Just a little reminder to vote and comment!

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Lavinia was surprised at how quickly her first season was passing. The days were full of calls with her aunt and balls and dinners filled almost every evening. Her brothers were busy too, going on carriage rides and dancing with other young debutantes, and Lavinia spent more and more time with Judith and Miss Kelly. The trio stayed together during the day, however, at night, Judith often spent the evenings flirting with Caleb who was usually with Charles and Lavinia conversed and danced with other young gentlemen. And yet, she could not help but wish she could be with Caleb herself. She had often gone over to them with Judith but then Caleb would excuse himself and Judith wouldn't speak to her for the rest of the evening.

Lavinia was getting ready for yet another ball, but this time, it was hosted by her Aunt Julie.

"Bring the table a little further forward...change the napkins to the red ones, I've decided to wear my new dress after all...keep the glasses flowing with drink...what a merry party we shall have..." and on her Aunt Julie went the whole morning and afternoon until around three o'clock when she exclaimed "my goodness! Is that the time? I must get myself ready!"

Lavinia had taken the hours to spare to play the harp and as she did so she reflected on Caleb and, yet again, she could not figure out a plausible reason for his marked avoidance of her. She had not been particularly nice to him at first, she realised. She had been rude as he had tried to apologise, however she had forgiven him when they had become reaquainted in London. He had saved her from the horrid men who had attempted to abduct her and had been nothing but gentlemanly, if not more, during her recovery in his home.

He was the only one who knew about the over possessive Colin Black as he had been there when he had threatened Lavinia, and Lavinia had been so grateful to him when he had helped her back to the carriage as she was exhausted. The last time she had spoken to him like a true friend however was at their game of rounders. She had played well and they had shared a few moments when she thought he perhaps liked her, however he hadn't spoken to her since. He had cut her off whenever she spoke to him and avoided her company. What had she done?

***

The ball began promptly and Aunt Julie was ready in a voluminous red dress with a matching red feathery headpiece entangled in her hair.

"My my, Lavinia!" she exclaimed as she came down the stairs. "You look adorable darling!"

"Thank you Aunt," she blushed at the comment. "Your new dress flatters you immensely."

Her aunt waved off her compliment and began to greet their guests. Countless young men were introduced to Lavinia, several of whom she already knew. She was showered in compliments on her hair, dress and smile and she accepted them all gracefully, the way all young women were supposed to. When Judith entered she threw her a fake smile before sauntering off in pursuit of Caleb who had arrived only moments before.

As Mr Thomas Jackson approached, he saw through Lavinia's smile as it had become strained with impatience and he politely turned to her aunt and asked if she could excuse her niece so that they could dance. Aunt Julie readily accepted and Lavinia gratefully took his arm.

"Thank you Mr Jackson, I was getting a little impatient there," she admitted to him as they joined the other dancers.

"Anytime," he replied light heartedly. "You are also probably bored of being complimented tonight."

Lavinia chuckled, "how did you know?" she asked rolling her eyes.

"I have a younger sister, Victoria, who is very similar to you. She loves balls and society, however there are some aspects she finds rather tiresome."

"I must meet your sister one day," Lavinia said. "It sounds like we would get along."

"You certainly would," he answered. Lavinia contemplated asking Mr Jackson if he knew the reason Caleb had been ignoring her. She knew they were close and she wondered if he had perhaps confided in him, but before she could ask, the music drew to an end and he bowed before her.

"Lady Lavinia," an all too familiar voice sounded behind her as she curtsied back. She whirled round in surprise as she took in the slimy figure of Mr Colin Black.

"Mr Black," she replied formally before attempting to stalk away. Cold fingers laced around her arm but before she could even say anything they were gone and replaced by a warm arm around her waist.

Looking up, Lavinia was shocked but relieved to see jade green eyes looking down at her.

"May I have this dance, Lady Lavinia?" Caleb asked formally, having just glared at Mr Black to leave her alone.

"You may," she replied and they began the dance.

"It has been awhile since we have danced and conversed," Lavinia observed, watching for his reaction. His face darkened in regret before turning into an emotionless mask.

"Indeed it has, your brothers have kept me busy throughout the day and Judith is often around in the evenings," he offered as an excuse, though she didn't miss his face as he had said Judith's name. He had looked uninterested and bored by the mere mention of her.

Lavinia did not know how to answer, instead she decided to change the subject a little. "It won't be long now until the season is over. I miss riding in the countryside."

"Your home is certainly surrounded by some remarkable countryside. I wonder, the first time I met you this year, was that the last time you rode?"

"I believe it was," Lavinia smiled at the memory but also blushed a little at the memory of her behaviour then.

"You never liked me the first time we met, did you? Why not?" Caleb asked curiously, allowing to slip one of the questions he had wanted to ask for so long.

Lavinia blushed even more in embarrassment and tried to pick her words carefully. She didn't want to insult him, however she knew she couldn't lie.

"You took me by surprise, I didn't expect you to come and you were rather full of yourself," Lavinia admitted and Caleb laughed.

"I suppose I was, wasn't I," he agreed easily, much to Lavinia's surprise.

"Why were you so annoying when we first met? You seem to have changed since we've been in London," Lavinia observed.

