Southern Beauty by Julie Lucia Page A

see,” said Malcolm smiling in triumph.
    Johanna’s face went white and her heart sank.  He didn’t love her. He was appalled by her and her family.  These were all things that she had to swallow in five seconds.  Ten seconds ago she might have followed him to the ends of the earth.  She now had to accept that he had been deceiving her in so many ways.  She had to run.  She had to get out of the house, get out of the city, she had to disappear and find her family once and for all. 
    David walked into the ballroom and saw Johanna’s friend standing with other young girls laughing.  Mary Alice looked up at him in surprise as he walked toward her. 
    “Perhaps you could direct me to Miss Lee?”  He asked in a serious tone, wiping blood from his lip.
    “I…don’t know where she went,” Mary Alice felt his strong presence intimidating.  “She ran off after I told her that her uncle had never made it to Charleston.”
    “You didn’t?” David frustrated his bluff was revealed, “I need to find her now.  Will you help me?”
    “Sure,” she tried to smile.  She didn’t know why she was helping him.  She knew nothing about him, but he was gorgeous, and if he wanted Johanna that was enough for her.  She figured Johanna would be thanking her at their wedding.  That made her smile widen.  Mary Alice and David searched the party to no avail.   
     
     
    #   #   #
     
    “I seem to keep running into you Miss Lee,” Rene smiled.
    “Are you following me Mr. Beauregard?”  Johanna looked up into his handsome face. 
    “I just wanted to be near in case you fainted again,” he jabbed.
    “Very funny,” she smirked.
    Concerned he asked, “Are you leaving so soon?”
    “ Yes, I think I am ready to retire for the night. This girl belongs home with a good book in her hand sitting next to a quiet fireplace.”
    “A good book , you would rather be at home reading a book than being at the Beauregard’s ball?” Rene asked appalled.
    “You could say that,” smiled Johanna.
    “Well, I have a problem with you leaving my party,” stated Rene.
    “Oh.  I am sorry.  And why is that?” asked Johanna.
    “Well, because I have not got my chance to dance with the most beautiful girl here.  You are ruining my reputation.  You wouldn’t want that now would you?”  He grabbed her hand gently, kissed it, and walked her to the dance floor before she could protest.  Music and laughter once again filled the air.
    Johanna was thinking to herself as she stood on the dance floor once again with another handsome man:  “What is going on here?  For years I have been ignored and unnoticed by every man alive and here I am at this ball, like Cinderella, except I have three, yes, three men biding for my attention.  Even if one was only pretending his affections.  Am I in someone else’s body this month?  Maybe I should look in the mirror to see if I am still me.”
    When the dance was finished she thanked Rene. 
    Rene kissed her hand again, and said, “Until we meet again, Miss Johanna Lee,” He bowed with a slight grin.
    Johanna returned the smile and walked toward the entrance where Malcolm stood with her cape and a black eye.
    “Are you ready?” He asked with a quiet smile.
    “I am, thank you,” said Johanna.  She looked once again into the ballroom.  Ladies still dancing with their handsome escorts, it was a moment she wanted to remember fondly, despite the drama that had come from it earlier.  She held Malcolm’s arm and headed toward the exit where a coach waited.  She continued to feel as if she was in a strange dream even as he helped her into the carriage. 
    “It’s been quite a night, hasn’t it , Miss Lee?” Malcolm asked.
    Johanna replied, “Yes, quite a night indeed.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
    “I
    can’t believe I let her slip through my fingers once again.”  David frowned.
    “I don’t think we are going to get this map of Lee’s.