Rachel was fretting. They had an hour until they had to leave, and she couldn’t decide what to wear. She had changed her outfit no less than five times and was about to change her outfit again. Kurt and Quinn were trying to convince not to because they were running out of time and Rachel still needed to get her hair done. Also, Rachel looked stunning in her cream satin.
Rachel looked in the mirror and fretted outwardly. Inwardly, she preened. She looked lovely. But regardless, she pulled at creases and frowned.
“Are you sure this isn’t too frumpy?” Rachel asked, smoothing her hands down the front of the cool satin.
Kurt nodded. “No one over thirty wears cream anymore. It’s a youthful person’s color and you look radiant. Any man in the county would be stupid to not ask you to dance.”
“Except Lord Anderson,” Quinn and Rachel both muttered under their breaths.
“What?” Kurt looked wildly to each sister. He thought he knew what he heard, but over the past week it seemed like he was hearing Lord Anderson’s name everywhere. Most of those times were products of his imagination, so he wasn’t sure.
“We said,” Quinn stated firmly, “’if only that were true’. I agree that it is a youthful person’s color, but you know Ms. Rhodes will wear it.”
Kurt grimaced. “Yes, you are right. Wear it anyway, Rachel. Quinn and I will weave red throughout your hair.”
Rachel smiled widely. “You have not done that for years.”
“Why should you match Ms. Rhodes? Come on, to the vanity.” Kurt shooed Rachel to sit in front of the mirror. “Quinn, do you remember how to do this?”
Quinn nodded and crossed the room to settle behind Rachel’s right shoulder. Kurt settled behind her left. “Do you still have those red ribbons?”
Rachel nodded and pulled out a small ball of tangled ribbons. Kurt took it and began to pick out a red ribbon with long, delicate fingers. “I imagine you’ll want your hair off your neck. “
“Of course, she’ll want it off her neck. She is seducing a man tonight. Show as much skin as possible.” Quinn laughed.
Rachel blushed as red as the ribbon in Kurt’s hands. Kurt stifled a laugh. Rachel had reacted well to Kurt being in charge of finding her a husband. She had given him a half hour lecture on what type of man she would marry. Kurt had written everything down under her watchful eye and had despaired to find that the list was a full two pages. How was he supposed to find a man like that?
“Of course, dear sister. Seduce a man into your bed and then while in the throes of passion, make him sign a marriage document.” Kurt teased back.
“You two are incorrigible.” Rachel said over Kurt and Quinn’s laughs, but then a second later, “do you really think that one of Lord Anderson’s men will find me desirable?”
“They’d have to be blind not to. Lord Anderson told me that twelve men are coming. All of them are friends of Lord Anderson in some capacity, so no doubt they are all men of excellent standing. If you have a preference for one of the men, please tell me. I will take it into consideration and try to find you a man that will make you happy. That extends to you as well Quinn.”
Rachel nodded and resumed to play with a feather while Kurt began to weave the red silk ribbon in her hair. Quinn smiled pleasantly. “Of course, dear brother. How wonderful that Lord Anderson was able to tell you this before the ball.”
Kurt shot Quinn a steely glare through the mirror. She quirked her eyebrows but continued to smile pleasantly. There was a stalemate at the moment as to why Kurt had been alone with Lord Anderson. Kurt was convinced that Quinn had set it up to make him think that it was Mike downstairs (Quinn had never once told Miss James to say it was Mike). Quinn denied everything with a pleasant smile, but they both knew that she had done something.
“Yes, quite. He has been unknowingly helpful.” Kurt admitted. He was loath to admit that, in his thoughts, Lord Anderson cut a much kinder figure. Two decent conversations shouldn’t have changed his mind. Kurt had still heard rumors and that was not okay by him. If anything, those rumors seemed a bit more prevalent than they should be after a month.
Rachel watched her older siblings. She knew exactly what they were talking about. Ms. Cochran was a terrible gossip. Lord Anderson calling on Kurt had fueled the rumors until they grew to outlandish claims. She had even heard that Lord Anderson and Kurt were married, but lived apart because Lord Anderson would lose his fortune if his family found out. Rachel had laughed for days when she heard that one. Of course there was no denying that when Rachel met Lord Anderson on the road that he always inquired after Kurt. From her extensive reading of romance novels, Rachel knew that Lord Anderson was in love with her brother. She wanted to help them get together. It would be so much fun. It would be just like her novels. Maybe she could convince Quinn to help her.
