The Price You Pay

Preparations

Sorry about the grammar mistakes but I''m trying:) Thank you for reading!

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 ©2012 Price You Pay

Chapter 3

                Patrisha jumped up in her bed; her breathing was labored and she was soaked in sweat. She quickly surveyed her surroundings hoping that she was once again in her own chamber.   That was the same dream that she had been having all week, she thought as she pulled the sticky sheets off of her.  Tears began to flood her eyes.

“Ma Lady?” Melissa croaked with worry coating her voice.

Patrisha almost fell out of bed at the sudden disturbance.

“Melissa, what are you doing in here?” She asked trying to use her normal voice, but even she heard the fear in it. But even then, tears fell down her cheeks without her permission.

Melissa rushed to her side just before she began to sob.

Melissa sat beside her and held her close as she cried. Melissa mumbled sweet nonsense in her ear calming her slowly so her tears would dry up. When the crying slowed Melissa began to ask questions.

“What has upset you now, my child?” She asked.

“I had that dream again.” Patrisha whispered through her sniffles.

“Ah,” Melissa sighed “but there has to be more, you haven’t cried this much since you were about seven winters old.

Patrisha wanted to roll her eyes at how well the maid knew her but she had not the energy.

“He spoke to me.”

Melissa’s face scrunched up in what looked like a mixture of pain and fear. The words frightened Melissa slightly but the child could not know.

“He spoke to you?” She asked in a measured tone.

Patrisha forced herself to nod, knowing her voice might fail her. While Melissa clucked her tongue acting as if the statement was beyond belief.

“Oh really what did he say?” She asked in a mocking tone.

Patrisha temper began to boil at Melissa’s mockery. But her cheeks began to burn when she came to a realization.

“I-I don’t remember.” Patrisha huffed.

Melissa’s laugh filled the chamber. “Now, now that wasn’t very lady like.” She joked with a smile.

“Ladies always speak light and elegant when speaking to another.” She recited in an overly proper voice.

Patrisha did rolled her eyes at that statement and she and Melissa let out a round of giggles.

“I’m sorry for being so wretched the past week. I guess I let my emotions take control of me.” Patrisha whispered when the two settled down.

Melissa loved these moments. Patrisha often wore such a hard and grown up exterior, but inside she was just a child with a broken family. And personally Melissa loved seeing her little girl every once in a while.

“Ah my sweet child, you are in love and that’s what one whom is in love does.” Melissa replied putting a playful emphasis on ‘love’.

Patrisha smiled a bit. “But it gave me no excuse-“ 

“Hush, child.” Melissa interrupted. “We have all my life for you to apologize to me, but only a day to prep for the ball.”

Patrisha’s eye lit up at the word ball. It would be a chance to her Prince once again and that opportunity she could not and would not let pass.

“Ma Lady, can you hear me?” Patrisha’s eyes focused in on Melissa, who was looking at her with a knowing grin, while waving to get her attention.

“Of course I can hear you Melissa, I am not deaf.” Patrisha bluntly stated.

Melissa’s smile fell immediately, and it was replaced with a sigh, the queen was officially back.

“I said we must get you bathed Ma Lady, before we get you to your dress fittings.” She replied in slight annoyance.

Patrisha smiled while once again thinking of the ball.

“Well you should run my bath, right Melissa?” Melissa softly nodded her head. With all traces of her little girl gone she went to go set the bath, hoping that the warm water would warm her heart, but all the time doubting it.

*****

“Melissa you are pulling the strings too tight!” Patrisha screeched as she steadied the corset of the dress.

“You will live, Ma’ Lady” Melissa huffed as she gave one last finale tug.

“Not if you succeed at making this any tighter.” Patrisha replied bitterly while turning to face Melissa.

“Then it is good that I am as weak as I am.” She replied smoothly

Patrisha’s jaw dropped the slick statement given by her maid.

“You shouldn’t make that face, my dear. It does not go with the dress.” Melissa continued while turning Patrisha’s awestruck face toward the mirror.

Patrisha was ready to scream insults at her maid but the image in the mirror was too beautiful for words. The dress was a cream color but it looked to be covered in tiny diamonds. It fit her in a sophisticated beautiful way that she could only imagine in her dreams.  She felt her face relax as swayed a bit in the mirror, while spreading the skirts as if it was unreal.

“Ma’ Lady you look other worldly. It was as if this dress was made for you.” Melissa whispered noting the glow that seemed to wrap around Patrisha’s  body.

“That’s because it was.” A sweet voice announced as the seamstress bounced into the fitting room. She was a short a petite woman with a small blond bun and childlike features. Melissa would have thought she were a child if she had not witnessed her work herself.

“But I did not order such a dress.” Patrisha sadly replied, thinking that she may have to give it back.

The seamstress let out a childlike giggle. “Well of course not, the prince himself ordered this for you.”

Patrisha let out a gasp “No he couldn’t have-“

“Well are you Lady Patrisha Millings?” The seamstress asked while peering at a paper that seemed  appeared out of thin air. Patrisha nodded.

“Then I believe that is your dress. It has already been paid for also, so why not just change out of it, and I can have it delivered this evening.” The young lady chirped while writing down some information.

“Thank you.” Melissa replied because Patrisha still seemed to be in shock. “Now Ma Lady we must get going.” She continued giving Melissa a polite nudge. Patrisha quickly snapped out of it with a quick nod and changed quickly into her own gown.

“Tomorrow is going to be amazing.” She whispered to herself as she made her way to the carriage.

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Nothing really happened and I am sorry about that, but the next chapter is the ball and that is when things start to roll. (pun intended:) lol I know not that great of joke, but please comment, whether good or bad I want to hear it:)