Patience

"Lydia dear, come along now. It is about to start!" my mother told me.
I looked around. Dazed. What happened? I wasn't in the woods anymore. I wasn't with the mystery god like creature that once said he loved me and was now leaving. No, was I now in carriage sitting across from my mother and father. I looked to my right to see my sister Elizabeth smiling widely. I frowned. Her happiness made me vile. I crocked my head to the left to see my sister Sarah, the beauty in the family says the boys back at Gardenshire, talking to father. I frowned again and looked ahead of me. There in all her glory was my mother, Mrs. Caroline Marshall. She too was the beauty in her family and was lucky enough to marry the finest man in the country, my father and dear friend to all, Mr. Edmund Marshall. I stared at the couple in wonder. Who knew that my mother, of all people, would marry a man like my father? My father was a wild gent; my mother on the other hand was a queen in her own right. Everything needed to be perfect for her, nothing but the best for her and her darling daughters.
I grimaced at the sight of where we were ending. The castle, the people, the music. Nothing dreaded me more than the sound of drunken men and easy women. My sister, Elizabeth on the other hand loved them. She was the silliest girl in the land! Sarah only enjoyed going if she knew that wealthy men would be there. She dreamed of a grand wedding with tons of people to watch her marry.
My father touched my hand and smiled. He knew my suffering. He looked out the window and smiled at the people passing. He didn't get the full appreciation of parties either. As men and women passed by us, my sisters grew more and more easy. My mother squealed in delight. Oh my, this was going to be a long night.

As we entered the grand hall, my sisters separated from us. I guess a charming guy has flashed them a smile. I walked more into the party looking around me. I heard a great shout coming from the center floor. A drunk I assumed, but as I got closer I saw the fuss. A red headed boy of year eighteen was dancing with nun other than Lucy Wright. Lucy Wright was the hostess, Miz Elisa Wright, daughter. The red-headed boy, had freckles all over his small frame. His smile was delightful with joy. The music speed up and the dancers danced more and more. Lucy's strawberry blonde hair jumped. The curls in her hair bounced as well as she.
The audience clapped along, as the song ended. The men and women resumed to their rightful places for the next set of dances to come, I saw a better view of Lucy's partner. The red-headed was nun other than my best friend Jacob Smith. I smiled wider. "Jacob!" I yelled over the crowd. Jacob turned. His smile turned into a full blown grin. Jacob acknowledged me with a grin and went back to his partner.
I shook my head and laughed. What was I going to do with that Jacob? So handsome for his age yet he still held that boyish charm that most boys his age lost at age thirteen. Jacob had been my best friend since are families first met. It was also our first party together. We were both age of seven and so cute. Everyone swore we would wed one day but my mother wouldn’t hear of it. But I must say Jacob was my first love.
I knew…no thought Jacob would be my husband to be. He was everything I wanted…thought I wanted. He seemed perfect. Whenever I saw him smile, it made my heart beat faster and he knew it.
We used to get into loads of trouble. One time we were sitting outside his father’s ranch eating cookies his maid and made us. We sat there for hours talking and laughing and joking around when Jacob decided to go on an adventure. At first I didn’t want to go. I was afraid that we would get in trouble but Jacob assured me that we wouldn’t.
He told me he knew a secret place where dwarfs lived. I couldn’t help but to want to go with. So he grabbed my hand and took me into the woods were he said they lived. We wondered around for hours. Until I asked him, “Are we almost there Jakey?”
He smiled at me, “Just around this tree okay?”
I knew he was lying because he had said that exact thing an hour ago back by the big puddle, which we splashed in till we were covered with mud and water. But since I was too tired to argue I simply smiled and answered, “Mkay.”
Jacob and I never found that dwarf living. Instead we climbed the tree and sat up there. Jacob held me in his arms while we were up there. We talked about school and our families and how anxious we were to be turning eight.
“Hey Lyd?”
“Yeah Jakey?”
“Have you every…” Jacob bit his lip in hesitation.
I sat up to look at his bright green eyes, “What’s wrong Jacob?”
He looked into my eyes, “Have you ever kissed someone?”
I thought about it, “Like parents and relatives?”
Jacob laughed and shook his head, “No! Like a boy, like me?”
My eyes widen, “You want me to kiss you Jacob Lee Maylin?” I laughed at his face, but went silent when I saw his face again. His face was completely legit. His hands were in is lap and his head was down.
“Jacob…” I whispered.
“Yeah?” he asked.
***
“Lydia?” something touched my shoulder. I turned around to see a pair of green eyes looking into mine. I looked around to see I wasn’t in the woods with Jacob back when we were seven but I was back in the ballroom at eighteen. I sighed and looked back at Jacob’s confused face.
"Lydia gosh, get a hold of yourself will ya?" he asked laughing.
"Jake, oh how I missed you this spring. How was your trip to London?" I yelled throwing my arms around his neck
The word London sparked a nerve of excitement in his green eyes. Jacob talked nothing more than of the balls, the females and the clothes. We had made are way through the entire crowd and into the garden to talk more.
"Lydia," he said with enthusiasm, "I can't believe you didn't come. Lydia you wouldn't believe the…"
"Jacob!" I laughed. "You go to London and for you not come back with a wife? What had you done?"
Jacob smiled but before he could respond his sister Kristen came outside, "Dear Jacob, we must go. Mum is making a totally cow of herself and father is going to blow a vein- - -"
Jacob jumped up, "Okay, okay I'm coming Kris, your going to produce a cow too!" Jacob and I both laughed but Kristen didn't. Her face grew sober, "Fine."
Jacob smiled at me, "Will you be coming tomorrow?"
My face must have given away the confusion. "You mean coming to help you on your dancing?" Jacob smiled and nodded. Then he walked out almost skipping, with Kristen vitally striding behind.
I smiled at the two. They were so happy together. I thought of my own family and how we don't even talk. How we just sit and stare at each others glowering stares. I looked at the fountain that sat behind me. The water flowing so free so memorizing, nothing got in its way. I paused in thought. I took my finger and placed it over the falling water that fell into the pool. Then I continued in my thoughtful moment. Even if the something got in the waters way, it simply flowed around it with no hesitation. Why couldn't we all be like that? When we face a trial or in this case, a finger in the water, why couldn't we just flow around it? Was it our human nature to be so difficult?
I sighed, realizing I was being ridicules. I laughed at myself. I looked around my surroundings again. I smiled. This was what I wanted my life to be like, quiet. The flowers around me were blooming. Different colors of red, blue, purple, and yellow filled the homey garden. I got up from the fountain and walked backed into the party hoping to stop thinking or wishing what my life was like. I walked backed into the goldish room. People dancing, drinking and laughing. I looked across the room and gazed at the men talking amongst themselves quietly. They laughed suddenly, as if they shared a secret joke. I stared at them for a while till I grew bored and stared into the center floor. The men and women danced, twirling and spinning around the room. Everyone's face was joyful and cheerful…well almost everyone. That's when I noticed him…
His face was stern and sober. His hair was dirty brown that complemented his hazel eyes. I stared at him, not because he was unbelievably gorgeous, but because he was wasn't looking like all the others. He wasn't smiling, he wasn't dancing, and he was just standing there on center floor looking at the others. That's when he met my gaze. He smiled. His smile I must add dazzled me. I smiled back hopelessly. Then surprisingly he walked towards me, not touching anyone in the process. He kept his eyes on mine and still smiled.
"Hello," he said now reaching me and bowed, "my name is Luke O'Connor. How do you do?" He flashed a brilliant smile at me.
I curtsied "Hello Mr. O'Connor, my name is Lydia Marshall."
Luke's eyes widen with delight. "Lord Edmund's daughter? That's very impressive," he looked up at the ceiling.
I looked at him with curiosity, "How is that impressive if I might ask?"
He looked at me with surprised. He flashed another smile, "Well you're very lucky to have such a wise man as a father. He is very generous I might add. I don't know him personally but I have heard many stories. You must enjoy the parties then? Anyone in that high courtship must enjoy the attention of all fine men and wine."
"I must disagree on some of your comments…Mr. O'Connor was it?"
He smiled and nodded, "And which of those are you disapproved on Miss Marshall?"
"Well" I began, "The fact that you think that my happiness is pleased by attention, then you must not know me at all. Just because I am dealt with parties and fine wine on a day to day basis doesn't mean I take part in it. You must be sure on that?" I was starting to lose my breath. Oh please don't let my voice crank on me now! "And I was never favored by men, Mr. O'Connor, I must add. I was never the type to be exposed in such a way of my fellow sisters and friends. I never liked my place in the world but I will not allow some man to tell me what and what not I'm liked or expected by."

