Chapter 22

As before in the past, the Merck's extended an invitation for royalty to stay at the castle a couple of days prior to the ball. This eliminated the inconveniences of travel and reservations and made this gala event all the more enjoyable. The Merck's knew how to wine and dine their guests and Anton wasn't without his charm. After dinner, Elizabeth returned to her bedchamber to get ready for the ball. It didn't start until 8 pm, but each guest was announced and her grandfather liked to be one of the first ten presented. He didn't believe in being fashionably late, actually he despised such rude behavior. It was one lesson Elizabeth quickly learned the first year she was brought to the island. She thought about so many things she had learned over the last five years and sighed feeling quite astonished at how much she had changed. Some of this changes weren't for the better she sadly acknowledged to herself. Elizabeth stood in front of the full length mirror looking at the reflection she saw and wondered who was starring back at her. She wore a long, velvet wine colored dress that fit her petite frame. The chambermaid helped style her hair in a classic southern fashion. Most of it was pinned up with the exception of loose tendrils and bangs. It certainly wasn't the young girl who hitch-hiked half-way across the country to her grandmother's house, because she was abandoned by her parents in favor of saving some third world country. The reflection wasn't the young lady who foolishly married Ric Lansing twice hoping to be loved, but sadly discovered revenge was his true love. The person in the mirror was formable and dignified. She carefully studied how to be a Cassadine. Her grandfather may not have paid attention to her astuteness, but she was always studying him and learning. "When in Rome, do as the Roman's do," she thought to herself. To night was the Merck ball and for a few brief hours she would dance in the arms of Anton Merck and be charming. This would please her grandfather to no points end and that's exactly what she needed to find out the status of her son. Elizabeth thought it was shameful to manipulate someone to get what you wanted, but she couldn't think of any other way. The guilt she felt should have made it impossible to look at her reflection, but she concluded it was the Cassadine in her that allowed her to gazed at the woman the mirror showed her. A knock at the door followed by the smooth sound of her grandfather's voice snapped her back into reality. His eyes were sparkling with delight as he approached her. "Elizabeth, you are breath taking." he exclaimed. "Thank you." was all she manage.