Chapter 1 – Those eyes

I did not know the first thing about love – until I met Aurora. A 17-year-old elegant girl, originally from Florence but London was the place I met her.

I was with my parents at yet another ball where they wanted me to meet a girl I could marry and then finally make my parents proud. I was polite, friendly and did all the right things – I danced with the right girls, I small-talked with the right people and I told with pride about how terrifying, just the right amount so it wouldn't scare the women; it was to be a soldier. I was the perfect man for all the girls – I came from a wealthy family, I had the looks, I was polite and the list just continues. I had the chance to meet the right girl, well I did meet the right girls often, and they were perfect – just not perfect for me.

As I sat down enjoying a glass of champagne and resting me feet from the waltz – I saw the most beautiful girl walk through the ballroom. She was not tall, but small and elegant, like a fairy, her long chocolate brown hair, curled so delicately down from her angelic face and fell down her shoulders so elegant, her slim but curvy figure, so childish yet the body of a woman. And her eyes. The Lapis Lazuli eyes, the most beautiful color of blue I had ever seen. All wrapped in a beautiful ice blue gown which made her creamy white skin glow like she was an actual angel. This might just be another girl for the rest of the room, but for me – she was the one.

"She is from Florence, that poor girl. Her parents died, tragic story" And of course the women were already gossiping about her, but I couldn't quite get myself to stop listening.

"Oh no, that poor thing! So what is she doing here in London?"

"She is living with her uncle, I think he is trying to get her married of quickly, apparently…." I was transfixed to my seat when she looked my way and I didn't hear the rest of the sentence. Married, it could be me. She could become Mrs. Jasper Whitlock; she could be the mother of our perfect little children, blue eyes and honey blond hair.

Hypnotized by her look I stood up and made my way though the crowd, as young pretty girls thought I was approaching them and only got the;

"Excuse me" and I walked past them, I could see the disappointment in their eyes. But I did not care, I had to meet this girl, otherwise the thought would haunt me the rest of my life. I had no idea how much this girl would actually haunt me, I was young, careless and didn't know which horrors there really where in this world.

As the gentleman I was, I poked her on the shoulder and asked her in my nonchalant voice.

"May I have this dance"

She turned puzzled around and stared at me with her beautiful eyes surrounded by her long thick eyelashes, and blinked in bewilderment

"Sure, signore" She said with the most beautiful voice, sounding like bells chiming and angel singing all at the same time and just making it sound even more unique with her Italian accent.

I took her small hand and led her out to the dance floor and we started dancing like it was what we were born to do, I could see the jealous looks we got, the men wanted to be me and girls wanted to be her. She started giggling, an even more beautiful sound than before. That was when I decided I wanted to live for that sound.

"What is your name, mia bella" I said with my best Italian, hoping I said it correct. She looked down to the floor, blushing, she was clearly not used to this kind of attention back in Florence. She looked in my eyes and I in hers.

"ehm, Aurora" she said shyly

"What a beautiful name" I said falling deeper in love the longer I looked in her eyes, it was like she was compelling me, like a force of nature. I was powerless; this girl had entire control over me when she looked me in the eyes.

"I am named after my grandmother and the Roman goddess of dawn" oh goddess, how they picked that name just right. As we swirled around, staring into each other's eyes, time flew by and more and more people left the dance floor. I took her hand and led her towards the balcony.

"Come, I want to show you something"

As we stepped out on the balcony, she looked around. There was roses entangled in the railing and lit candlelight's at a small table in the corner. I led her over to one of the chairs and pull it out for her so she could sit down and then I sat at the chair across from her. She started blinking and a tear fell down her cheek. She closed her eyes trying to hide it and taking a deep breath.

"Are you all right Aurora?" I asked suddenly confused, thinking the evening through if I did anything wrong.

"Did I… insult you in any way?"

"No, no, you have been very sweet. I just thought of my.." I sentence cutted short by a sob

"…my parents"

"Oh. I am so sorry, I did not know." I said putting my hand on the table for her to hold. After a while of silent sobbing she took

"Thank you. You are very kind, and you will make a woman very happy one day"

"But I was thinking if you would want to see me again?" She looked into the distance and shook her head sadly

"I can not do that to you. I am damaged. Not any good for you, I will just end up hurting you – and I would not do that to you."

"I do not care. When I saw you, it was.. I do not know, but I know you felt it too! I could see it in your eyes! They way you looked at me" I said frustrated with myself for letting my dream girl slip through my fingers just as quickly as I had had her.

"I can not. You.." She said with a sigh without being able to finish, looking like she was into much pain to even speak.

"I will give you time, I have plenty of time. Everything for you" I knew it was crazy; I had always made fun of the people telling how it was love at first sight. But something was different with this girl, even though we had only spoken a few sentences it was when I looked into her eyes I saw something different, something other people never really saw, they didn't look deep enough. I had seen something that no one else had ever seen, and now I could not let it go again. I cared too much, I wanted to let that pain that other people saw, go away. I wanted to be the one made her into the happy carefree girl, she once was. I walked over to her and wiped her tears away with my thumb.

"I will make you happy, I swear that I will Aurora" She started giggling and biting her lower lip. She took the red rose from the table and looked intensely on it, pointing he fingers at the thorns.

"I know you will, Mr. Whitlock"

"Wait, how do you know my name, I don't recall telling you that?" I said suddenly embarrassed by this mistake, how could I forget such an important thing – and I thought I was a gentleman.

"Mr. Langley told me, nice man." She said quietly

"Oh, well I am very sorry I did not think of telling you. Even though it is no excuse I think I found myself lost in your beauty. And you can just call me Jasper, no need to be formal." She started blushing as I had said the compliment and looked down at her hands again. We just sat there in silence with the music playing in the background, her solemnly staring at the rose and me at her. When she suddenly spun her head up

"I have to go"

"No you can not go."

"I have to, my uncle is waiting" She said almost panicky. Before she could run off, I got hold of her hand

"Will I see you again?" I almost whispered in anticipation

"I.. I will have to check with my uncle. I can not promise you anything" And just like that she went through the door and mingled in the crowd of the ballroom.

I just stayed outside thinking about Aurora; I could not quite shake the feeling of her away. Some part of me screamed to go get her while another part screamed to run and never return. Of course I choose my first instinct; Starting with a rose.

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So how was the first chapter? Please review, I will be very happy if you do! :D