Author's note: Here is an update. Thanks to LaneIA for the review. I very much appreciate it! I'm going to try and update at least once a week but it will typically be towards the end of the week since I have the most free time then. Reviews are appreciated, especially if there is something you would like to see improved/clarified/whatever.
As she walked towards the steps Giselle could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She was so focused on trying to keep her emotions in control she didn't even realize that she was still wearing her cloak until Edward offered to help her take it off. She murmured a quick 'thank you' to him as he turned and handed it to one of the servants. Turning back towards the stairs she saw Robert dancing on the floor below. He looked extremely handsome wearing a blue velvet waistcoat with silver embroidery as well as white pants. He was staring at her in disbelief. That made Giselle feel scared and happy all at the same time. She flashed him her brightest smile and then ducked he head feeling embarrassed at being so forward. Before she could gather enough courage to look back at Robert, Edward had already returned and was offering her his hand.
Together Giselle and Edward made their way down the stairs. Giselle felt a thrill run through her. She had always dreamed what it would be like to attend a ball with a handsome prince. If only she could be sure that it was the prince that she actually wanted.
As they took the first step Giselle saw Robert and Nancy embrace as the song finished. Seeing that, Giselle felt the desire to flee begin to war against her desire to throw herself into Robert's arms. Unconsciously she squeezed Edward's hand for courage. She was too busy watching the interaction between Robert and Nancy to see the concerned look that Edward gave her.
"I'm somewhat surprised to see you here, " Robert said with a smile as he and Nancy came to meet them.
"I'm surprised. You said you couldn't dance," Giselle teased.
"I said I didn't dance. I never said I couldn't," Robert parried with a smile, sending an affectionate glance at his dance partner, Nancy. Aware that the social proprieties were not being met, Edward softly cleared his throat.
"Oh," Giselle exclaimed guiltily. "This is Edward". She paused, "He's my prince," Giselle finished simply.
"This is my, my, my, my Nancy," Robert stuttered unsure how to introduce Nancy. Girlfriend seemed too immature and date didn't seem to qualify for a relationship that had spanned almost as long as his daughter had been alive.
"We're together," Nancy clarified calmly reaching over to take Robert's hand. At this Giselle really looked at Nancy for the first time since arriving.
"You look lovely tonight Nancy," Giselle said. "And thank you again for helping me with my preparations for tonight."
"Oh, you're welcome. I glad I could help you find a dress for your prince," Nancy replied with a small shrug.
"Wait," Robert interjected. "You helped her? When did this happen?"
"This afternoon. That was the big girl bonding time Morgan and I had. The three of us headed to the studio and then to the salon" Nancy clarified as she nonchalantly brushed a bit of lint off his jacket.
"Then I owe you a debt of gratitude dear lady," Edward said sweeping a bow in Nancy's direction. "For while Giselle has always been and will always be beautiful to me, you have helped make her outer beauty shine like the bright star that is her inner beauty."
Giselle blushed at Edward's extravagant, but earnest praise of her. Nancy stared at him in awe. "Wow," she breathed.
"Is something wrong?" Edward asked concernedly.
"No. It was just the way you said that. So straightforward. Some men could learn a few things from you," Nancy said with a slight elbow into Robert's side. He gave a slight exclamation of pain but before he could say anything the Master of Ceremonies began to make an announcement.
"Well folks, it's that time of night. I would like to ask each gentleman to invite a lady he did not accompany to dance the King and Queen's Waltz."
At this announcement Edward graciously turned to Nancy, "May I have this dance?" Sparing a quick glance at Robert, Nancy nodded her head in assent and smiled as she took Edwards hand and he led her to the dance floor. Giselle fidgeted awkwardly as she watched them go and her hands nervously smoothed the silk of her dress.
After a few moments Robert held out his hand and with a smile queried, "Shall we?" As he began to lead her out to the center of the dance floor Giselle tried to force herself to relax a bit and just focus on the music. Feeling the music flowing through her she began to calm down just as they began to move gracefully around the dance floor. Giselle felt herself surrender to the music, much like she would do in Andalasia before she would burst into song. Some small part of her realized that she hadn't sung since her feelings for Robert had begun and that she had never gone so long without indulging in song.
