I like to call this one: Meg has no chill but enjoy!

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Imogen Cadwell

Even from within the lavish carriage, Imogen Cadwell could still hear the bubbling laughter and music echoing out from the stone manor. It poured out of the windows, the doors, into an enchanting symphony that only spurred the excitement within the fair-skinned girl's heart.

Imogen glanced out from beneath her pinned blonde waves, peering out the carriage's window. Everywhere she looked, the best and highest of London's upper society were milling about, climbing the stone stairs into the illuminated manor. She couldn't bear the allure anymore, she needed to be within that castle or else she just might burst.

"I can't tell if it's the excitement making you look so pale or your corset making it difficult for you to breathe, cousin," Came the masculine voice of Imogen's male companion for the night.

Imogen rolled her jade eyes, shooting a look at Kaden Gray seated on the carriage bench opposite her. Her cousin, a reputable and respected businessman in London, gave her his signature smile: one that radiated charm, but was laced with a troublemaker's allure. He was donning a tuxedo for the event, his fingers tightening the white bow-tie at the base of neck.

"Funny," Imogen mused, her voice airy. She wrung her gloved hands, her heeled shoe clicking against the wooden carriage floor beneath her scarlet skirts. "Can we get out yet?"

Kaden held up a finger, as if the gesture alone would stop his eager cousin, and glanced up, as if he were waiting. Imogen gave the boy a funny look, straining her ears to listen, but there she heard it: the neigh of the horses pulling the carriage as they stopped, the descent of the coachman.

Before Imogen knew it, the door to the carriage was swung open. Their coachman, a long-time friend of Imogen and Kaden's family, smiled at his charges and held a hand out for Imogen to take. "Miss Cadwell."

Imogen slipped back into her demure persona like she wrapped her silky shawl around her shoulders. Her rosy lips curled into a smirk, and she reached out to take the coachman's hand. "Thank you," She flashed him a thankful smile as she stepped out of the carriage.

Her gaze immediately averted to the manor, illuminated with some ethereal aura. A red carpet stretched from the threshold all the way down the steps, an invitation in velvet for all to approach.

"Are you ready?" Kaden asked from her side, holding out his arm for Imogen to take. He'd pulled on his cloak, the fabric draping down his shoulders. His top hat rested atop his chestnut hair.

Imogen beamed, slipping her hand around her cousin's. "Immensely."

Kaden smiled at his cousin's happiness, then averted his emerald gaze to the manor steps a few meters before them. And then, they embarked on their way.

--

Warmth filled the manor as soon as Imogen stepped into the threshold. Kaden escorted her through the foyer until a servant darted up to them, offering to take their coats and hats. After, the cousins continued on through the stream of guests, following the music, their only map as to where the ballroom was.

"Woah," Both Kaden and Imogen murmured as they reached the ballroom, standing atop the grand dual staircase leading into it.

The vast room was gilded with gold, ornate with gems and basins of flowers lining the ring of balconies ringing it, as well as the staircases. A crowd of people were dancing in the center of the marble floor, others milling about in a ring around the dancers. A full orchestra was perched in the largest balcony opposite the one Kaden and Imogen and the other guests were standing upon.

It was the most beautiful thing Imogen had seen in her 20 years of life.

Kaden and Imogen glanced at one another, and Imogen could see that her cousin now shared the same excitement that she had harbored. It flared in his eyes like sparks, igniting his emerald irises.

"Let's go!" Kaden whispered, hurriedly weaving through people to the top of the staircase.

Imogen couldn't stop looking around as she and Kaden descended the staircase. It was like everything was shiny and new, which to a certain degree it was, but Imogen wanted to capture it all in her memories, to savor until the next ball.

"Kaden!" A voice called just as Imogen and Kaden reached the foot of the stairs and moved aside so as not to block the other guests.

A figure rushed towards them, a streak of blonde and black and white, until it skidded to a stop before Imogen and Kaden. It was a boy, red-cheeked with fluster but bright eyed.

"Oh, my...Reese?" Kaden's emerald eyes widened in astonishment.

The boys laughed incredulously, surging forward for a swift yet firm embrace.

"How long has it been?" Reese asked, his sapphire eyes shining with laughter.

