Hey guys! I'm sorry this update is a little late but my sister kicked me off the net yestrday before I could update. Thanks to:
Breeze2: It's going to be a long winter, it's justso fun being mean to Eric. But I dofeel sorry for him as well, and he gets stuck escorting her everywhere while she's in Chaney. Samia and Kah-Yi will be important later by the way!
Baby Perfectionist: Hey Maggie! Yeh, this is the next update, it's kinda short though. I'll stop pestering you about updating, don't worry. I know Samia acts a bit (all right, a lot) more silly than she would, but hey, it's fun to write! What is with you guys and trying to kill me? I think ballroom dancing was enough, I got stepped on like a million times during the waltz (mainly by Karla!) but anyways...hope you enjoy this chapter.

As Callista exchanged her fine clothes for her normal servants' garb, she went to unclasp the bracelet but realised it was missing. Frantically, she searched the floor but it was no where in sight. Stowing the rest of the jewellery and the dress safely in the back of her wardrobe, she ran down the stairs and checked the carriage, the hall and the kitchen but it was not anywhere. Callista tried to remember the last time she had seen it, she had had it when she arrived at the ball and it had been on her wrist all the while she was dancing. But she did not remember seeing it after she had helped the Prince out of the fountain. It must have dropped while she was talking to the Prince. Callista sighed deeply, she would never get it back if it was at the palace. The Prince might have taken it but he would never be able to return it because he didn't know who she was. Callista felt so tired as she walked back into the manor, having been up and dancing half the night, but she had to wait for Mary to come home and brag about how many times she had danced with the Prince. Her eyelids were beginning to droop when she heard the carriage. She raced up to Mary's room and got the girl's nightclothes ready. As Callista had expected, Mary came in happily talking about who wore what and that the Prince had danced with her so many times and that she had met a new member for her society, the Princess of Durriya… Callista occasionally nodded and mumbled 'is that so?' to keep Mary happy. By the time Callista was allowed to go to bed, it was about two hours past midnight and Callista did not like the prospect of getting up in three hours to do her chores. When her head finally hit her pillow, she fell asleep instantly and her dreams were plagued by glittering green stones and worried hazel eyes.

Calista woke to feeble rays of sunlight shining through her window. Although the sun was barely up, Calista knew she had woken late and that if Adrianna was also up, there was going to be hell to pay. Rubbing her eyes, Callista got up and dressed. Stumbling tiredly into the kitchen, she yawned and saw that had not started preparing breakfast for the ladies yet. Surprised, she asked, 'What's going on? Isn't Adrianna up yet?'

'Nope, she and Mary are still asleep, thank 'eavens. Anna is awake though.' Maia smiled at her warmly and took a batch of muffins out of the oven. She set some on a plate and gestured for Callista to take one. While Callista poured herself a glass of milk, Maia asked her how the ball went.

'Oh, it was alright,' Callista said, picking chocolate chips off the top of the muffin.

'So nothin' interesting 'appened? Didn't 'ave any mishaps with a cer'n prince?' Callista almost choked on some milk.

'What? Who told you that?' she said.

'Oh, a li'l birdie tol' me you gave the Prince a nice push inta the fountain' Maia said, a twinkle in her warm brown eyes.

'It was Anna, wasn't it? And I did not push him, I startled him and he fell in.'

'O course dear,' Maia said.

'CALLISTA!' they heard Mary yell. Calista sadly put down her half-eaten muffin as Maia began arranging ingredients for Mary and Adrianna's breakfast. She trudged up the stairs and walked into Mary's room cautiously. As she entered, Mary looked at her angrily for a moment and then the orders began.

Eric was eating breakfast in the kitchens with William when Adeline entered. They nodded at her and she swept her skirts around her as she sat down uncomfortably closely to Eric. He shuffled away a little but Adeline just moved closer. Clamping onto his arm, she said 'Where have you been. I've been looking absolutely everywhere for you.' Eric saw William snigger into his porridge as Adeline batted her eyelashes at him.

'Why exactly have you been looking for me?' Eric asked her.

'Oh, I've decided I want to visit a friend of mine today. Your mother said it was a good idea if you escorted me there, seeing as I don't know the city that well.' Eric exchanged glances with William. Adeline also caught this look and said 'William's welcome to come too of course. Besides, there's going to be some other girls there too, we're having a meeting for our secret society.'

