Chapter Twenty-Six
The dinner was as sumptuous as all of Monsieur Carnier's creations, and was made even better by the view of star-studded sky behind them. Mable sat between Labelle and Maddie, just so she could admire the night while eating her fill. Joyful chatter and laughter made its way up and down the table. Maestro and Labelle flirted, Theo and Carnier joked with Maddie or chatted pleasantly with Margot. Monsieur Lune popped from chair to chair, talking books with Mable or of gardening with Cecile. Mable was reminded of family dinners with her father and sisters on holidays, less lavish than this but with just as much love and amusement.
Finally, after all had eaten their fill and then some, Labelle hopped up from the table and went to fetch a dark case from the corner of the room. With a smile she opened it to reveal a violin, pristine within the case. Mable wondered if Labelle was going to play for them.
Labelle handed the violin to Maestro, who looked rather disconcerted.
Labelle grinned at Mable. "It is not just because of his skills with a sword that they call him Maestro. Jacques is one of the most brilliant violinists in the castle. I thought as he could play something for you. Frankly, it was the best I could come up with; I have no musical talent whatsoever. But maybe Jacques could play us a pretty piece and we can dance. After all, that is what a ballroom is for."
Mable held her hands up. "I appreciate it, I do, but I have no idea how to dance. I have two left feet."
"Nonsense." Labelle chirped, and whirled around to smile at her beloved Maestro. "Play us a lively tune, darling, and I'll teach Mable how to dance."
A bit grumpily, Maestro stood up, raised the violin to his chin and started to play. The piece was indeed, very lively, and with a laugh Labelle grabbed Mable's hand and pulled her up out to the dance floor. Mable tripped over herself several times, but the music was quick enough that she could disguise it as a complex step. She glanced around frantically for help, but saw that Monsieur Lune and his daughter were also dancing happily, and Carnier had dragged Margot away from the table and was dancing with her. Biting her lip in concentration, Mable focused on Labelle's feet and tried to copy her steps.
Maestro lived up to his name. The tune was as light and airy as a breeze in springtime, and he never missed a beat or let out of screech of strings. As Mable watched him she even saw his face lose its grouchy features, loosening into a small smile of enjoyment as the notes left his fingertips.
The music was intoxicating, but ended all too soon with one long note, where Labelle spun Mable around and around. The dance ended with laughter and applause, and Mable started to feel less self-conscious about the way she danced.
Maestro jumped into another quick melody, using the tip of his boot to keep the beat. Gaily, Maddie grabbed Mable's arm and the two swirled around the room. Monsieur Lune bowed to Madame Cecile, Theo to Labelle, and the three couples were dancing vivaciously around the room. Only this time all were surprised by the sound of the grand piano. Looking over, they saw that Carnier had plopped himself onto the bench and had picked up a harmony to coincide with Maestro's happy song, Margot sitting beside him clapping along. The dancers cheered, and resumed their frolicking; now jumping from partner to partner. Mable enfolded arms with Labelle, was spun by Monsieur Lune, swirled around with Madame Cecile, and was picked up off her feet and whirled around by Theo.
It was the most fun she had had in her life.
Sadly, the song ended, leaving them bright-eyed and short of breath. Labelle went over, kissed Maestro's cheek, whispering in his ear. It must have been a thank you, for Maestro smiled and caressed Labelle's cheek tenderly.
Labelle turned to see the room watching them, and flushed slightly. "Ah," she stammered, and there was a collective chuckle, "Jacques, Carnier, why don't you play a song that is slower?"
Maestro and Carnier collaborated a moment, talking music, but Mable shook her head briskly. "I can barely dance the fast songs. I have no idea how to dance slow songs." She told Labelle. Hell, she had only slow danced once, at Jeanne's wedding, and she was pretty sure it was with a cousin.
Monsieur Lune grabbed her hand gently. "Never fear, Lady Mable." He said warmly. "I shall teach you, this time. A waltz, perhaps? That is very simple to learn. And I'm sure you gentlemen can play it." He mentioned to Maestro and Carnier, who nodded and both returned to their spots.
The song began, slow and even. Monsieur Lune was patient with her, coaxing her in a fatherly fashion as she stumbled over the different steps. She tried to focus, but it was hard, and she felt her face warming up from humiliation. She staggered and fell forward onto Monsieur Lune, who caught her easily.
"Lady," he half-laughed, "You must relax. That is the key to all dancing, don't you see? Forget what you look like, and have fun. Come, let's try it again."
Mable closed her eyes and took a deep breath, willing the music to flow through her. When it did, she felt the tempo and tried again. This time it went better; she remembered a lot of the steps, and while she was not nearly as graceful as Monsieur Lune, she wasn't as klutzy as she had been. Her blush faded, and she started to smile as the music swelled through the room.
