She'd secured her future... well, mostly. There was still time to change one's mind even after signing a contract. But she didn't want to. Amelia Mason wanted to end the wait and just get married, and then they could go about their lives as if nothing was out of the norm. The servants were placing bets on whether she would lose her innocence before the wedding. She'd heard them talking when she was wandering about to explore the mansion further now that it was hers to do with what she wanted. She would soon enough.

The dark-haired woman was sitting there at her dressing table, looking at her reflection with unease. She was still not used to dressing this way, she mused as she gazed at the elegant gown for the party she had informed Nate about that she'd gotten a last minute invitation to. She was now dressed in her first ballgown. It was absolutely stunning, and it was a color that would shock her father... Crimson. The modiste was rather proud of herself for the creation of this one, with the elegant puff of the sleeves and the fall of the skirts. Her hair was curled and put up in a simple but elegant coif, flowers pinned about in her hair.

Jezebel. Whore. 

She pulled on her silk gloves, pulling the cuffs up to her upper arms. Then she exited the bedroom and headed for the stairs, this time not caring whether Na-- Mister Appleton was already there or not. She would not, could not, think of him the same way after the kisses they shared. Her cheeks went almost as crimson as the gorgeous gown. She would not be letting him close again, could not let him addle her senses so. Of course, all thought fled when her gaze lifted and found a familiar figure at the bottom of the grand staircase, assuming it was Nate.