“Rachel!” Kurt called out. She had zoned out in the mirror stroking her fingers over the feather. What was she thinking about? “Rachel, do you like this?”
Rachel shook her head slightly and focused on the image of herself in the mirror. Kurt and Quinn had styled her hair into a low-hanging chiffon bun and had somehow made her hair look as smooth as the red ribbon woven throughout. If you didn’t focus on it, it almost looked like she had a red hairstreak. How daring. Rachel loved it.
“It’s perfect.” Rachel stood up and turned around. “I believe I am ready to go out.”
“I am quite glad. Miss James came in nearly ten minutes ago to tell us the carriage was ready. We are late, dear sister.” Quinn remarked as smoothed a small crease in Rachel’s dress.
“We must hurry then.” Kurt took Rachel’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. He looked back at Quinn, “You may stay here, Satan.”
Quinn smiled pleasantly, “Manners, dear brother, manners.” She followed after them.
Burt was waiting for them in the threshold. He looked at his children with pride. Quinn was the picture of grace and beauty in her sky blue satin. She had pinned up a few of her curls but let the rest cascade down her shoulders. Rachel looked young and fresh in her cream satin. The red ribbon in her hair showed just a small amount of the feistiness that was always present in Rachel. Kurt had gone with a dark blue frock coat. His waistcoat was a barely there blue with periwinkle needlework. His hair was up in its usual coif. Burt smiled widely. His and Lizzie’s children were beautiful.
“I doubt that any of you will go without a dance tonight. I imagine that there will be fights for the honor.”
All of them laughed with a small blush. Burt chuckled as he stood to the side. “Your carriage awaits.”
Quinn and Rachel walked over the threshold to the carriage. Burt pulled Kurt back. “I think you know this Kurt, but tonight is important. Do you understand? Your sisters’ happiness depends on this first meeting.”
Kurt nodded firmly. “Yes, Father. I understand.”
Burt smiled and nodded. “Good.” He clapped Kurt on the shoulder. “Watch out for your sisters. I wasn’t kidding.”
Kurt laughed. “We’ll be fine. We’re going now. Don’t try to sneak any food out of the kitchen. I’ve informed all the servants that you can’t have anything else to eat tonight.”
Burt huffed. “I’d had hoped you’d forgotten.”
Kurt smiled. “Never Father.”
……………….

The carriage ride over was filled with Rachel’s nervous chatter. Quinn and Kurt just let her talk. It was scary to think that you were meeting your future husband so soon. Quinn had the same fears, but she kept them to herself.
The ball itself was beautiful. Everything was shining. The chandelier’s dropped crystals reflected and intensified all of the light from the candles. It seemed like it was almost daylight.
“Cream, his color scheme is cream!” Rachel practically wailed. She wasn’t wrong. Everything in the ballroom was some kind of cream. It wasn’t an exactly a new color scheme. Most ballrooms were in light colors so that the people inside were the masterpieces on display. Except most ballrooms were rose and pale gold. Rachel’s dress wasn’t the exact shade of any of these colors, but it was close enough that Rachel looked like she belonged on the wall.
Quinn was also looking around, slightly disconcerted. “She’s right. This is too much. We need to do something.”
“The parlor I met Lord Anderson in is behinds those doors over there behind the curtains. I don’t think anyone will see us.” Kurt was already sweating. Sneaking into someone’s parlor wasn’t a good idea, but Rachel needed to stand out tonight.
“That’s rather risky, Kurt. Going into someone’s parlor without invitation,” Quinn said uneasily. She understood the importance of tonight and on any other occasion she would have been thrilled that Kurt was going into Lord Anderson’s parlor. But this was a ball. This was a ball, the highest event of social decorum. Anything they did that was improper here would be spread over Lima for the next month.
Kurt had to make a decision. He had thoughts similar to Quinn’s, but he was also thinking that tonight was extremely important. Rachel and Quinn were meeting their future husbands. They had to stand out. Quinn stood out. She always stood out. She was widely regarded as one of the prettiest girls in the town. Rachel was just as pretty, but she looked like a wall ornament. She needed to stand out. Kurt made his decision.
