Into the Looking Glass
Disclaimer: My story is almost in every way different than Louis Carroll's classic. If characters are copied, it is for the enjoyment of all readers.
Chapter Two
"Miss! Miss!" Collin's voice called from the front seat.
"Yes?" I asked groggily. Was the trip finally over?
As if reading my mind, he said, "We have arrived."
I quickly sat up and looked out the window. As soon as I did, I gasped. We were coming up the drive of one of the largest houses that I had ever seen. It was made of stone, and fashioned in the usual style: square. The house had nearly a hundred windows, I was sure of it. But one of the things that struck me most about my grandmother's home was the woods surrounding it. The forest had come out of nowhere, and I was sure I hadn't seen it on the way in.
Squinting, I could now see a little congregation of people standing by the front entrance. When I asked Collin who they were, he told me that they were the house staff, waiting to welcome me.
"What about my grandmother?" I asked, not seeing anyone without a footman's or maid's suit.
"She'll be inside, waiting. Of course, you won't see her until dinner, after you're all settled. She decided to have a welcoming party on your behalf, Miss, and you should be quite excited," Collin was smiling widely, as though the party was really for him. He was probably just glad to get an evening off. Then again, he probably had every evening off, since it was likely that my grandmother didn't go anywhere.
When we had finally pulled up the long driveway, several of the servants rushed to retrieve the luggage from the trunk. As I opened the door and hopped out, I could feel their hurried stares.
But is was understandable. I had curly auburn hair that hung to my waist, and I wore it down. My dark jeans were torn at the knees, and hung well over my sneakers. I wore a dark blue t-shirt with black stars on it, which matched my nails and the bracelets on my wrists. The only thing that I wasn't wearing, however, was makeup. My mom had once told me how beautiful I looked without makeup. She told me never to wear it unless I had to. I honored her request, especially since it was one of the last that she made.
I sighed, watching the servants carry my suitcases in. Collin called out to me from the front door. I quickly grabbed my gray backpack from the inside of the car, along with my mother's trunk. I ran up the steps, and nearly bumped into a servant on my way in. Collin smiled and motioned for me to follow him.
As we walked, I noticed how much more alive the inside of the house looked. Paintings and statues lined the walls, and rich carpets covered the hardwood floor. It was like walking through the set of an eighteenth century movie.
"How old is this house?" I asked Collin, who was quite a ways ahead of me.
"Well over two-hundred," he called back, finally stopping at a pair of double doors.
"This is it, Miss," he said, smiling. "Your dress is inside, and your clothes will be unpacked later, during the party. Oh- and I'll come for you at seven." And with that he left, heading down the hall and through yet another door.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door, and then blinked. The room had a huge window, with a view straight at the grounds. The natural light in the room would be perfect for painting and sketching.
When I finally tore my eyes away from the window, I began to admire the rest of the room. A large four-poster bed sat off to one side, with a wardrobe next to it. Paintings of rural scenes decorated the room, and behind those the walls were covered with blue striped wallpaper. All of the furniture was simple yet elegant, and painted white with dainty flowers carved along the sides.
I walked over to the wardrobe, running my fingers along its smooth surface. Opening it, I saw that there were several sets of clothes inside. But not the kind of clothes that I usually wore. All I saw were sundresses and skirts made of big flower prints. Pretty clothes, but the rebel in me spoke out against them. And then I saw the dress at the back of the wardrobe.
I carefully placed the dress on my bed, the fluid fabric nearly slipping through my fingers. I was a jade green color, with silk folds that swathed around the waist to form a v-neck. Turning it over, I examined the buttons at the back. They were all in a neat row, round, and covered in the same silk as the dress. As I examined the beautiful material, I wondered how old this dress really was, and how I would look in it. I glanced at the clock. I had one hour to shower, do my hair, and get into the dress. At precisely that moment, I heard a knock on the door.
"Miss, I've come to arrange you hair," I heard someone say.
"And Miss, I've come to help with the dress!" another voice exclaimed.
I sighed. "Come in."
Two maids bustled in to meet me, smiling widely.
"We're so happy that you have arrived!" one squeaked brightly.
"Yes, it's been years since we've had a visitor!"
"And you'll be here forever!" I really wished that they wouldn't remind me.
"Uh, can we get started?" I asked, smiling slightly.
An hour later, I was following Collin down the long hall, struggling to catch my breath. The maids insisted that I wore a corset, grandma's orders. What was this, the eighteenth century? I had a few choice words for my dear old grandma, if I lived through this stupid party.
"Hey, Collin, wait up, I'm dying here," I said, stopping. Turning, he took my arm and placed it around his.
"Here," he said. I thanked him and we continued to walk down the hall. "You look lovely," he commented. I didn't really have a grandpa, but if I did, it would be Collin.
Finally, we came to a set of double doors.
"And this, is where I leave you," Collin said, and he thrust open the doors.
My stomach clenched, and I was blinded by the light cast from a bright chandelier. When I finally focused, I saw a sea of people waiting below me. And there, standing in front of them all, was the most magnificently dressed woman I had ever seen. She gave me a warm and encouraging smile, then beckoned for me to come to her.
As I walked down the stairs she stood there, in her black velvet dress and neat white curls. It was as if I was looking at a reflection of myself, though years older.
"Camilla," she said. Her voice was just as warm as her embrace. "It has been a long time." I looked into her blue eyes, deeper and more knowing than my emerald ones. And in that moment, my whole perspective on the situation changed. I was going to be fine. She was just a lonely old lady that had welcomed me into her home. The least I could be was grateful.
"Well," she said, smiling, "It's time we start introducing you to society."
The evening went well, and after making polite acquaintances with everyone, we sat down to a pleasant dinner, and I tried to remember the few etiquette lessons that I had experienced in the past. My grandmother met my eyes a few times, and I sensed that she was just as eager to talk to me as I was to her.
About halfway through dinner she stood up, and the table fell silent.
"As you all know, my granddaughter, Camilla, has suffered a great loss. But I am more than happy to have her here." She paused to smile at me, joining the sympathetic looks of everyone else. "And so, I decided to have this dinner as a celebration of her arrival. Thank you all for coming, and thank you, Camilla, for having the courage to come and be a part of the society that will be one of the most defining parts of your life." Everyone raised their glasses, and murmured words of support and comfort. I had never been so afraid and excited in my life.
Dinner lasted only a short time longer, and I joined my grandmother at the door to bid our guests farewell. After when the final couple had left, she invited my into the drawing room just down the hall.
I sat on a soft leather chair while my grandmother settled herself elegantly on a flowered sofa.
"Camilla, I have been expecting you for quite some time," she said, her voice still holding its gentle tone. "But I confess that I was a bit nervous at your coming. In one of your mother's various letters to me, she had mentioned that you were sixteen. I had no idea what to do with myself when I heard how grown up you were." I couldn't help feeling lucky and content at this new arrangement. Here I had a grandmother that was clearly excited at my being here, and who had the most beautiful house that I had ever seen.
"Well," she said, rising. "It's clear that you are tired, as am I. We have a lot to do tomorrow, so it's off to bed."
As we turned opposite ways down the hall, I paused. "Grandmother?" I said, looking back at her.
"Yes?"
"Thanks for letting me stay."
"You're most welcome."
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