Posted on Tuesday, 16 October 2001, at 3:21 p.m.

Miss Charlotte Campbell surveryed the well lit, and generally well contrived Ballroom with interest. It was a much-crowded affair and she knew not half the people dancing briskly, playing cards or chatting boisterously. She had been to many such parties in London since her coming out ball last year, but she still enjoyed them with the same fresh enthusiasm at meeting new people, having new experiences. She noticed her partner Mr.Clive stiffen slightly; Charlotte smothered a grin. Miss Anne must be somewhere nearby. He went immobile everytime one mentioned her. She spotted her almost right in front and seizing his arm firmly, she introduced them both, receiving a look of profound gratitude from the young man. Happy to have been of help, she headed towards where her mother was standing, escorted by her father's friend Col. Hastings. Slowing down to match his pace, she enquired after his rheumatism kindly and bore his detailed descriptions of all his aches with genuine sympathy.

"I have some specific issues with the Act of the Union", a resonant voice claimed her attention. Mr. Dixon. She could identify his voice, despite the crowd and the cacophony of many voices saying many things. She turned slightly to see him talking intently with a serious look on his face. He looked so distinguished; amazing many did not consider him handsome. Even Jane.. Where was Jane? She frowned slightly when she saw her dancing with Mr. Frank Churchill. She would have preferred if Mr. Dixon had danced with Jane instead of standing and talking politics. He enjoyed talking to a fault; sometimes when he was involved explaining some particular thing to herself, he would turn towards Jane's side seemingly only out of politeness. Even now, he did not seem to have noticed his rival dancing with her. She wondered what Mr. Churchill's intentions were. Sometimes he paid so much attention to Jane, it looked very definite but then he did something - like the other evening when he commented on Jane's hairstyle. Lucky for him, Charlotte was in a good mood that she left him with just a cutting remark about his taste. What of Jane? It was very hard to gauge her feelings and if anyone could, it would be herself. She could instinctively underastand that Jane had some feelings for Mr. Churchill but then Jane had also been receptive to Mr. Dixon's attentions. She had been quite gratified at the appreciation Mr. Dixon showered on her for her musical capabilities. And then there was the service that he rendered. One moment they were all standing on board, talking and the next Jane was being swept away. Mr. Churchill seemed to have frozen. Charlotte had screamed lunged forward uselessly. Mr. Dixon was the one who acted with such quick thinking and life-saving result. Would he able to take the disappointment? Somehow seeing his face despondent and forlorn dampened her usually cheerful disposition.

"What is wrong my dear? You look concerned", her mother asked gently.

"Oh not at all mama. I am enjoying the evening", she responded with gaiety.

"I am glad. I thought we chose the blue gown for you my dear. I see that Jane is wearing it today"

"She looked so well in it that I thought it would be a shame if she didn't, mama. Is she not the prettiest girl in the whole room", she asked enthusiatically.

Mrs. Campbell smiled and then said in a soft voice, "You should take care of yourself too, sometimes"

"But I have you and papa to take care of me", she said smiling at Col. Campbell who had arrived just then to claim her mother's hands for the next dance.

"Ah, here we are, here we are. You look well my dear. Are you enjoying the evening? Good, good. I notice that Jane is dancing with Mr. Churchill. A fine young man. A lot of young people, capital capital", he said with gusto. He asked her about Mr. Clive and Col. Hastings and she told him about them in a clear voice. Though due to his slight deafness Col. Campbell had trouble hearing others and had to from time to time strain or ask them to repeat, he never had any problems understanding her rich, clear diction. She turned, hearing a familiar voice greet them.

Mr. Dixon stopped next to the Colonel and greeted them. His eyes softened as he glanced at the way she was holding her father's arm, seemingly gaining physical support, but in fact giving the emotional support and love to her father. The way she stood next to her father, the way she treated him was always so very endearing to him. It told him how special she was.

He had noticed her earlier dancing with Clive. It had been so distracting and he had stammerred a couple of times in the middle of a very heated argument about the some of his views on the treatement of Irish. The way her eyes sparkled, her lips curved in a gentle kind smile... Col. Campbell was asking him something about the evening. After responding suitably, he asked her if she would care for the next dance, dreading that she might be engaged. The first time he had seen her in a dinner party, he had thought her rather plain. But much to his amazement, she had been most sought after. After getting to know her, he had realized, how utterly charming her intelligence, kindness and lack of conceit was. Last week at the party he had arrived late and much to his dismay found her dance card to be filled completely. Even now she looked a little tired. Perhaps he ought not have asked her.

They proceeded to the floor and joined the set. She looked serious and slightly disapproving. He followed her eyes and saw Churchill dancing with Miss. Fairfax. Did he not see them dance before too? Miss Campbell did not like it, obviously. He wondered why. Was it because of Mr. Churchill? He looked at her thoughtfully.

"Is she not looking well? ", she asked.

"Hm…? ", he looked distractedly for a moment before realizing she was talking about Miss. Fairfax, "Yes, she does", he agreed, "Mr. Churchill dances well. Very sprightly",
He said unable to contain the slight jealosy creeping into his voice.

"Yes", she sighed and then as though she wanted to change the subject, she asked him, "So, tell me Mr. Dixon. Do you have many such parties in Baly-Craig?"