'If it's a secret, then why are you telling us about it?' Eric asked.

'Uh…it's not that much of a secret.' Adeline said uncertainly.

'Who is in it and what exactly is this secret society of yours?' William asked her.

Adeline smiled prettily at him and said, 'It's the Ladies of the Only Suitable and Esteemed Ranks or Stations.' Eric coughed, disguising the laugh he was holding back. Adeline looked at him concerned but seeing he was fine, continued 'Anyway, Lady Maude and Mary are in it. So are Lady Daphne, Lady Angeline, and Lady Gabrielle. Oh, and Princess Kah-Yi and Princess Samia are in it too.' Eric sighed, he already knew he was going to have to spend his whole summer escorting Adeline around. At least it was only three months. He sighed again, 'Alright Adeline, we'll take you wherever you're supposed to go. Where are we going anyway?' he asked.

'To Lady Mary's manor' Adeline said happily, busying herself with a piece of toast, I've already sent them word that we'll be joining them for midday meal'. Eric and inwardly groaned. William on the other hand looked almost…pleased. William sighed contentedly and Eric suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that he had feelings for Lady Anna.

When Mary decided she wanted to go to breakfast, Callista hurried back to the kitchens to take refuge from Mary's continuous orders. Maia was rushing around, like mad. 'What's the matter?' Callista asked her.

'Prince Eric and Princess Adeline are coming at midday.' Maia said frantically.

'What? They're coming here?'

'Yes, Mary's having one of her society meetings again and the Princess has joined them.' If Callista had had any cordial feelings towards the Princess, they were now gone. No one in that society was good news, except for maybe Samia or Kah-Yi. Those girls were the biggest gossips imaginable. At least it meant Calista wouldn't have any orders from Mary that afternoon. When Mary had first been asked into the society, Adrianna, for some reason unknown to Callista, had ordered that Callista stay away from any meeting that was held at the manor. Callista was only too happy to oblige and stayed as far away as possible. For the rest of the morning, she helped Maia prepare food for the guests and when that was done, she retreated to the library where she found Anna immersed in a book. When she entered the room, Anna looked up in shock, only to relax at the sight of Callista. 'I was scared you were my mother, you know how she disapproves of reading'

'Yes, I do know. Why are you hiding in here?'

'I'm not hiding. Why are you in here?'

'Mary is having one of her society meetings again today'

'Oh, that society for Ladies of the Only Suitable and Esteemed Ranks or Stations?'

'Yeah, those horrible people are coming here. Along with Princess Adeline and Prince Eric.' Anna's eyes it up.

' Did you hear if William was coming?' Anna asked, trying to hide her eagerness.

'Maybe' Calista said mischievously, 'why so interested?' she added, although she already knew why.

Anna bushed, 'No reason, just curious' she said, trying to sound indifferent. Callista smiled. It was so obvious Anna liked William and from the way he was looking at her last night, she was pretty sure William returned the sentiment.

Eric was stuck sitting next to Adeline for the whole journey to the Rasine manor. She kept talking about who wore what last night, who danced with whom, who she thought was likely to be engaged soon… and so on. Eric already felt like pushing her out the carriage window but then he would be stuck on his way to Lady Mary's home for no good reason. So, he listened to her chatter, every once in a while nodding or saying 'hmm'. He was more interested in the lint in his pocket than what Adeline had to say. After a while, he found his thoughts wandering back to that mysterious girl. This was becoming increasingly common and Eric had no idea why. He often caught himself thinking of her at very odd moments and it was hard trying to make himself stop. Both young men were sitting in the carriage with dreamy expressions on their faces. When Adeline finally noticed she was not being listened to, she glanced over at her companions and saw that they were both staring out the window, an identical look of wistful looks on their faces. Adeline wondered what they could possibly be thinking about and quickly came to the conclusion that it was her. Who could not? She was beautiful, and intelligent, and charming, and elegant…and then it became that all the occupants of the carriage were looking out the windows with their thoughts on very significant people.

Thanks for reading! Please review! (by the way, does anyone get the Society? I'll give you a hint, look at the capital letters!)