I had been living with Elliot for two weeks and the regency world was about to become a reality at the Ada household, it was the night of the ball and I had send the invitation to all of my friends including my co-worker, Leslie had rsvp, this was an opportunities for me to star all over with her, after all she was not my boss anymore, maybe she would go back to the way she was before. I was also exited to explain to all of my friend my new philosophy and  how they could incorporated into their life’s, specially Christine since she agreed with me that this generations suffered from a lack of well rounded human beings.  

Everyone had been given with the invitation the address of a costume shop where they could find all of the r 1800’s gown and suits and a pamphlet with all of the appropriate ball decorum, I had received calls all week, some congratulating me on my “I’m out of work celebration”, some other have called to complain about the costume rent and some other were just happy that another night at Pete’s was not the order of the day since everyone goes there every weekend. I had asked the local theater if they would like to participate after all I needed butler to take care if the door , the food and any other desire my guest needed to be fulfilled, lucky for me the acting teacher had been my drama teacher in high school and I sold the idea that they could practice with a live audience, she loved the idea, the kids from the theater were not as exited until I mention that they would get a big discount next time they visited Elliot’s store, with that I was set.

Elliot walked into my room as I was getting ready, I was not at all in appropriate apparel but the underwear was after all down to my knees and the corset was so tight that I needed his help getting up from my chair and into my dress, “You are the most handsome man I have ever seen Elliot”, “it’s the puffy pants, are you ready to put on your dress?”, “yes. Its in he closet”, he walked to my closet took out a beautiful white dress that I had custom made from the dress shop, “its really big”, I started to laugh, that was the understatement of the year, it was so big I had to had one of the delivery guys from the flower shop bring it in his truck, “I know, good thing you are here to help me”, I looked at him seriously as I thought about all he was doing for me, he left his house, he constantly left work early to help me, and most importantly he was following me on this ridiculous quest to go back in time and he was putting all the money in, “I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate everything you are doing for me here, you are truly my best friend, and if you ever need me , I’m here , always”, he looked at me, hugged me, he was so tall that I had to stand in my toes just to reach his shoulders, he gave me a kiss in the forehead and said “come on, lets get you into this dress”, “I know the husband hunting begins in a few minutes”, I said laughing.

The theater group also had a band so they kindly offered to play, we had moved all of the furniture to a back room where we had a sitting area for the guest, the living room and dinning room had turned into the ballroom, and the bad played from one of the corners of the room. I had found a great dance teacher online who had learned all of the typical dances that people danced in the Austen era, so we hired her to come and teach us during the dance, Morgan, Izzie and Christine had brought dates and were the first on the dance floor with their partner trying out the new steps, Leslie had arrived without being notice, she stood on the stairs for a long time before anyone had gone to talk to her, after one of Elliot’s friends had asked her to dance and she refused him, I decided to go and talk to the and see how she was, as I walked towards her, she started to play with the fan she had in her hands, she seem more and more uncomfortable as I started to get close to her, “Good evening Leslie”, I said as I curtsy, “Good evening Fanny’, she said as she curtsy back, “how are you this evening?”, “I’m very well thanks, and you Fanny”, ‘I’m well thanks”, I answered, “Have you no desire to dance?, I saw you refusing that gentleman”, I said pointing at Elliot’s friend discreetly with my fan, “oh no, its juts that I haven’t the opportunities to learn all this dances and I’m afraid I will not be a great partner”, she was playing along with the regency theme, much more that Morgan , Izzie and Christine who were ready to become all Lidia’s at this point, they have obviously not read the pamphlet I send, “I’m sorry to say I must go attend my other guest, but please you must come to dinner this week, please write me tomorrow with your response”, “I will do so”, we both curtsy and went our separate ways.

I was talking to Christine about the regency life I was leading and how I wanted to be take classes in all the lady activities one would be involve in order to become a truly accomplish women, when Elliot interrupted me, “I’m sorry cousin, but may I have the honor of accompanying you in the next dance?”He asked completely immerse in his character, “you may”, I said, we both curtsy and he left. I continue talking to Christine about coming to my house the next day so she would see the schedule of activities. I heard La Belle Assemblée March so I went to join the line since I had promise the next dance to Elliot, he came from behind me brushing his hand against my waist as he passed me and join the line in front of me, the goose bumps returned, I hadn't had them for weeks.

Music from the slow waltz was all I could hear, the noise of the crowd was drowning with the sound of the violins and the noise from my head, why again was I getting goose bump, then as I was coming back from a turn I felt Elliot’s hand in mine, he stared straight into my eyes and as I looked into his there was nothing else around us, if I wanted to catch a husband this was the wrong way to do it, unless it was Elliot I wanted to catch, all of this years he had been my best friend and not once have I though about him as a possible romantic companion, was this Austen fantasy getting into my head?, was I close to becoming Emma?, was there a love between us that I had manages to keep hidden all this years? But most importantly could he feel the same way?, as we kept dancing I kept trying to figure it out, but he was not showing any sings that he was feeling the same thing I was, he was not acting any differently. 

 I looked at him again and notice that he knew the dance better than I did, “where did you learn to dance like this?” I asked, “I started taking private lessons from Phoebe last week after she came by”, why is he taking private lessons? I could have thought him what I knew, he must like her, I thought, she’s not even that pretty. I felt like my stomach hurt, why is he seeing her?, “are you ok?, Elliot asked, “you're a little flush”, of curse I’m flush you are taking private lesson with that chick, I answer in my head, “I think it’s a little warm in here”, the music stopped, “lets go get some fresh air”, “ok”. Elliot walked me to the door to get some fresh air, “you’re feeling better?”, “yes , thanks”, “ok, I’ll see you in a little while them” he said as he started to walk back into the party, “oh , ok” I said, what else could I say.

Izzie, Morgan and Christine with some people form the theater group and Elliot’s friends from the shop were surrounding me asking me about this regency revolution I was planning so we set up a meeting for the fallowing week, meanwhile I could see Elliot taking a few more lesions with Phoebe, I was convince now that he liked her but more importantly I was convince I liked him, and I had no idea how I was going to deal with it.

It was close to five in the morning when Christine left, she was the last one to leave since she had decided to help clean up, not at all appropriate for a lady, but the theater group had left hours ago and cleaning duties were not in their contract. We have managed to keep the dirty dishes to a minimum and Elliot was already done putting the living room back together. My big flowery couch seemed like heaven so I decided to crash in it, “Elliot, could you help me get out of this dress?”, he walked towards me, I turned so he could untie the corset built into the dress, the goosebumps seem to have appeared in my whole body and this time he could tell, “are you cold?’’ he asked rubbing my arms up and down, I was so nervous I could even answer, “here sit down”, as I took my dress of revealing long puffy underwear that looked more like pajamas he placed me in the couch like a little doll and pulls the big blanket my mom had given me over me, he seat down next to me, and as he was still rubbing my arms I fell sleep in his.