“Go. They already think that I’m warming Lord Anderson’s bed. They won’t care. Go.” Kurt ushered them over to the doors. No one was looking. They were all looking at the size and d�cor of the ballroom. Lord Anderson was taking his time greeting people, so most people weren’t in the ballroom yet.
Kurt closed the door behind him quietly. No need to cause a spectacle. Rachel and Quinn were looking around in awe at the decadence and splendor of the parlor.
“He received you here?” Rachel asked in awe. Quinn sat down on one of the plush couches. She ran her had over the material. One day, Kurt would live here.
“Yes, it’s very nice, but we have things to do right now. Rachel come here.” Rachel came over obediently and Kurt began eyeing her dress critically.
“What are you going to do?” Rachel asked nervously. It had taken her three hours to get dressed and Kurt was about to change it in a matter of minutes.
“We need to let your hair down.” Kurt stated.
“What?” Rachel shrieked. Kurt and Quinn both shushed her.
“You need to be quiet!” Kurt hissed. “The best way to deal with this is to break the line of cream.”
Quinn nodded. “He’s right. If you break the continuity of it, you won’t look like you belong on the wall. We curled your hair before we put it up. I have an extra pin. We’ll just do the same hair style as me.”
In a matter of seconds, Quinn had unraveled the chiffon and began pinning some of Rachel’s hair back. It looked immensely better. Quinn had placed a few of the loose curls in front of Rachel. It wasn’t enough.
Kurt grabbed the ribbon, which had been abandoned on the couch. “Rachel, turn around.”
Rachel knew immediately what he was doing. “Kurt, I’ll look like a child.”
Kurt looped the ribbon around her waist. “It’s either a wall ornament or a child, Rachel. Take your pick.”
Rachel didn’t say anything. She just watched the shiny red ribbon grow tight around her waist. Kurt sent up a million prayers thanking God that Rachel’s waist was tiny. He barely had enough ribbon to make a proper bow, but he was Kurt Hummel, damn it.
Rachel turned around slowly trying to see the bow. It wasn’t as big as a children’s bow and Kurt would even call it whimsical. He nodded. This was all they could do. At least they had broken the line of cream. She would stand out now. Which was exactly what Kurt needed her to do.
Quinn nodded. “That’s been solved. Now how do we get out of here without anyone seeing us?”
Kurt approached the door. He grasped the door handle and turned it slowly. Inching it slowly open, he peeked out through the crack. From his vantage point, no one seemed to be looking. No, there was Lord Anderson. He was greeting people, but between each person, he shot Kurt a very confused look as to what he was doing. Kurt looked down at the ground. Fuck this.
“Yeah, let’s go.” He swung the door open wider to let Quinn and Rachel out. No one paid attention to them besides Lord Anderson and a few of his servants.
Rachel twirled out onto the ballroom floor. Quinn and Kurt giggled. “She looks so happy right now.”
Kurt nodded. “She does. I’m glad we managed to change her outfit.”
Quinn tilted her head thoughtfully. “I don’t think I’ve seen you do any type of design like that with clothes since you were fifteen. How does it feel?”
Kurt sighed. He didn’t want to fight right now. “You know why I stopped Quinn.”
Quinn decided to back off. Kurt always looked so bone weary when she asked questions like that. Maybe another time. Right now she had plans that required Kurt to be at his best.
“I do.”
Kurt nodded. He looked at Quinn and bowed shallowly. He saw Mercedes coming over and he thought he might try to secure her hand for a dance. It was a mere formality. He doubted that anyone else would try to secure her hand.
“Miss Jones!” He could barely keep his voice down. He hadn’t seen Mercedes in almost a week.
Mercedes almost jumped out of her skin. She had been avoiding Kurt for the week. She couldn’t stop the guilt that was threatening to overwhelm her. Even though she was in on Quinn’s plan, she still felt horrible that she was technically cheating on him with Sam. The fact that Quinn had found out made Mercedes feel even guiltier. What if Quinn had told him? No, she wouldn’t. Too much of Quinn’s plan resided on the fact that Sam was being promoted.
“Mr. Hummel, how are you?” She asked, bowing politely.
Kurt bowed in return. “I am quite well, Miss Jones. How are you?”
