Chapter 7

Preparing For the Ball

"Jeremy? Is that you? So my father did comply with letting you go. Good. Are you alright? You look out of sorts." Clair rambled as she walked over to him.

"I am fine Princess, but how are you being treated? I am surprised that your kidnapper would let you wonder off by yourself." Jeremy answered her coolly.

"What? Oh that. Yeah well, he is nicer that most kidnappers."

"Then why where you crying?"

"How long have you been watching me? How did you find me here anyways?"

"Simple. I followed you from the Lord Nicholas' manor to the seamstress' shop. And then into the ally where you were treated quite unfairly if you ask me, and then into the woods. I followed you until you stopped by the pond and I watched you while you cried, trying to think of a way to approach you in order to comfort you. Are you all right, or do you need some comforting?"

"I'm fine. How much did you hear? Never mind, I don't want to know. You said that you have been following ever since we left the manor? That was hours ago! Wait, that means you know..."

"That Lord Nicholas kidnapped you? Yes, and I am going to take you away from him before he can do any harm to you. Now if you will come with me..."

"Clair!" Nicholas cried as he ran through the last bit of brush before coming out of the woods and stepping protectively in front of her. "Get away from you son of a donkey or I'll beat you up so bad that..."

"Nicholas no! It's Jeremy!" Clair said, pulling him away. "My father fell for it! The plan worked! Now I can go home, and everything will be back to normal. So can we go back to the manor? It is getting close to midday, and I don't want to have only a few hours to get ready for the ball tonight. Wait, you followed me?"

"What are you talking about?" inquired Jeremy. "What plan?"

"We can talk about that later. Clair is right. I don't want to be out here any longer than I have to be. There are bandits in these woods. Plus, we still have to pick up your gown before the ball starts, which is going to come quite quickly if we don't get out of here soon, so we had better hurry." Nicholas said as he took hold of Clair's arm and started to escort her back to the manor.

Back in her room, Clair was bombarded by several maids trying to help her get ready. One for her hair, another for her make-up, another girl to help her with her shift and other underclothes and washing, and still yet another to help her with her dress.

After getting a nice scrub, it was time to start getting ready. "Oh Lady, your hair should be worn up in a multitude of braids! You would look so lovely." said the maid working on her hair. "Or I could put it up in several buns, or maybe half-up with twists! That would look ravishing. Or..."

"Or you could just leave it down." Clair interrupted her.
"Oh but that is not allowed for the ball! No, it required that you look like you are going to appear before the royal court! So, I think that I will put it up in a bunch of twists and braids. Yes, that shall do nicely!"

"Now close your eyes and don't open them until I'm done. I said don't open them!" that was the maid working on her make-up.

Then it was the woman helping her with her underclothes. "Please suck in your breath dear. We need to put this corset on you tightly so that you look skinnier! But I must say, you don't need it as tight as some women. What do they feed you in your land? You are as skinny as a twig! But you do have a lovely figure; I must compliment you on that."

After all this was done: the hair, the make-up, the under garments, then came the dress. "Oh my stars! I have never seen such a beautiful gown!"

"Oh yes Lady, it is quite lovely. Come now, let's stop staring at it. Let me help you put it on." the last maid said-obviously the eldest and the one in charge-slipping the dress over Clair's head.

Once it was on, none of the maids in her room would let her look at a mirror, so she could only imagine what she looked like. "Oh Lady!" was all that the girl who did her hair could say. "My stars! You do look quite lovely Lady." was all that the girl who did her hair could say. The woman who helped her with her under things just stared, unable to say a word. Walking over to the door to the hall, it was all Clair could do to keep from blushing.

As she was about to reach for the handle, the last maid who had helped her with her dress and shoes, came over and stood in front of her. "I would give you a hug, but I don't want to mess anything up! If only I could get my daughters to look half as ravishing as you do, I would have many grandchildren by now! Oh do stop blushing, it only hides your beauty. Now, the Lord Nicholas is probably standing outside your doors. He has been for hours now! I know that you had a fight, and he is probably still angry with you as you are he, but I doubt that he can stay angry much longer once he get a good look at you. So just remember what I say: keep to his side. There are going to be men that will do horrible things to you if they can get you alone, but he is as good as they come. I helped raise him, so I know. Be sweet, but don't flirt with him, because he is betrothed to some princess. I don't think he knows though. His uncle might have told him, or teased him about it at least, but I don't think he took it seriously. Stop staring at me! You look fine! Trust me. Now it is time for you to have a wonderful evening. And keep your shoes on! Your feet will hurt less if you keep them on while you dance. Who knows who may step on them, for some men have two left feet. Have a good time!" And she opened the door.

Stepping out into the hall, Clair could see nobody there, so she started to walk towards the stairs when a voice turned her around. "Why aren't you just a pretty little thing!"

"Jeremy! You scared me half to death! What are you doing here?"

"I came to escort you to the ball of course!"

"I thought that Nicholas was going to do that. Wait, where is Nicholas anyways?"

"Oh, I think he found other arrangements. Shall we?"

"I don't think so. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to find out where he is for myself."

"As you wish, Princess."

Walking to the head of the stairs, Clair looked down to see Nicholas standing at the front of the entrance hall already talking to some guests who had arrived. As she started down the stairs, she could hear people gasping as they caught sight of her, and she watched as Nicholas slowly turned around to see what it was they were looking at.