"I suppose it was to do with my regret at embarrassing you at your ball. I felt immensely guilty and wanted to make it up to you." Caleb was found it easy speaking to Lavinia, he found he could tell her anything although he knew it was also dangerous as her opinion of him meant a great deal to him. This was what he had missed since her brother had warned him away from her. He had missed their easy conversations and their honesty. She didn't prattle on about dresses and gossip and he knew she wouldn't just be collecting information to laugh at later with her peers.

Lavinia was also enjoying their honesty with each other. She didn't want it to stop and for a moment she forgot about how he had been avoiding her since their game of rounders. She was grateful to him for stepping in when Mr Black had attempted to ask her to dance and she knew she could always count on him, no matter what.

Lavinia didn't have time to answer however as the music drew to a close and propriety demanded they break apart and rejoin their social groups. Lavinia walked back to Judith who was standing with Miss Chamfer and Miss Kelly. She held a glass of wine in her hand and a scowl on her face. Downing the wine in one, she reached out to a passing waiter and grabbed a second, gulping it generously.

"Judith?" Lavinia asked gently, trying not to draw attention to her but concerned at her clear anger.

"Don't you 'Judith' me!" she snapped, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. Lavinia was greatly confused now. What could possibly be wrong to cause her friend to drink and be this angry?

"What's wrong?" she asked innocently, coming to stand in front of Judith to hide her from sight of as much of the ballroom as possible. Judith simply downed her glass of wine again before her face stretched into an incredulous grin.

"What's wrong?" she repeated, her voice rising louder. "What's wrong? A whole year I waited, all last year I had planned and prepared, put everything in place and for what? For you to come and ruin it. Caleb and I were happy, more than happy, we were delighted together - the perfect match. We were this close to getting engaged!" she held up her thumb and index finger about a centimeter apart. By this time a crowd had gathered including Charles, Edward and Caleb himself but Lavinia could only stand there in shock as her friend released all her pent-up anger from the past season.

"But something, or rather someone, kept us apart. He found some pathetic little creature more interesting. He saw a damsel in distress and he pandered after her instead of looking to the one woman who he had practically promised himself to the year before. That girl was you," she spat at Lavinia. "You ruined everything. All the time we could have spent together this season too and all the time he was with you, dancing or talking or even just looking at each other when he should have been looking at me. You will regret this Lady Lavinia Bradley. You will regret coming between me and Caleb!"

And with that, Judith threw her glass at a waiter who caught it with a look of surprise and she stalked off out of the room, almost tripping out the door as she went to her carriage.

Lavinia stood rooted to the spot, understanding dawning on her as she understood the anger and the hatred her friend had felt for her all season. She had obviously known that Judith liked Caleb, he was all she had talked about all season, but at the same time she seemed to know everything about him but she didn't really know him. She seemed to talk to Caleb, but not with him.

Caleb didn't know what to do. He knew Judith had liked him but he never thought she would blame Lavinia for him not liking her back. He had watched the scene with great fear and anger. He feared for Lavinia's safety, what was Judith capable of? He would never have thought her mad enough to make such a scene at a season ball, but what would she do now? He was also angry at her for dragging Lavinia into her public display. He knew now that he could not stay. He was a danger to Lavinia. Charles had been right when he had told him to stay away from her. He found he loved her, but it was because of that that he knew he needed to leave.

Lavinia felt an arm around her waist as her brother, Edward, led her away from the ballroom and up the stairs.

"Are you alright?" he asked concerned. Lavinia could only nod, finding no words. He led her to her room, pulling on the bell to call on Anne.

"Don't take it to heart little sister," Edward tried to soothe her. "Judith had clearly had too much to drink."

"I know, Edward, but she was right. Caleb and her were the perfect match and the time Caleb spent with me had clearly led him away from Judith. I've ruined everything," she realised as tears prickled her eyes. "I've ruined my reputation, Judith's, Caleb's and now my first season is almost over and everyone will remember me as the girl who came between the perfect match."

Tears began to actually spill now as Lavinia sat on her bed. Edward sat next to her, his arm around her as she cried on his shoulder for everything she had ruined, and most of all for Caleb.

***

Charles had given Edward a pointed look to look after their sister. He knew it was mostly his fault, Lavinia and Caleb would not have been in this mess if they had not met at her coming out ball. He blamed himself for being selfish and wanting his friend to come to his sister's ball, and yet, he knew that Judith had been out of hand. Her lack of composure had exposed his sister in a way he did not want, however he knew Caleb had done all he could.

"Caleb," he began, catching him as his carriage pulled up. "I'm sorry, I know it is not your fault."

"Thank you Charles," Caleb said sincerely.

"What are you going to do now?" Charles asked, though he felt he knew the answer.

"Your sister doesn't deserve this, she is perfectly innocent. She is better off without me now and I am sorry it ever went this far. I should have stayed away like you had said. I should have left her alone," he had begun to pace now. "I've been meaning to visit my aunt in Shropshire. It will give your sister some time away from me, it is much safer this way."

Charles nodded his head in reluctant agreement. "Travel safely," he said, pulling his long time friend into a hug before Caleb turned and entered his carriage, determined not to return for a long time.