(A/N: 'Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you.' Oh wait… this isn't Phantom of the Opera. But it fits.
Sorry it took so long to update again. My semester is ending, so that's stressing me a bit, especially since one of my classes has been very difficult (and I didn't want to take it to begin with but I need to). And after a weird dream a week or so ago, I got an idea for a new story and have been trying to piece it together. Suffice it to say… I've been a little bit distracted.
Leonel Pea- you're hilarious. Something big is about to happen but Sir Idiot has nothing to do with it. And you're right. It is hard to deny something that everyone sees.
I own nothing!)
Amber smiled to herself as she was led around the dance floor by one of the many masked guests. Already, she was absolutely certain she had picked out which of the other ladies was her sister. Afterall, they had spent countless hours together. Amber was certain the purple and white clad lady she had spotted was her sister. Plus the fact that Sofia's escort to the party had eye catching hair helped the blonde spot her quickly.
The sight of Cedric and Sofia dancing the first set together had warmed Amber's heart. Although she couldn't get a good look at the brunette's facial expressions, Amber could see a difference between that moment and two months earlier. And Sofia seemed very happy to be in Cedric's company.
It's about time that girl found some happiness.
The first set came to a close and Amber thanked her dance partner. She tried to make her way towards her sister but was deterred when another young man asked her for a dance. In the distance, Amber could see Sofia being approached by a different guest. For now, Amber would have to wait before going after her sister.
After the next dance, Amber found herself near James, who didn't seem all that interested in dancing. Instead, he was very near the refreshments.
"James," Amber said barely loud enough for him to hear. "So help me if you ignore everyone and everything at our sister's party, I will deck you."
James looked at his twin with a look of feigned innocence. Almost immediately, Amber groaned. The young man who was her twin had food crumbs on his face.
"What are you?" Amber hissed. "Five years old? Clean your face! You'll embarrass the family."
Amber shoved a handkerchief at her brother. James took it.
"What? These treats are good."
Amber rolled her eyes.
"You go dance with someone or I will tell Mom and Dad you hogged all the refreshments all night long. You're still in the doghouse over the stable incident. So I recommend you behave for once in your life."
Amber spotted something in the distance and grinned. She pointed to it.
"See that young lady? The one in the purple and white?"
James nodded.
"She looks like a reasonable guest. You should go ask her for her next available dance."
Amber gave her brother a small shove. Much to her surprise, her twin actually went up to the young lady.
"Excuse me, Miss," James said. "May I have the next dance?"
The young lady turned to James and smiled. Her escort raised an eyebrow.
"I'd be happy to, James."
James' eyes widened. "Sofia?"
Sofia giggled. "Did Amber send you this way to get you away from the refreshments?"
James nodded after a moment. "How'd you know?"
"Oh please, I saw you two over there. And Amber can be a tad predictable sometimes."
The two siblings went to the dance floor.
"You seem different," James said.
"I feel different," Sofia said. "Lady Hexley was not about to put up with some of my behaviors when I first arrived here. And being away for some time has been very good for me. I like it here. Mystica Prata is beautiful."
"You're still needed in Dunwittie. You do have to come home at some point."
Sofia didn't respond. Deep down, she had known that. But being reminded of it...her stomach turned. What did that tell her, if the idea of going back to Dunwittie made her feel sick?
Sofia shook off the thought. She wasn't going to return there. Winnifred hadn't yet given permission for that and Dad wasn't going to argue with the marchioness.
Right?
"Have you been staying out of trouble since the horse mounting incident?" Sofia asked.
James gave Sofia a strange look.
"Don't look at me like that," Sofia said. "I know you a little too well, Brother Dearest. I still can't believe you did that. Did it not occur to you that you might get seriously injured or worse?"
"I know, I know," James said.
"You say that every time. And yet, you keep getting into mischief. Why do you keep doing stupid things?"
James looked away from his younger sister. Sofia recognized his expression, even behind the mask. It was one she often wore when she wasn't going to talk about something.
The dance came to an end. The two started walking off the dance floor.
"I can't tell you how excited I am to see all of you again," Sofia said. "Are you going to keep dancing?"
