The Forgotten Tale of a former lady named Ella

~Chapter 18: A Ball that will live in Infamy ~

Well, it did not take long for the adrenaline to wear off.

For the past twenty minutes, I have been battling a losing war with my nerves. Despite having a light supper, I feel as if I am about to release an entire feast of the floor of the carriage.

Now that we are parked and waiting to enter Prince Lancelot's Manor, it has only worsened.

"Sophie, I am going to vomit, I am sure of it this time."

"No, you are not." She doesn't even give me a second glance as she checks her reflection in her small compact.

"How do you know I am not?" I snap.

"Because you would have already done so and I would have already murdered you for ruining a ball gown that took me hours and an entire sack of coins to make."

"You said that you used leftover fabrics from around the shop!"

"How else would I have gotten you to wear such fine garments?"

"Your hair looks utterly ridiculous."

"I prefer to think of it as fashion forward."

"It resembles the behind of a horse."

"Excuse you, my hair is thick and voluminous, it resembles the tail of a small pony not a horse."

"Why would you go through all the trouble of making every lady's gown a sea of colors yet you don one of black and white?"

"Because I put every other color to shame, darling."

"And because her personality is colorful enough," Geoffrey grumbled. "Ow! What the hell was that for?" He exclaimed after Sophie smacked his shoulder.

"Because you insulted me in front of company!"

"It is not company, it is Ella! Ow! And it was not an insult because you spoke the very same to me when you were sewing your dress, oh will you stop striking me woman!"

Sophie points an accusing finger towards her husband. "Tread very carefully my dear, one more outburst and I will abandon our plan of searching for a spare closet or vacant library later on this evening."

Geoffrey grumbles and slumps back in his seat massaging his injured arm.

I look out the window of the carriage attempting to focus on the vast garden. "Forgive me Sophie, I am afraid my nerves have gotten the best of me. I do not even remember what a normal ball is supposed to be like, let alone one as grand as this."

Sophie softens her demeanor. She reaches over and squeezes my hand. "It takes quite a lot to upset Ella, worry not. As for my hair and dress I did have a plan in mind. They are both quite scandalous and will be the center of attention, something I assume you would rather not have?"

I break out a small smile. "You are truly quite the mastermind, Sophie Couture."

She winks. "And don't you forget it. Geoffrey and I will enter first so that all eyes, and gossip, will be on us while you slip in unannounced. Quite perfect is it not?"

"It is. Shall we begin before I lose courage then?" I reach over to open the carriage door but Sophie throws me back into my seat and slams it.

"We can not go in now! It is much too early. Have I truly taught you nothing about being fashionably late to gatherings such as this?"

"It is the second and quite possibly last ball I will ever attend Sophie, forgive me if I let that little detail slip my mind."

"No matter, it shall forever be ingrained in your mind now. Oh! Geoffrey, I see Leon and Nicole Bissot. My goodness are they brave to show their faces tonight. I heard their weaving business is going belly up because Leon invested in a herd of sheep for wool but the shepherd sent them all to a butcher and wasted the money away in a brothel. Come my darling husband, I am desperate for this gossip to become the truth."