Chapter Eleven – Cinderella
Carrying a small box with her grandmother’s jewels she wished to wear that night up the stairs, Beth wondered about how differently her life could have been. If her mother hadn’t left, Beth would call one of these expensively furnished bedchambers her own. She would at this minute be reading herself to attend the masked ball downstairs and not assist with the preparations.
Although a part of her could very well understand her mother’s motivation to leave as well as pride herself on her mother’s strength to do so, there was another part that grumbled at that which she had lost. She could have grown up in a family…with a grandmother. She could have grown up as a lady of the ton with every opportunity available to her.
And yet, the rational part of her mind reminded her of the earl’s disinterest in his daughter, the way he dictated her life, the way he did not place any worth in his wife’s opinion.
Had her mother been right to leave? Or had it been a rash decision in a moment of dissatisfaction?
And yet, if her mother hadn’t left, the earl would not have re-married and her half-brother and half-sister would never have existed.
Thoughts like these had kept Beth awake all night.
Although the dowager−her grandmother!−had explained as much as she could, more questions still spun in circles in Beth’s head. If only Mrs. Hill had not interrupted them when she had.
Half the afternoon had passed when the stern housekeeper had entered the drawing room, looking for Beth, no doubt furious with her for not reporting to her after finishing with the upstairs rooms. However, to Beth’s great relief, the dowager had reacted promptly, for she herself had not been able to form a coherent thought.
“Mrs. Hill, how marvellous that you’ve hired this bright, young woman,” the dowager had beamed, clasping her hands together. “Please, assign her to my personal care as I have longed for a quick-witted companion.”
Although Mrs. Hill had seemed more than displeased to have another member of her staff removed from under her direct supervision, naturally, she had complied without argument, bowing her head in deference and leaving the room without another word.
Beth’s grandmother had then turned to her, assuring her that she would be taken care of and that all would be well.
However, from that moment on, the rest of the staff had looked at her with a mixture of envy and confusion. Although she continued to share Sally’s room, her time was now spent in the dowager’s company, assisting with tea or fetching her shawl, relatively light work compared to the heavy burden the rest of the staff had to shoulder.
Beth could only imagine their grumbled misgivings. Now, she was not a part of either world, and she hardly knew how to act.
“Don’t look so glum, my dear,” her grandmother chided with an affectionate smile the moment Beth entered her chamber. “Today is a day to be remembered. Mark my words.”
Beth frowned, noticing the gleam in her grandmother’s eyes as she carefully set down the jewellery box. “Of course, it is,” she said, eyeing the dowager with care. “Today is the masked ball. I only wish I could attend…especially now, knowing who I truly am.”
The smile on her grandmother’s face grew wider. “I had hoped you would say that, my dear little Beth.”
Beth shook her head, unable to hide the grin that drew up the corners of her mouth. “I’m not little any more, dear Grandmother.”
“Oh, would you indulge an old woman?” her grandmother chided. “I’ve not had the pleasure of calling you Little Beth these past two decades. I have a lot of years to make up for.”
Truly touched by her grandmother’s open portrayal of affection, Beth nodded. “There’s something on your mind, isn’t there?” As strange as it was, Beth felt as though she had known the dowager for years.
“You’re very observant, my dear. Before I answer your question, though, allow me to ask one of my own: do you know how to dance, my little Beth? ”
A soft smile came to Beth's features as one of her most treasured memories surfaced. Sighing longingly, she looked at her grandmother. “I do not believe I am very proficient, but, yes, a little. My mother taught me. ” At her words, a warm glow began to shine on her grandmother's face. “On cold winter nights, we used to dance around the house. Why do you ask? ”
Rising from the armchair by the window, the dowager crossed the room and opened the large armoire located at the back wall. Reaching inside, she drew forth a large dress bag and carefully laid it down on the bed. Then her eyes shifted to Beth, a youthful twinkle in them. “I thought you might want to see your gown?”
“My gown?” Beth whispered as she stepped closer, her heart hammering in her chest as her grandmother’s intentions slowly became clear. “You cannot be serious. I could never attend. Everyone will know that I’m not−”
“Have you forgotten that it’s a masked ball, Little Beth?”
“No, but…” Reaching out her hand, Beth carefully slid open the dress bag, revealing a breath-taking gown in the deepest azure she had ever seen. The fabric shone with vibrancy, and a small gasp escaped her lips.
“I thought it would complement your golden hair,” her grandmother said, coming to stand beside her, and allowing her fingers to run through Beth’s swaying tresses. “Will you wear it?”
Torn between the desire to attend the ball and a new fear that she would not be able to return to her old life after having tasted that which had been denied her, Beth hesitated. “What if someone recognises me?”
“Leave this to me, my dear,” her grandmother counselled. “I promise I shall keep an eye on you the whole evening, and should someone truly suspect anything, I will interfere.” Pulling Beth’s hands into hers, she met her eyes. “So, what do you say, Little Beth?”
