The Frozen Rose

CHAPTER TWELVE: Props

Elizabeth was feeling warm. She wished she could take off the bodice of her light brown dress, but unfortunately, she could not. The fabric also did not allow her to roll up her sleeves. Supressing a sigh, she bend down and picked up a prop that represented a rock. She walked on the stage and laid it next to another rock she had carried. They were decorations around what represented the pond. The workers had cut out a piece of the stage and put a bath inside the whole. With a second piece of wood, they could easily cover it up when a scene did not take place outside the Pondside house. The rocks were meant to hide the lines of bath.

She walked off the stage again to pick up more rocks, when she heard someone shout her name. Looking up, she saw William walking toward her. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw his smile and his waving hair.

While she was in her bed last night, trying to fall asleep, she was kept awake by the thought of him. While she pretended to be strong and in control, she had been thinking exactly what he had been thinking. His eyes betrayed him by looking down every time, and that was probably why he had not noticed that she had had a hard time standing in the same spot. She had really wanted to come closer to him and feel his arms around her. After all, she had been wearing only one layer of clothing.

"What are you doing with that rock?" William asked when he came closer.

"I am about to carry it to the stage," Elizabeth answered stupidly.

"You? But you are no worker."

"I promised lord Byron I would help everywhere. I have painted some pieces of the background."

"You have?" he asked surprised. "I thought you were one of the seamstresses."

"No, I am a bit of everything."

He laughed at it, and it made Elizabeth smile as well. She felt her heart flutter of the knowledge that she made him laugh. Twas nice to be talking to the William she knew.

"I have a question for you," William explained, "but I am quite nervous to ask it."

"No, you cannot kiss me," she guested as answer to his question.

He laughed again and shook his head. "That was not going to be my question, but it is good to know." He cleared his throat and looked at her. "In a few weeks, our family is hosting a ball for my parent's anniversary. You have probably not heard of it yet, for it is to remain a surprise for them, but I was wondering if you wanted to come."

Elizabeth felt her smile fade as she realized what he was asking. "You want me to come to your family's ball?"

William nodded. "You would be surprised how much everyone has changed. Emily has a husband and a child, and Alexander is married as well."

"That is fantastic for them," she said, "but I am certain your family would want me there."

"But they would. They have changed, and I believe that-"

"Oy!" someone shouted from the stage. Elizabeth turned around to see John Kipling looking at them. "This is not a parlour. Either you help, or you get out of the way!"

Elizabeth looked at William. "Can I think of it? I will give you an answer as soon as I know one, but I cannot give it to you yet."

William nodded. "We shall talk of it more when you are finished helping with the stage."

Elizabeth did not have time to react, for he turned around and walked away after saying his words. When she could no longer see him, she carried the rock to the stage and helped the other worker set it up.

An hour later, everything on the stage was set and the actors had taken it over. Elizabeth found a chair with a good view and sat down on it, enjoying the rehearsal. Not much later, the chair next to her got occupied as well, and it did not surprise her that it was William.