And...
And what a busy social season it turned out to be. Elaine was beginning to receive invitations of her own. They were delivered to Lady Katherine who then gave them to Elaine. If they happened to coincide with her stepfamily’s engagements, she accepted. She would help them with their hair then hurry off to Lady Katherine’s where Holly would help her. Mostly it was just afternoon tea, she didn’t dare take more than an hour or two. But when she received an invitation to the Royal Harvest Masque, Lady Katherine insisted that she attend.
“How can I?” Elaine asked staring at the invitation as if it would disappear if she took her eyes off of it. “It’s a real ball. It will last all night. Everyone will be wearing the fanciest clothes they can get.” She suddenly gasped. “If it’s as important as you say it is, Lady Honoria and my stepsisters are sure to be there.”
“Calm yourself, child.” Lady Katherine said smiling. “We can figure out a way. I will help you. It might actually be easier if they do attend. You can simply leave after they are gone and you wont have to worry about excuses. They wont recognize you behind your mask. You’ll have to leave before midnight, though. That’s when everyone removes their masks and goes on dancing. That will also give you time to come back here, change your clothes and return home for at least half a nights sleep before tomorrows tasks.”
“How can I ever thank you?” Elaine asked, tears stinging the back of her eyes.
“Stuff and nonsense!” said Lady Katherine, enveloping the girl in a hug. “Your parents trusted you to me when they made me your godmother. You wouldn’t want me to let them down would you?”
The last two weeks of October were a blur of activity in the Chesterfield household. Lady Honoria was in such a dither about the upcoming masque that she became volatile and unpredictable. The servants tried to avoid her, but that was not possible for Elaine. It seemed as if she was afraid to let her stepdaughter out of her sight, as indeed she was.
You see, her social circle had begun to overlap that of Lady Katherine and although she had not yet been introduced to the ‘illustrious personage‘, she had heard of her and her lovely goddaughter, Lady Elaine.
But she could find nothing to substantiate her vague suspicion. Not even enough to articulate such an idea. But she just couldn’t shake the feeling that Cinderella was up to something. Still, she was with her all day when she was home, and if Lady Honoria should go calling, Cinderella was always there when she returned, looking as ragged and dirty as ever. If only she wasn’t so cheerful.
And Elaine was cheerful, although her stepmother’s attentions were wearing on her. During Lady Honoria’s frequent afternoon outings, Elaine was being fitted for a fantastic costume at Lady Katherine’s home. If she was unable to visit Lady Katherine, she sent word with whoever was going to market that day. And sometimes Holly would come with a message from Her Ladyship. But she was kept busy. Lady Honoria had dressmakers in nearly every morning, and Elaine was obliged to help the three of them in and out of their new finery. When the costumes were finally ordered, Abigail and Beatrice felt they must try every new hairstyle they saw, and were constantly sending Elaine for different combs and hairdressings.
“Try stringing pearls through it” said Abigail
“No. It must be ribbons and flowers.” said Beatrice.
“Ribbons and flowers?” was her incredulous reply. “I’m going to be a mermaid. Pearls and seashells is what I need.”
“Why are you going as a mermaid?” Beatrice asked sulkily “You’re afraid of water.” “Well it’s not as if the Royal Masque is going to be held in the harbor. I don’t have to swim to wear a costume.” Abigail snapped. “For that matter, why are you going as a bird? Heights aren’t exactly your favorite thing.”
At a loss for words, Beatrice just stuck out her tongue then went back to her hair.
“Well, I suppose I must have feathers, but a few ribbons and flowers would not be amiss. After all, birds make their nests out of those things.”
If Beatrice heard what Abigail said about bird’s nests she ignored it.
Finally the big day was here. The whole day was spent getting ready for the party. Right after the noon meal, the ladies were treated to milk baths scented with fragrant oils. Then they retired to their rooms to rest up for the evening’s festivities. Instead of the respite this implied, the servants were kept busy bringing them jewelry and refreshment and delivering messages from each to the other. Elaine was understandably impatient for them to leave, so she tried to make sure that everything was perfect for her stepfamily. After tea, she dressed and powdered their hair into the elaborate styles they had decided on. She helped them into their sparkling costumes. The bluebird, the mermaid, and a gleaming golden rose. By seven they were ready. But then there were the last minute changes. “This necklace won’t do, I must have a different one. Cinderella! Go fetch my jewel box. Quickly girl, we mustn’t be late.” “Oh! I have broken my brooch. Isn’t there another I can use?” “I can’t fasten my cape over these wings!” “The coach is here.”
Finally, at a quarter to eight, Cinderella waved to the departing coach. Waiting just until they were out of sight, she ran to the stable where John had saddled a horse for her. When she arrived at Lady Katherine’s, Holly was waiting for her. They hurried to the now familiar guestroom. Although the bath had cooled somewhat, Holly put heated rocks into it to refresh it. There was no time for soaking, Elaine cleaned up as quickly as possible in the scented water. She had chosen a simple hairstyle because she knew that time would be precious. It wouldn’t do to be too late since she had to leave early. Her hair hung in smooth golden waves down her back, pulled back from her forehead and fastened with a jeweled clip. Then the costume. She was a blue and purple butterfly with silver threads stitched throughout the wings.
