There Is No Happiness

Chapter 6

     Crying on the bench, in the light cold wind, makes my heart break even further. I didn't even know it was possible for me to feel this way even more than I already did, but now my mother's dress is ruined and I won't get my full night of freedom. The ball begins at 8 and goes till 1 in the morning, and I wont even get one hour of that. As the wind cuts through my skin and bones, I can feel the presence of another person. Before I can be touched by whoever it is, I jump to my feet and turn around.

     Standing in front of me is an old woman, at least in her late 70's, maybe even early 80's. The gown she is wearing is made for a Baroness or a Duchess, with gold embroidery and green silk all along the skirt and bosoms. One of her eyes is grey glass over, while the other is a clear blue. "My dear, why are you crying so? What has happened to you?" The woman's voice is smooth and calm, with a hint of a rasp at the base of her vocal chords.

     "W-where did you come from? Who are you?" my voice is almost raised to a shout and it scares the woman. I can't help but feel sad and almost embarrassed for being rude to someone I don't even know due to my emotions.

     "I am Baroness Vivienne, House of Williams. I live in the house just a few moments down the road. I was out for my evening stroll when I heard a faint cry and I followed it here to you. So child, why do you cry?" She sits down on the bench and offers me a seat next to her. Her hands and face are so gentle, that it scares me. I haven't had someone be this gentle to me since my father, or really my mother. Tears begin to roll down my cheeks again and I am overwhelmed with sobs. I break down crying on her shoulder as she lightly holds me. Before I can even look up and speak to her, I have to slow my crying down.

     "I was going to go to the prince's ball. Before I am forever a maid for the rest of my life. I had this perfect dress... and my devil of a step-mother, Lady Tremaine, tore it apart. I have nothing nice to wear, my hair and makeup is ruined, and I have no way of getting there fast enough to not miss it." All my words come out like vomit, and I can't help but cry even more after finishing.

     "Oh my dear. I know how that woman treats you. I can see into your tower room in the attic from my room. I can hear the vile words she says to you day after day. Why not run away? Leave this God awful place?"

     "Because this mansion was my dads. I need to make sure she doesn't ruin everything or sell any of my fathers things. I grew up in that house, for better or for worse. And I'm not going to watch it fall." She ponders what to say as she looks deep into my eyes, like she's trying to see into my soul.

     "Come into my house darling. I'll fit you with a fine dress, shoes, jewelry, and even do your hair and makeup. Then I'll lend you one of my carriages for tonight." Before I can even argue, she drags me by my hand up her to glorious house. Her hands are fragile and feel as if they could break at any second, but her grip is as fierce as a mans.

     Her house is filled with the finest of gold and silver, marble staircases and the most expensive furniture someone with money can buy. Her husband must've been extremely rich to have been able to afford this whole lot. She takes me up several flights of stairs, through many doorways and whats seemed like secret passageways before we stand inside I believe to be the worlds biggest closet a woman of her age can own. The gowns, and evening wear, to the shoes and the jewelry, to the hair pins and designs.

     "Now I've got several dresses for you to try on, but I can see you eyeing the one in the corner." We exchange glances before my eyes go back to the dress she mentioned. Before I know it, my hair is up in a curl bun, my makeup fixed, dress on and on my way out the door. My dress is as blue as an ocean, with glitter like the night time stars. Before I enter the carriage she has so graciously lent me, she pulls on my arm. "Darling you can't go to a ball as nice as this with those shoes."

     I look down at my feet to see my working shoes still on, covered in wet mud and leaves. I kick my shoes off and look her. With one swoop from behind her back, she pulls out fine glass shoes. They slip on perfectly, and are comfy as I can barely imagine. I smile at her with gratitude and climb in the carriage. "Be back at midnight. My guess is that Lady Tremaine will be back at 12:30 sharp. You will need that time to go back to looking like you are nothing more than a sculary maid. But as of right now, you are a princess, and always will be." With those final words, the carriage moves and I am on my way to the ball.