Closing her eyes for but a moment, Beth felt a slow smile spread across her face before she had any chance of intercepting it. In answer, she heard her grandmother’s delighted chuckle and upon opening her eyes found the older woman’s face aglow with joy. “Promise that you will watch over me.”
Squeezing her hands gently, her grandmother nodded. “Of course, I will. Nothing could keep me from your side.” Then she held out the matching mask to her. “Now, let’s transform you into the lady you were born to be.”
***
Dressed in the stunning ball gown her grandmother had provided, feeling its smooth fabric on her skin, Beth followed the dowager out of her chamber. As her heart hammered in her chest and her palms became moist, Beth craned her neck, convinced a member of the family would turn down the corridor any second and discover them…discover her.
“Don’t fidget like that, my dear,” her grandmother chided, apparently not worried in the least as she guided her granddaughter down the back corridor toward the servants’ staircase. Now that the ball had already begun, the upstairs floors lay deserted, every available hand downstairs, tending to the guests. “A lady doesn’t fidget.”
“At least not in public,” Beth grumbled, her initial concern blown away by the excitement that now coursed through her veins. She was truly attending the earl’s masked ball! It was unbelievable!
And yet, Beth wondered if it were truly such a strange thought. After all, did she not belong here? Only no one knew except for her grandmother, and from what the dowager had said, Beth knew that no one was ever to find out.
Her grandmother chuckled, “You seem to have an intuitive grasp of the life of the ton. Do not worry. If you remember to play the part, everything shall be fine.”
Beth took a deep breath, willing her trembling hands to still, and a smile came over her face as she carefully lifted the front of her dress from her feet as she followed her grandmother down the stairs. The lower they came, the louder the noise grew. Now, at least, no one would hear the pounding of her heart!
“Your mask is in place,” her grandmother said, once more looking her over, a delighted smile coming to her lips as she dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes through the mask that covered her own face. “You look beautiful. I’m so grateful I have the opportunity to see you like this.”
“As am I,” Beth whispered, stepping into the warm embrace her grandmother offered before a stab of regret shot through her heart. “I only wish Mother were here as well.”
“I know, my dear.” Stepping back, her grandmother looked at her kindly, her own eyes slightly moist with tears. “As do I.” Then she swallowed. “But tonight is a night to enjoy, to smile, to laugh, to be happy.” Gently, she brushed a lock from Beth’s cheek. “Tomorrow we will mourn her again.”
Taking a deep breath, Beth nodded. After all, her mother had always wanted the best for her, hadn’t she?
“Wait here for one minute,” the dowager said, glancing down the short corridor into the ballroom. “I’ll go ahead; then you follow. But don’t seek me out. Mingle and enjoy yourself and don’t worry. I’ll keep my eyes on you.”
Nodding, Beth watched her grandmother enter the large ballroom and felt her own feet begin to tap in rhythm with the music. Smiling couples twirled past her not too far away, and Beth could see the same joy and excitement on their faces that she felt in her own heart. This was truly a night to be remembered!
“You can do this,” Beth whispered to herself when the minute was up. Eyes sweeping over the glittering lights and colours, Beth slowly put one foot in front of the other, a strange sense of awe engulfing her as she stepped into the ballroom.
Across the dance floor, she spotted her grandmother, making her rounds, chatting with several guests here and there. However, every other minute her eyes would drift over and meet Beth’s, and an encouraging smile would light up her face.
Temporarily overwhelmed, Beth stepped up to the refreshment table and procured herself a drink, feeling suddenly parched. The fresh lemonade felt heavenly on her tongue, and her nerves began to relax. Here and there, she caught someone’s eyes, and for a moment, her heart would skip a beat. However, no one approached her, and when only a hint of curiosity came to that person’s face, she stepped back to the side of the room, determined to observe the proceedings for a little while before daring to join them.
Slightly moving along to the music, Beth could barely keep herself from striding forward and asking the next available gentleman to lead her onto the dance floor. Of course, that would be highly inappropriate and would undoubtedly draw more attention than was good under any circumstances. But oh, how she longed to dance!
As her eyes continued to follow the dancers around, she suddenly found that she wasn’t the only one watching. Across the large ballroom on the other side of the dance floor, stood a young gentleman, his blond hair smoothed back, a stray lock falling in his face, a charming contrast to his otherwise simple and yet elegant black mask. He stood tall next to another gentleman of darker shade, who bore a rather annoyed scowl.
When the blond-haired gentleman saw her looking, he almost imperceptibly leant forward, slightly squinting his eyes as though wanting to see better.
A delightful heat shot into Beth’s cheeks when his eyes remained firmly fixed on hers, and a charming smile came to his lips, a silent greeting from across the room that made Beth’s toes curl. Although he was strikingly handsome, it was something in the way he looked at her that made her catch her breath.
As though she were the one he had been looking for for a long time and now that he had found her, his heart rejoiced at his good fortune.
It was an incredible feeling, and Beth could hardly keep herself from walking over, pushing dancing couples out of her way to get to his side. Again, that would surely draw unwanted attention.
However, the temptation that had so unexpectedly arisen before her was almost too much to resist.