The waltz ended, and Monsieur Lune kissed her hand in his typical gentlemanly way before releasing her. Labelle and Maddie clapped their hands at Mable's accomplishment, and Madame Cecile simply beamed her praise. Theo was smiling too, but it seemed to be contemplative. Mable was just thrilled that she got through a waltz without any disasters.
Maestro put down his violin and grabbed Labelle's arm. "Let Carnier play for a little while," he announced boldly, "I want to dance with my lady."
Monsieur Carnier cheerfully obliged, sliding into another waltz. Mable watched in awe as Maestro and Labelle sailed around the ballroom, looking a lot like the painting she had seen up in Lady Liana's gallery. She and the others just observed for some time, admiring the glow of Labelle's face and the fire in Maestro's eyes as they gazed at only each other. Mable felt a tiny stab of jealousy once again as she thought of how lucky Labelle was to have someone look at her like that.
Suddenly her ears picked up an instrument other than a piano, and she turned and saw Madame Cecile, looking serene as she played the flute to complement Monsieur Carnier's fabulous piano playing. The high notes sounded like birds flying through the air, going up and down gracefully in harmony with the piano. Margot was leaning her head on her husband's shoulder, eyes closed as she listened.
Monsieur Lune had once again grabbed his daughter to dance with, this time to waltz with her. Mable smiled mistily as the two revolved, Maddie's eyes shining when her father sent her into a small, easy twirl. She remembered back when she was little, and her father would let him stand on his shoes.
She was too busy enjoying the music to notice Theo sidling up behind her. This was probably why she jumped when his paw suddenly darted into her field of vision.
"Dance with me?"
Mable nodded, and let him lead her into the waltz. This was different than dancing with Monsieur Lune, and far more intimate than her dances with Labelle and Maddie. Dancing with Labelle and Maddie had been joyful, much like dancing with her two sisters. Dancing the waltz with Monsieur Lune had been like dancing with her own father; familiar, comforting. None of her dances had felt like this.
It was altogether new and exciting, and Mable felt giddy when Theo spun her out and back to him in a fluid movement that excelled any of her past dance partners. The rest of the room melted away, and her inexperience seemed unimportant as the two of them focused on one another. Mable stopped staring down at her feet, since she could not tear her eyes away from Theo's gold eyes. He was smiling gently, not at all upset that she would occasionally step on his paws. Mable did not know the emotions that she was feeling, but that hardly mattered when he pulled her closer. She stumbled a little but enjoyed the sensation of being held and smelling the subtle mixture of musk and mint that was Theo's scent. He spun her out once more, and Mable thrilled at the way her dress lifted and twirled with her as she was pulled back.
Madame Cecile and Monsieur Carnier finished the waltz, but Mable did not hear over the thudding of her heart in her ears. Her only inclination that the dance was over was when Theo released her hand. She felt strangely disappointed when he bowed instead of kissing her hand, thinking sadly that her body seemed to grow colder now that he had backed away from her. She shook the thoughts out of her head, and turned to applaud Monsieur Carnier and Madame Cecile for their splendid performance.
The night waned, and before long Maddie was curled up over on the piano bench, her head in Margot's lap as she dozed. Madame Cecile had joined in the revelry only once, dancing sedately with Monsieur Lune. Mable even danced with Maestro for one song, though even with their unspoken truce they were still rather stiff with each other.
Theo did not ask her to dance with him again.
Eventually, even the energetic Labelle started to yawn, and the consensus was made that it was far past time for the party to end.
"Theo will escort you back to your rooms, Mable. Do not worry about this." Labelle waved a tired hand at the rest of the room. "I do hope you enjoyed yourself."
Mable gave her friend a hug. "It was fantastic, Labelle. Thank you for doing this for me."
"Of course, cherie." Labelle gave her a sleepy wave, and leaned on Maestro as he escorted her out.
Monsieur Lune came over, carrying a sleeping Maddie in his arms. "We shall see you tomorrow, Lady." He said with a smile. "I am very happy you enjoyed yourself."
"I did." Mable grinned at him. "Thank you for teaching me how to waltz."
With a chuckle, Monsieur Lune and his daughter popped out of the room.
Mable called a goodbye to Monsieur Carnier and Margot, who were clearing away the dishes on the table. They waved a cheerful goodnight, promptly returning back to their arguement over what breakfast would be tomorrow.
Mable gave a sleepy smile to the last of the guests, Madame Cecile.
"I am thrilled to hear you had fun tonight, my dear." Cecile said warmly. "I only hope this is a memory you keep with you for the rest of your days."
Mable was too tired to parse Madame Cecile's odd ways of speaking. "I don't think I could forget if I tried." She told Cecile. She felt Theo's paw on her shoulder and she shifted to give him a quick smile.
