Ella Lorena Kennedy sat on the train, watching the trees go by. This was the longest train ride she had ever been on. It was close to three hours now since she had boarded in Charleston. Charleston was nice, definitely, but a little too old-fashioned and gossipy for Ella's tastes. Atlanta had been nice too, but after India Wilkes's harsh comment, she began to fear similar reactions from others if she revealed who she was. She knew that Scarlett would have a reputation in Atlanta, and it wouldn't do Ella any good to stay in a town where her and her kin where so maliciously hated.
Ella was still a little shocked about her Aunt Carreen's accident revelation about her parents. The more Ella thought about it, the more things made sense. It made sense why Suellen always looked at her so harshly, she, was to Suellen, a constant reminder of her painful past, when her own sister stole her fiancé.
Uncle Will's comment also made sense, the thing about Suellen being reminded about someone. It would also be hard on Suellen, simply being Scarlett's daughter, as Ella knew all too well that the two of them had a constant and bitter rivalry.
Since this train ride had been so long, Ella had plenty of time for reflection, which she so needed at this point. Ella was leaving to a place where she wouldn't be chastised for being Scarlett O'Hara's daughter. She was going to New Orleans.
Ella knew that Uncle Rhett and Scarlett had went there on their honeymoon, and Uncle Rhett brought Wade there on an occasion, and Scarlett and Wade both described it as a colorful, wonderful town. She also recalled what she believed Scarlett had said that people didn't judge you there, that you could wear the most scandalous clothes, and fit right in. Ella liked the idea of people not judging you, which is what really appealed the most to Ella.
Ella sat on her seat, and continued to look out the window, waiting for New Orleans to come.
After what seemed to be an eternity, the train finally came to New Orleans, and as soon as she stepped off the train, Ella was shocked and fascinated by what she saw. This had to be the most colorful, festive town she had seen in her life. The styles of clothes that people wore made Ella look like an old granny from the backwoods.
Ella instantly boarded a carriage, and looked out the side; she was in a state of nirvana. At this point, Ella was happier than she could ever remember being in her entire life. Scarlett and Wade's descriptions of New Orleans were pitiful compared to seeing New Orleans in person. This place had to be the most exciting, enthralling place she had ever been to.
The driver dropped Ella off at a hotel, and Ella instantly got a room. Even the hotel room made the rooms she had stayed at in Charleston and Atlanta look like broom closets. Ella set her luggage down, she knew she should unpack, but she was just too excited to, and wanted to explore the streets of New Orleans.
Ella explored the streets, and once again, she was enthralled, she was never more excited in her life. She noticed how out-of-style her clothing was, and she stopped at several stores, and she picked out some dresses that would've been simply scandalous in Charleston and Atlanta.
Over the next week, Ella never had so much fun in her life. The streets were beautiful, the more colorfully and scandalously she dressed, at least compared to standards in other places, she fit in perfectly. The food was magnificent; with so many things she had never had or even heard of previously.
In the hotel lobby, she was told of a masquerade ball that was to be the next day, and that she, was cordially invited. Ella had never been to one of these before, and though reluctant, she decided to go.
She got a beautiful green dress, and bought a mask that went along well with that. The lady also sold her make-up, and showed her how to apply it, after Ella, quite embarrassingly asked her how to apply it.
Make-up was never allowed at Tara, she had never worn it before this event, as Aunt Suellen had forbidden the use of it. She knew that Anne, her sister-in-law, had on occasion worn some.
The next day, Ella was very jittery, and when the time came, she styled her hair with the help of some servants, put on the green dress, then carefully applied some make up to her face, and put on her mask.
When Ella saw herself in the mirror for the first time, she was stunned; she would have never thought herself to even have the capacity to look so beautiful. The mask illuminated her green eyes, and hid the top half of her face very well, and the make up worked to make her appear more feminine. The dress, complimented her figure perfectly, and made her look very attractive.
Ella left the hotel room, and taking one last look in the mirror, realized that she didn't even look like herself; she didn't look like Ella Lorena Kennedy, the daughter of Frank Kennedy and Scarlett O'Hara. This was a new person that Ella looked at, a new person, who Ella at that precise moment decided would have the best night of her life, which would be the envy of every woman in the place, and every man in the building would be dying to dance with, or even talk to. This would be Ella's night to shine, to show the world she wasn't some ugly, unwanted person who never had a beau in her life, this was Ella's night.