Darla bit her lip nervously while Carla soothed, "Don't worry, I'm sure it's beautiful."

"But you haven't met Mrs. Perusha. I feel quite certain that she could never make something that didn't look like it was made for an old schoolmarm five hundred years ago. Why couldn't I see it before today?"

Patiently, Carla reminded, "It was your idea, remember? You wanted it to be a surprise."

Darla groaned. "If only the ball wasn't in just three hours!"

"The dress is supposed to come any minute now." She tried to distract her. "So how do you like mine?"

"Oh, it's gorgeous!" said Darla with open admiration. "You're going to look simply stunning."

Carla was going as a dragonfly. Her dress was a shimmering lavender overlaid with sheer, blue-tinted fabric. She declared her mask to be "Fearfully and beautifully painted", matching the slender wings at her back. Nevertheless, she mused nervously, "I hope he..well, you know…"

"He'll love it," reassured Darla.

"Why exactly are you going with Jonathan again?"

"He asked and looked so hopeful…I couldn't say no. And he's very nice." At the pert knock on the door, she jumped up. "That must be the dress!" A girlish maid shyly tripped in, her arms overflowing with material which she promptly spread across the bed with a bobbed curtsey.

Darla promptly gasped, her heart quickening. Surely Mrs. Perusha had no part in this affair! Unlike most stylish gowns, the skirt did not billow out to unprecedented widths but fell softly down to its hem. "Oh, do try it on!" exclaimed Carla, snapping Darla from her reverie.

Darla donned the gown with care and bid Carla to turn back around. Her soft brown eyes widened as she stood speechless. Darla gave a nervous laugh. "That bad?"

"No! Oh, no! Darla, you look beautiful! It fits you perfectly!"

The organdy dress was of a pale pink, softly clinging to Darla's slender frame. The neckline dipped down, coming to rest upon her creamy white shoulders. The gentle waves of the skirt hinted at tiers, falling below her ankles. Darla rushed to the mirror to survey herself. "I, I don't look…why, I don't look like me."

Carla was now smiling. "You look every bit you, just all dressed up. Is that the whole costume?" Further search revealed a pair of shimmering, graceful wings and a pretty but modest diamond tiara.

A few hours later found them both radiant. Carla wore her honey blonde hair half up, half down, falling in waves down her back. Darla's rich, dark hair was tucked behind the tiara, a few curled tendrils framing her face. When a firm knock sounded upon the door, Darla gave Carla's hand a squeeze. "I still can't believe he asked me!" she whispered softly. "The prince, me!" Darla was saved from explanation as they opened the door.

William's deep brown eyes were surprised as he surveyed Darla. His eyes met her for an electric moment before she looked meaningfully towards Carla. Reluctantly, he tore his gaze from her and gave Carla a gracious smile. "You look lovely tonight, Carla." He wondered once again how he ended up going with the wrong one as he offered his arm courteously.

Darla didn't even notice Jonathan till he stepped forward. She gave him a gracious smile, taking his arm as they walked behind the prince and Carla. She hoped they were getting along, for Carla's sake. He may not be my favorite person in the world, but he's not as bad as I once thought.

She found Jonathan's company to be pleasant, light hearted and jovial. The wound Alex had inflicted was still fresh upon her heart, causing her to regard any serious note in Jonathan's voice with apprehension. Luckily, he seemed content to keep the conversation simply friendly.

William tried to listen to Carla's chatter, but his mind kept wandering to a certain brunette in a pink dress. "Your Highness? Are you well?" Carla looked up at him curiously.

"Uh...fine."

"Aren't you excited about the ball tonight?" she asked giddily.

He looked at her as if she were a foreign species. Not especially. "I suppose." And surrendered himself to her loquacious bubbling.

At the banquet, Darla was seated next to Jonathan and across from Carla, who was by William. She wondered at the helpless glances Carla shot at her across the table but was curiously listening to Jonathan, for he was also from Sunrise Valley, and had much to say about horses.

Timidly, she questioned, "Do…do you have a horse named Athena by any chance?" Athena had been the last horse she had broken with her father before his death, and they had been very close.

He smiled warmly. "I believe we do. Are you looking for one?"

"Y-yes." She quickly explained what had happened and offered the description, "She is very tall and lean and the purest white you can imagine, only she had a black star above her left eye."

"I believe that's the one!"

Her eyes shone bright with joy, she had hardly dared hope. "Oh, do you jest?" she cried.

"I think not."

She looked at her plate, biting her lip. "But she…she is quite a good horse, and I am sure your father would never want to lose her."

His gentlemanly heart went out to her. "When he hears what has happened, I am sure he shall be more than happy to return Athena to you."

She looked up again. "Really?"

"Yes." At this delight spread across her features, and she gave him a joyous half-hug.

William watched these proceedings with a slight scowl. The banquet hall was full of people and chatter, disabling him from hearing the conversation between the pair catty cornered from him. What has he said to give her that look? She's practically worshipping him! Oh, and now she's hugged him.

Why does it matter to you? argued a small voice in his head, which he promptly ignored, trying to tune back into Carla's conversation and not stare at Darla, who was now leaning closer to Jonathan as if in consultation. Whatever I am, I am not jealous, he told himself firmly as he watched with a rising discomfort a lively Darla with an equally lively Jonathan till they rose to enter the ballroom.

It would mean ever so much to me if you reviewed! (It also makes me update faster-hint, hint.)

And though the three word "Please update soon" reviews are infinitely encouraging, uplifting, and specific, they can be a bit…abrupt. I love doing this but am not quite a machine that spits out things on command.

(But now I sound dreadfully miserly. I really do apologize for being snappish and hope you know how much I appreciate the fact that you read it at all. So don't mind me…I'm liable to keep spewing out chapters in spite of all. Love you lots!)

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