Luck be a Lady-6
Elizabeth played with her fingers nervously, and then her bracelet, and then her earring. She could not sit still and it seemed as though the car ride was unnecessarily long. “Daddy?” She looked at her father he was looking out of the window with the calmest expression on his face. “Did you ask the driver the take the long way to the hotel?” They were on their way to The Dorchester where one of the ballrooms was all set up for the gala.
“No princess, I did not.” He chuckled softly. “Calm down, try to relax. I’ve looked over all of your plans and they look flawless. At least you’re not speaking tonight.”
Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. Her father insisted she give a speech and she fought it him hard not to. Tonight was her night to relax and enjoy the evening, he would be giving the annual speech that night.
They arrived a little early, incase any last minute adjustments were required. Mr. Leslie went straight to the hotel’s chief organizer to see to all the details. Elizabeth meanwhile walked through the dining area, taking in everything. All of her sketches and desires had come to life, finally. All of the hours on the phone, everything paid off. She looked up at the podium and a small gasp escaped her lips, her father had arranged for a framed picture of her mother by the podium.
She was no longer nervous, and her being was filled with confidence and joy. Elizabeth smiled and took a deep breath. “I’m ready mum,” she whispered to herself.
The guests arrived soon, and they all trickled into the cocktails area where they could mingle, sip champagne and eat hors d’oeuvres. They were all friends and associates of her father’s companies. Entry to the gala was strictly for charity benefactors only, but the party was still expected to be over 500 strong.
Elizabeth circled the room and gracefully greeted all of her guests. Many complimented her on the planning of the event, and some spoke highly of her mother. Some even recognized the dress, bringing tears to her eyes.
The cocktails area was filing up and it would be time to enter the dining area soon. She had just made up her mind to find her father, when she felt a hand on the small of her back. “Good evening neighbor,” a male voice sounded in her ear. She turned around and smiled.
“Good evening William,” she replied and they exchanged an informal hug. “I’m glad you came.”
“Thank you very much for your invitation Miss Leslie.” He looked up, the dining area had just been opened. “I believe we should make our way.” They walked together into the high ceiling room. An army of waiters were on hand to guide the guests to their respective tables, and each seat had its own place card. “Looks like we have assigned seats,” William laughed a little. “Feels almost like school, yet so much more elegant.” He nodded and walked away to his table.
Kate made her way to her table where she was seated with the rest of her charity staff. Her father was seated a few tables away with the board members of his companies. Dinner was a lavish six course meal. They started with minestrone soup, followed by light garden salads. Next came the main course of veal steaks with a side of vegetables and French gravy. Then they had a bread and cheese course, followed by luscious desserts and ended it all with after dinner tea or coffee.
When everyone had been served their tea or coffee, Mr. Leslie went to the podium to speak. The buzz of conversation ended and everyone turned to see him. He kept his speech short, thanked everyone for coming and for all of their support. He spoke about how much these charities meant to him, and finished with a few comments about his wife, who was his inspiration for all of his work everyday. Lastly, he thanked Elizabeth for her work in planning this event, as well as taking over work at the charities.
Elizabeth looked down at her hands when he finished. Her eyes filled with tears again, but she fought them back. All around her people were finishing their drinks and preparing to leave. A large group of people had circled her father’s table to congratulate him. She made her way through the crowd and hugged her father.
“I love you princess,” he whispered. “And great job.” She looked up into her father’s eyes and felt her heart soar with emotion. Many people were talking at once, some reaching to shake her father’s hand, so she made her way out of the crowd quickly.
She had reached her table again and found someone sitting in her seat. Most of the hall was emptied with the exception of the crowd around her father. She tapped the young man on his shoulder. He turned around, blue eyes blazing and wisps of hair playing with his eyelashes.
“Wonderful job neighbor,” he lifted a tea cup in salute. “This evening was a success.”
“Why thank you, and thank you for coming.” She sat down in a chair next to him.
“No, no, no sitting.” He stood up and waited for her to follow suit.
“Why are we not sitting?”
“We are going out, now.” He offered his hand. Elizabeth took it and began to follow him out of the hall.
“But why? Where are we going?”
“Well as fun as this evening was, the night is still young, and so are we. Why stay in when you can live life?” He stopped to turn and look at her. She seemed apprehensive.
“Well,” she paused. He looked excited. “I’m not really dressed, and I haven’t even told my father.”
“I’ve already told him, and don’t worry you look lovely.” He winked and continued walking.
