This chapter was meant to be longer...I'll say it at the end. Anyways, does anyone know why Ella said she couldn't leave the "yellow-haired wench" Char? I mean, she finally got to see her unmasked face and feels like her beauty will steal Char from her? That's the part where I don't understand.
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Morning arrived. The sun shone brightly at Avenant's face. "Already morning?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. A maidservant walked it with a tray, as the door was open somehow. "You're awake! Good. Breakfast for today is your favorite: eggs and toast," said the middle-aged servant. Avenant sat up. "Thank you, Joanna. I guess I overslept, and now am the last in this house to eat." Joanna sat the tray in her lap. "Yes, everyone is finished eating and began their usual activities about half-an-hour ago," said Joanna.
"It's delicious, Joanna. Thank you." Joanna smiled. "You're welcome."
"I'll be done soon, so you can heat up water for my bath." Joanna bit her lip. "I'm afraid I can't do that," she said. Avenant looked up in surprise. "What?" she asked. "Your mother gave me orders to wash you up lightly and give you a thorough cleaning after dinner. She bought you three gowns yesterday for each Ball." "Why? I already have gowns that are good enough to dress into for a Ball," said Avenant. "Evangeline wants you to look your best. Everyone is shopping for gowns and jewelry, and if you were to wear your other dresses, you wouldn't stand out," Joanna explained.
"Why would I need to stand out? Everyone will be wearing gowns more beautiful than the other's, and I don't need admiration like every girl will be yearning for." Joanna smiled. "You are like no other girl, I'm sure, except for Lady Eleanor's daughter," Joanna said. Avenant finished eating. "She likes to be called Ella. Mother said she was a good friend of hers before her death. I don't know what it feels like to lose a mother, but I'm glad my mother isn't dead. She's too young to die." "That's what Ella said: 'She's too young to die.' But even some babies die, so death can arrive at someone's doorstep no matter what age the person is," Joanna said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, taking the tray away. "I'll heat up some water and you'll wash up."
Avenant stood up to fix her bed. Soon after, Joanna called her to come downstairs. As she walked down the stairs, she stopped to look at a painting on the wall. It was of her mother and Ella's mother. Beside it was another painting. She was 2, Ella was a newborn, and each baby was held by its mother. Avenant walked in the bathing room. Joanna came in with a gown and a towel. "You were supposed to be in the tub by now," Joanna complained. "I just got here," Avenant stated frustratingly.
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Avenant sat in the middle of the tub, like she did when she was a toddler as she waited for Joanna to bathe her. Now, she was a grown young lady of 17. Joanna slowly poured water on Avenant's head, as Avenant massaged shampoo into her scalp. "I'd rather help than to be helped get ready for the Ball," Avenant complained. "I know Hattie wouldn't mind having you as her personal servant. She's spoiled with riches." "What makes her spoiled?" asked Joanna. "When we were little girls, Hattie would tell me that she would someday live in the Palace. That was whenever Mother took me and Adam to Dame Olga's manor." Adam was Avenant's little brother, who was 13.
Avenant was now finished, all clean. She put on a light green dress, a replica of her mother's. "You're so beautiful, Avenant!" Joanna exclaimed. "More beautiful than an ogre," a young male voice joked. "Adam!" Avenant shouted. "How unkind!" Adam rolled his eyes. "That is rude of you to walk into a room where a woman is dressing," Joanna scolded. "She doesn't look like she's getting dressed," said he. They heard a voice from downstairs. It was Evangeline. "Adam, I need to show you something and speak with you." Adam stuck his tongue out at her. Avenant only smirked. They thought Evangeline heard all of what went on. Avenant hoped she would scold Adam.
"Joanna, you said Mother bought me dresses. Can I take a look at them?" Although Avenant knew her mother had the same fashion taste as her, but sh
e was still worried. "Surprise is for tonight, Avenant," Joanna said. "Believe me, you'll look splendid."
As I said, this chapter was meant to be longer, but I cut out the scene where Evangeline shows Avenant the dresses she bought. The "something" that Evangeline shows Adam is a suit for the Ball, which he finds not so great and unhappily runs off with it. Since I don't know what it's like to have a brother, I'm not good at writing about character who has a brother. But I've watched TV shows where an older sister has annoying trouble with her younger brother: That's So Raven, Even Stevens, Lizzie Mcguire. If you ever watched those shows, did you notice how childish they are?
