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“Hopper - did you hear? Harrington House is let at last! You must go visit the new tenant right away and see if they’re an eligible suitor for one of our children…we cannot go if you do not as you well know,” Joyce said with a sigh. She hated to be so dramatic over it but 5 unwed children at home would drive any loving mother into a nervous fit. “Must I? You know I don’t want the children to enter into unions against their will,” he said, ignoring his wife in favor of a book. “I didn’t say they’re to be sold to this Miss Buckley but I’ve heard she has £5,000 a year so surely one of the children might find her…intriguing,” Joyce trailed off realizing how she sounded. “Oh you know what I mean…we can’t guarantee stability with all 5 at home unwed especially when Billy comes around hoping to take in with one of them so he can take over our estate when you die - which may be very soon. It’s much easier to keep him at bay if they had an attachment to someone. So - will you go make our acquaintance there?” He smiled and lightly pecked at her cheek before walking past her into the sitting room, “I already have.”
The children all descended from their hiding places at that and clamored for any information about the new tenant. “Is she pretty?” “Is she kind?” “What’s her temperament?” “Will she come to the ball?” Jonathan stood at the back looking confused over the entire affair and Eddie just laughed at his siblings’ excitement while continuing to read. “She will be at the ball so you’d better get ready now,” Hopper said with a chuckle and the chaos spread through the house as everyone rushed to find their best ensembles for the evening - Joyce taking extra care to make sure Chrissy had the best of everything as she was the eldest and hopefully would be the perfect candidate for the new suitor in town.
In their shared room Chrissy fussed over Eddie’s hair trying desperately to get him to try something new instead of a limp, low ponytail, “Come now brother - surely there’s just as much chance for this new Miss Buckley to be caught up by your beauty as well as mine.” Eddie glared at her sourly as he finished dressing - a simple green linen waistcoat over his shirt and a pair of well worn but comfortable black breeches, “Sister…you know I don’t wish to marry a woman no matter how many thousands of pounds she earns a year,” Chrissy pouted and Eddie carried on, “besides if every man or woman at the ball tonight doesn’t fall madly in love with you my sister then I am no judge of beauty,” he said pinching her cheeks til they were rosy how she liked them.
Chrissy laid her hands on his shoulders gently, “you’re just as handsome as I and more handsome I daresay than half the eligible townsfolk - I’m sure you’ll find a man who can see that as clearly as I do someday - maybe even tonight,” she said with a wink. Eddie pulled on his boots with a grunt, “Men in this town are all humorless idiots and none of them worth my time dear sister - do not worry about me tonight just have fun and try to catch Miss Buckley’s eye.” She sighed and tugged on his hair once more before continuing to prepare herself for the party calling out as she went to get her green slippers back from El, “One of these days my dear Eddie someone will catch your eye and then you’ll have to watch your tongue.”
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The ball was as loud and chaotic as always - Eddie feeling incredibly stifled by the crowds of people pushing in at all sides but happy to see his siblings El and Will dancing in their usual carefree manner. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Gareth, his best friend and only real confidant other than Chrissy, “How are you my friend?” “Busy as always - father has me greeting everyone here like we don’t already know them…I think he’s nervous about the new tenants who are coming,” Gareth said with a sigh, picking at his plain brown waistcoat. “Have you met them - what are they like? Mother won’t stop going on about Miss Buckley…” Eddie trailed off as the doors were flung open and in walked 3 people he’d never seen before.
In the center was a petite woman with sandy brown hair and a well styled, if a little simplistic, green dress on. To her left was another woman with dark waves piled on her head dressed exquisitely in the most elaborate gown he’d ever seen. Dark purple silk covered in delicate lace, immaculate embroidery and even beading - something the average woman in their town could not afford. Then like a magnet his eyes were drawn to the person on the right. He was the most handsome man Eddie had ever seen, tall with shining hazel eyes and what looked to be the softest brown hair perfectly styled. His clothes were not as attention grabbing as his female companions but everything was clearly of the highest quality material and he glanced about the room with an affected air of indifference. He was clearly well off too and did not seem to be as enchanted as his female companions to spend the evening in this dark, humid hall.
Gareth began whispering in his ear, startling Eddie out of his study of these new faces, “in the center is Miss Buckley, on the left is Nancy - her elder sister whom she takes the most counsel in.” “And the person who looks as though he’s ready to flee?” Eddie quipped, unable to turn to face Gareth as his eyes continued to stare at the man approaching almost in slow motion. “That is Steven Harrington - he’s the one who is letting the estate to the Buckley's,” Gareth answered with a smirk. “He looks miserable - poor man…” Eddie said watching him exchange stiff pleasantries with Gareth’s father. “Miserable he may be but he’s most certainly not poor,” his friend whispered even lower. “How much?” Eddie asked, turning for the first time to catch his friend's eye. “£10000 a year and he owns half of Derbyshire,” Gareth said conspiratorially. “The miserable half?” Eddie joked and the two were instantly set into a fit of giggles which thankfully were overshadowed by the music and dancing resuming.
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Steve entered the hall internally debating why he’d let Robin talk him into joining them tonight. He knew it was the right thing to do and he had a certain level of social obligation tied to their standing but he detested dancing - especially in large public halls where anyone could vie for his attention. Robin had pouted in her usual fashion and he crumbled immediately of course but that didn’t mean he wasn't contemplating running as they entered and began to walk towards the host at the head of the room. He felt a shiver run up his neck at being observed and glanced around the room wondering who was staring right through him so intensely. Then he caught the gaze of a young man to the side and felt his entire body freeze. The man was dressed simply, in somewhat dated and well-loved garments, his hair hanging from a loose tie at the back - some curls escaping to frame his face, but what caught Steve were his eyes. Those intense, deep brown eyes seemed to burn through his entire body and he had to quickly turn his gaze back to where he was walking before he made a fool of himself in public. His heart seemed to thunder in his ears as they continued to make their way forward and exchange pleasantries with their host. He was never so grateful to hear the din of dancing music begin again as in that moment because it drowned out the traitorous beat of his heart.