Chapter 10
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the seasons for all of the holiday balls and parties that society demanded from the royal family. Most of Melody's holiday gowns had been commissioned from the creative hands and minds of the royal seamstresses when her royal trousseau was created, so she only had to concern over the fittings of one gown. The Tsarina and the Grand Duchess Maria however needed several new gowns, much to consternation of the seamstresses because of the taste of their tastes.
"My daughter and I require gowns of the highest quality. No cheap materials, we only want the best!" the Tsarina proclaimed.
"Oh yes of course ma'am. We have some lovely styles that have just come in from France and even the United States. We have a lovely Catherine Danby gown that would just suit you..." a seamstress explain.
"Posh! I want something regal, and original! With flounces! I require flounces!" the Tsarina declared.
"Perhaps lace over silk?" the seamstress asked.
"Yes that will do. I want the finest gown at the ball and I'll make it worth your while as well. I want to stand out at the party! I want every other woman there to die of envy when they see my gown!" the Tsarina proclaimed.
Listening to the conversation, Melody stifled a groan and almost rolled her eyes when she tried to imagine a ballroom with the Tsarina sweeping through, ladies dropping to the floor in death as she passed by. Did people never listen to the words they spoke?
"What about the bodice, m'lady?" the seamstress asked, moving on in her questions.
"It should be low because I want my husband to take notice that I still have a girlish figure, and I mean for him to remember the fact." the Tsarina said rather smugly.
Melody looked skeptically at the Tsarina, who seemed to be in her fifties at least, her girlish figure a matter of opinion. The seamstress interrupted her thoughts when she described creating a gown which was low and off the shoulder, with vertical pleats across the bodice meant to accentuate the bosom, done in the corsage a la Grecque style. The Tsarina wholeheartedly agreed to that, especially when the seamstress explained that although the style was popularized in the forties, she'd update the look for the sixties and that she knew that a vaguely similar styled gown had once been created for Queen Victoria, however the Tsarina's gown would be entirely original.
"Oh that simply sounds divine! Yes I commission that to be the style of my gown!"
"Yes and I will create the sleeve to be elbow length, with flounces of lace trailing down to match the flounces on the skirt, like this!" the seamstress explained.
"Oh so perfect! I cannot wait for its creation, I wish I possessed the gown today!" the Tsarina cooed.
The seamstress waited a moment, then asked "What color would you prefer?"
"Something royal, like burgundy or perhaps gold velvet...Yes gold would suit me quite nicely, with white fox fur trim, wouldn't you agree?" the Tsarina pondered.
"We will have to see what is available from the next shipment from France...but I will inquire about the gold velvet or similar material at the soonest possible convenience. As far as the fox fur trim...ma'am have you ever considered a fox fur stole instead? I could commission such a piece from the furrier and have it finished in coincidence to the dress, so that your ensemble may be complete." the seamstress explained.
"Oh yes, that is excellent! This is quite exciting! There is another stipulation that I have, which is that there must not be another gown made from the same material as my creation. I must insist!" the Tsarina happily exclaimed.
"I will do my utmost to meet your request, my queen." the seamstress bowed.
Suddenly another seamstress emerged from the a side room with Duchess Maria in tow. The young woman walked with a regal air, yet became even more demure in the presence of her mother. Melody was a bit surprised at this and thought that she should make more of an effort to better befriend her young sister-in-law.
The other seamstress interrupted everyone's thoughts when she explained her suggestions for the Grand Duchess' gown. "I have collected several fabric swatches of the colors and fabrics I have in mind. For the Grand Duchess' gown, I would suggest a lavender or a dusty rose because it would make a good show against her creamy complexion. We can even do a contrasting color for the piping along the sleeves, neckline, and bodice seams like this..." she said as she showed a sketch of the gown to the Tsarina.
"Oh yes that sounds scrumptious indeed! My, I envy you young women. If I were a girl that age once more, I could certainly give you a run for your money!" the Tsarina exclaimed haughtily, as she glanced toward both her daughter and Melody.
Finally it was Melody's turn to consult with the seamstresses, and fortunately for her the decisions went smoothly and soon the perfect gown was created. A beautiful blue watered silk with the right amount of flounces, set in sleeves, a square neckline, and a chapel length train on a skirt that hung atop wire hoops, that created a smaller bell and just the hint of a bustle.
