Your main character is at a party with a hundred people. What does he or she do?
“We’re about to enter a viper’s nest, girl. “ Lady Ravenwood turned to me as we headed towards the large double doors that opened into the ballroom beyond. “Show any signs of weakness, and you will be eaten alive.”
I swallowed and took a deep breath to try to calm my nerves. Before now I would never have considered myself as the nervous type. I was known as the “ball-breaker” at work. I was the no-nonsense type, the one who told it as it was. Now I was reduced to the quiet companion, there to assist but remain on the sideline and never in the limelight.
We entered the ballroom which was packed to bursting. The butler announced Lady Ravenwood who immediately walked over to the nearest group of people at a regal and sedate pace. I followed with my head bowed but then remembered her instructions from earlier, keep your head up, your eyes and ears open and keep quiet.
So I raised my head and listened to the introductions. I tried to stand straight and tall, which was not difficult in this ridiculous outfit, listened to conversations but was not asked to participate.
Lady Ravenwood moved quickly through the throng, each time she introduced me briefly and then I was effectively dismissed from their minds immediately; a lowly companion was not worth the notice of the ladies and gentlemen of society.
The room was already stifling due to the sheer amount of bodies crammed into it. The smell, well…the nauseating flowery perfume didn’t do much to cover the underlying stench of body odour.
Look, listen and learn I reminded to myself. If I was going to survive in this viper’s nest, as Lady Ravenwood called it, I needed to pay attention. My best chance to learn how things worked in this time was surely as Lady Ravenwood’s quiet and observant companion.
“Find me somewhere to sit, Mrs Harding,” commanded Lady Ravenwood. I bristled at the order. Being the obedient servant was turning into the most difficult job I ever had.
