Music In The Night
Chapter 1
Mist curled through the lonely streets as a stray cat ran across, being chased down by a mongrel dog. A sleek black carriage stopped in front of the Beauregard mansion. The driver of the carriage jumped off and opened the door. A pale hand, wearing a white glove, appeared from deep within the coach. The driver took the hand eagerly and helped the passenger out. A tall woman, wearing a dark green dress stepped out of the carriage. Her face was hidden behind a Victorian mask.
“I will expect the carriage back at midnight.” Her voice was like a whisper in the dark. The driver nodded, hopped on the carriage and cracked the whip. The two black horses neighed and sped off until the darkness had swallowed it up. The woman watched as the carriage disappeared in to the night, before she turned around in a swirl of skirts. Dark clouds gathered above the city as the Beauregard butler opened the door for the woman.
“Good evening, milady. Welcome to tonight’s festivities.” The butler spoke in a raspy voice, clearly betraying his age. The woman nodded curtly and handed her cape to the butler. Music floated in the air towards her, bringing with it the laughter of many voices. Quickly the woman walked up the flight of stairs and looked down at the gathered crowd.
“Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention please?” An old man dressed in a black frock coat spoke over the crowd. His voice quieted the laughter and music, until the room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
“I would like to introduce to you the Master of the House, Lord Beauregard with Lady Ashleigh at his side”. Heavy red curtains opened to reveal a striking man in a black suit with a woman in white on his arm. The mysterious woman in green quickly ran down the stairs and mingled among the people. She glanced up as Beauregard walked down at the other side of the room, with Lady Ashleigh strutting around in her white dress, diamonds covering her white blond hair like stars. Her lips had been painted a cherry red that almost looked like blood in the light of burning candles. The lady in green hid her face behind her fan when she thought she saw Lord Beauregard looking her way. His eyes seemed to roam the crowd, taking everyone in with his alert stare. Lord Beauregard’s eyes rested on her face for a mere second, raising an eyebrow, until his attention was demanded by the old man in the frock coat, who was introducing him to the Judge and his wife. Beauregard nodded and Lady Ashley bowed deep. Beauregard looked back once more to the place where he had seen the mysterious woman. but she seemed to have disappeared, perhaps in to the crowd. Beauregard drew his gaze back to the Judge and listened to the story he was telling. Something about that mysterious woman had his mind boggling. Had he seen her before? Was that why he kept looking around to spot her? He didn’t know, but something about that woman drew him to her.