White Roses a.b

chapter 3

The White Rabbit master of ceremonies, stood at the top of the stairs with a puffed-up chest, smiling twittishly as Ashley's father handed him their announcement card. "Good eve, good eve, Your Lordship! What a stunning cravat you're wearing tonight, so perfectly matches your hair. Like snowfall on a balding hill, is how I'd describe that."

'Do you think so, Mr Rabbit?' asked Ash's father, pleased with the compliment. He spent a moment patting his head, as if to confirm the flattery.

The Rabbit's gaze darted to the Marchioness. 'My dear Lady Costello, I'm sure my eyes have never seen such rare beauty, such outstanding elegance—'

The Marchioness brushed him off. 'Get on with it, herald.'

'Er, of course, I am your humble servant, my lady.' Flustered, the Rabbit stuck his ears straight up and raised a trumpet to his mouth. As the ditty echoed throughout the ballroom, he proclaimed: 'Presenting Whealagig T. Costello, the most honorable Marquess of Rock Turtle Cove, accompanied by his wife, Lady Idonia Costello, Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove, and daughter, Lady Ashley Costello!'

As the Marquess and Marchioness descended the steps into the ballroom, the White Rabbit's pinkish eyes skipped to Ashley, widening as they took in her voluminous red gown. His nose twitched with repugnance, but he was quick to mask it under another sycophantic grin. 'Why, Lady Pinkerton, you look so . . . er. So very noticeable.'

Ash attempted a faint smile and moved to follow her parents down the steps, but as soon as she looked down into the ballroom she gasped and reeled back.

A sea of black and white stretched before her.

Ivory-tailed dress coats and ebony elbow gloves.

Pale starfish fascinators and crow-feather bow ties.

Chessboard leggings. Zebra face masks. Black velvet skirts trimmed in rhinestones and icicles. Even some of the Diamond courtiers had pasted black spades on to their stomachs to disguise their identifying red marks.

There was still the rare spot of red in the crowd – a rose tucked into a buttonhole or a ribbon lacing the back of a gown – but Ash alone wore red from head to toe. As if her dress weren't enough, she felt sudden redness rushing up her neck and across her cheeks. She felt eyes snagging on her, heard the intake of breaths, sensed the glower of distaste. How could her mother not have known this was one of the King's black-and-white balls?

Realization hit in quick succession.

Her mother had known. Staring at her mother's billowing white dress and her father's matching white tuxedo, Ash realized that her mother had known all along.

Another trumpet ditty muffled in her ears. Beside her, the White Rabbit cleared his throat. 'So devastatingly sorry to rush you, Lady Costello , but there are more guests waiting to be presented . . .'

She glanced at the line that had formed behind her, more members of the gentry peeking around one another and gawking at her.

Dread settling at the base of her stomach, Ashley picked up her skirt and started towards the masses of penguins and raccoons.

The ballroom of Heart Castle had long ago been carved from a gargantuan chunk of pink quartz, from the floor to the balusters to the enormous pillars that supported the domed roof. The ceiling was painted in murals depicting various landscapes from the kingdom: the Somewhere Hills and the Nowhere Forest, the Crossroads and the castle and rolling farmlands stretching to all horizons. Even Rock Turtle Cove was depicted above the doors that led out to the rose gardens.

Large windows marched along the southern edge of the room, heart-shaped and cut from faceted red glass. The feasting table, overflowing with fruits, cheeses, and sweets, stretched the length of the north wall, beside the partition that separated the dancers from the orchestra. Crystal chandeliers encircled the ceiling, warming the walls with the light of thousands of white tapered candles. Even from the steps Ash could hear a few of the hotheaded candles ranting about the ballroom's draughtiness and would someone please shut the door down there.