“I am doing very well. How pleasant to see you this evening. I am afraid I missed your company in this last week.”
Kurt nodded, slightly impatient. Never had the social formalities of courting seemed so stifling. He wanted to have an honest conversation with his friend not these trifling inanities with his soon-to-be-wife.
“I also missed our conversations. Perhaps we could catch up over a dance. It would be a shame to not see the twirl of your skirt on the dance floor.” Kurt smiled. They would be able to have a real conversation on the dance floor.
Mercedes couldn’t help but smile widely. She and Kurt had planned out their outfits for a ball a month ago. Of course, it had been in the vain hope that someone might throw a ball. Kurt was glad that Mercedes had remembered. She looked beautiful in her periwinkle satin.
Kurt held out his hand. “Perhaps you would take a turn around the room with me while we wait.”
Mercedes gently laid her hand in his. “I could think of no greater enjoyment. Please, lead the way, Mr. Hummel.”
Kurt led her to the wall closest to them and began to walk the perimeter of the room. “Ugh, I can’t wait till we’re married. I hate that I have to go through all those formalities just to speak with you about nothing.”
Mercedes just looked at the ground. The Lord sure was testing her, wasn’t he?
Kurt continued on. “I have something to tell you something. I called on Lord Anderson last week.”
Mercedes looked up. She hadn’t heard that. “Are you in good enough standing to meet his friends?”
Kurt nodded. “I believe so. I’m going hunting with them in a few days, so I believe that he will introduce them to me tonight. I plan to sit out the first dances. The sooner I am introduced to his friends, the sooner Quinn and Rachel are introduced. I hope that Rachel and Quinn find someone they like. This is honestly their best chance.”
Across the room, Quinn was thinking the exact opposite. While she was waiting for Lord Anderson to stop greeting people, she was watching his friends. They all looked like idiots. She’d be damned if she married any one of these idiots. They weren’t talking to anyone but each other, which she could forgive. They had absolutely no idea who anyone was. They were just acting like men. Really immature men.
There was a tall one who looked incredibly kind, but if that was because he was actually kind or he was too stupid to do different, Quinn didn’t know. There was a beefy one who was laughing but seemed to be following Kurt and Mercedes’ progress around the room. Regardless of who he was looking at, that would have to stop. There was a greasy, smarmy looking one. He was looking a bit too low to be looking at Lord Anderson’s face. He was going to have to go. There was one who looked entirely too confident in himself. He reminded Quinn of Rachel. Quinn shuddered. There was a match she wouldn’t let happen.
There were others, but nothing about them struck her as immediately interesting. Except maybe for the poor Irish boy who looked very confused. She wanted to protect him. Quinn sniffed disdainfully. She was growing soft. She should stop that. She caught Lord Anderson looking at a laughing Kurt longingly. Well, maybe after she set her brother up.

………….

As soon as the music started off, Mercedes grabbed her brother Matthew to dance. Quinn had given her explicit instructions to do what ever Kurt wanted in regards to Lord Anderson. This was one of those moments.
Kurt went to find Quinn and Rachel. Luckily, they had figured out to stay together, so in a matter of seconds, the Hummel siblings were standing together. Kurt had his back to Lord Anderson and was relying on Quinn to tell him if he was coming.
“Is he close?”
Quinn looked behind him. “He’s approaching his friends. He’s gesturing over here. Fuck, we made eye-contact.”
“Language, Quinn!” Kurt snapped.
Quinn gave him a look. “I was just caught looking at someone. I do not like that. I will say what I want. Oh, they’re walking over here. Get ready.” Quinn looked at Kurt, but focused on Lord Anderson who shared a trait with his smarmy friend. He was also looking a bit too low with ridiculously dilated eyes. Men: no control over their own libidos.
Rachel was nervously fiddling with a ringlet, oddly quiet. Kurt shot her a look. She smiled and nodded. She was just nervous. She’d be fine after the initial greeting was over. Kurt nodded back. He felt a bit queasy himself.
“Mr. Hummel,” Lord Anderson called out. Kurt turned around with a smile. Show time.
“Lord Anderson, I was just telling my sisters how beautiful you’re ballroom is.”
Quinn wanted to snicker. What a blatant lie. Wait, Lord Anderson had a faint blush rush to his cheeks. Ugh, men. They’d believe anything.
