Acting Ladylike | On Hold

✩ T H R E E ✩

  The days, in which Emma and I concoct a plan to get rid of her suitor—who I later learned is named Mr. Charles Abbott—pass by in a blur.

  It's quite a daring plan and will probably end up with Emma being the laughingstock of the town anyway, but even so, it will prove to be amusing whatever the outcome may be.

  "So I tell him I died last night and am now a ghost?" Emma confirms for the last time as I continue to smear raspberry juice over her face and neck. She dips her hand into the pot and splatters a bit onto the front of her dress all the while mumbling about how her mother will kill her.

  "Yes."

  "Isn't that a little far-fetched?"

  "It's quite far-fetched."

  "So why would he believe it then?"

  "People believe what they want to believe. Why, I heard that Lady Bryant claimed her house was haunted just last year when one of the doors slammed shut on its own accord."

  "Lady Bryant died just last year."

  "True."

  Emma doesn't seem very highly consoled by this fact.

  "You said he's coming in about twenty minutes, correct?" I ask for confirmation.

  "Yes."

  "Alright, so you know what to do, right?"

  "Right. Hide in the shed. Jump out. Tell him I'm...my own ghost. Watch him run away in horror and never return. Then rinse my face with the garden hose and walk back inside as if nothing happened."

  "Correct. And even if he's not completely horrified, I doubt Mr. Abbott would still want your hand in marriage after this."

  A smile crosses Emma's features. She reaches out to give me a hug, but I quickly take a step back.

  "Em, you're covered in raspberry."

  "Oh, right, sorry."

  "I should probably get home or Mother will have my head on a platter. You know the ball starts soon."

  "Oh right. I forgot that was today." She says sarcastically. I may have already mentioned it about ten times in the last few minutes.

  "Oh shush." I huff playfully at her before changing the topic back to the previous one, "Since you still have raspberries left, when it gets closer to the time Mr. Abbott is supposed to come, you might want to spread them on the ground outside the shed for a better reaction from him.

  Emma smirks mischievously to herself.

  "Certainly."

  We exchange devilish glances with each other before I leave her backyard with a wave.

  By the time I make it back home, sweat is sticking my hair to my forehead and I look a mess.

  "Adele! Look at you!" Mother scrunches her nose at my clothes and hair. "Go wash up right now! And for God's sake, put on a nice dress!"

  "Yes, Mother."

  I head upstairs to quickly take a wash and spritz on some perfume before pulling my one fanciful dress from the back of my wardrobe.

  It takes a while just to get my hoop skirt on and even longer to pull my dress on over it, seeing how wide the underskirt is. Getting dressed in fancy clothes always proves to be quite the struggle.

  I glance at myself in the mirror hanging in the corner of my room. The dress is a dark forest green with tight sleeves which flare at the elbow and stop before the wrist. A few dark colored beads are sewed along the neckline, and the hem is nearly dragging along the floor.

  I run my hands through my hair before quickly tying it back into a low bun, leaving the front strands out to wrap around my fingers and create curls, which probably will fall out before I can even step foot into the ballroom.

  Narrowed brown eyes stare back at me as my lips twist in annoyance when I notice my curls already starting to fall out of place. This will have to do.

  "Are you ready, Adele? The carriage will be outside in a few minutes!" Mother's voice calls from down the stairs.

  I take a deep breath before running my fingers through my hair again and grabbing my compact and a few coins from my nightstand.

  "Yes, Mother!" I call back making my way down the stairs.

  By the time I make it down, she's pacing and muttering to herself.

  "Adele, your hair!" she exclaims once her eyes set on me.

  I wait patiently for her to start yelling more.

  "The carriage will be here any minute!" She surges forward and quickly starts trying to fix my hair. As if on cue, a knock on the door instantly sends her into a tirade.

  "They're here!"

  She makes the arrival of a carriage sound like the queen has ordered guards to come to haul us to the guillotine.

  I refrain from rolling my eyes as she fixes her skirts and walks as fast as she possibly can to get to the door.

  "Mrs. Davenport." I hear from the room over. "Your carriage is ready to depart."

  "Why, thank you," is her response, quickly followed by, "Adele Davenport!"

  I make sure I have everything I need before heading over to the front door.

  "Are you ready to leave?"

  For a second I think about responding with a blunt 'no,' but decide against it. I'd rather not face my death this early in my lifetime.

  "Yes, Mother."

  The moment I step outside, the heat hits me full blast and all the clothes I'm wearing start to stick to my body. I can practically feel my hair frizzing by the second.

  Mother fixes her hair and pats invisible dust from her dress before she's helped into the carriage with me following. A few seconds later, we begin to move across the cobblestone at her command.

***

  After about twenty minutes of complete and utter boredom, we pull in front of an ornate building, which I assume is where the ball is being held because of all the carriages around and people walking up the steps to get inside.

  "Remember, this is a time to have fun. Smile, socialize, make friends." Even though Mother says it as if it's just a suggestion, I know better.

  If she catches me not socializing for even a second she will march over to me and demand I go dance with anyone willing to dance with me even if she has to force them to be willing herself.

  We're helped out the carriage with Mother first and me following closely behind.

  "Have a wonderful evening, Miss," the coach driver says smiling at me.

  "Thank you. I believe I will need all encouragement I can get."

***

Thanks so much for all the reads and comments! You guys are great! 💛

QOTC: What do you think will happen at the ball?

I can assure you chapter four will certainly be interesting lmao