Chapter Four: Arrivals 

"They're here! I can't believe how excited I am!" Karone gazed out the window with awe. "There must be eight carriages alone for Billy!"

Ashley, far from ecstatic, glanced up at her friend. "Karone, I don't care how many carriages the damn man has."

The young woman at the window turned with a surprised expression on her face. "What's wrong? I don't think you've been in this mood for a long time. Did my brother say something?"

"No. Yes. Not really, but he did." Ashley shook her head and frowned.  "He asked me if I was happy here."

"And are you?"

Ashley sighed.  "I don't know. I think I am some days, but on others, I'd rather be anywhere but here."

Karone walked over to where Ashley sat and smiled. "Do you long for Earth, and home?"

"No. That's the odd thing. I have no desire to return there. I just want to get away from this castle, I suppose."

"So why don't you?"

"You know why. Andros won't let me go anywhere."

"Perhaps you can still travel to another place in the kingdom."

"I've asked."

"And?" Karone prompted.

"He said no, of course."

"Well, I'm sure my brother had a good reason." She heard a door slam downstairs and shook her head. "But we have no time for this now; you must get dressed to meet the guests."

"I'd rather stay here." She curled up in the armchair and picked back up the book she had been reading.

"But Ashley"

"Karone, I have no responsibilities to go down there and greet anyone.  That's Andros's duty."

"Yes, but who said I had to perform it alone?" Andros stood in the doorway, a slight smile on his face. "Please greet them with me; it would make all the guests happy. They are dying to meet you, you know."

Both Karone and Ashley stared at Andros with shocked expressions. Then they glanced at each other, not knowing what a scene they created.

Andros laughed. "The two of you look terribly comical." He walked over to Ashley's closets and began to rummage inside. By the time the two women got over their initial shock he held out Ashley's favorite dress. "Here, wear this one, these colors always look lovely on you."

Ashley opened her mouth, then closed it again, not sure what to say. Andros laughed once more and began to walk out the door.

"Meet me by the staircase in twenty minutes."

"Twenty?" Karone squeaked. "But Andros."

"Twenty." He repeated. "I'm sure you can make her look at least passable." With that he walked out of the room.

"At least passable?" Ashley grumbled, suddenly coming back to reality. "How dare he?"

Karone shook her head. "Well then, let's show him just how wonderfully 'passable' you can be."

"Yes." Said Ashley, eyeing the dress with a thoughtful expression.