I finally caught my breath and I could see Luke was too.
Luke smiled then laughed, “You’re not like the others are you?”
I could feel my face burn, my lips were trembling from my defense, and my sweating palms twitch. No I wasn’t like the other and the others weren’t like me. And I didn’t want my name; my soul to be retched in the same category as those…as those…
“No I’m not Mr. O’Connor.”
“Call me Luke.”
I snickered, “I rather not.”
He laughed “Ok then…”
“Are you quite done with mocking me?”
He took a glass of wine from the platter that passed and took a sip, “I don’t think I was mocking you Lydia.”
“Ms. Marshall to you, O’Connor.” I glowered.
“Ms. Marshall.” He said as he tilted his head down, hiding a smile.
We scoffed at each other. From that moment I knew Luke and I would never see things eye to eye. So I glared at him one more time and towered off. Instantly, I thought of him. How could he think such a thing? How can he judge me so quickly, was he drunk? Well drunk was better than I was thinking. Besides the fact that he had obliviously offended me, he was very kind and very handsome. I smiled at the thought of him. Luke's smile was brilliant and very outgoing. He was defiantly not afraid to say what he thought. And so was I. The next time we shall meet again I will let him know how I feel.
And with that I towered off to my family, hoping my family had more luck in the party than I. I sat at the grand staircase with my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands. Suddenly Luke walked across the room, angrily. I looked up from my bitter victory state and stared at him. Luke noticed. He looked my way, stern and walked off. For a brief second I thought he was looking right through me like I wasn't there. He couldn't ignore me for to long, I assumed, I would make sure of that.
He smiled at me, “Just around this tree okay?”