halt when she found herself colliding with a solid mass concealed in dark attire.

A Kiss for the Future: The Masked Companion