The Count of Castle Rock

Chapter LVIII- Belle of the Ball

With rooms prepared for the guests of Nonnagen Manor, many retire for the night after a course of light finger foods and three more dances. They are given the run of the grounds with explicit warnings to avoid the hedge and the moat. A handful of guests choose to explore, but most merely enjoy the pavilion and its breathtaking view until fatigue from the long trip finally takes its toll. The majority of the visitors are housed in the manor's east wing. Madame Wellington, the four knights, and six lesser nobles are given suites in the west wing. To the dismay of the Talbert Sisters, Hans too is housed with the aristocrats. One is filled with disappointment, the other is wracked with jealousy.

Maribelle awakes badly from a fitful slumber. Hans's words having replayed in her head throughout the night...

And you're a spoiled child who dreams of being a lady...

She runs her hand across her full lips. Maribelle Talbert is far more beautiful than the likes of Daphne Wellington and only through fear of her noble position do others pretend not to see it.

"She may have more expensive clothing and admirable fashion sense, but it is only a caprice of fate that allowed the less attractive girl to be born into a family of wealth and power. Luck and fate will only take a girl like Daphne so far." Mary writes.

Maribelle furiously scrawls her innermost thoughts into the only place she trusts. She looks up from the pages and scans the room. Leesa and Wendy sleep soundly. Their nerve galls Mary. They've forgotten their place and need to be taught a lesson. Wendy turns over, hugging her pillow and whispering to a child left back in Solomon. Mary grinds her teeth and returns to her diary.

"Stupid girl danced with the third son of a duke, but dreams of her little brat. I'll deal with her first." Mary presses so hard that she bores a hole through the pages. "I'll need a bit more time to devise something fun for Little Brother and her farmboy."

With a deep sigh, she packs away her secret thoughts and collects her toiletries. Making her way to the private privy, she stops beside Wendy's bed. Mary looks down at the girl's bag wondering if the Benito Stilettos are there. She rifles around for a few minutes, but only finds a bottle of quaint perfume. Kicking the bag, she retires to care for her morning business.

Uncle Barnabas constantly promises Father that steam power and indoor plumbing are the future, but places of old money like Nonnegan Manor have yet to break away from the past.

The privy is elegant with marble tiles and gold trimming. An ornate chamber seat sits beside a table holding scented bottles to be poured down the waste shaft. Mary tosses Wendy's perfume down the hole with an evil chuckle. A huge washbasin sits on a marble shelf, steam rising from hot water brought in by servants. The modern plumbing back home made things easier, but lacked elegance. With this kind of opulent living, who needed the future?

By the time Maribelle finishes, Wendy and Leesa are awake and prattling on about the events of the previous night. Standing by the room's massive window, They admire the view of the grounds in the morning light while they talk. A vast field of purple and red lilies is bisected by a footpath leading from the main house to the moat where it then follows the watery barrier's course. The scent of flowers, though faint, fills the air even through the closed window. The sight leaves Maribelle speechless. It isn't hard for her to get swept up in the others' excitement. The night before was so spectacular, what can possibly await them today.

The girls take an hour to get ready for the day, but once they are finished the trio gather in front of a full-length antique mirror. Maribelle can't help but marvel at the extravagance afforded guests of the Nonnagens. Surely the west wing is even more exquisite.

Their reflections look back at them. Maribelle wears a green dress with frilly hem and sleeves, a brown corset accentuating her natural shape and a wide-brimmed olive-green hat to complete the look. When she twirls she looks like a flower in bloom. Leesa wears a high neck magenta dress with long sleeves and a pale pink bodice. White straps fasten the front with small clips disguised as bows. It is a dress Jesse made for Leesa while she was off gallivanting with Hans and The Count. It is pretty, if out of fashion. Leesa has chosen this day to be one of the rare occasions she applies makeup. Mary struggles to find something negative to say. In truth, she's proud of how pretty her sister looks, but she won't to say so out loud.