The Tsarina gave her opinion, saying that it should prove to be an adequate dress, but nothing special compared to her own gown which she determined would be the best and outshine all others. Afterward, the seamstresses left, and the Tsarina, the Grand Duchess, and Melody took their tea in the solarium, to bask in the warmth of the sun in that room among the plants, and to discuss their plans for upcoming party season.
A few days later, Melody found her sister-in-law, Maria, sitting in the library reading a book, so she decided to chat with her.
"Hello Maria, so what are you reading there? Is it interesting?"
"Oh hello Minnie. Oh I'm just reading a book of poetry, although I probably should be doing my needlepoint, as is befitting a princess." Maria said as she placed the book into a pocket in her skirt.
"Ha ha, you get that too? 'as befitting a princess' If I hear that line again, I think I'll scream! Oh surely there is something you'd rather be doing than needlepoint? Tell me what is it?" Melody playfully pleaded.
"Actually I like needlepoint...but if I'm perfectly honest I believe I would rather be ice skating or reading or solving math equations or something else..." she said wistfully.
"Math equations? Really?" Melody asked skeptically.
"Well maybe...but I dunno..." Maria mused.
"Hmm...Well if I could be doing anything at all, I think I would much rather be sunning myself on a beach on a deserted island and swimming in the deep blue sea with my friends and family...and perhaps I would invite your brother along, because that might be quite fun." Melody contemplated.
"Why would you want to take Paul or Sergei to the beach? They're just silly boys..."
"Paul or Sergei? Very funny. I meant Alexander!" Melody exclaimed.
"Oh I knew who you meant, but why you would want to be stranded on a deserted island with Alexander is beyond me because he's such a bore anymore sometimes...I don't what you'd even do..." Maria sighed.
"Well he's not always that boring. I can think of a few things that might be interesting..." Melody said with a sarcastic smirk.
"Oh yeah that...ha ha...although ew I can't imagine you doing it with my brother!" Maria laughingly cringed.
Melody just chuckled to herself until Maria interrupted with another question. "All right Minnie, I'll try not to think about Alexander, but anyway in general how is it?"
"It's good, sometimes really good, but somehow not exactly how I expected. Its a connection to someone else unlike any other, its not just physical, but its also like part of you is given to the guy on some other level. Its rather difficult to describe...somehow...and personally I agree it should be saved for marriage. Anyway you probably should be discussing this with your mother." Melody described wistfully adamant.
"Really? Wow! Anyway my mother never wants to discuss things like that with me because its beyond the bounds of proper society, or so she says, so it was good talking about it with you, even if your descriptions are a bit vague." Maria said.
"Ha ha, you asked me about my opinion, not the mechanics of it! Surely you have an idea about what it takes to create a baby." Melody laughed.
"Of course, I'm not that naïve!" Maria gasped.
"Okay, well that's all you need to know for now." Melody teased.
"Oh Min-nie!" Maria sulked.
"Do you really want to know what your brother and I do when we're alone?" Melody teased.
"Oh yeah...uh I don't know...Oh I think I hear mother calling...uh maybe we can talk again another time...Later Minnie..." Maria said as she hurried out of the room, as Melody just sat there chuckling to herself.
A few weeks later was the Christmas Ball, which was a much anticipated event indeed. The entire palace made preparations for the big event by decorating the palace and themselves in their finery. Melody was a little nervous about participating in her first Christmas Ball with her husband Alexander and his family.
On the evening Melody fairly glowed in her new blue ball gown as her chambermaids assisted her with dressing. She was just getting the finishing touches, when her husband walked in and leaned in the doorway.
"Hello my dear you look quite lovely tonight. That gown becomes you indeed." he drawled.
"Thank you darling, you look quite dashing yourself tonight. Hmm is that your military dress suit?" she asked as she turned toward him.
"Ha ha this old thing? Yes it is? What do you think? It isn't too much?" he asked nonchalantly.
"No I think its just right. The jacket rather reminds me of one my father had in his younger years, but I do like navy blue on you because its much more dashing...even with all of the epulettes and even a decorative sword!" she teased as she drew it from the scabbard and examined the blade.
"Hey be careful with that or you could get hurt." he chuckled as he attempted to grab if from her.
"Aw I just wanted to look at the blade. Oh this is fine workmanship even if it is only decorative. Do you know I once took fencing lessons?" she laughed.
"Really?" he asked skeptically.