James shrugged.
"I do hope you will. I think you might like some of the young ladies here."
James nodded. He was about to head off somewhere but Sofia quickly stopped him.
"Oh and James? Don't tell Mom or Dad which one I am. You were all meant to guess and try to recognize me without being told."
James nodded.
Elsewhere, Amber stepped off the dance floor.
"Miss Cyning."
Amber looked at Cedric in surprise.
"Lord Sebara, what a surprise. I didn't expect you to identify me."
"I didn't. Your sister did."
Amber nodded. "Of course."
"May I have this dance?"
Amber nodded. "Sure."
The two went onto the dance floor.
"My sister won't be put out that you're dancing with someone other than her?" Amber asked.
"She knows I can't dance every set with her."
Amber winced as Cedric's foot landed on hers.
"Ow."
"Sorry." Cedric looked flustered. "I guess I am still very much out of practice."
"Please tell me you haven't stepped on Sofia's feet at all."
"I could. But it would be a lie. She was helping me practice last night. She got her feet stepped on more times than I care to count."
Amber smiled. "I'm glad she has gained a good friend. I've only seen her from a distance tonight but already I'm seeing a difference in her. I imagine you had something to do with it. As well your mother."
"Oh Mummy has definitely taken to your sister and has been trying to help her."
Amber smiled. "And it seems to be working. I have to admit, I'm jealous. I've known Sofia for eleven years to the day and over the past two years, I've barely been able to do anything for her. Enter two people she doesn't know and suddenly, she's the belle of a masquerade ball. But I'm glad she is doing better. I miss the happy Sofia. So whatever you have done to help her, thank you."
Cedric nodded. "You're welcome."
After that dance, the masquerade continued on. Amber was asked to dance nearly every set. From what she could see, James asked a few young ladies to dance instead of hogging all the refreshments. Sofia, much to Amber's delight, was a raving success. She was on the dance floor every set. And in between dances, Cedric was very attentive to her.
Has he danced with anyone else?
Suddenly Amber was very curious. She hadn't paid as close attention to her sister's suitor when they weren't together. But now Amber was beginning to question if the young lord had been on the dance floor at all except for his dance with Sofia and the one with her.
He couldn't be more obvious if he tried.
Amber chuckled. She could see how Cedric had been looking at her younger sister. It was very like the way Roland and Miranda looked at each other. Cedric's expressions towards Sofia were very loving and tender, like Sofia was the most precious person in the whole universe. In Amber's opinion, if the two were to say they were not courting, they were only fooling themselves.
An attention grabbing sound was heard as a Hexley servant, the steward Amber guessed, pounded a staff into the ground a couple times. The ballroom began to quiet.
"Friends and honored guests," Winnifred spoke. "My husband and I are glad to have you all here celebrating with us. Both of us can say without hesitation, that Sofia is a wonderful, virtuous young lady. She is the kind of daughter any good parents would be proud of. And we are fortunate to know her. Sofia is an example to any who knows her of kindness and sincerity."
From her spot in the room, Sofia was blushing. She looked up at her escort, who was smiling.
"Did you know she was going to say all this?"
Cedric grinned wider. "It gets better than that."
"What do you mean?"
Cedric gave Sofia a gentle pull. She walked alongside him, getting a few steps before she realized what was happening. Cedric was bringing her to the front of the ballroom where his parents were and Winnifred was still talking.
"Our guest of honor," Winnifred said once Sofia was at the front. "Miss Sofia Balthazar."
The applause was thunderous. Sofia was certain her ears would be ringing for years to come.
When the applause finally died down, Goodwyn spoke.
"Please enjoy the last remaining dance set. And then it will be midnight."
Midnight, Sofia understood, was when all masks came off during this party. Cedric brought Sofia to the dance floor.
"Your parents are wonderful," Sofia said as they began to dance. "I'm glad I got to meet them."
Cedric raised an eyebrow. "Even when you have to talk one of them down?"
"Your father is a good man, once you get past his stubbornness. You, on the other hand, are a great man."
Cedric smiled. "You, My Dear, are going to give me a rather large head."
