TheCrimsonPen: Haha, close! But, you'll just have to see ;)

To answer people's question about Jonathan's previous employer, and the disappearing daughter...that wasn't a hint for his character, I was just weaving in my original characters in my novel "Sight" on fictionpress . net. That is not a fanfic, and I created all of the characters myself, so I thought it would be fun to link them together, somehow.

Ch. 45

The short carriage-ride of twenty-five minutes to town was not lacking in confusion and was abundant in mental-fogginess. Alinah had analyzed every possible reason for going to town, but she could find none logical or appropriately-fitting her Master. He was not one to leave his estate, let alone his room, and often Mr. Harris had been his errand-runner. But yet, she noticed the quiet and calm Butler, sitting across from her in a nonchalant mannerism, and she wondered why it had been necessary for him to join them. Perhaps it was a good thing, after all, to have a chaperone, with someone like Erik around.

Mr. Harris stared out of the window and Erik remained silent, so she thought it best not to interfere with their quiet reveries. Instead, she focused her sights on a small shop outside of the window once the carriage had stopped moving. She squinted her eyes to see the displays of dresses in the windows.

"A garment shop? Why on earth would we be here?" Mr. Harris asked abruptly. He eyed his employer suspiciously, and Alinah, too, waited for an answer.

"Because she is need of a few dresses," Erik stated simply.

Alinah furrowed her brows at him.

"I do not have the salary to purchase any dresses, and should I have it, I would not bring two gentleman with me!" she complained. What were his motives, anyway?

Erik smirked at her, expecting her uncooperation.

"I have taken care of everything. All that you must do is go inside and pick them of your choosing. Mr. Harris and I shall wait out here, in case anything should happen."

While Alinah had half the mind to thank him for wishing to protect her, the other half wanted to reprimand him for his behavior. To purchase new gowns for a servant was preposterous, and almost offensive to her. If he did not intend on making her his wife, then surely he was mocking her by showering her with gifts, and she would not have it. She refused to be swayed by material things and romantics, for at the end of the day, she was still his servant and nothing more.

"Monsieur Deberaux, that is highly inappropriate to do such a thing for a servant-girl," Mr. Harris said.

"I agree," Alinah added. "I could never afford to repay you, and you would not behave this way for any other servant."

Erik was growing impatient, having other things that he needed to tend to.

"She only has two day dresses and it is my duty to provide her basic needs. You cannot expect to work with only two garments, can you, Mr. Harris?"

The Butler was silent.

"Good," then, he turned to Alinah. "Select a few day dresses to your liking. And, as I know you to be a modest creature, I only request that you choose one fine evening gown, however fancy you may wish. And should you disobey me, then you will be missing out on a great opportunity."

"A great opportunity?" she repeated, a puzzled look on her face. "For what?"

Erik's grin returned, only this time, it was wider. "A Masquerade Dinner."

"What?!" Mr. Harris and Alinah both responded simultaneously. Despite her better judgement, she felt the excitement grow within her. A masquerade! Why, Erik would fit in perfectly!

She had never much enjoyed balls or gatherings when she had been married to Walter, as often times the company was rude and arrogant. But the thought of dancing with Erik and enjoying a night out with him was very tempting, to say the least. Though she wouldn't admit it, he had found something that she simply could not refuse, servant or not!

"Monsieur, that is a most unwise decision that I-"

Erik put a hand up to silence his Butler.

"I want to hear none of it from you. We will discuss this, later."

He shooed Alinah out of the carriage and she reluctantly walked into the shop. The chiming of the bell only increased her feelings of guilt and uncertainty. She had never enjoyed using other people's money, regardless of how enthusiastic they had been to give it to her. She always felt that she would need to repay them, somehow, and upon glancing at the outfits around the room, she knew that it would take years of her meager salary to do so.

Meanwhile, the two men sat outside in the carriage.

"What is the meaning of this?" Mr. Harris asked, his frustration growing. The ethical voice inside of him would not allow him to remain impartial to his employer's biased behavior.

"I simply wish to take her to a Masquerade. There is a theatre opening in town, and tomorrow marks the grand celebration. It is the only opportunity for us to enjoy a public event, together."

Mr. Harris nodded in acknowledgement. He realized that his employer could not show his face to the public, and that this was the only guise that would allow him to do so. But still, he could not silence his conscience.

"Might I ask, what do you intend to do with her? You are stringing her along and you could very well ruin her reputation if anyone should find out. I suggest that if you do not intend on marrying her, that you stop this nonsense, immediately!"

"That leads me to my next question," Erik sighed impatiently. He was growing rather tired of his Butler's need to speak his mind.

Erik pulled out a couple of folded-up sheets of paper from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Harris.

"Will you run and fetch me these?"

