Chapter 15:

“Better lock it in your pocket taking this one to the grave.”

By the time the masquerade had arrived, most of the bruises were mostly gone, or barely noticeable. But the painful experience on my mind, would never go away. Henry was just as Sebastian and my father had warned. Evil, with a way of covering everything up. He wanted the business and the only part of the puzzle left for me to figure out, was why? I slid the undergarments up over my hips and prayed that Nani wouldn’t see the bruises as we got ready for the ball today. “Are you ready for me to come in?” She knocked at my door, and I sighed.

“Yes Nani, and my water is ready to go.” I had taken a long bath, to get ready for the night ahead of me. My mother believed it would seal my fate with Henry, I believed it sealed my date with the devil.

Nani bounced in the room humming a merry tune, as she stood me up in the middle of the grabbing a petticoat from the bed. “You will be wear this, along with one more, to bring your skirt to full.” I nodded, not seeming to care at all. She tied the first to my lower hips, then brought the second over my head tying it my upper hip. My lower half of my body sunk, feeling the weight of the two skirts, they sunk right into the bruises make me cringe in pain. I lifted my arms as the corset slipped around my body and she had me hold onto my bed post as she tightened it to the point, my bust was touching my chin, and I couldn’t breathe. “Now the dress, Miss, by the way it is quite beautiful, but wait till you see the mask your mother choose.” I closed my eyes, I had not seen the dress since the picture the seamstress showed me. I felt the gown fall across the petticoats, and I touched the soft fabric. Nani led me to my stool and had me sit, as she began to braid my hair to either side tying the mask in along my hair. When she was finished she slipped to small black heels on my feet and helped me up leading me to my mirror.

The girl staring back at me, wore a gorgeous black dress that fell and cascaded into a train, along with a gorgeous black mask. I smiled looking side to side at my reflection, "thank you Nani."

"You are welcome, now hurry yourself along, everyone is waiting downstairs." I smiled, and picked my skirts up, walking slowly down the stairs, hoping not to trip. My mother stood in a blood red dress that didn't flow, rather clung to her body, with a white mask hiding half of her face. My brother stood in a brown suit, with a wooden mask that quite honestly reminded me of a tree. "You look breathe taking, kitten," My mother smiled, holding her small clutch to her side. "The carriage is ready, I am so excited for you tonight, my dear." She patted my hand, then turned to Aiden, "And for you, I do know tonight you are asking for Miss. Rhett's hand in marriage." She squeezed both our hands, "We have come so far, my children."

"You're asking for her hand?" My voice cracked, someone I had onced shared everything with, told me nothing about the most important day of his life. Aiden just nodded, leading my mother and myself toward the carriage. The Calstons', I had recently learned from Rose, owned half of the English countryside, along with Darius's family. I had nodded along to the coversation as Rose described the Calston Estate to me, without really imagining it till we arrived. A stone buildling with gargoyles over head. It was rather creepy, then beautiful. When the carriage stopped, my mother and brother hurried ahead of me. My mother to find Mrs. Madison, and my brother to find Olivia. I was to enter by myself and down the stairs to Henry. I saw Sebastian arriving holding, whom I guess was his sister's hand. Since she was quite young, 15 at most, wearing a pink dress with a feather mask. His mask hung around his neck, it was black with a giant nose to it. I looked away getting caught looking was not what I needed.

"Miss. Camille?" I looked up to a footsman, holding a small red box. "This is for you." He held it out, opening it from the top. Inside was a diamond necklace with a note, that wrote, "Remember, our small secret, I hope this will make you remember your place, dear." I gulped, feeling a knot in my chest.

"T-t-thank you." I reached down with shaking hands.

"No, let me." He came around, sliding the necklace round my neck, letting it lay heavy on my chest. "Now, please follow me, we will take the jacket you wear and get you ready for you entrance." He offered his arm, as I linked it through. He led me into the house, past people I knew, and people I wish to never know. Inside their home, the footsman lead me to the side removing the jacket around my shoulders, and I caught him staring at my entirety. "Now, you will stand here," He pointed to the man annoucing, "Will announce your name, you will descend the stairs and straight to Mr. Calston at the bottom."

