By Sieran Lane in Fiction — Oct 2, 2023

Hidden Hearts

“You look so lovely tonight. Have no gentlemen claimed you for a dance yet?”

AI image generated by author via Nightcafe

Check out the chapter guide here.

Ada finished strapping the magic rocket to the fire engine. With haste, she tucked her present in her pocket. She had been waiting outside the manor for ages, and her blouse was uncomfortably tight.

Soon, the butler strode out. “I’m afraid Miss Jasmine still hasn’t returned.” He looked at Ada with pity. “You can come in to rest if you like.”

But Ada shook her head in defiance. “Thank you, Felix, but no thank you.” And she stalked away.

She trudged through the woods and back to the main road. If only she could drive a carriage herself! But at least she could afford to hire one. When the next vehicle rolled by, she waved her arm insistently until the fellow stopped. He blinked in confusion, and glanced about her, as if wondering why she wasn’t chaperoned.

Ada bit back a sarcastic remark and said, “Take me to the Diamond Cottage. I’ll pay you double if you can get me there before sundown.” She climbed into the carriage before the fellow could ask her any questions.

The driver opened and closed his mouth several times, then finally said, “The Diamond Cottage? Are you sure, ma’am?”

Ada tugged down her sleeves; it was a garment she had grown out of long ago. She quipped, “What? You think I’m a peasant and too unworthy to mingle with the lords and ladies?”

The man looked flustered. He stammered, “Of — of course not, ma’am.” He turned back to his horse, and began to drive.

When they got to the Diamond Cottage, the sun was about to set; the purple, red, and orange rays splashed across the sky. Ada paid the driver double, as she promised. He bowed and thanked her profusely, before he rushed off to his next customer.

Ada adjusted her garments. She wasn’t rich but she wasn’t poor, either. Nevertheless, when it came to dressing up for parties, even a surprise one, she didn’t have anything fancy enough for the occasion. Her simple violet ball gown would have to do.

When she reached the door to the Diamond Cottage, the butler on guard wasn’t as hospitable as Jasmine’s butler Felix. “Where’s your invitation?” he snarled.

She patted her smooth black hair in a nonchalant fashion. Ada tipped her nose up, like she had seen many highborn ladies do. “Here.” She retrieved a letter written by Jasmine’s older brother, Emmett. Ada had wheedled him until he gave in and wrote her a letter, since he had the connections to do so.

Moreover, she was sure that he would be kind enough to lend his sister’s friend a hand.

The butler tore her letter out of the envelope, and brought it close to his nose for reading. After a long while, he seethed and said, “Fine. You had Master Emmett’s help this time, but I know your sort. Social climbers. You don’t know your place.”

In a snide voice, Ada said, “Know my place? Then do you know yours?”

That was a low blow, but the bastard deserved it. The butler was rendered speechless, at least for a second. He waved her in. “Get inside before I lose my patience.”

She shot him a wide, victorious smile and sauntered in.

In the ballroom, there was so much fuss and pomp, with overdone decorations, pastries, and various drinks. Ada stared around at the company she was in. So many aristocrats prettied up for the occasion. More than a few women looked at her with contempt. Not that Ada cared. There was only one woman whose approval she craved.

Jasmine had no idea about this party that several people, including Ada, had concocted for her. Jasmine often ignored her birthday when it came along, and this time, she had disappeared on another trip without telling any friends or family.

Ada waited anxiously in this extravagant room. She felt foolish for believing that Jasmine would catch wind of the party, even after she and Emmett had sent countless scouts to find her.

But just when she was about to give up, the doors burst open and the room fell silent. There was Jasmine, with her raven hair expertly curled. She wore a gown of rich blue silk — and she leant on the arm of a gentleman.

The gentleman, George, was clearly infatuated with her. His eyes never left her face as Jasmine talked about whatever intrigued her in the moment.

Jasmine’s eyes lit up when she saw Ada. She moved forward and embraced Ada, while George looked on with a strange unease. Jasmine kissed Ada’s cheek. “You look so lovely tonight. Have no gentlemen claimed you for a dance yet?”

Ada shot her a dirty look. “I would turn them down if they asked.”

George sneered. “With your rough manners, no man would ask you.”

Ada smiled and stared him down. George gave her a spiteful look and wrapped his arm around Jasmine’s waist. “Come now, Miss Jasmine. You promised me a dance.”

Jasmine cast Ada one last glance, before she shrugged and let that fool carry her away.

If Ada were a man, she would be able to whisk Jasmine away, too.

***

Ada sat on one of the chairs to the side of the room, lonely even in the midst of this grand party. Yet, almost an hour later, somebody else sat down next to her. “Ada, may I have a dance?”

It was Emmett, with his hand outstretched in invitation. His dark brown hair was just as lustrous and well-combed as his sister’s.

Ada was about to say no, but she changed her mind last minute and nodded. She did owe him for agreeing to host Jasmine’s party at the prestigious Diamond Cottage. As the two twirled around the ballroom, their faces grew closer, until Ada could whisper, “Is it ready yet?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he whispered back. He flashed his gallant smile. “But before we do anything else, would you care to join me for some dessert?”

If this was any other man, Ada would be tempted to smack his face. But it was Emmett, and he was harmless, so she acquiesced and let him lead her to the loaded table.

All around them, ladies stared at her with envy, no doubt questioning how such a lowly, messy wretch such as Ada could have charmed one of the richest and handsomest bachelors in the county. If only they knew the truth.

Emmett placed a small bowl of pudding on her plate. “Try it,” he said, his green eyes glinting with mischief.

She smiled. Jasmine was lucky to have a brother like him. Ada often wished that Emmett would be her sibling. “What’s inside?” She poked at the white, glistening mush.

He laughed. “Just try it and tell me.”

Gingerly, Ada spooned a bit into her mouth. It tasted oddly like plain cheese and milk. But it was more heavenly than any pudding she had ever enjoyed.

As Emmett continued to give her an indulgent, affable look, they suddenly heard a boom outside. Everyone around them screamed and strained to leave the building. Ada and Emmett took their time to follow the crowd out.

Ada was gratified to see the fireworks she had helped build soar through the sky. She marveled at the bursts of flowers, stars, and diamonds. At the end, the fireworks displayed, word by word:

Ada, I will always love you.

The crowd erupted into outrage. Startled, Ada pulled Emmett aside to hide behind a bush, lest someone see them. Thankfully, it was dark now, with only moonlight to guide them, since the fireworks were gone.

She hissed, with sorrow lacing her voice, “Did you do this? That was supposed to spell ‘Jasmine,’ not ‘Ada.’ ”

Emmett hugged her shoulders and whispered, “I’m sorry, Ada. I knew I was foolish and reckless, but I wanted to give you a pleasant surprise.”

Ada countered angrily, “It’s not pleasant at all. You know that Jasmine does not, and never will, love me the way I love her. Writing that message in the sky only exacerbates my pain about what I can never have.”

Emmett was silent for a moment. Then he said, “That message in the sky wasn’t from Jasmine. It was from me.”

Realization and horror plunged into Ada’s chest, but Emmett had already dashed off into the night.

She had been so consumed by her own grief, that she couldn’t see her friend’s.

She chased after him.