**I don't own BATB, Catherine, Vincent or any other characters mentioned. I also don't own any places mentioned or any scenes that may be similar to another work.**
Catherine Chandler sighed as she saw yet another parchment envelope sitting on the table in the entryway of her father's mansion. Ever since Lady Brooke Warrens married Catherine's father Thomas Chandler and brought her first daughter Heather with her, there had been numerous invitations to balls and parties and Catherine wanted nothing to do with them. Was it not for her cousin Teresa Vargas, Catherine would have gone absolutely crazy. Teresa had gone to live with them after she lost both parents to a sickness and Thomas had readily taken the young girl into his home and then proceeded to raise her as a sister to Catherine, whose own mother had also died of the sickness, but shortly after her birth. Catherine noticed that the invitations seemed to be coming with less haste and she was completely relieved when they stopped all together, until the invitation came. It was the invitation for the yearly ball thrown by the royal family and this year was of the utmost importance because their daughter, the crowned princess of Nigera, was of age to select her groom-to-be as well as two ladies to become her ladies maids. Most in Nigera assumed that even though the ball was to be held, that Alexandria, the crowned princess, would undoubtedly choose Prince Michael from the country of York and two women that her mother suggested for her.
Catherine was sitting in her room looking out the window and focusing on something, but she could never place exactly what it was, when Teresa walked in and gave a sigh to see her cousin staring out the window.
"Hello Cat." In private the two shortened their names to Cat and Tess, but whenever they were around Heather or Brooke they used each other's full names. Brooke thought that women should be grateful for the names their fathers gave and should not change them.
"Hi Tess. Is Brooke still going on to Heather about the ball? I swear by gods, that she speaks of nothing else."
"No. As of yet she is still droning on about it. Why are you so against this ball? I have heard talk around town that there are many lords also coming from York to attend to ball as well as the royal family. You might find someone whom you fancy."
"No, if anything someone will fancy me and then father will just ship me out to York because Brooke tells him it would be good. These balls are demeaning and pointless." Catherine argued.
"How are they demeaning?" Teresa asked not being able to see her cousin's view of things.
"Because, at every ball, every father and every mother primp their daughters unbelievably. And for what cause? Just to get her married off to someone of wealth and standing. If I ever do find someone whom I can tolerate spending my life with, I don't want to just be a housewife who will raise their children and cook their meals and clean their styes. Tess, I want to travel outside of Nigera and see the world. I want to be able to go see the libraries in Europe, see the countryside in Italy, study in Rome."
"Oh Cat. You know your father is not going to allow you to travel to Europe or Italy or Rome. It is not becoming of us to want to study as much as you." Tess said knowing that she would not be able to discourage her cousin.
"It may not be becoming of us, but what is becoming of us bores me. I don't want to just sit around and watch as every opportunity passes by me. Within these next two months I am leaving."
"What do you mean?"
"I can no longer stand Nigera and I am planning on going to Europe. I have been planning this for at least two month's time. In one month I shall be of the age where I can make my own choices and I can start trying to find a suitor. I am leaving here one week after my birth date passes. If you wish, you may join me."
"Cat, I wish I could, but it would be most unkind for me to do that to your father. He took me into his home and his family when my parents both passed and to leave him without warning or reason would be most rude of me. I am truly sorry."
"Tis no problem Tess. I had figured that you would choose to remain and to be loyal to my father."
"Are you sure you wish to leave Nigera?"
"Oh gods yes. The sooner I am outside the borders of Nigera, the sooner that Lord Marks will realize that I am completely and utterly repulsed by him. Just the thought of marrying to him makes my stomach churn."
"Cat, Lord Marks is not that bad. He is of high standing, he has a good fortune and a good name, and he continuously travels all the way from the country of England to try and court you. Don't you know how much it is to travel the roads between England and Nigera? Your father make just that per five moons."
"Tess, he is insufferable. Going on about how I am going to become his wife and care for his children, he wants at least six, as well as his hunting hounds and he believes that I will servilely cook, clean, and care for his manor."
"You keep saying that, but I bet that once you really take the time to know him, he isn't that bad."
"That would be like marrying one of the Kellers. You would simply be a prize to be won and a trophy to be displayed." Cat said before they heard the all too familiar yell of their step-mother.
"Teresa and Catherine, we must go! I told you two that we were scheduled to go to the market over half an hour ago. By the time we get there, there will be no seamstresses available to make our gowns for the ball."
"The gods wouldn't grant me such luck." Cat swore under her breath before following Tess down to where her step sister and her step-mother were waiting. They all headed out the main door and all got into the carriage. Once they arrived at the market and Brooke had found a seamstress that she approved of, they all sat down to discuss their dress designs, but not before they were informed that the ball had been changed to a masquerade. Once Brooke and Heather knew that, they worked twice as hard on dress designs. When it came time for Catherine to sit and discuss her dress she was beyond bored.
"So, Catherine, how would you like a dress done?"
"I would like a dress that lacks the extravagance my step-mother and sister are requiring. I wish for a simple onyx dress with a tiger's eye pleat down the middle and golden lace around the top of the bodice and lacing the corset back."
"Alright. What about your mask?"
"I would like a tiger's eye mask with black lace covering over the forehead and a pair of onyx satin feline ears."
"You are going to a royal masque as a household pet?"
"Yes. I share quite the personality with them. We both like to be to ourselves and wish that we can simply be left to do as we please." Catherine said before getting up and walking to rejoin her step-mother and sister and Tess. A fortnight later Tess helped Catherine ready for the masquerade. Tess laughed at Catherine's choice of animal and the double meaning behind it. Tess had gone with a more common animal; a red fox. Once they were both dressed and had their masks securely set, they went down to meet the rest of their family. Brooke seemed displeased with Catherine's choice of animal.
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