"Yes it was when I was a girl of about eleven or twelve, this old man, who said that he was part Spanish but grew up in the New World, came to my father's castle and gave me lessons after I caught him fighting this other guy. His name was...let me think...Diego De La Vega and he told me I was quite good if I kept practicing. He said that using a foil can be just like a paintbrush. Do you want to see the trick he taught me?" she excitedly commented.
"All right, if you just put the sword down." he commented.
"Okay here goes..." Melody said as whipped the foil and in a few strokes carved the letter M in the wainscoting on the wall. "..He he that was fun! Yeah old Diego was a sly old fox...I wonder whatever happened to Mr. or should I say Senor De La Vega?"
"Melody?! You carved an 'M' in the wall? Ha ha nice, but that's enough, give me the sword." Alex laughed.
"Try to take it from me." she said coyly.
Although she tried to playfully avoid him, Melody was taken by surprise when Alex sneaked up behind her and grabbed for the sword, but she was too fast and threw the sword like a knife across the room until the blade stuck in the bed post, the handle quivering.
He playfully pulled her against him, until she could the buttons on his jacket pressing against her back through her gown, as he huskily whispered in her ear "Ha ha good one darling. You're lucky this time because a lady should never touch a man's sword, unless she expects to get poked...hmm..." as he then kissed her on the neck and she knew his meaning exactly, causing her to chuckle.
Suddenly they heard a knock on the door and a servant tell them that they had only a few minutes until they were expected at the ball. This caused Alex to chuckle and say "Ah I'd love to given you a private fencing lesson right if we had the time, but perhaps after we've put in an appearance at the family Christmas Ball for a bit, we can come back here and we can have a lesson in swordplay of or sort or another...hmm...?"
"Oh ha ha, hmm you're something else. Yes back here for a fencing lesson indeed...It should be entertaining indeed." she chuckled, as he escorted her from the room.
The couple entered the ballroom just in time to hear the page announce Tsarevich Alexander Alexanderovich and Tsarista Maria Feodorovna. Melody was still unused to her new royal name and title, but had to roll with it as she greeted her guests and people. For the most part the party was a hit with everyone, and the guests were treated to the finest food, decorations, spirits, and music. Melody still found the glittering décor of the ballroom to be a sight to behold, especially with all of the gentry and royalty in attendance. When the Tsarina made her appearance in her new gown, many took notice, but no women literally "died with envy" like she'd claimed.
When Melody thought of that comment, she chuckled, causing her husband to ask "So what do you find so amusing?" while they danced.
"Oh just a comment I suddenly remembered your mother had made when she ordered that gown she's wearing. She said that she thought that the other women would 'die of envy' when they saw her in it, then I pictured that literally happening and I found it grotesquely humorous, do you know what I mean?" Melody commented.
Alex just chuckled "Ha ha, yes I know what you mean! Don't tell my mother that though because she probably made that comment because of my father's lovers...and wouldn't you know one happens to be here now."
"Really? Where?" she asked peering around at the guests in attendance.
"Two o'clock, woman with the hair..."
"And the gold velvet and lace on her dress as well! Oh dear this is going to be quite the scene, especially since the other woman's gown has some of the same material as your mother's gown, even after she requested from the seamstresses that no other woman use that material for her gown!" Melody gasped.
"Looks like my father isn't the only thing that woman and my mother share. Looks like there's going to she a showdown and things might get a bit messy in here. Do you want to go back for that fencing lesson darling before...?" he said as he grasped her arm to lead her from the ballroom.
"Yes perhaps we should leave...although I'd love to stay for the fallout from this." she said as she held out a bit longer, until the portion of the ball closest to the two women stopped, and they faced each other in a shouting match that was only reaching its crescendo of argumentative voices when Melody and Alexander retired to their room for more constructive use of their time.
Alexander did attempt to teach Melody the basics of sword fighting with a foil, but since they lacked the proper padding and other equipment, then it just turned into a bout of playfully chasing each other in their underwear with a broom handle and a curtain rod, they decided to postpone their official lesson for another day and just collapsed in bed together for another type of sword play.
After awhile, Alex and Melody contemplated about the fallout from their annual Christmas Ball, with both hoping that everything would settle down after a while despite the drama. Then Melody commented "Well you know dear, I was sad that my family weren't in attendance to your family's royal Christmas Ball, but perhaps it was a good thing they didn't attend." To which Alex answered "Ha ha darling I couldn't agree more! I'd rather be here with you anyhow, than that ball tonight. We can have our own party alone." To which she slyly answered "I agree! Merry Christmas...hmmm"