“Thank you, my servants have been hard at work for the past week. I wanted to introduce you to my friends.” Lord Anderson pointed to each man.
Tall and dumb. “Mr. Finn Hudson.”
Swarthy. “Mr. David Karofsky.”
Smarmy. “Mr. Sebastian Smythe.”
Arrogant Bastard. “Mr. Jesse St. James.”
Confused Irish. “Mr. Rory Flanagan.”
All the extra people weren’t important because in a matter of seconds, Finn and Rachel made eye contact. It was love at first sight and everyone who saw it recognized it. Quinn wanted to snort. Of course Rachel fell in love at first sight. It was so terribly predictable. Kurt was trying to listen, but he honestly didn’t care. Rachel already had her eye set on someone. That was half the battle. Well, a � of the battle. Quinn was the other �.
“How do you all do?” Kurt asked. In hindsight, asking a question to twelve men was not the best idea.
There was a mumbling of answers all around. Kurt nodded. “That is fantastic. I hope you are all enjoying Lima.”
Another mumble. “May I introduce my sisters, Miss Quinn Hummel and Miss Rachel Hummel.”
Kurt stepped to the side and gestured to his sisters. Rachel continued to stare at Finn as she curtsied. Quinn made eye contact with every man, but focused on Sebastian with a steely gaze. Sebastian just smirked. Quinn maintained her pleasant demure smile. That bastard had no idea what Quinn could do.
“It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Finn Hudson.” Finn held out his hand to Rachel. She placed her hand in his gently and let him kiss it.
Kurt looked surreptitiously at the rest of the men. They all looked pretty unfazed. Apparently Finn was frequently improper. He looked at Quinn. She raised her eyebrows at him. Let it happen. Kurt looked back at the pair.
“Would you care to dance?” Finn asked, looking entirely too besotted for only knowing Rachel five minutes.
Rachel nodded reverently and allowed herself to be lead to the dance floor. The music had ended and the next dance was about to start. Most of the men left to find partners. Quinn noted with satisfaction that Lord Anderson must have asked them to wait so he could introduce them to Kurt because they all left immediately to find partners once the introduction was done. Sebastian stayed, but it didn’t surprise Quinn. She knew what his problem was.
Kurt froze slightly. He didn’t want to be left with Lord Anderson. Even with Quinn and Mr. Smythe here, there were too few people. He turned to Quinn immediately.
“It’s been so long since I’ve danced with you, Quinn. Perhaps you would allow me these next two dances?” He held out his hand.
Quinn took it and replied sweetly, “Of course, brother dear.”
“If you’ll excuse us, Mr. Smythe, Lord Anderson.”
Both men stood to the side as Kurt lead Quinn into the lineup of couples. The moment Quinn’s back was turned to the two gentlemen, she glared at Kurt.
The music started up and the two lines danced forward to meet each other.
“I believe you have some explaining to do, brother dearest,” Quinn said as the grasped each others’ hands.
“Whatever do you mean, sister dearest?” Kurt had to wait as he danced with the girl next to Quinn.
“Oh brother dear, you must surely know that I mean asking me to dance.” Quinn smiled sweetly at a girl as she traveled around her.
“Can a brother not dance with his beloved sister?” Kurt waited as Quinn danced with the man next to him.
“I feel that there is an impure motive. Perhaps you are afraid that Lord Anderson will ask you to dance.”
Quinn watched with silent glee as Kurt glared at her during the next break.
“Why would Lord Anderson want to dance with me? It would be highly improper.”
Both couples link hands and go around in a circle. Kurt and Quinn laugh delightedly at the person to the left of them. They break apart and go back to their lines. Kurt and Quinn approach each other.
“I hardly confess to try and understand Lord Anderson’s motives but do not deny that you were fearful of the possibility.” They separated and let the couple next to them do their dance.
Another approach. “What do you suggest then I do?”
Quinn smiled at the man next to Kurt as he danced towards her. Kurt danced to the woman next to Quinn with a pleasing smile.
Quinn and Kurt came up to each other and began to turn. “If he does approach you to dance. Accept him.”
Kurt wrinkled his nose. “I do not want to. People will talk.”
