Chapter 6 DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

"You see, you shouldn't believe everything you hear." I said smiling.

"Yes, I guess you're right." she responded.

We continued to talk for a while, about other topics and compared how it was viewed from both worlds. She really loved the conversation, one could easily tell from her occasional smiles and short laughs.

"Thank you for your time." I said, "it's been nice talking to you miss?"

"Dorothy Gough-Calthorpe." she said.

"Dorothy Gough-Calthorpe, as in the countess of Malmesbury?" I asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am." she said.

"It's a pleasure meeting you." I said as I kissed the back of her gloved hand.

"The pleasure is mine." she said as she turned to leave.

The rest of the evening went smoothly, the purpose with which I came to the party was achieved, we had expanded our business and managed to secure more business partners. I was about to leave when a man walked up to me.

"Mr. Ndaeyo." he said, "I noticed you didn't chance to dance at the party."

"No, my good sir, I didn't come to dance, I came because I was invited." I replied.

"You know I don't mind having you as a guest, societal opinion or cultural difference shouldn't matter when we get to meet interesting people." he continued "I'll be hosting a party in three days, I'll be honored to be your host.".

I looked at him hoping to find signs of hostility or plotting but I found none.

"It don't think it's right inviting me to a party at your manor." I said.

"And why is that?"

"Because forgive me sir, I know not who you are." I replied with a very big smile.

"Oh, I see." he laughed, "my name is James Edward Harris, Earl of Malmesbury."

"Wow, it's a pleasure meeting you my lord." I continued, "I met your wife earlier this evening, she was just as interesting as you, it's really nice meeting very open minded people you know."

"So does that mean I'll be seeing you there?" he asked.

"I don't see why not." I replied with a smile as I turned to leave.

As soon as I entered into the carriage, I thought about the lady I saw in the carriage earlier, I remember her beautiful face and charm, I just couldn't get her out of my mind even though I really wanted to.

"Hey Peter.", I called the carriage driver, there was this damsel I saw on our way to the party, I think she was in a carriage, there was this shield with green and gold colours on it."

"Green and gold my lord, I think those are Everhigh colours, but I don't know anyone there my lord." he said.

"Hmm, it's all right." I said in response.

After a little while longer I finally made it home. I was so tired I went straight to bed immediately after dinner, but something wasn't right. I saw myself at the Opera in Bath. I didn't know what I was even doing there, I had visited Bath once or twice since my arrival in England. But on this particular day, I saw her, the girl in the carriage, she was practicing ballet in the ballroom. My eyes were locked on every part of her, she was like an angel, she danced so gracefully tears ran down my face. For a second her eyes met mine, it was so short but it felt like an eternity. Soon she stopped dancing. It walked through the ballroom to talk to her but a man bumped into me.

"Hey watch it." I said.

When I turned to look at her she wasn't there anymore, she had disappeared. I was frustrated.

"Where did she..but -bbut she was just there." I was distraught in thoughts.

There was a man who was cleaning the hall so I walked up to him.

"Excuse me Mister," I said, "there was a young lady who was dancing here about two minutes ago."

"What lady Sir?" he asked, "I've been cleaning this hall for more than ten minutes now, there was no one here."

Immediately he said these words, I found myself on my bed. It was a dream but oh my what a dream.

"Good morning my lord." said the maid.

"Morning? what time is it Alice?" I asked.

"It's 15 past 6 my lord." she said

"Oh."

"Is anything the matter my lord, I heard you talking in your sleep." she continued.

"No, there's nothing wrong, go get me a cup of tea." I ordered.

As soon as the maid left I thought about the girl in my dream.

"I just saw your face yesterday and today I'm running into you in my head," I said to myself, "what's going on with me?"

I got off the bed and took a walk to the garden, it was my favorite place to be, I could just look at the butterflies, the birds and the flowers and forget about my problems, well, at least for the time being.

Soon, the maid arrived with the tea.

"It took you forever to bring my tea." I said.

"I'm sorry my lord."

"It's okay, you can leave, tell Akpan I'm waiting for him in the garden." I said waving my hand to dismiss her.

After a few minutes Akpan arrived.

"My prince you sent for me." he said.

"I did, take a seat."

He sat.

"I want to deliver a message to Everhigh." I said.

"If I may ask my prince, it is for the girl you asked about in the carriage?" he asked.

"Yes,"I replied, "I want to reach her as soon as possible." I replied.

"Of course your highness, I'll have one of the boys deliver it."

"No no, I want you to deliver this message but they shouldn't get to see you, I trust you know how to do it." I said.

"Of course your highness," he replied, "your message will be delivered and they'll never know who sent it." He said as he turned and walked away.

I tried to imagine the lady's reaction after she would have read the letter.

"Oh my darling," I said to myself, "since it's impossible not to think of you, it's time you started thinking of me too.".