"Thank you." I curtsied and turned my body to wait till it was my turn. I listened to him speak, annoucing Aiden and Olivia, my mother, Mr. and Mrs. Madison, Lucas and Serena, Sebastian and his sister, Alexandra. Finally it was my turn. "Please make way for Miss. Camille Prim Braxton." I lifted my head, as I was taught. I took a deep breathe of air, as two maids quickly fixed the trained of my dress, and I grasped the rail. I made my descent, and I could see Sebastian and Lucas both watching my steps as Henry offered me his hand. I took it, and let him lead me to the middle of the party.

"I hope you enjoyed your small reminder." He whispered into my ear, and I gulped fighting the urge to disappear among the crowd. "I did, quite beautiul."

"Well remember, things like this will be in your life, if you remember the things I teach you."

"Henry, may I ask a question?" I spoke the words regretting them.

"Women shouldn't question, but yes?"

"Why my father's trading company?" I bit my tongue hoping that he wouldn't go to far.

Instead, he laughed, a deep evil laugh, "Because of reasons you won't understand, but I will have it. And you." He got closer to my face, and I began to not be able to breathe, but someone came to my rescue. "May I cut in again," It was Sebastian's face that I found to be my savior.

"Of course, Bash, I have to greet some important guests." He smiled, kissing my cheek, "I will be back for you,"

I felt shivers down my back as Sebastian's hands replaced his. "Well, I hope you are grateful now." Sebastian's tone was ruff, with a hint of displeasure.

"Grateful for what?" I raised an eyebrown.

"Saving you, from that monster, your dress shows more then you would imagine, Camille." He pointed a small bruises above my chest.

"You knew he would do this..."

"I know everything Camille, from the people trying to kill you and your family, to those who are holding this upper society together. But most of all, what Calston is after."

"How do you know so much?"

"Because I choose to keep my eyes open, and learn about what's going on around me, along with that, my father has ties to everyone, he makes sure to keep it that way." Sebastian spoke low.

"Then how can you help me?"

"Follow me." He left me standing there, and made his way through the crowd. I waited a few seconds then followed after him. He led me into the kitchen and I put my hands on my hips. "We are taking the servant corders, straight to Calston's office." He opened the door, and helped me in before he shut the door behind us. "Go straight, I will tell you when we reach the door." We squirmed through the tight hallway, before reaching an oak door, that Sebastian opened, after working with the small lock a few times. "Go." he held the door opened and I rushed in. "We are going to open these drawers and we are looking for a stack of letters, once we find them you will need to hide them in.. well you know where." I looked at him shocked, but started opening and closing every drawer, till I found the small stack of letters. I held them up, and Sebastian nodded.

I tried putting them inside of the corset, but couldn't figure out how to make them fit. I looked at Sebastian, "Help?"

He took a deep breathe, turning a flush of red, put pulled my corset outward toward him exposing my chest, and slid the stack of letters in. I could feel his hand gently brushing and I felt a small chill along my back. He was shaking as he stopped, leaning closer to my face, but before his lips could meet mine we heard the door throw open, we both ducked behind the servent door, and watched to see who it was.

"Come on, we don't have long." We heard a large crash, and everything flew from the desk, and a small thud as a persons body landed on it. I could see now it was Henry... He had a skirt pulled up around him and his trousers laid around his ankle. I covered my mouth as I saw the brown hair falling from the desk and Serena's face, as she let out tiny moans. Sebastian grabbed my hand pulling me away from the adultry that was being commited. He pushed me agianst the wall, kissing me long and hard, carressing my face. "Now you will have the last puzzle peice before we depart next week." He kissed me agian, and held me against him, letting the kiss last, and as he left me alone in the servant corriders so he could exit first, I could hear Henry and Serena, and I found myself caught in the web of lies that London's Society worked so hard to keep a secret.