Royals

Chapter 3 - Dinner Party

I nodded and followed her out to my bedroom to find a beautiful gown lying out on my bed, paired with diamond earrings and silver stilettos. I gazed in awe at the champagne A-line dress with fine jewels embellished along the torso.

"It's gorgeous."

With the young maid's help, I managed to put on the lavish gown before she led me through the corridors to the enormous dining room, probably large enough to invite the entire royal guard to join us. I was met with numerous faces, all of them belonging to much more attractive girls of or near my age. One woman in particular at the head of the table rose from where she sat before making her way over to me. Anne held out her arm as she gestured to me, "Ah, there she is."

She met me with a smile and gently wrapped an arm around me, facing the table full of young women, "As you all have been informed, we have received yet another to join us."

Some girls smiled and talked amongst themselves, some seemed to judge me from a distance, others sneered in disgust, but after I found Della smiling in the crowd, my panic began to fade.

"I expect you all to welcome her into our home as each of you have been. She's one of us now and I expect each of you to treat her as you treat your other sisters. Am I understood?"

The girls nodded and murmured in unison, "Alright then. Girls, meet Alayna."

Anne gestured to the table in front of us and whispered, "Please, take a seat dear."

I nodded and headed towards the table, scanning the room for an empty seat. I was grateful to find one next to Della, the girl who has already graciously welcomed me. As soon as the kitchen staff began piling food onto our plates, I couldn't help myself. I immediately grabbed the warm, roasted chicken leg and bit into it, anxious to soothe my unceasing hunger. After I noticed the room grow silent, I glanced up to see many of the girls in front of me with grimaces and scowls settled on their faces. Della leaned over and lifted a linen cloth they used as napkins to wipe a bit of food off of my face. I dropped the chicken onto the plate in realization as a blush settled over my features. Oh dear God.. I probably looked like an animal in the wilderness tearing apart it's prey. I sunk down into my seat, wishing I could just disappear under this table. Anne cleared her throat at one end of the table and I winced, fearing that I had just ruined my only opportunity to save myself from the bitter cold.

"Ladies, I believe that it is inappropriate to stare, is it not?" All heads turned to face Lady Anne and suddenly I wasn't the only one blushing.

Anne continued, "I asked you all to help our new guest feel welcome. I believe watching her eat and forcing her to feel as though she has done something wrong is far from welcome."

A girl with yellow-blonde curls and deep brown eyes spoke up from across the table, "But Lady Anne, she has no table etiquette nor any sense of-"

In an annoyed tone, Anne interrupted, "And as I can remember, neither did you, Claire." She lifted her head to speak to not only Claire, but the other girls as well, "Each and every one of you has been in Alayna's position and yet you continue to judge her based solely upon her table manners? The poor child was living under a bridge, cold as the very ice she slept upon, and hasn't eaten in Lord knows how long. She's starving and I'm sure she wishes to eat as she pleases without having to worry about what every other woman in this room thinks!"

By then end of her speech, she was nearly shouting at the other girls while they all guiltily refused to meet Anne's eyes. After taking a deep breath to compose herself, she calmly asked, "Alayna? Please sit up, dear."

I slowly rose back up from my slouching position and looked over to Lady Anne.

"I apologize for my girls and their lack of understanding. Please, continue eating. I'm sure you must be starved."

I nodded in thanks and slowly bit into the chicken once more, attempting to hold as much grace as every other girl in the room. Della gently rubbed my arm and gave me a reassuring smile before eating her dinner.

After we all finished eating and I felt full for what felt like the first time in my life, I stood from my seat and padded my napkin to my face. Lady Anne, Della, and only a few other girls were left in the room at that point since the others had finished their meal or simply did not eat at all after Anne's outrage. Lady Anne spoke up, "Alayna?"

I perked my head up to see her standing from her chair, so I made my way over.

She held an arm out to me in welcome and I took her hand as she led me back to my room.

"As you could more than likely tell, all of my girls have learned table manners and eating in a polite fashion." My blush returned as I remembered all of the scolding, judgmental faces staring at me. Anne chuckled from beside me, noticing how red my face must have been.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, dear. Although it's likely that they will never admit it, all of the other girls started out just like you. No table manners, no form of etiquette, lack of proper speech, everything. Some didn't even know how to read or write." I smiled to myself at that, proud that at least I know that much. Although, I'm not sure that I would had it not been for my mother's love of books. I furrowed my brows, thinking back to what Lady Anne had told me.

"But, how do they have such etiquette now?"

Lady Anne smiled down at me, stopping now that we were in front of my bedroom door. "They were all taught to do so by friends of mine. Now that we're on the topic, your lessons in proper etiquette begin tomorrow. I will be expecting you in the dining room by 7:00 a.m. sharp."

With that, she continued on down the hallway with a smile. As she walked away, I admired how she seemed so light on her feet, delicate in the way she walked. Glancing down to my own feet, I grimaced at how clumsy I must sound. I turned and opened my bedroom door, expecting to see an awkward young maid to prepare me for bed. As I opened the door, I was met with a small smile from the maid.

She curtsied at my entrance as the door closed behind me, "Good evening, Miss. Are you ready for bed?"

I smiled in return, feeling a bit guilty at her calling me "miss". Has she always called me that and I just never realized?

"Please, you can call me Alayna. There's no need to be formal."

She curtsied, "As you wish, Alayna."

I padded over to my bed to see a gorgeous silk, champagne colored nightgown laid out. How can someone afford such luxury? And for at least a dozen girls, no less?

In an attempt to ease the awkward tension in the room while the maid untied my corset, I spoke up, "So, what is your name?"

The young girl stuttered as her fingers got caught up in the strings. I bit my lip in a poor attempt to hold back a laugh, thankful that she couldn't see my face.

"Oh, I uh-uhm, m-my name is Ellery."

I genuinely smiled at that, "You have a lovely name, Ellery."

"T-thank you."

The tension in the air seemed to die down as she continued to remove my corset and prepare me for bed.