When she turned back around, Madame Cecile had her eyes narrowed in a thoughtful expression. Those green eyes jumped from Mable to Theo's paw, to Theo behind her.
"Cecile?"
Madame Cecile's mouth worked for a moment, but her face cleared quickly and she gave Mable a warm hug. "Nothing, dear one. You go and get some rest. I will see you soon."
Mable smiled gratefully and allowed Theo to escort her out the door.
They barely talked on the way back; Mable was too tired, and Theo seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. His goodnight to Mable at her door was almost brusque, as if he had somewhere else to be and was on a tight schedule.
Mable couldn't help but feel disappointed when he left. If this was a fairy tale, she thought as she rested her head against the door, he would have told her she was the one he had been looking for and kissed her.
With a sigh, Mable went to take a shower in her old bathroom, gently placing the dress she had been gifted with on a hanger in her closet. The magic of tonight had clearly faded.
Mable was in her nightgown and pulling back the bedcovers when there was a frantic knocking at her door. Blearily, she trudged over and opened it to an excited Theo. He had his arms behind his back, and had changed out of his dapper suit jacket and into his normal attire.
"Theo, what are you doing? It's late." She grumbled.
He gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know, and I am sorry. But I've been working on this all day and didn't want to give it to you in front of everyone. I just had to go to my rooms and get it."
"You're not making any sense."
"Would it be all right if I came in?" Theo asked unexpectedly.
Curious now, in spite of her fatigue, she let him in.
Theo shuffled in and sat on her bed, eyes locked on her with a strange mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
"I got you something." He said, pulling a box out from behind him. It was flat and thin, wrapped in a soft, gauzy paper that shimmered in the candlelight.
"A present?" Mable asked, sitting next to him. She caressed the paper on the box.
"I meant to give it to you before the party, but I had to make sure it would work first. I found it up in the attic when I was hunting for the spell book, but I wasn't sure it was the right one, and I wanted to be sure before I gave it to you." He babbled.
Mable stared at him. She had never seen him act this way before. He was a bundle of nerves, but his eyes stayed narrowed in on her face, waiting eagerly for her reaction.
"Here," he said, shoving the box into her hands. "Open it!"
"All right, all right." Mable half-laughed, and tugged off the paper. Wide awake now, Mable opened the box, and gazed at its contents. Lying on the tissue paper inside the box was the prettiest little hand mirror that Mable had ever seen. A gilded handle and frame circled a delicate mirror, big enough so Mable could see her entire face reflected. The edges around the mirror were etched with ivy and vines that creeped onto the mirror's back, where painted roses bloomed in crimson and white.
"Oh, Theo. It's lovely." She breathed, pulling it out of the box. It should have been heavier, but instead it felt light and comfortable in her hand.
Mable admired herself in the mirror for a moment, enjoying the flush of pleasure on her cheeks and the way the candlelight had changed her normal hazel eyes to a soft green.
Theo ran his paw lightly on the back of the mirror, making goosebumps rise when his fur touched her skin.
"It is pretty, but that is not the reason I gave it to you." He told her. Gently he took the mirror out of her hand and shifted so they could both look in the mirror's face. "I wish to see the dining room." He told it in a commanding voice.
"Theo, what-" Mable stopped when the mirror, so bright and reflective a moment ago, fogged like glass on a rainy day. After a moment the fog drifted out of the frame, and Mable got a clear view of the dining room.
"It can show you the dining room?" she asked, puzzled.
Theo chuckled, and pushed the mirror back into her hand. "Not just the dining room. It can show you anywhere or anyone you wish to see. You just have to give it that command."
Mable held the mirror firmly in two hands. "I wish to see the library." she told it firmly. She watched in fascination as the mirror fogged, and cleared enough so she could not only see the library, she could almost see the titles of the books on their shelves.
"This is wonderful, Theo!" she gasped.
"Why don't you ask it to see your father?"
Her heart gave a strange little bump.
Mable spun her head so fast to look at him, she almost gave herself whiplash. "I can use it to see my father?" she squeaked.
Theo's gold eyes were warm. He ran a comforting paw down her arm. "It can show you anyone, Mable. Anyone you wish to see."
Mable stared at him for a moment, barely daring to hope, but turned back to the mirror and commanded. "I wish to see my father."
Tears ran down her cheeks when she saw the image in the mirror.
Her father was in bed, asleep. It seemed like such a normal thing, but after weeks of wonder, of fretting, of missing him, Mable almost couldn't handle the sight of her father, safe in his bed. Mable touched the mirror as she watched her father's chest move up and down, his breathing light and even. He didn't toss or turn, and as she gazed at him she saw a hint of a smile drift on to his face. She didn't see any evidence of nightmares, or insomnia. He was sleeping peacefully, like he had before the Alzheimer's.
