The night air was pleasant, cool and slightly moist against your skin, but it brought you no peace. As you leaned out over the balcony, surveying the reflecting pools and gardens of the estate stretching out into the moonlight, you tried to relax, enjoy the panorama, and ignore the sound of the music, laughter, and dancing in the ballroom down the hall from the study whose window you had flung open. Flung open at the end of a mad flight from the ball, trying to escape that which you most desired and, yet, by which you were most terrified.
The party had begun pleasantly enough. You had come unescorted, determined you have a good time regardless of who had or had not come with you. There were enough unattached men, or just outrageous flirts, to more than fill a casual night. Perhaps you would meet someone interesting, or particularly attractive, you had thought, but put the subject from your mind: no expectations except for diversion.
Then, two hours or so after the first dancing had begun She had entered the room. It was between dances, and the crowd was busy with angling through the floor, looking for someone to ask for the next dance, or making themselves obvious to the person they wished would ask them. When the dark figured had filled the doorway, many had turned to look. Most had given a quick, appreciative glance, and then returned to their partners. You had not; although you were across the room, you stopped and stared as if turned to stone.
She was tall, at least six feet. She was dressed in black, in a perfect coachman's uniform. She wore tight pants fit into calf-high boots, shiny and well polished. Her vest, cut to give Her a tight V-figure, was closed with a double row of bright silver buttons. Those, and Her white cravat, were the only things, which were not black, black to the point of absorbing the light around Her. Her hands and fingers were long and delicate as She casually tapped the palm of one hand with a riding crop. Her features were strong, aristocratic, and not feminine except in their beauty. Her close-cropped hair was nearly completely concealed by a coachman's top hat. But Her eyes drew you most of all. Large, intense, as dark as Her clothing, they held to the promise of lust, passion, power and even cruelty
The band struck up a waltz on a slightly off note, shocking you back to reality. You dimly were aware of your partner taking your hand and leading you onto the dance floor, and the movement gradually brought you to earth. Occasionally as the dance progressed, you would glimpse Her dancing with women (and always leading). But after every dance, She was someplace else, asking someone else to dance; you could never seem to get near to Her. Finally, the impression of Her first appearance faded, and the evening continued.
Until, at the end of a particularly energetic polka, you dropped a ring you had been adjusting on your hand. Dipping to pick it up, you stood up straight only to find yourself staring into Her eyes; through the movement of the crowd, She had ended up not two feet from where you had stooped. The moment lasted an eternity. You drank in the sight of Her, the smell of Her; Her eyes had paralyzed you as if you were a deer caught in a car's headlights. Your mind was a blank; you wanted nothing except to look at Her, give yourself to Her. You could feel your knees grow weak. You wanted to throw yourself at Her feet, beg Her to do anything She wished to you, just acknowledge you, and accept you.
And, again, She turned away, but this time with the most delicate and private of smiles, a smile that was kind and cruel, loving and harsh all at once. And you could bear it no longer; as swiftly as you could you hastened out of the room, down the long carpeted hall, across the cold wood floor of the study to the window, casting it open and deeply drinking the night air, feeling tears of joy? Shame? Rage? Well up on your face.
Just as you had regained your composure and was ready to return to the party, you heard the sharp click of a heel coming down on the floor at the doorway behind you. You turned, slowly, knowing that it couldn't be Her, both hoping and fearing that it was. And, of course, it was: She was wearing Her hat and carrying Her riding crop, dressed as if ready to depart. She continued to walk up to you, as you stood motionless, your mouth dry and heart pounding so loud you were afraid it might drowned out the band. She stopped Her confident stride only three feet from you, and then (with an ironic smile) doffed Her hat in a graceful bow.
One last dance, She asked, eyes smiling and deep, velvet over steel.
Yes, you said, so softly you were sure no one else could hear. But from your body, your face, you knew what you were saying to Her: Yes. Please. Anything. I beg you.
Putting the crop aside, Her right hand slid into place on your back as your left hands clasped; the band begun as if cued. Across the wood floor, no one else around, the band sounding muffled and distant, the two of you glided in a waltz. Your eyes were held by Hers; you could barely breathe, overwhelmed by emotion. Your body felt weak, but Her hand made it impossible to fall. And you could feel yourself growing aroused; your nipples were erect (from the cold of the window, you told yourself), and you feel the undefined tingling between your legs of impending excitement.