The gentleman called Alastor prided himself very much on his dancing and for good reason too. Not a limb about him was idle and his feet moved with great swiftness and passion. He didn't move with the music, he let the music move him. He knew that dancing wasn't just steps it was a feeling inside that you had to trust but at the same time will it to suit your body perfectly. That was the lesson his dearly departed mother had taught him from the very moment he decided that he wanted dance exactly like the fine gentlemen he would see at grand parties held in this house, years ago as a boy when he would sneak over and spy on them through the windows. Because he had that lesson memorized by heart he was an impressively splendid dancer and always thought that he was the best in the whole country, but that belief was dashed the very moment he saw Charlotte dance that night.

She stretched out her delicate white arms and hovered gracefully about the room. Every motion displayed more and more the perfect symmetry and elegance of her figure. The expression which beamed in her eloquent blue eyes touched the heart of the young man far more than anything he had seen in all the years he had lived. She didn't just dance, she floated and in that moment he decided that he would dance with none other the livelong night.

Their hands clasped together and their fingers interlaced, he held her waist with great strength and gentleness while she firmly yet tenderly grasped his shoulder. They moved in perfect sync with each other as if God had specifically created them to be partners to one another alone. His look and hers were instantly connected and they had no intention of gazing at anything or anyone else the whole time they waltzed. Soon the world around them faded away and the couple imagined that they were the only people living in a place of eternal music and light. They danced again and again, until Alastor noticed that she was looking rather peaked.

"Are you alright my dear?" He asked her.

"I'm fine." She assured him. "It's just that I love dancing so much that sometimes I over do it."

"Your passion for it shows." He said observantly. "You dance divinely. Better than anyone I've ever seen."

"Thank you but it's nothing really. All it is, is just combining the movement of my body with my feelings. I just move to how I feel in the moment. Does that make sense?"

"It makes perfect sense. I've always felt that's exactly how dancing should be."

This woman was beyond astounding. Not only a gifted dancer but she actually understood the true passion of it.

"Well considering that you may have overexerted yourself maybe you need a drink to help you regain your energy." He offered.

"That would be nice." She said.

He led her over to where refreshments were being served and right next to them, slumped over an open window was Husk completely drunk. Charlotte couldn't help but find it very humorous to see the usually grouchy and straight-faced head of the staff slurred and laying about. When he looked up at Charlotte she became worried that he would recognize her but he didn't due to the fact that her hair was neatly brushed, her face was clean, and that she was dressed so finely. Also being heavily intoxicated didn't hurt either.

"Alastor who's your friend?" He asked. "She's a real looker."

"Oh you know this man?" Charlotte asked Alastor, not recalling ever seeing him with Husk and it might have been her imagination but for a moment she thought that Alastor looked panicked by her question.

"Yeah I know him alright!" Husk answered in a ramble. "I spend everyday working my ass off for-"

"Disappear Husker." Alastor said quickly shoving his drunk friend out the window.

"Hey!"

"Oh my." Charlotte gasped looking over the window to see if the man had hurt himself but as it turns out the window was only a foot from the ground and Husk pretty much just passed out drunk as soon as he hit the grass.

"What on earth did you do that for?" She asked Alastor.

"A thousand apologies my dear but typically when Husk has had a little too much to drink he will say things that are not meant for a lady's ears." He answered half truthfully. "It's always been my belief that women should not be exposed to anything vile and that includes crass language."

This man's charms and chivalry never ceased to amaze her.

"So tell me, which drink would you like?" He asked her. "Whiskey? Wine?"

"Tempting but I don't think I should risk drinking alcohol just yet." She replied in a teasing voice. "What if you were to take advantage of me in my tipsy state?"

"Perish at the thought." He said feigning horror. "Dear if I wanted to take advantage of any woman I would have done so already but I'm nothing if not a gentleman."

"Nevertheless you'll forgive me for still being cautious."