Mr. Harris opened the bunch of papers and his confusion only increased. "Why would you want one of these?"

"You will see if you look at the next page."

He casually glanced over the first page before he looked at the second, and his eyes widened.

"Both I have designed myself. Make certain that the notes are correct, as I have included the sheet music for it. I trust that you will find what I am looking for?"

"Y-yes! Immediately!" Mr. Harris replied, getting out of the carriage. Before he left, he turned to his employer.

"I suspect that she will be a while, but I expect you to return before she does," Erik said. He glanced at the dress shop, but could see no sign of her leaving.

"Very well, Sir."

And with that, Mr. Harris set about to fulfill his new task.

"That looks simply marvelous on you, dear!" the shopkeeper exclaimed loudly.

Alinah frowned in the looking glass as the seamstresses pinned the gown on her to show a proper fitting. It had already been forty minutes, and she was growing tired of trying on dresses. She had already chosen three day dresses (as the shopkeeper, Madeline, had urged her that she needed one more when she had selected two) and she found herself already feeling uncomfortable with her choices. She had chosen the simplest and most modest dresses that she could find, which had been quite a task in this particular shop, but now she was searching for her gown for the Masquerade.

Simply the thought of it made her want to squeal with delight. She felt like an adolescent girl who was coming out into society, all over again.

But still, while the light-blue dress that she wore had brought out the color in her eyes, she did not feel as if it was the one for her. Noticing her slight grimace when she turned around in the mirror to get a better view, Madeline asked,

"What do you not like about it?"

Alinah sighed, trying to decide what it was. Although it had lace and beads, it felt as if it were missing something.

"I don't know. It is lacking, but I am not quite certain of what."

Madeline nodded and gestured for the girls to help her out of the dress.

"Do you want more lace, more beads, a different color, a different style?"

Alinah's mind was whirling. Too many decisions! How ridiculous it was for there to be so many options, she thought to herself.

"A different color...perhaps something deeper."

"Do you mind exposing your shoulders? You do have quite lovely skin."

"I do not mind, as long as it is modest," Alinah responded.

"And the beading? Do you want it to glisten when you walk?"

"Yes, as long as it is not excessive. I do like glistening."

Madeline skimmed her inventory with a few perfectly-manicured fingernails until her hand rested on one in particular. "Ah!" she exlaimed as she picked up the dress. "Try this!"

Alinah was handed the dress and she smiled at the color. The shade was a mixture of plum and dark fuschia. Once she was wearing it, she gasped at herself in the mirror.

The sleeves, off-shoulder but the corset wasn't too low. It revealed the perfect amount of skin, without appearing promiscuous. The bodice, tight-fitting and shimmering with beads and gems. The train, long but not tiresome. The purple skirts parted for an elegant underdress of a cream-colored fabric covered in black lace. The underskirts, too, glittered when she turned.

"It is perfect..." she breathed. Then, she turned to the shopkeeper with a look of concern on her face. "But, what is the cost?"

"Far below the limit that the purchaser has set. You must have a wealthy relative, or, perhaps, a husband? Hmmm? He will be pleased with your choice," Madeline winked.

Alinah smiled, although she felt ashamed. What a scandal it would be for the shopkeeper to discover that it was her employer! She reddened in the face at the thought.

"Now, we must find a pair of shoes..." Madeline suggested.

"Oh, no! I couldn't possibly-"

"Nonsense, dear! You can't wear those tarnished things!" she pointed to the worn out ones that Alinah was currently wearing and frowned. "Now, come with me!"

One hour later, much to Alinah's dismay, she made her way back to the carriage. She had not been allowed to see the cost of her purchases, and she was grateful of this fact. When she stepped into the carriage, she felt guilty for making the two men wait for nearly three hours.

"Please forgive me for taking so long," she sighed, sitting down across from them on the red velvet seat.

Erik noticed her fatigue as she brushed a stray hair out of her wind-blown face. He frowned.

"Did none of them suit you?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, they did. I just never want to repeat such an experience, again."

"Why not?" he grew worried. "Were you treated poorly?"

"No, not at all!" she replied quickly to ease his concern. "Quite the opposite. But when one has hardly slept at all the previous night, dress-shopping can be a tedious task."

Erik nodded in agreement, his expression softening. "Did you find a dress for tomorrow night?"

"T-tomorrow?" she glanced up at him with wide eyes. She could feel her anticipation grow within her, and she knew that the next day would go by slowly, seemingly unending, until the ball.

"I did," she added. She had not expected such a turn of events, but she was happy about it. Finally, a chance to get out of the house, without risking notice!

The carriage was urged to return to the estate, and yet another silent ride ensued. But she could not help but to wonder at Mr. Harris' thoughts when she caught a glimpse of him smirking out of the corner of her eye.