“How can I?” Elaine asked staring at the invitation as if it would disappear if she took her eyes off of it. “It’s a real ball. It will last all night. Everyone will be wearing the fanciest clothes they can get.” She suddenly gasped. “If it’s as important as you say it is, Lady Honoria and my stepsisters are sure to be there.”
“Calm yourself, child.” Lady Katherine said smiling. “We can figure out a way. I will help you. It might actually be easier if they do attend. You can simply leave after they are gone and you wont have to worry about excuses. They wont recognize you behind your mask. You’ll have to leave before midnight, though. That’s when everyone removes their masks and goes on dancing. That will also give you time to come back here, change your clothes and return home for at least half a nights sleep before tomorrows tasks.”
“How can I ever thank you?” Elaine asked, tears stinging the back of her eyes.
“Stuff and nonsense!” said Lady Katherine, enveloping the girl in a hug. “Your parents trusted you to me when they made me your godmother. You wouldn’t want me to let them down would you?”
The last two weeks of October were a blur of activity in the Chesterfield household. Lady Honoria was in such a dither about the upcoming masque that she became volatile and unpredictable. The servants tried to avoid her, but that was not possible for Elaine. It seemed as if she was afraid to let her stepdaughter out of her sight, as indeed she was.
You see, her social circle had begun to overlap that of Lady Katherine and although she had not yet been introduced to the ‘illustrious personage‘, she had heard of her and her lovely goddaughter, Lady Elaine.
But she could find nothing to substantiate her vague suspicion. Not even enough to articulate such an idea. But she just couldn’t shake the feeling that Cinderella was up to something. Still, she was with her all day when she was home, and if Lady Honoria should go calling, Cinderella was always there when she returned, looking as ragged and dirty as ever. If only she wasn’t so cheerful.
And Elaine was cheerful, although her stepmother’s attentions were wearing on her. During Lady Honoria’s frequent afternoon outings, Elaine was being fitted for a fantastic costume at Lady Katherine’s home. If she was unable to visit Lady Katherine, she sent word with whoever was going to market that day. And sometimes Holly would come with a message from Her Ladyship. But she was kept busy. Lady Honoria had dressmakers in nearly every morning, and Elaine was obliged to help the three of them in and out of their new finery. When the costumes were finally ordered, Abigail and Beatrice felt they must try every new hairstyle they saw, and were constantly sending Elaine for different combs and hairdressings.
“Try stringing pearls through it” said Abigail
“No. It must be ribbons and flowers.” said Beatrice.
“Ribbons and flowers?” was her incredulous reply. “I’m going to be a mermaid. Pearls and seashells is what I need.”
“Why are you going as a mermaid?” Beatrice asked sulkily “You’re afraid of water.” “Well it’s not as if the Royal Masque is going to be held in the harbor. I don’t have to swim to wear a costume.” Abigail snapped. “For that matter, why are you going as a bird? Heights aren’t exactly your favorite thing.”
At a loss for words, Beatrice just stuck out her tongue then went back to her hair.
“Well, I suppose I must have feathers, but a few ribbons and flowers would not be amiss. After all, birds make their nests out of those things.”
If Beatrice heard what Abigail said about bird’s nests she ignored it.
Finally the big day was here. The whole day was spent getting ready for the party. Right after the noon meal, the ladies were treated to milk baths scented with fragrant oils. Then they retired to their rooms to rest up for the evening’s festivities. Instead of the respite this implied, the servants were kept busy bringing them jewelry and refreshment and delivering messages from each to the other. Elaine was understandably impatient for them to leave, so she tried to make sure that everything was perfect for her stepfamily. After tea, she dressed and powdered their hair into the elaborate styles they had decided on. She helped them into their sparkling costumes. The bluebird, the mermaid, and a gleaming golden rose. By seven they were ready. But then there were the last minute changes. “This necklace won’t do, I must have a different one. Cinderella! Go fetch my jewel box. Quickly girl, we mustn’t be late.” “Oh! I have broken my brooch. Isn’t there another I can use?” “I can’t fasten my cape over these wings!” “The coach is here.”
Finally, at a quarter to eight, Cinderella waved to the departing coach. Waiting just until they were out of sight, she ran to the stable where John had saddled a horse for her. When she arrived at Lady Katherine’s, Holly was waiting for her. They hurried to the now familiar guestroom. Although the bath had cooled somewhat, Holly put heated rocks into it to refresh it. There was no time for soaking, Elaine cleaned up as quickly as possible in the scented water. She had chosen a simple hairstyle because she knew that time would be precious. It wouldn’t do to be too late since she had to leave early. Her hair hung in smooth golden waves down her back, pulled back from her forehead and fastened with a jeweled clip. Then the costume. She was a blue and purple butterfly with silver threads stitched throughout the wings.