Don't Call Me Cinderella

Chapter Seven: A Hallows Eve Ball

Ella was sitting in the garden drinking some tea while keeping a close eye on Mary who was running around the bushes. "Ella! Pssht!"

Ella turned her gaze to see Amelia and Agnes hiding behind a pillar. Agnes stood up straight with her arms crossed while Amelia was bent over, trying to stay in the shadows. 

"Yes?" Ella finally spoke up once she was sure she wouldn't laugh.

"Can we speak to you for a moment?" Amelia's voice was straining a loud whisper, which made it all the more comical. 

"Yes, you may come and have some tea if you'd like."

Amelia hurriedly made her way over with a smile, while Agnes casually walked over. Each took a seat and hesitantly took a cup. "Mary! Come and join us! I'll show you how adults have tea together!" In an instant, the child was beside Ella, out of breath from all of her runnings.

"Hello! My name is Mary. What's yours?" Amelia stuck out her hand and shook Mary's with a bright grin on her face. 

"I'm Amelia! Nice ta' meet 'cha!" Mary became confused at the slang but smiled before turning her head to the other maid.

"Agnes, milady." Mary shook her hand to, after some convincing on her part. 

"Take a seat then and I'll pour you some tea." Mary complied and took the nearest seat to Ella. Amelia sat on the other side of Ella and Agnes across, all in all, the four-woman (well, three and a half) were sitting comfortably around the small table.

"What did you need to speak about, Amelia?" Said woman had too many cookies in her mouth to speak, so she simply smiled and pointed to Agnes, who sighed in annoyance at her. 

"The Lord is throwing a party, a ball if you will, for All Hallow's Eve, and she wanted to know if you were going."

Ella set the teapot down in shock after she finished pouring Mary's cup. "I was unaware that a ball was to take place." She lifted the decorated pottery again to pour some for Amelia, trying not to show how much it bothered her.

Why would he decide to throw a party and not inform her about it?

"Oh! I remember him saying something about it during dinner! That's why he was so determined for me to learn how to dance. Some other Lord has children my age and Uncle wants me to make some connections early on." Now Ella was upset.

He made a decision that directly affected her teaching without telling her. Not only would they have to spend more time dancing, but etiquette as well as other party manners.

Ella gently set down the teapot after pouring Agnes some. It was taking everything in her to not go yell at the Lord right now. "I would assume then that no, I will not be attending the ball."

Ella watched Amelia pout out of the corner of her eye. She sighed, trying not to give in. "I might make a small appearance to assist Mary, but that's it. Nothing more." Amelia clapped her hands happily, pleased that her friend was able to attend such an event.

"Oh! But how will you get a dress?" Ella seemed troubled by this before remembering something. 

"I have my Mother's old gowns, I'm sure that there's something suitable in there." 

Agnes, for the first time, spoke up freely. "It will more than likely be a masquerade."

Ella sighed, realizing how annoying this was going to be. "I'll see if I have a mask, if not then I'll find something to make do." Mary piped up, a wide grin spread across her face. 

"Can we search through the stuff now? I only have dance lessons next, and Uncle has been taking those over. He won't notice if I'm a little late."

Ella looked at the child skeptically, unsure if she should believe her. "We can start searching, but I will be watching the time." 

Amelia cheered from her seat before standing and walking off. "Well, come on then!" She shouted when she reached the doorway.

Mary quickly ran off while Ella and Agnes lagged. "You're playing a dangerous game," Agnes said while they were alone. 

"I know, but I'll be fine. Just in and out. I'll be out before midnight anyway."

~~

"Your Mother had some... Exquisite taste." Amelia held up some gowns that they found. Agnes went back to her room to eat supper while Mary was at her dancing lessons. 

"She absolutely adored flowers. They were everywhere! In vases down the hallways, on her dresses, in her hair, if she decorated pastries then there were flowers on them." Ella laughed slightly as she remembered what her mother used to do. "For a couple of years there I hated them. They made my head itch and they would leave a mess but, I guess after she died, everything else did too." 

Amelia lightly patted her arm. "I couldn't imagine my life without my Mum, so I can tell that it must have been hard on you."

Ella chuckled in silent agreement. "It wasn't so bad when my Dad remarried. My stepmother wasn't horrible to me until after he died. Then we were in debt and the servants were fired, leading to me being a glorified maid. It was all well and good up until then."

Amelia looked at Ella strangely before shrugging. "That's a story you don't hear every day; a lady who lost both her parents forced into servitude by her step-family" Ella couldn't help but laugh along with Amelia, even if she was being mocked.

"So how about this one?" Ella held up a purple one with flowers sewed into the bosom and hip. "Only if you wear the wrist pieces with it." Amelia held up the puffy accessories with a joking smile.

"Only because it's All Hallows Eve." Ella grabbed the articles from her and stored them away with the dress. "You're gonna be the belle of the ball! Now, all we need is a mask." Amelia held a finger to her chin as she thought before snapping her fingers.

"I know just the gal!"

~~

"No." Agnes shook her head while ignoring her roommate, better known as Amelia. 

"Come on, please! It just needs to cover the area around her eyes!" Agnes glared at her before turning her attention to Ella.

"What's in it for me?" Ella dreaded the question. 

"An adventure?" Agnes shook her head. "The risk of semi-breaking the rules?" Again she shook her head. "Look, I can't offer you money, for obvious reasons. I can offer you friendship." Ella cringed at how childish she sounded. Agnes still gave her a disapproving look. "How about teatime three times a week?"

To her surprise, Agnes smirked. "That's more like it. Let me see the dress." Together the three roamed the halls, heading back to Ella's room.

As soon as they entered, Ella closed the door and pulled the dress out of her closet. "I'm going to need you to put it on." Ella blushed as she looked at the two girls studying her. "Well? Hurry up! I don't have all day."

Ella turned away as she untied her laces and stripped her dress off, quickly changing into her Mother's gown. "It's a bit long."

Indeed it was. Agnes pulled out some scissors in a sewing kit she brought and cut the excess fabric, then she hemmed what was left on the bottom making it look just the same, just shorter. "For design, let me borrow these."

She snipped off some unnecessary flowers before nodding. "I'll have this done by tomorrow afternoon. I'll give it to you during tea." Agnes smirked before packing up her kit and walking away.

"You won't regret your deal, I promise!" Agnes gave Ella a bored look before nodding. "Off you go then. I need to change and fetch Mary from the dining hall." Amelia hugged her before scurrying off after Agnes.

Ella couldn't help but smile as she shook her head. She gained some crazy friends during her stay.