"Oh…" Mable covered her hand with her mouth, trying to control the tumultuous feelings inside her. She was so happy to see her father, secure and unhindered by worry, and so incredibly touched by this gift that Theo had given her.
"You sure you like it, then?" Theo asked anxiously. "You're crying."
"No, I-I'm crying but…it's not because I don't like it." Mable held the mirror to her chest with one hand, and used the other to wipe off her face. "I'm sorry, I love it. You h-have no idea what this means to me."
Theo sighed in relief, and caressed her hair as she attempted to pull herself together. "I'm glad. I know how worried you've been about your father and how much his well-being means to you. I thought…well, I hoped that seeing him would give you some peace."
"It does." She said softly. "Now, if I can't find a spell that works, I'll at least know that he is safe and being taken care of."
The paw that had been stroking her hair stopped.
Mable jerked her head up to look in Theo's eyes. The excitement that had been there when he had been showing her the gift was gone, replaced by a heavy emotion she couldn't name.
"You're right, of course." He said. He moved so his body, so close to hers a moment ago, was now facing away from her. It made her lonely. "Sending you home is the important thing."
Mable, not sure what she had done wrong, changed the subject. "Where was this, anyway?" She traced the vines on the mirror's back, trying to remember her time in the attic. "I don't remember seeing it when we were up there."
"You wouldn't." Theo's reply was absent. "It was in one of my mother's old chests, hidden under some clothes. I didn't even remember she had it until I was moving things about and it fell out of the chest."
Mable only registered one word of his explanation. "This mirror was your mother's?"
Theo smiled a little, but kept his eyes on the windows. "Yes. The mirror was a wedding present from my father."
Mable nearly shoved Theo off the bed in her effort to push the mirror back into Theo's paws. "I can't keep this!" she cried. "I-it's so important, a family heirloom…you can't give this to me!"
Theo finally looked at her, and Mable was relieved to see warm amusement back on his face instead of detachment. "I want you to have it, Mable." He put the mirror back into her hands, covering both with his giant paws. "Mable, you are the bravest, most compassionate woman I have ever met. I want you to have this gift, so that maybe, when you are home, you can have a piece of here to remind you of that."
Theo had turned again so his body was curved above hers, so close she could feel the warmth from his breath touch her skin. His amber eyes were roaming her face, as if he were trying to memorize it. Mable was acutely aware of the intensity of her heartbeat, could almost feel every nerve under her skin respond to the feel of his paws on her hands. She had a strange, fluttery feeling in her stomach, like the last time she was on a rollercoaster and they climbed the hill.
Flustered, Mable made a show of putting the mirror back in the gift box. "Well, if it is important to you, then I guess its ok." She mumbled, not looking at him.
She felt, rather than saw, his body relax. "Your happiness is important to me."
If she hadn't been sitting right next to him she almost wouldn't have heard him. "My happiness is important to you?"
Theo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers drifting to caress the line of her jaw, under her chin. "Is going home truly what you want?"
Mable clutched the mirror to her chest. "I—"
I think I'm in love with you.
She felt the words rather than thought them, a shiver that raced along her spine and left her heart pounding. But she pushed it to the side, because what if he didn't love her back? Did she really want to saddle him with the guilt of having her love him, when he might not reciprocate those feelings?
Worse, what if she did tell him and it still wasn't enough to break the curse? Nothing else had gone right with the spell, after all. Mable couldn't stand the thought of lovely Labelle, caring Monsieur Lune, energetic Maddie or even the reserved Maestro having to suffer more because she couldn't break the curse.
Mable studied Theo from under her lashes. Misery lined his furry face. Could she really doom Theo to this fate because she was not what he needed?
"I truly do want to go back, and make sure my family is all right." She said, hating the way her voice shook.
Hating herself for being a coward.
"Then that is what I want for you." Theo put his paw back in his lap. "That's what friends are for, correct?"
His words made her want to cry, but she forced a rueful smile. "Yeah, that's what friends are for. Just promise not to forget about me the minute I'm gone, all right?"
She meant it as a tease, but was staggered when he laid his paw on the back of her head and pulled her forward to press a kiss to her forehead.
"I don't think I could if I tried." He promised. He got up slowly, as if he were in pain. "We've had a long night. Why don't I let you get some sleep?"
"Theo—" She gripped the cuff of his shirt to stop him, but when he turned to look at her, she had no idea what to say. "Thank you."
Theo took her hand and kissed it, something he had ever done before. With a sad little smile, he wished her goodnight.
Mable waited until the door had shut completely behind him before curling up on the bed, mirror held tight to her chest. The tears were still drying on her cheeks when she finally fell asleep.