“People are already talking, and, as you said, he is the most powerful man in the county. You’d be a fool not to accept him unless he is not the most powerful man in the county. In that case, you need to tell me who the most powerful man in the county is so I know to accept him if he asks me to dance. I would not want to anger the most powerful man in the county.”
The music ended.
Kurt and Quinn faced each other and bowed.
Kurt glared at Quinn. “Sister.”
“Brother.” Quinn smiled pleasantly and turned to leave. Lord Anderson had been watching them dance the entire time and Quinn was sure he planned to come up to Kurt within seconds to ask him.
She was not wrong. Within seconds, Lord Anderson was standing before Kurt. “Mr. Hummel, would you give me the honor of dancing this next set with you?”
Kurt forced himself to smile. He hoped it didn’t look too forced. “Of course, Lord Anderson.”
Lord Anderson held out his hand. Kurt wanted to groan. Of course, Lord Anderson was going to take the man’s role, but Quinn’s words echoed in Kurt’s head. Kurt placed his hand in Lord Anderson’s hand and let himself be led back to the dance floor.
Neither Kurt nor Lord Anderson was wearing gloves. It was women’s fashion, but what Kurt wouldn’t give to be wearing a pair. Lord Anderson’s hand was broader and rougher then Kurt’s own. Kurt snuck a glance down. His hand was bigger than Lord Anderson’s but it seemed like his hand was swallowed. Lord Anderson’s tanned hand seemed so warm in comparison to his own pale one. He quite liked the warmth. Shit! What was the hand’s equivalent to a forehead?
Kurt looked up quickly and met Lord Anderson’s eyes. They were warm and adoring. Kurt moved his eyes up a little higher.
Kurt moved mechanically to go stand in his line once Lord Anderson let his hand go. He had to get himself out of this mindset. He needed to be alert. No doubt people would already be talking. If he didn’t regain his ground, he would do something stupid.
Kurt turned to face Lord Anderson. Lord Anderson wanted to groan. Kurt had that steely look in his eyes again.
The music started. Kurt side-eyed the band. This was much slower than the lively jigs they had been playing.
Lord Anderson and Kurt bowed before they approached each other to grab hands and spin.
“How do you find the ball this evening?”
Kurt smiled. He could be polite for a dance and his answer wouldn’t be a lie. “I find it delightful, My Lord.”
Lord Anderson smiled back. “I am quite glad you find it enjoyable. May I ask what you and your sisters were doing in the parlor?”
Kurt’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Rachel looked as if she belonged on the wall. Quinn and I made her look less like an ornament.”
Lord Anderson laughed. “Did you fix it?”
Kurt nodded. “Yes, she looks much more like her own person, My Lord.”
Lord Anderson had been smiling, but it dimmed it a bit when Kurt used his first name. “How long will we have to have known each other before we can use each other’s first names?”
They separated to let a couple dance down the aisle. Kurt was keeping the troubled look off his face. First names were important business. Besides Mercedes, Noah, and Michael, no one outside his family used his first name. It implied a familiarity that Kurt was sure would hurt him in the long run if he let Lord Anderson use it. And him using Lord Anderson’s name? There was no way he could use it. He was blushing just thinking about calling Lord Anderson ‘Blaine’.
Lord Anderson and Kurt came together again. “We would have to be brothers Lord Anderson or friends from infancy. No one who has met me past the age of ten has ever called me Kurt.”
They separated. Lord Anderson went around the man next to him as Kurt went around the girl next to him before joining again. “Do you and your friends from infancy often call on each other?”
Kurt frowned. Lord Anderson sounded mocking. “Always, My Lord. We frequently spend time together.”
Lord Anderson didn’t say anything for the rest of the dance. He just danced angrily and left right when it was done. Kurt made eye contact with Quinn who shrugged. That was weird. Why had Lord Anderson gotten so angry?
Kurt banished the question from his mind. He would not let Lord Anderson ruin the ball for him. Kurt went to find Mercedes.

…………….

The ball lasted well into the night and it generally agreed to be great fun. Kurt and Mercedes ended up dancing the rest of the night together, laughing and gossiping. Finn danced two sets with Rachel before his friends dragged him away. Quinn ended up dancing with Sebastian and both parted with a desire to watch the other burn. And poor Lord Anderson stayed on the perimeter of the room watching a tall brunette.