A/N: This chapter and the next will be in La Carlotta's POV... muahaha :) (There is sonething in here for a friend of mine also, she'll know what it is...)
It would be only a few minutes until the first respectacble man to ever wish to court my daughter would be knocking at our door, and that child was not ready in the least.
"Calandra, get over here and let me tighten your corset!" I shouted across the room, where she was eating the crumpets the I ordered the servant to make so that she wouldn't look to be a pig on her date.
"Mother, I can hardly breathe as it is!" she said back, butter from the now pooling crumpet dripping down her chin.
"If I can sing across an orchestra in a corset tighter than I'm asking you to wear yours, surely you can wear one for several hours. And for goodness' sake, eat like a lady on your outing!" I replied, stroking my doggie in my arms
I heard a knock on the door... it was him! How my mess of a daughter caught the notice of the opera's leading man I will never know, but what I do know is that I will NOT let him get away. I re-powdered her face where the butter had left a streak and hurried her downstairs, where she arrived just as the butler opened the door.
"Hello, Calandra..." the young man at the door shyly said. "And you must be her mother, La Carlotta. It's a pleasure to meet you." I offered my hand, and he gave it a quick peck.
He took Calandra's arm and they strode to the carriage, where a strange man in a cape was driving. Was that... a mask he was wearing? Surely not, just a trick of the light. As soon as the carriage was out of sight, I turned to Calandra's governess.
"Maid," I said to her, while grabbing my mink coat. "Watch my doggie for me, I will be going out for the evening."