Apparition
My shoulders shook as I sobbed. The only dress suitable for the ball was ruined. I had nothing else to wear. I just wanted one night where I wasn't the lonely servant girl in my own home. With a mask on no one would know who I am. That's all I wanted for just a few hours.
A bright light shone through the hall and I looked up. My breath left my lungs in a gush. There before me was the short figure with the familiar scruffy moustache that was my father's signature look. He didn't look a day different from when I last saw him years ago just before he left on one of his trips.
"Papa?"
"My dear, please stop your crying. You have a ball to attend."
"I have nothing to wear Papa."
"You will wear one of your Mother's dresses."
"But they are all gone."
"Not all."
I watched as he turned away from me. He pulled back the old rug along the hall to reveal a trap door in the floor. I followed close behind him down the wooden steps into a beautiful room. In the centre was flurry of material covering a large bulge. The apparition of my father revealed the most elegant golden dress I'd ever laid my eyes upon.
"Your mother wore this dress to the ball I first lay eyes on her. She was the most stunning young maiden there. My mother knew her mother so I was introduced to her. We danced all evening and I watched the jealous stares of all the young Lords around us."
"It is too beautiful for me to wear Papa."
"Nonsense my darling girl. I would not let you go to the Prince's ball in anything but. Now you must hurry, the hour is late. I shall not be able to long."
"You must stay Papa. I need you here."
"Everything will be okay. The young Prince has brought me here to you. You cannot cheat death my dear. As the clock tolls its final bell of midnight, I will be leaving you. I will never return to this world but there is a better one waiting for you when God decides it is time. But that will not be for many years. Everything you deserve will come to you soon. Now, you must get ready for the ball. Pete will be here soon with a carriage and horse to escort you to the palace."
"I love you Papa."
"And I love you too my darling. I am so sorry for forcing this life onto you. I never realised how wicked Victoria really was."
"It was not your fault Papa. You worked too hard to notice but I cannot blame you for that because you loved your work. And I loved hearing the stories you returned with."
"Then keep my work alive for me, my beautiful daughter."
He ushered me behind the folding screen to change behind. I stripped from the wet clothes and tied myself into my under skirt and corset. I do not have to tie it tightly as my figure gives me the natural hourglass figure. My father held the dress out over the screen and I slipped into it. The large skirt ruffled as I twisted my body to look at the back.
Stepping out, my father pulled at the string on the back of my dress. My back was rigid, unable to bend forwards. The dress was a perfect fit. My bosom was tightly fit into my corset. My underskirt held the golden skirt away from my legs in a dome and it just touched the ground. The golden material was soft to the touch. It was the only dress I'd worn, from what I remember, that was not itchy. The bodice was a delicate fabric that was embroidered with golden lace.
"You look stunning Bella. Just like your mother."
I twirled around causing my skirt to flare out in a circle. I felt beautiful for the first time in years. Tears were in my father's eyes as he watched me. He reached out for a box and presented me with the most delicate glass slippers. I slipped them on to find they were a perfect fit. Holding out a strip of green ribbon, I frowned at the suggestion.
"Papa I cannot wear that. I do not want the Prince to consider me an eligible maiden. I do not want to be noticed by anyone."
"Bella, you are an eligible maiden in this land and the young Prince would be lucky if he were to choose you for his Queen."
I reluctantly held my right arm out so that he could secure the ribbon around the top of my arm. All maidens in the land that wished to be considered in the eyes of the Prince had to wear a green ribbon to differentiate between the maidens whom were not eligible or did not want to be eligible.
"And finally, a mask."
He lifted the flat lid from an old cardboard box. I gasped at the sparkling mask. It was only small so it would cover around my eyes but wouldn't reach my lips or forehead. My father's figure took the mask and held it over my face. He tied the gold ribbon around my head and bowed it together.
"Perfect."
Looking into my father's brown eyes, I couldn't stop the tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Do not cry my beautiful girl. Tonight is supposed to be a happy occasion."
We both heard the whinnying of a horse in the distance and I knew it was time. My father took my hands in his.
"All good things come to people who deserve them my dear. Go and have an enjoyable evening. And remember, I shall be leaving at midnight."
"I will return before then Papa. I will say goodbye. Thank you Papa."
"It is not I that you should thank. It is Prince Edward that used his wish to bring me back to you."
That confused me a little. If Edward had found the diamond of Armeendia, why would he use its' powers to bring my father back to me? It had been his last hopes of finding true love. But now he had to attend this ball with little chance of choosing a maiden that he could come to love. As happy as my father's return had made me, I did not want this. It was his wish to make for himself, not me.
"Goodbye Papa."
"There are no such things as goodbyes."
He gave me a warm smile before I climbed the steps out of the basement. Holding my dress up, I left my father's apparition inside our home as I climbed into the cart. Pete couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face when he saw me. He didn't say anything though. In the old, worn cart, I clutched my hands together as we made the short ride to the palace gates.
