Chapter 303: Afternoon Tea Party I

The Charlotte's ball was the mark that the season has begun. The Season refers to the traditional annual period which begins in July and lasts until October. It was when it was customary for the members of the social elite to hold balls, dinners, parties, and charity events.

The Season played a role in the political life and career for the gentlemen while at the same time, it provided an opportunity for those members of the nobility and gentry of marriageable age to find their match. 

After the debutante was introduced to society during the Charlotte's ball, the debutante could reasonably attend 50 balls, 60 parties, 30 dinners, and 25 breakfasts, all that in one season. 

Thus, just 2 days after the 88th Charlotte's ball, Serena found herself in the company of other debutantes in an afternoon tea party hosted by Duchess Cross which main purpose was to welcome them and at the same time, introduce her daughter to everyone. 

Serena observed that there were now about 40-50 of them as those who did not marry last season were still considered debutantes on the next, just that they don't get another introduction during the Charlotte's ball.

Anyway, they were in the Cross' ducal mansion's perfectly manicured garden where almost everyone was standing, forming groups and gossiping with one another rather than sitting around the tables set up under an intricately designed canopy where they can eat delicacies and actually drink tea.

Since Serena was popular and everyone thought of her as the next queen, she was treated exceptionally well. All the other debutantes wanted to be friends with her and of course, as we all know her, she basked in it.

Still, the ones who stayed with her were some of her former classmates. She was not close to any of them, but since they knew each other beforehand, there was a feeling of camaraderie amongst them.

On the other hand, those who did not attend Windsor School of Nobles also had their own group. Let it be known that these ladies have a certain distaste to those who attended the school. The reason was that they felt that there's a certain arrogance in them, as if they were labeling them as inferior. It's a thought that poisoned the mind of many younger ladies. 

Well, that has nothing to do with Serena though. Again, she was the future queen and all the ladies wanted to have a good impression on her.

That did not mean that it's the same for everyone though, and one such was Emily.

Emily was very popular to those who were not her competition, but obviously, debutantes treat the season as their battlefield. It's a matter of who catches the best gentleman first and the biggest catch of the season was Charlton.

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When the clock struck 3, the lady of the house, Duchess Emma Cross, made her appearance with her daughter, Lady Annalys Cross. 

Annalys, more fondly called as Anna, was a petite lady with auburn hair and green eyes. She was very pretty and ladylike. However, she was also quite the arrogant character. It was not surprising though. She was, after all, the only daughter of the 2nd most powerful Duke in the kingdom given their military power. 

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Last season, many suitors tried to woo her, and if she so wanted, she could've made a perfectly good match. In fact, her father was even offered to have her marry the 2nd prince. Thankfully, her father declined, saying that she was still young. 

In truth, her father wanted a grander position for her. Initially, he had been in talks with the queen for a possible engagement between herself and the crown prince. Sadly, or perhaps, it was a blessing in disguise, it did not push through. 

At first, she was a little disappointed that the said crown princess position went to Lady Serena Maxwell, however, she did not feel so sad about it as Lady Serena was of the same social status as herself. She was also closer to the crown prince's age. Thus, it was understandable.

Now, she thinks that it was a blessing, for when she saw Lord Charlton Daniel during her first season, her heart was completely ensnared. She can vividly remember how he asked to dance with her the first time, and although she knew that it was her father's request, she hoped against hope that she somehow captured his eyes.

After that evening, she already fancied herself in love with him, and she shall marry no man other than him. As the season gave her more freedom than any other time in her life, she was able to find out things about him. And everything she found out just made her feelings stronger. He was so wonderfully perfect and handsome. Not only that, but he was also very kind. 

When she found out that her father was trying to have a match between them, she was more than ecstatic. She even started calling herself Marchioness Annalys Daniels in her mind.

However, her dreams of being such almost came to a collapse on the night of the Charlotte's ball. Her Lord Charlton asked for the hand of a the Baron's daughter, Emily Evans, in front of everyone and the most infuriating thing about it was that it was the dance before the interlude. A dance she never even had the honor of having herself.

When Serena was matched to Geoffrey instead of her, she can only be a bit disappointed. However, if Emily were to snatch Charlton under her nose, she would never be reconciled. She admits that Emily did have some achievements and she was pretty. However, a mere baron's daughter? She was not even fit to kiss the grounds Charlton walks on. How dare she even dream of him? 

She knew that Emily must be because since the time she has started loving Charlton, she has become his number 1 fan. In her quest to know more about him, she researched and read all old news and articles related to him. She even read the published articles on Esquire from 2 years ago. 

She read how she praised Charlton to the high heavens and said that he was a very amazing person. Regaling how Charlton helped her a number of times, from them being partners in music class, leading a charity concert together, to him giving her a chance to become a vocalist up to him helping her produce her very own composed song. 

Ha! What a pretentious social climbing bitch. She laughed at her when she read the article published by 'the times' on how Charlton denied people's speculations about his feelings and even requested them to stop linking the two of them.

After the night of the ball, she thought it over and started to feel better. She came to the realization that perhaps Charlton was just being helpful to an old friend and that was all to their dance. Besides, he did not accompany her longer during the interlude. 

A mere baron's daughter would never be a match for the only son of the grand duke, who was also a Marquis on his own right. 

However, maybe the bitch doesn't understand that. So, for that day, she delegated herself as someone who would definitely remind her of her place.

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TBC

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