"Not many, I am afraid. We are a relatively quiet and boring lot of people", he said, and then added hastily, lest she should be disappointed, "But of course, we can always go to Dublin or come in to London for the season"

"I assumed you do not like to stay out for long"

"You are right. I am not fond of the absentee landlords and I would loathe to become one"

"Indeed. Though, after seeing your drawings, I cannot imagine why one would want to leave the place. It is so utterly charming. I remember especially the one of a pond with a grotto in the background"

His smile was brilliant. He had been much gratified by her discerning admiration of his drawings and her interesting questions about his seat and the affairs, but the fact that she remembered his favourite spot was felicity indeed. The dance ended and he escorted her back. He cannot dawdle any longer. He must speak to her. He cleared his throat. "Miss Campbell, would it be possible for you to walk alone with me tomorrow? There is something particular I would like to ask you", he said in as steady a voice as he could manage under the circumstance.

"Talk to me?" she queried, frowning a little. Then she said in a confused voice, "Sir, surely you cannot expect me to influence her. It is her decision you know. I will not interefere in such matters", glancing at Miss. Fairfax. What was she babbling about?

"Influence Miss Fairfax. Why? ", he asked, perplexed.

"Why? Well, I have reasons to believe that she likes Mr. Churchill..", she stopped and then added hastily, "I am not sure of course. She might like you better, do not worry. I would have liked very much if she had preferred, that is, prefers you", she continued.

Forgetting the rest, he seized on that important bit. "Why is that?"

"Mr. Churchill is handsome and well mannered and everything but somehow I cannot think anything of him other than that he is a coxcomb. To me you are more intelligent, more responsible, you have an inner strength that he lacks and...", she paused and blushed furiously as he prodded with wry amusement, "Don't stop now, Miss Campbell".

"However, I will not interfere", she said sternly, recovering.

"You don't have to. I am very well capable of approaching her myself if necessary. I wanted to talk to you", he said pointedly and waited nervously. He didn't have to talk to her tomorrow, he had pretty much declared his heart and intentions right there. He looked at her and was in turn surprised to see comprehension followed by a look of enormous amazement in her eyes. Surely she suspected. She stopped walking. They were near a pillar and were for the moment not noticed by anybody. He wanted to hold her restless hands. After a moment of silence, she asked him, "I do not understand. Why?"

"Why?", he echoed.

"Yes. Jane is far more beautiful than me and I know you admire her talents very much", her eyes narrowed. "Is it the twelve thousand pounds?"

His lips twitched. "No, Miss Campbell, I have twelve thousand a year, if you remember"

"You might have lost it all in a gaming hell, the ship you invested in heavily might have sunk", she muttered.

At this wild allegation, unable to contain, he burst out laughing. Pulling himself, noticing that he was attracting attention, he said calmly, "I would be glad to introduce you or anyone else you want to my banker, my steward and my solicitor" and then added seeing the slight doubt still lining her eyes despite her shamefaced look, "Miss Campbell, I love you for yourself. I love your intelligence, your pleasant disposition, your kindness and compassion. I want someone like this to look after me, for me to look after. It is not music I want; I have lot of it at home. And as far beauty you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me"

Charlotte kept gazing into his wondeful blue eyes that seemed to melt her heart. He loved her. Her happiness would have runneth over if it had not been marred by her concern for Jane. What of her? What if she loved Mr. Dixon. Can she break her friend's heart?

"What is it?", he asked with concern.

"Jane. What if she loves you? If I could have mistaken, why not she?"

He sighed. "I do not know how you could have mistaken. Did you not even look at me? I am sure Miss. Fairfax knows", he said and then with mischief dancing in his eyes he asked, "Would you be willing to wager? If you loose, you have to marry me. What say you?"

"If she doesn't love you?", she asked doubtfully.

"No, if she didn't think I lead her to believe that I loved her", he corrected and then said, "Let us go ask her"

"Now?", she exclaimed and upon his words - "my heart will surely fail if I have to spend the whole night in anticipation", giggling, she resumed walking to locate Jane. He followed her confident of the outcome. She soon found out from her father that Jane had stepped outside into the garden for some air and so leaving him talking to her father, went searching.

He followed her with his eyes, half listening to her father. He must think very ill of him, if everytime he talks, he found this young man ogling stupidly at his daughter. He saw her step out through the side door that lead ino the garden and then within moments beat a hasty retreat, biting her lower lips, not meeting anyone's eyes, face flushed. He immediately excused himself and as unobtrusively as possible headed towards her.

"What is it Miss Campbell?"

"It is Mr. Churchill and Jane", she burst out and then bit her lips. She looked around; no one was listening, thankfully. She took a deep breath and with admirable calmness said, "They were walking. They were out quite far. I didn't want to go out in the cold"

He smiled. He could very well guess what she had seen. Lucky man. He wondered when he would be able to steel a kiss from this lovely lady. He cleared his throat, "So, does this mean I have won the wager?"

"Yes", she said in a low voice, not looking up to meet his eyes.

He paused for a few seconds. Nothing further. He said very gently, "Miss Campbell, I was just joking about the wager. I love you very much, but I can wait for your response"

Those words made her look up. She smiled shyly. Her eyes met his and he saw the love, which he so much wanted, brimming there.