"I mean what I say. And while you can be very stubborn like he is, at least you are willing to let go when needed, without being told off by someone several decades younger."
"Yes, well, seeing how I am not several decades old, I don't have to worry about that, now do I?"
Sofia giggled. "You can still get told off by someone younger than you. I do believe Amber told you off in a spectacular manner right before you returned to Hexley Hall, am I not mistaken?"
Cedric rolled his eyes. "I was reeling from her words all the way to the time I finally decided to return."
"I'm not surprised. Since I never got to let you know I had been invited here, I asked her to watch out for you and tell you if she saw you. She agreed but told me she made no promise to be nice about it."
Cedric nodded. "That's one way of putting it."
Sofia smiled slightly. "What can one do? She is my sister after all. And when she sets her mind to it, she can be downright fearsome."
Cedric chuckled. "And where you are concerned, she is going to be doubly protective. You are her favorite sister after all."
"I'm her only sister."
Cedric brought Sofia into a deep dip.
"My point exactly," he said as he lifted her up.
Sofia giggled. The two continued to dance, relishing the feel of being so close to each other.
When the dance ended, Cedric placed a note in Sofia's hand. Sofia looked curious.
"When you have a moment tonight," Cedric said cryptically.
Sofia nodded and slipped the note into a hidden pocket on her dress. Nearby, a rather large clock chimed. It was midnight. At the beckoning of Winnifred, everyone began to remove their masks.
Well…
Almost everyone.
Sofia tried to untie the ribbon securing her mask on but found she couldn't. Violet, sly person that she apparently was, had tied the mask in a way that Sofia wouldn't be able to undo without help.
"Do you need help?" Cedric asked.
Sofia nodded. "Violet tied the knot rather...intricately."
Cedric chuckled. "I imagine those gloves do not help."
Sofia rolled her eyes as Cedric untied the knot and gently pulled the mask away from her face.
"Thank you," Sofia said. "There's some people who it's past time you met."
Cedric seemed to understand, but walked with Sofia through the crowds to the other side of the ballroom where her parents were.
"Mom! Dad!"
Sofia enthusiastically embraced her parents.
"It is so good to see you again," Miranda said.
"You look dazzling," Roland said. "I still can't believe this is you. When Lady Hexley announced you, I thought she was mistaken."
"I don't think she could be mistaken at all," Sofia said. "She knew what I was wearing after all and she knew no one else would have an ensemble quite like mine."
"And she doesn't expect to be reimbursed for the gown and jewelry?" Miranda seemed impressed.
"The jewelry is hers. She thought it would match perfectly and she was right. As to the gown, it is a gift."
Roland and Miranda nodded.
"Mom, Dad, I'd like to introduce you to Lord and Lady Hexley's son, Lord Cedric Sebara. It was Lord Sebara who helped me the night of the harvest party. Lord Sebara, my parents, Roland and Miranda Cyning."
Roland eyed his daughter's escort with surprise and thinly veiled suspicion. Miranda on the other hand was happy to finally know the mysterious person who had helped her daughter that cold, wintery night.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Sebara," Miranda curtsied. "Sofia spoke highly of you, although she didn't mention you were the son of a marquess."
"She didn't know at first, Madam," Cedric bowed. "I didn't want attention drawn to me."
"Of course," Miranda said. "In any case, I'm glad you were able to find her and get her back home safely that night."
Cedric nodded. "Of course."
Sofia smiled. At least her mom was cordial to Cedric. It did bother her a bit that Roland was being so standoffish, but considering the history between the two men, Sofia wasn't all that surprised.
"Sofia!"
Sofia was startled and barely had any time to react before Amber threw her arms around her.
"I knew that was you. I just knew it."
Sofia smiled as she hugged her sister back.
"And you sent James my way too."
"Well of course," Amber said. "I had to get him dancing."
Sofia chuckled. "Meddlesome as ever, that's what you are."
Amber smiled sweetly. Sofia smiled too. It was so good to see her family again. Discreetly, she fingered the note Cedric had given her mere moments before. Curiosity plagued her.
What will this note show me?