"Of course and with that in mind I think you would much rather prefer the spiced apple cider."

"Yes." She smiled. "I would like that very much thank you."

He fixed her a glass of it and she brought it to her lips to drink the apple sweet and cinnamony spiced beverage. One sip and she was instantly reminded of her old life with her father and mother. How happy and carefree the thee of them once were. For a moment she was saddened at the thought that she would never have that with her parents again.

"Is something the matter?" Alastor asked upon noticing the brief change in her mood.

"Oh no. No it's nothing." She said. "The cider is wonderful. Although I do not see many apple trees in this area."

"That's because there aren't any apple trees on this plantation. There's no room what with all cotton plants growing here so the cider has to be imported from the Magne orchard."

"Oh..." She said.

"Apples aren't common around here which is such a shame because apples are a very valuable crop."

"You think so?"

"Yes. Not only are they tasty and make a fantastic food or drink but they have many health properties. As the saying goes an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"Very true and did you know apples can help you keep your teeth clean?"

"I certainly did not." He held out his hand and began to count his fingers as a means to list something. "Hmm now let's see surpassingly beautiful, a passionate dancer, a cheeky sense of humor, and obviously intelligent. My what other talents do you posses my charming belle?"

"You flatter me good sir but I'm really nothing special."

"I beg to differ. You've peeked my interest and now I wish to learn so much more about you. For example I would very much like to know your name."

"Oh...I...I don't know if I'm ready to disclose that piece of information yet."

Now Charlotte really did like Alastor. She liked him a lot, in fact he was probably the finest man she had ever met. Which was why that she didn't want to tell him that she was some dirty beggar woman who scrubbed the kitchen floors. Not yet anyway. Not until they became closer with each other. He seemed like the kind of man who came from a humble background so he would most likely not look down on someone in her position once he really got to know her. She would tell him eventually but it would have to be at just the right moment.

"Oh I see playing a little of the coquette are we?" He chuckled. "Very well I'll play along and try to earn the answer to my question."

She giggled and glanced out the window at the night sky which allowed her see that the morning star was beginning to fade. Time had flown much quicker than she thought, if she stayed her a moment longer then everyone would including Alastor would see her in a mossy ragged mess.

"Oh my goodness it's become so late!" She said turning. "Goodbye."

"Wait! Won't you allow me to escort you home?" He asked.

"No thank you but I enjoyed meeting you. Made this night one of the greatest of my entire life."

"Hold on will I ever see you again?"

"Maybe. I don't know. Goodbye."

"Wait!"

He tried to get her to stay a little longer and explain whether or not this would be their only meeting but she was fast as she was graceful and a feather caught in the wind, she was gone instantly. Completely out of his sight but not at all out of his mind. Who was that enchanting woman? Where did she come from? Oh he prayed that he would see her again. He just had to see her again. If he didn't then he wasn't sure what he would do.

Said woman ran downstairs and back to the cellar completely unnoticed by anyone and quickly closed the door just as the shimmering gown changed to moss and rags. She had made it back by the skin of her teeth but she wished she could have stayed longer. Oh what a wonderful man Alastor was. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her, the way he held her, it was as if she was the most amazing thing in the world. He made her feel special. Being with him seemed too good to be true.

But maybe it was too good to be true. Maybe it had all been a dream. Yes, perhaps she had fallen asleep and dreamed the whole thing. Rosie, the gown, the ball, Alastor. She had been dreaming it all and now she had finally awakened.

"It was real wasn't it?" She asked out loud wondering if the wtich-woman could somehow hear her. "It wasn't just a dream?"

No answer. She sighed and sat down on that old mat that she slept on with intention of going to sleep under the belief that she had dreamnt going to the ball until she found something on her mat that she knew for a fact wasn't there before. An apple. And not just any apple the exact same apple she had given Rosie that first time they met. This all but confirmed that her night with Alastor was no dream and it caused Charlotte to fall asleep with a smile on her face.