By J.M. Allison
With a deep breath, Avery squared his shoulders and entered the fray.
The Highfaye Ball attracted every well-born high elf and faye-blood lady in the city. Each with the single-minded purpose of ensnaring the wealthiest, most eligible bachelor of the season. Half-bloods like Avery need not apply.
Orchestra music filled the air. He made his way to the refreshments table, ignoring the whispers and glances that followed him.
“Avery, my boy.”
Avery met his father’s booming greeting with a tight smile, then offered the woman on his father’s arm a hug. “Mother.”
She smiled and brushed one of Avery’s unruly curls behind his pointed ear. “You look well, my dear.”
Avery shook his head, dislodging the curl she’d just fixed. “Care to enlighten me as to why my presence was required at this ball?”
His father surveyed the other guests. “It’s time you focused on settling down. Here, you can pick from the crème de la crème.”
“And if I find this crème entirely unappealing?”
“Avery,” his mother chided softly, “every society has rules and expectations. The human society you prefer may not expect anything of you, but this one does. Your father’s high elf blood runs in your veins. You have certain responsibilities.”
Avery fought the urge to roll his eyes at the familiar lecture.
“Very soon, you’ll be taking over full leadership of our family’s business,” his father added.
Avery straightened as several heads turned their direction. This was not new information.
“As my sole heir,” his father boomed, then lowered his voice, “you’ll have complete control. Find a suitable mate before the season’s end, and I’ll fast-track the overseas expansions you’re so keen on.”
Avery looked to his mother. His father had been dead set against his expansion pitch.
“I just want to see you settled and happy, my dear.” His mother smiled.
His father scratched at his nose. “And I want to see your mother happy.”
“So,” his mother slipped one hand around Avery’s arm and slowly led him across the room, “you get your expansion, your father gets to see you step up as head of the company, and I get to see you settled. Everyone wins.”
Avery’s mind reeled. His father’s support of his overseas expansion plans, married by the end of the season…
Bright-colored gowns drifted by a kaleidoscope of giggling color. Sharp-eyed and even sharper-tongued. But if one wished to enjoy the beauty of the rose, one risked the pain of the thorns. Avery’s head bobbed slowly up and down of its own accord, and his mother smiled.
“So glad you’re ready to find a bride.” His father slapped him on the back, his voice carrying easily to every corner of the room.
Before Avery could speak, his parents had disappeared, and Avery found himself surrounded by a dozen well-dressed ladies all simpering, giggling, and batting their eyelashes behind lacy fans.
Two years ago, these same ladies had considered it scandalous to stand within ten feet of him. But now…
“How long have you been Lord Highstone’s only heir?” asked one in lime green ruffles.
“I’m his only child, so…”
“I’d be happy to introduce you to some of our customs,” offered an elf decorated in large pink stones and feathers.
“Since my father’s a high elf, I grew up observing all the traditions.”
“Do you enjoy dancing?” A faye-blood dressed like an orange puffball, spoke with exaggerated slowness, miming out her words.
“Is your dance card full?” Green Ruffles sidled up close, her dress pressing against Avery’s side.
“I think I left it back by the refreshments. Excuse me.” He peeled Pink’s hand from where it clung to his shoulder. He squeezed his way away through the hoard, headed to the far end of the room, and ducked behind some curtains.
“This hiding spot’s taken. Get out.”
Avery spun to face a slender faye-blood lady wearing a simple pale blue gown.
“There’s plenty of room in here for both of us.”
“Physically perhaps, but my reputation requires more space than you can offer.” She tucked one black curl back behind her pointed ear. “I hear the drapes behind the piano forte are spacious. I recommend you try those.”
“Hemmed in by meddling mamas and expiring wallflowers? No thanks.”
She studied him with deep sapphire eyes. “Didn’t your father practically shout you were looking to find a bride? You won’t find one in here.”
“Yes… But one can’t catch a rabbit while the vultures circle.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “An apt description.”
“Etherium forbid I be allowed to choose someone I can actually relate to, and whose company I enjoy.”
“You can’t relate to the tragedy of never finding the right shade of lace to match the ruffles on your dress? How shocking.” She gave him a look of exaggerated surprise, then grinned.
“Are you mocking me?” A smile threatened to dawn on his own face.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. We all know faye-bloods are always demure and polite. Just as the high elves are always kind and generous, and humans are always dishonorable, uneducated brutes.”
Avery suppressed a grin.
“So, why are you hiding?”
She shrugged. “My perverse joy in pursuit of unacceptable and forbidden material.” She held up a book. Slanting golden letters read, Wilderness Beauty.
“Ever been overseas to the colonies?” He’d read the same book when it first released several years ago. It had inspired him to pursue the company expansion.
“Only in my dreams.”
He studied her as she stared down at her contraband book.
“What if…” He hesitated. There’d be no taking it back once the words were out. His honor would allow nothing less.
She met his gaze with an open, innocent curiosity.
“What if I could make it a reality?” He held his breath as she regarded him.
At last, her guarded expression melted into a beautiful smile. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
He grinned. Perhaps enduring this season and finding a bride wouldn’t be so hard after all.
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“You’ll be taking over the business as my sole heir!” I can clearly see Avery’s look of horror as everyone hears that, I love this! This is a great spin on a classic.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
That line kept running through my head as I wrote this. It was so tempting to open with a similar line (and I think my first draft of the story did), so I am pleased to hear the story evoked that sentiment. Thanks for reading. I hope it brought a smile. 🙂