To Save a Kingdom

Preface

I struggled to keep my balance under the weight of my skirts. I wondered if Lila had sewn bricks into the fabric as a joke to see how long I would last.
Lila impatiently poked me in the back with a hairpin.

"If you would just stand up straight we could be done by now." She impatiently growled.

I mumbled a sorry earning another poke with a hairpin. Finally the last pin was in place.

"You could earn a place of honor down in the dungeons." I told her. "I hear they are looking for interrogators. Just take a hairpin with you and they would give you all the information you needed."

"Aww!" She gushed. "You're so cute when you're angry!"

I scowled and turned my back on her to look at my appearance. The dress was uncomfortable. The cap sleeves and square neckline showed too much skin for my tastes. If Lila could have had her way I would have worn a dress that would have made this one look like a nuns habit. Even though it was uncomfortable I was grateful she let me have my way.

I walked towards the door earning a high pitched screech. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm going to the ball." I replied as I heaved my skirts toward the exit. Her wide eyes were zeroed in on my feet. I silently cursed at myself. Lila had spotted my boots.

"You can't wear those hideous things to a dance!"

"What else am I supposed to wear?" I asked.

She lifted her hand to reveal a pair of heels that made me cringe. "Lila I can barely walk as it is. If I have to wear those there will be a disaster."

"If someone sees those hideous boots! Imagine the embarrassment."

"At least it won't be nearly as
embarrassing as when those shoes would cause me to trip."

Lila turned purple and I fled from the room. I almost fell on the hem of the gown as I left the room but somehow managed to catch myself on the wall. Music from below drifted up to me doing little to calm my nerves.

"You look like a girl!" A deep voice called to me and I saw my older brother Joseph smirking at me. He looked handsome at twenty. His golden hair was combed back and secured with a leather strap. His shirt was ruffled and stood out underneath his dark red coat. Black pants clung to his legs and disappeared into black boots.

"So do you" I replied as I tugged on his long hair. I was rewarded with a scowl.

"Shall we?" He asked offering his arm to me. I slipped my gloved hand over his extended arm.

With one step forward there was the horrible sound of shredding fabric. I lost my balance and clutched madly at his arm to prevent myself from falling further. We were quite the sight. Joseph doubled over in laughter and me with a death grip on his arm. Wiping tears from his eyes and trying to choke back his laughter Joseph pulled me upright. Together we looked at the fabric that was hanging from my dress. My face turned bright red and his laughter began again. With quick precision he lifted my skirt a few inches then seized the torn fabric. Then with a yank he pulled it free. I felt lighter as he held up a large chunk of my petticoat.

There was the sound of approaching footsteps and Joseph looked around. Spotting a door handle he pulled open the door then threw the petticoat inside. I took his extended arm and we walked down the hallway each of us trying to control our laughter.

"Where have you two been?!" It was mother she walked towards us with a look of relief on her face. She took my hand and examined me. "You look beautiful my dear." She crooned.

"Thank you mother." I replied.

"What about me? Don't I look beautiful as well?" Joseph asked with a twirl as he puffed out his chest. Mother swatted his shoulder then took his other extended arm. We walked together towards the ballroom.

Tonight's dance was in Joseph's honor for his birthday. As we walked across the floor several young ladies fanned themselves and fluffed their hair. I tried not to roll my eyes as we walked by. The eyes of our guest were on us making me uncomfortable. I looked straight ahead and marched towards my chair. With the three of us settled the dance began.

"Why don't you go dance?" Mother asked me after we had been sitting for about twenty minutes. I tried not to roll my eyes at her. She knew how I felt. "Eve go meet other young ladies." She begged pointing at a group of large colorful skirts. I sighed in defeat and stiffly rose from my chair. Mother pointed to her upturned lips urging me to smile then turned back to the dance.

I walked towards the group of girls. Their obnoxious giggles carried over the voices of the crowd. When they spotted me approaching the silenced immediately. Each offered a curtsy then stood awkwardly in the silence. One gained the courage to speak but as she opened her mouth her eyes got huge as she looked over to my right. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Jared, Joseph's best friend. He offered a low bow when he stood he had a sly smile on his face. The girls behind me took a step forward trying to get closer to him. Instead he ignored them and offered his arm. I took it and he turned away.

"Thank you." I whispered to him as he led me away from the girls. I could feel their eyes drilling holes into my back as we walked away. Jared led me outside knowing that I had no desire to dance.

"You look like a girl." He exclaimed when we were safely outside. I punched his arm hard. He laughed and rubbed his shoulder.

"Thank you for getting me out of there." I said as I started to walk away from him.

"You owe me." He said looking up at the sky. Jared was like an older brother. I had known him my whole life. He was nineteen-three years older than me.

"I'll pay up." I replied as I walked towards the stairs leading below from the balcony. I wanted to return to my room.

If I went inside the servants quarters I could make it back to my room undetected. Or I could climb up a tree in the gardens that grew next to my window. I decided on the tree and marched across the garden. With a little difficulty I swung myself up into the branches. The extra weight of my dress didn't help. As I walked out onto a branch that would take me directly to my balcony there was the unmistakable crunch of wood.