Chapter 3
Elise woke up to the sounds of birds singing at her window and a smile on her face. A visit to town would mean a break from the endless chores that filled her days. Elise quickly dressed and put the breakfast trays together. She delivered them all and waited for Lady Sora to give her the instructions for the day. Elise left her stepmother's room with a list of things to bring back and the order to be back by sunset. Elise hurried to the stable to hitch Maybelle to the cart and together they made their way to town. Elise went over the list as the she walked beside the cart. She was to bring back enough cloth for six dresses, put in orders for shoes, and purchase household staples. Elise and Maybelle entered the Town square and decided to start at the Clockmaker's Shop to pick up the her father's old mantle clock. "Good morning Gregory. Is my father's clock ready?." Elise said as she entered the shop. The tall man behind the counter smiled and returned her greeting. "Good morning Elise." Elise smiled at the Clock Maker. "Of course. Let me go in the back and get the clock Gregory went through the door behind him and emerged several moments later. "Here you go." he said as he handed the clock to Elise. "Thank you Gregory." Elise began to reach in her purse to pay Gregory stopped her "There's no need my lady." was all he said as he smiled at her. Elise thought to protest, but keep quiet and left the shop with a smile on her face. She then headed to the General Store to pick up the fabric, flour, sugar, and spices. She passed the baker and took in the smells of fresh bread. Soon she came to the General Store and went inside to find the fabric, buttons, and thread she would need to sew six new dresses. Elise went thru the supply of fabric in the back room of the store. There was fabric of every color form the lightest to the darkest. She selected heavy dress silks in a rich blue, deep coral, violet, gold, ruby red, and emerald green. Elise then selected an airy fabrics in colors that coordinated with the fabrics she had already selected. As she selected fabrics she began to began to envision the dresses she would be making for her stepsisters and stepmother. Elise looked over her fabric selections and headed for the notions she would need to finish off the dresses. She selected buttons made of pearl, jade and gold. She then selected lace to match the dresses she had begun to design in her head. Elise took her fabric to the counter for Abigail to hold while she got the last remaining items on her list, but before she could finish her shopping a royal page stopped her and said "The queen wishes to see you Elise. She ask that you come straight to her quarters. I'm to finish what ever errands you have left so that you can go." With that Elise handed the page her list and went straight to the castle and the queen's quarters.