"Three years, I would say!" Kaden exclaimed, still beaming. "Why didn't you say you were back?"

"I just got in yesterday, I hardly had time! Forgive me, but look at how fate has brought us together again, old friend," Reese motioned around the ball.

Imogen cleared her throat. The two boys, despite their reunion and the music echoing around the room, averted their gaze to her as if they'd forgotten she was there.

"Kaden, do you care to introduce me to your friend?" Imogen asked softly, her eyes flicking over this Reese.

"Ah, right, well," Her cousin cleared his throat. "Imogen, this is my good friend, Mister Reese Hale of the London Times. Reese, this is—"

"Imogen Cadwell," Imogen took the initiative, stretching out her black gloved hand to Kaden's friend. "Cousin to Kaden Gray, and charmed to meet you, Mister Hale."

Reese blinked once, his vision darting from Imogen's outstretched hand to her jade eyes. "The pleasure's all mine, Miss Cadwell."

He continued to stand there.

Imogen tried to fight the silly smile on her face, but waved her hand a bit to get Reese's attention. He seemed to be lost in her eyes, his lips subtly parted.

"Oh!" Reese exclaimed, his cheeks red. He bent down, taking Imogen's hand in his, and kissed the back of it. Electricity arced up Imogen's arm at that, and she smiled a little bigger as Reese pulled away.

"Reese Hale, if you run off like that one more time--!" An American voice drawled from nearby, snagging the trio's attention.

Instantly, Reese paled. "I am oblivious today. My apologies, Tessa."

Imogen quirked a brow, unsure as to where the voice was coming from, but a girl came sashaying forward up to Reese. She had chocolatey hair that was half pinned up, with a silver comb at the back of her head. She wore a black draping choker necklace that complimented the tight black bodice of her dress. The royal blue skirts of her gown swished and hissed against the marble floor as she walked, stopping before the trio. However, most significant about this American girl was the look on her face: kind, yet proud, with shimmering turquoise irises.

Imogen glanced at Kaden naturally and stifled a laugh at seeing the gob smacked look on her cousin's face.

"Kaden, Miss Cadwell, allow me to introduce my colleague from New York, Miss Thalassa Brennan." Reese motioned a sheepish hand towards the girl now giving him a funny look. "This is Kaden Gray, and his cousin, Imogen Cadwell."

Imogen opened her mouth to speak, but Kaden beat her to it. Her cousin reached for Miss Brennan's gloved hand, bending down politely. "Miss Brennan, it's truly an honor to meet you," He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

Miss Brennan smiled down at Kaden, and held his gaze. "The pleasure's mine, Mister Gray. But please, call me Tessa."

"Tessa," Kaden spoke the word like a sigh of relief. "Well, if I am inclined to call you Tessa, it would only be proper to address me as Kaden."

Tessa released a small airy laugh, her hand still in Kaden's.

"Kaden, you're going to become a hunchback if you stay like that any longer," Imogen rolled her jade eyes at her cousin.

Kaden's cheeks burned upon realizing that he'd been bent over with Tessa's hand close to his lips for longer than was called for. He straightened up quickly, clearing his throat.

"So, Tessa, what brings you to London?" Imogen asked, an edge of curiosity in her voice.

"Well, I was Reese's guide back in New York and we became hesitant friends after a while," Tessa laughed charmingly. "Then, he mentioned that there was an opening in the London office and insisted to his bosses that I take it and here I am."

"So...you and Mister Hale are...?" Imogen gave Tessa a look that only girls would understand, given Reese and Kaden's utter confusion.

"Oh, heavens, no!" Tessa exclaimed. "He's practically my brother."

"Hey!" Reese protested.

Tessa met his gaze full on. "Hey, what?"

"Well, regardless of reason, I hope that tonight is not the only time you may grace us with your presence, Tessa," Kaden beamed.

Tessa glanced back at Kaden, a glint in her sea-green eyes. "You and I alike, Kaden."

"Well! The band's beginning to play a new set," Reese motioned a hand out to Imogen, a charming look in his sapphire eyes. "Would you be so inclined to honor me with a dance, Miss Cadwell?"

Imogen blinked in a stupor. She recovered her composure, smiling demurely. She reached out and rested her hand in Reese's.

"I would love to."