Chapter One

The year was 1799, around All Hallows Eve, when Kira arrived in New York City from a small town in Maine. Why she left Maine was beyond anyone's reasoning, some say it was because she was a witch and a local child had found out. Of course, after Kira saw the poor girl, she put a hex on the girl. It was a made up story. Someone else said Kira was a loose woman whom slept with married men. Yet another false story. Miss Kira Miller left that small town in Maine to leave with her aunt to learn about polite society. Her mother's sister was considered one of the wealthiest women in the state, she was of high society. She married into it. Her husband was fat, rich, and was a government official, a friend and advisor to President John Adams.

"Kira! My darling niece! How do you fair my child?" Aunt Sophia Smith greeted Kira with a gentle hug.

"Hello Aunt Sophia…" Kira smiled falsely. Truthfully, she was not able to stand the woman. "I am well, though the journey was rough. How are you my dearest aunt?"

"I am wonderful my child. Your cousin Abigail, you remember her, correct?" The answer to the question was a simple nod. Oh how she despised Miss Abigail Smith! Well, Abigail Baker now! The girl was perfect! Married at a young age, arranged marriage, of course, and she already had one child. "We have just received word that she is with child again! Is that delightful?"

"I can only begin to understand the joy in your heart Aunt Sophia." Kira replied with a hidden sarcastic tone in her voice.

"Don't worry my dear! Percy, grab her bags and take them to the guest room… Where was I? Oh yes! Don't worry; your time will come soon enough. Now that you are in New York you will meet many eligible men! You shall be married before this time next year!" Sophia started to walk towards the mansion she lived in, Kira trailing closely behind her. "Now my child, we must make an appearance at a party tonight, have you the proper dress?"

"I doubt that I do…" Kira whispered, admiring the finest in which her "beloved" aunt lived. It was truly magnificent. Gold-framed mirrors, white décor, every finery was here. "We do not have many formal parties, just barn raisings and what not."

"Well, we haven't the time to go to a seamstress and get you a proper fitting dress, you will just have to use one of Abigail's…Ah! Here we are. This shall be your room." Sophia opened a door to a very fine room. It looked to be the size of her home back in Maine. The bed was large and the décor… Was simply stunning! The quilt was handmade and French by the looks of it.

"Will this do Kira?"

"Oh Aunt Sophia! It will be like home!" Kira smile somewhat.

"Good, Percy, put her things by the bed. Kira, Percy is our butler, he will be at your beckoned call. Your lady's maid will be Ashley. Forgive her, she is French and her English isn't that good." An elderly and meek woman appeared from the adjoining room and curtsied. "Ashley will bring you one of Abigail's finer dresses and hopefully, she will be able to make adjustments if needed."

"Of course Madame…" Ashley curtsied. "What color do you favour Mademoiselle?"

"Please, address me as Kira…I am no finer than you are Miss Ashley. And I adore darker tones. The tones of the night, however, if Abigail did not wear such clothing, then a blue shall do." Kira smiled kindly as Ashley nodded and walked hurriedly to Abigail's old room.

"Kira, sit down." Kira did as Sophia told her. She sat at a vanity and admired all that had been there. "Your first lesson: Do not compare yourself to your staff! They are your staff for a reason. They are there to help us, to do as we say."

"That does not mean they should be treated as slaves!"

"Kira Miller! Do not raise your voice with me! I have taken you into my home out of the goodness of my heart… The least you can do is respect what I am here to teach you." As a "proper" lady, Sophia didn't raise her voice; it was merely a faint whisper, which scared Kira more than the yelling her father subjected her to.

"Very well…" Kira whispered with a frightened tone.

"Good…now the party begins at seven. We shall let your beautiful hair hang loose, that'll show the world you are an un-married woman." Sophia circled her, tapping her chin impatiently. Ashley shuffled in with a royal blue dress, the proper undergarments, shoes, and accessories. "Ah! Perfect! Kira put it on; let us see where we must make simple adjustments." Kira nodded as she took the dress and went into the adjoining room with Ashley in toe to help make the adjustments. There were painful parts, such as the corset, but the dress slid on perfectly, except it had to be taken in a little around the waist. Kira stepped out so she could be examined once more. "My dear child! You look positively frail in the dress, though the color suits you well, matches your eyes…"

"Thank you ma'am…"

"Kira, did you eat at all in your village?"

"Of course! Mother makes soup every night! I believe it is the corset…"

"It brings in your waist…how silly of me! Even if you don't wear the corset the dress must be taken in. Remove the dress and Ashley shall take it in." Ashley soon began unlacing the back of the dress, allowing Kira to slide it off, leaving her in the undergarments practically shivering. "Put a robe on child, your hair dresser shall be her in a moment."

"I thought we were leaving it down?" Kira asked confused as she slid a well-embroidered robe on and sat on the bed.

"We are…however, that does not mean we cannot make your hair a show case!" Sophia clapped her hands and laughed. "We shall make you the belle of the ball!"