“Well, thanks, and so do you.” Elizabeth caught up to him. “Where are we going anyway?”
“That, is a surprise.” He opened the door for her and his eyes twinkled mischievously.
“No princess, I did not.” He chuckled softly. “Calm down, try to relax. I’ve looked over all of your plans and they look flawless. At least you’re not speaking tonight.”
Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. Her father insisted she give a speech and she fought it him hard not to. Tonight was her night to relax and enjoy the evening, he would be giving the annual speech that night.
They arrived a little early, incase any last minute adjustments were required. Mr. Leslie went straight to the hotel’s chief organizer to see to all the details. Elizabeth meanwhile walked through the dining area, taking in everything. All of her sketches and desires had come to life, finally. All of the hours on the phone, everything paid off. She looked up at the podium and a small gasp escaped her lips, her father had arranged for a framed picture of her mother by the podium.
She was no longer nervous, and her being was filled with confidence and joy. Elizabeth smiled and took a deep breath. “I’m ready mum,” she whispered to herself.
The guests arrived soon, and they all trickled into the cocktails area where they could mingle, sip champagne and eat hors d’oeuvres. They were all friends and associates of her father’s companies. Entry to the gala was strictly for charity benefactors only, but the party was still expected to be over 500 strong.
Elizabeth circled the room and gracefully greeted all of her guests. Many complimented her on the planning of the event, and some spoke highly of her mother. Some even recognized the dress, bringing tears to her eyes.
The cocktails area was filing up and it would be time to enter the dining area soon. She had just made up her mind to find her father, when she felt a hand on the small of her back. “Good evening neighbor,” a male voice sounded in her ear. She turned around and smiled.
“Good evening William,” she replied and they exchanged an informal hug. “I’m glad you came.”
“Thank you very much for your invitation Miss Leslie.” He looked up, the dining area had just been opened. “I believe we should make our way.” They walked together into the high ceiling room. An army of waiters were on hand to guide the guests to their respective tables, and each seat had its own place card. “Looks like we have assigned seats,” William laughed a little. “Feels almost like school, yet so much more elegant.” He nodded and walked away to his table.
Kate made her way to her table where she was seated with the rest of her charity staff. Her father was seated a few tables away with the board members of his companies. Dinner was a lavish six course meal. They started with minestrone soup, followed by light garden salads. Next came the main course of veal steaks with a side of vegetables and French gravy. Then they had a bread and cheese course, followed by luscious desserts and ended it all with after dinner tea or coffee.
When everyone had been served their tea or coffee, Mr. Leslie went to the podium to speak. The buzz of conversation ended and everyone turned to see him. He kept his speech short, thanked everyone for coming and for all of their support. He spoke about how much these charities meant to him, and finished with a few comments about his wife, who was his inspiration for all of his work everyday. Lastly, he thanked Elizabeth for her work in planning this event, as well as taking over work at the charities.
Elizabeth looked down at her hands when he finished. Her eyes filled with tears again, but she fought them back. All around her people were finishing their drinks and preparing to leave. A large group of people had circled her father’s table to congratulate him. She made her way through the crowd and hugged her father.
“I love you princess,” he whispered. “And great job.” She looked up into her father’s eyes and felt her heart soar with emotion. Many people were talking at once, some reaching to shake her father’s hand, so she made her way out of the crowd quickly.
She had reached her table again and found someone sitting in her seat. Most of the hall was emptied with the exception of the crowd around her father. She tapped the young man on his shoulder. He turned around, blue eyes blazing and wisps of hair playing with his eyelashes.
“Wonderful job neighbor,” he lifted a tea cup in salute. “This evening was a success.”
“Why thank you, and thank you for coming.” She sat down in a chair next to him.
“No, no, no sitting.” He stood up and waited for her to follow suit.
“Why are we not sitting?”
“We are going out, now.” He offered his hand. Elizabeth took it and began to follow him out of the hall.
“But why? Where are we going?”
“Well as fun as this evening was, the night is still young, and so are we. Why stay in when you can live life?” He stopped to turn and look at her. She seemed apprehensive.
“Well,” she paused. He looked excited. “I’m not really dressed, and I haven’t even told my father.”
“I’ve already told him, and don’t worry you look lovely.” He winked and continued walking.
“Well, thanks, and so do you.” Elizabeth caught up to him. “Where are we going anyway?”
“That, is a surprise.” He opened the door for her and his eyes twinkled mischievously.