Willow stepped in front of a white iron laced mirror in the spare room and admired herself. William had spent what she thought would be a fortune in today�s society on her. This dress in particular was a dark crimson trimmed with gold lace around the bottom of the dress, bodice and sleeves. The sleeves! They draped off her hand in great length. He had also taken her to the hairdresser. There her red locks were piled atop her head in the latest fashion. With gold pins stuck strategically for accent. She was stunning, and loving it. Tonight they would attend a function held by the Opera House Bank of London. It was their grand opening and William had asked her to attend with him. She had blushed as she often does and accepted. Willow's heart warmed recalling the smile he gave her then. It was a smile she thought rare since the death of his sister. It was beautiful as well, making her knees a little weak. A feeling that she tried unsuccessfully to brush off as quickly as it came on.

Knock, Knock. �Willow are you quite ready yet? The carriage is waiting.� Willow dabbed a few more spots of rose water on her neck and sprinted to the door. �I�m all ready let�s go.� She told him, flashing a brilliant smile. �You look ravishing if you don�t mind my saying so Miss. Rosenberg.� He offered her his arm. �Shall we?� �We shall.� He led her arm in arm down the long staircase and into the carriage.

Angelus dropped his last victim to the floor and sauntered over to his lady of the night. �Are you finished here yet? I�m bored.� Darla dropped her victim harshly and pointed towards a dancing Drucilla. �She�s the one you have to worry about. Over they�re dancing and talking to the dead. It�s so distasteful. Angelus, teach her not to play with her food. Again! � Darla stomped off and waited by a broken carriage. Her arms crossed and her mouth twisted. One eyebrow was raised challenging Angelus to get a move on it. So letting out a sigh he went over to his childe and took the dead and quickly stiffening body from her. �Come along now Dru. Your upsetting grandmother again. How many times have we asked you not to play with your food?�

Drucilla rolled her eyes at her sire and shook a finger at him. �Naughty, naughty. I know what you did. If you spoil my fun I�m going to have to tell.� Angelus growled at her, taking her arm harshly. �Stop with your nonsense. It�s getting a trifle old.� Dru giggled wildly as Angelus drug her over to Darla. �Here, you deal with her. I don�t have the patience tonight.� Angelus shoved Dru into Darla, making the older of the woman growl back at him. �Not in the mood? What do you mean you�re not in the mood? You�ve not been in the mood to do anything since we left Venice. I�m getting a little bored with your responses lately Angelus.� Drucilla whimpered a little, trying to distract their fighting to her. �Daddy hurt me. I expect him to be punished.� Darla and Angelus both whirled around and shouted. �Shut Up!� Drucilla frowned at them both and did just that.

Pushing Darla aside he started off in the night. �Come on, there�s some banquet tonight. Lots of upper crust society. I don�t want to miss this one.� Dru followed behind him clapping happily. �Sounds like a feast of plenty. And the queen loves those.� Darla rolled her eyes and followed as well. �Thrilling possibilities Angelus. That is if you come through this time.� Angelus turned around and grabbed her by the throat, anger pouring through his eyes. His thick Irish accent was rough as he hissed the words at her. � I�ll come through. I always come through. Don�t you forget it!� He let go of her like she was poison then regained his former pace. Drucilla looked back at the couple and frowned. �Don�t carry on so, we shall be late. All the party favors shall have spoiled by then.� Grumbles from her sire and grandsire could be heard as they trudged onward.

The party was not quite as subtle and quiet as Willow would have thought. Instead there were a constant stream of guests chattering about business and local news. Somewhere in the background she heard some violin music. The main focus of disscusion seemed to be about the recent killings in their town. Who was killed most recently and why the police had not found the suspects yet. Willow was almost sure she knew what was killing the people. It was getting a person to believe her that was going to be the hard part. She was not sure how people in this time period took to tales of demons and vampires.

�May I have this dance?�

Willow looked up from her up of punch to find a dashing stranger at her side with his arm extended. Her cheeks flushed as she took his arm. �Yes you may.� He led her to the dance floor where they twirled around gracefully. Willow found herself surprised to be doing so well at dances she�s never known before. William watched her from a staircase in the wings. One foot propped on a step and forgotten punch in one hand; he looked severely involved in watching her dance. She laughed and tossed her head back at something apparently funny that the young man had said.

�She�s magnificent you know William. Too much woman for you that much is obvious.�

William frowned at John Bergman, the town cobbler. He was a portly man, old in age and balding since he was a young man. Rumors had it he was rough with his wife, that�s what sent her to her grave so early. It was not an accident fall down the stairs. If William ever listened to rumors, that�s what he would have heard.

�You don�t say Mr. Bergman.� William continued to stare ahead at Willow. He was hoping that would distract the old coot into thinking he didn�t want to talk.

�I do say it William my boy. She�s from America I hear. You know how those American woman are?� Mr. Bergman punched William in the arm in jest. �No I don�t know how typical American woman are. Do you care to enlighten me? This one I assure you is not typical by any standard.� William asked him with a challenging glint in his blue eyes. The old man leaned in as though it were a secret. It was then that William smelled the liquor on his breath, making him stifle a bad face in respect the man evidently did not deserve. �They are easy to get in the sac young William.Buy them a few trinkets and tell em what they want to hear. Come on now lad, we know she�s been shaking up at your place. You can tell old Johnny, have ya had a go at her yet?� Mr. Bergman sent another jab to Williams ribs to make things all that more appalling. �I beg your pardon good sir. Even if the lady and I had been together do you think I would dishonor her by telling you? Good night Mr. Bergman.�

�Oh fine then William, be a pansy your whole life. Who gives a damn?� The portly man contented himself by chasing one of the young maids to the kitchen while William crossed the room to get away from him.

Willow glided on the dance floor more gracefully then she could have hoped for. Micheal Cunningham swept her in circles and dips till she thought she would be drunk from them. Meanwhile William watched with awe as the young man danced with his date.

"Micheal you are going to make me dizzy. Where did you learn to dance like this?" The music ended then. Micheal walked Willow to the edge of the ball room. "My mother taught me all I know about dancing Miss.Rosenburg. Its a trifle hot in here. Would you care for some punch?" Willow fanned herself quickly trying to cool down. "Yes please. Its from all the dancing I'm sure." Before the young man walked away he winked at her and smiled. "No Miss I beg to differ, its simply from you." Willow blushed at his retreating back. William took that chance to join her then.

"Are you having a nice time?"

"Oh its wonderful. I've never danced like that in all my life." Willow stared at the dance floor which was flowing with woman in extravegant ball gowns being led around by men in tails. "It sure beats the Bronze." She said out loud. "The what?" William looked most curiously at her. "Oh nothing. It's a um...tavern back home. Lots of dancing and singing."

William was about to ask her to dance when Micheal returned then. "Here you are Miss Rosenburg." Willow accepted the cup gratefully. "Oh thanks. I'm so needing this. Micheal this is William. William this is Micheal." The two young men quickly shook hands while they glared at each other. "We've met already miss." William agreed with him crossly. "Yes in medical school I believe?"

Oblivious Willow smiled at them both. "Oh? You guys got to be study buddies?"

"Something like that." William said. Micheal stood closer to Willow. William took that cue and bid Willow goodnight before leaving them alone. "Whats wrong with him?" Willow sat her punch down on a nearby table as Micheal offered her his arm to dance again. "Don't worry about him miss. Lets enjoy tonight before its over." Eagerly Willow nodded and joined him on the dance floor for a waltz.