Happy 100th Hits, everyone!
I can't believe that I've actually made it onto triple-digits in reviews...
So... I really have to thank everyone who has read and especially those who reviewed!
We'll be at the Ball soon...
Chapter Ten
In which Sophie receives a present.
Sophie trudged rather heavily home, her mind blurred slightly with weariness… It had been a very long day at work with Mrs Papillion barking orders like a general in order to get all the flowers and decorative foliage ready for the Royal Ball the next night. Sophie had put together so many centrepieces that she felt ready to murder the next customer who asked for one! All she wanted now was to curl in bed and sleep for a long, long time.
Reaching the front door, she pulled out her key and was fumbling at the lock when suddenly she felt a presence behind her. Quickly swinging around, she clutched at her reticule like a weapon, determined to defend herself to the death if necessary.
"Miss Hatter?"
The green uniformed soldier stared at her enquiringly, vaguely shocked at her murderous expression. Sophie blushed slightly in embarrassment over her jumping into conclusions and smiled brightly at the man, pretending that she hadn't almost tried to put a hole in his head with her bag.
"Yes? I'm Sophie Hatter… Is anything the matter?"
"Miss Hatter, I am here to deliver to you a package with the compliments of his Royal Highness Prince Justin."
"Oh! What is it?" cried Sophie, peering at the silk-wrapped, beribboned box.
"Sorry, miss. I wouldn't know," he answered shortly, quite obviously rather unhappy that, he, a mighty warrior had been relegated to the status of delivery boy. And he was also thoroughly mortified that he had stood in public, carrying a box which spouted an abundance of frivolously curling ribbons. "Here…" thrusting the present at her, eager to dispose from himself of such a disgustingly pretty object. "Would you like me to convey any messages back to his Royal Highness?"
"Oh…yes… please thank him for me!"
"Certainly, miss."
Sophie held onto the box absently, watching the soldier leave with unflattering haste as she wondered if she had somehow offended the man. Oh well…
Reaching her room, Sophie sat cross-legged upon her bed and daintily began picking at the silk ribbons. Brushing aside the many layers of crepe and tissue, she gasped in delight as she stared wide-eyed into the box.
Carefully, she pulled the full-length gown out the box and held against herself as she pictured how she would look. The silvery spider-silk gleamed softly as it appeared to catch the light, and as Sophie watched fascinated, tiny diamond beads flashed coyly at her slightest movement. She had never seen such a gorgeous dress in her life, much less owned one!
She laid the gown down almost reverently upon the bed and reached into the box to pluck out a card, heavily embossed with the royal emblem.
Dear Sophie,
I know that this would seem like horrible impudence, but when I saw this dress, I immediately thought of you. I hope thatyou will like it and that you will wear it for the ball tomorrow.
I await you with the outmost impatience. .
Yours,
Justin.
What a dear man… she had never expected to have such lovely friends… Not bad at all for the eldest daughter, thought to be doomed to perpetual failure, to have a prince as a friend! Holding the card against her lips absent-mindedly, she dwelled upon Justin fondly for a minute or two before turning to the box again. There was something underneath all that tissue!
She pulled out all the tissue and crepe and was shocked out of her mind for the second or was it the third time that day. What magnificent shoes! They were in the same glimmering silver-moonbeam colour as the dress, with such high and spindly looking heels that Sophie was doubtful that she could successfully walk in them. She slipped them on carefully, watching idly as the soft sleek material shivered gently and contoured itself perfectly against her feet, and arched up a foot to admire how much more pretty her toes looked! She had always thought that toes where the ugliest appendages in the world… But not with these shoes! Looking up at the tear-drop diamond that was held against the top of her foot with the thin, silky strap that crossed her ankles and she marvelled again at Justin's generosity. She swung down her foot and was determined to make every effort to live up to the dress's beauty and actually spend some time and effort in her toilette. She would not disappoint Justin!
Besides, she did not want to give that blasted Lady Ambrosia a chance to sneer at her and what was worse, have Howl think that she was upset that he was escorting Ambrosia to the ball. He really had not changed a bit… he never did have any care for her feelings…
That settled it!
She was going to be beautiful and charming and wonderful!
And Howl could jump off a cliff and into a mud-hole!