Her position switched so that she was facing away from Robert as they spun around the room. During one turn she caught sight of Edward and Nancy dancing. Giselle felt her heart break when she saw the bewildered and hurt look on Edward's face and the stricken look on Nancy's. Both of these people had done nothing but try to help her and her actions now could only be hurting them. Trying to banish these feelings and enjoy the moment she found herself listening to the lyrics of the song.
So close to reaching that famous happy ending
Almost believing this was not pretend.
All Giselle wanted was the wish she had made before the hag pushed her into the well – happily ever after. But with all that had happened the past few days she was afraid she no longer knew what real and what was pretend anymore. In Andalasia she had been so happy to be marrying Edward, were those feelings real? Or was that just a romantic dream that she created? And some of the same questions applied to her feelings with Robert. Everything here was so new and uncertain that she didn't know what she could trust anymore. Looking at Robert she looked into his eyes questioningly as he started to sing.
"Look how far we've come," he sang softly into her ear. It was exactly what she had told him in the park that day. Dancing to hold her close and dedicating a song with words just meant for her. Overcome with emotion she leaned close to Robert and rested her cheek on his shoulder. As the music began to crescendo Robert began to sweep her around the room and she banished all sad and anxious thoughts from her head and surrendered to the music, the dancing and Robert. As she spun and twirled around the dance floor she spun she beamed in enjoyment, never taking her eyes from Robert's face.
Then the music quieted and they were faced with Edward and Nancy.
"May I cut in?" Nancy asked quietly with only a slight note of accusation in her tone.
Feeling disoriented as she was wrenched back into reality, Giselle murmured, "Yes, of course." Turning towards Edward she gave him a pleading look. All she wanted at that point was just to get out of there and away from the guilty feelings Nancy's presence was causing. Taking his proffered hand she allowed him to start leading her back up the stairs. As they climbed the stairs Giselle tried to hold back her tears. She knew that if she left here tonight that she would never be able to know who was really her True Love. The dance with Robert had left her feeling even more confused. In his arms it was so easy to forget about everything else. He had taken good care of her since he had found her. Granted, the beginning at been rough but since he had acquiesced to Morgan's desire to help her he had been very kind and generous. Even if he didn't always understand, like when he tried to convince her Edward wasn't coming. But having to raise Morgan on his own had to be hard.
Morgan. She was such a wonderful girl. She was sweet and caring and always believed that things could work out, even with her father always trying to get her to see the world for 'how it really was'. At six years old she seemed to Giselle to be much older than she actually was. In many ways they were so alike especially in their desire for a mother. Giselle hoped that Morgan would find a mother. Then with a feeling of panic settling in her stomach Giselle realized that if she decided to stay here with Robert that she would be Morgan's mother. Giselle loved Morgan very much but she didn't know if it was a mother's love. A mother was supposed to take care of and guide her daughter and yet Morgan so often needed to do that for Giselle.
Giselle felt so confused! All of these new emotions were just swirling around inside her and she didn't know what she should do. She felt Edward stop as they reached the stop of the stairs and he turned to look at her.
"You're sad," he remarked with his voice reflecting both concern and surprise.
Trying to summon a smile to her face Giselle responded in a voice that echoed with forced cheerfulness. "Oh, no. I'm fine," she lied. For a moment Edward paused. Part of him wanted to just accept Giselle at her word and take her back home to Andalasia. They could be married and everything could be like it was. But then he remembered what he had seen when watching the magic mirror earlier. A woman named Oprah had discussed with a man she called Doctor Phil how men and women needed to discuss their feelings in order to have a strong relationship. And if the magic mirror said it then it must be true.
"No, you're not fine," Edward told Giselle gently. He led her to a nearby chaise and sat her down on it. Sitting next to her Edward took both of her hands into his. "You haven't been fine since I found you this morning. Tell me what's wrong, my love so that I can help you."
Giselle stared at Edward, completely in shock. Not only was this unexpected after their disaster of a date that afternoon but he was also the only person who had thought to ask her what was wrong all day. She had been trying to hide what was wrong and yet Edward had noticed what no one else had. But she didn't know what to do. How do you tell a prince that you may be in love with another man?
"Giselle?" Edward prompted gently. He gave her hands a soft squeeze. "Just tell me what is wrong Giselle. Whatever it is I will do what I can. All that matters to me is your happiness."
That broke the floodgates of both Giselle's words and her tears. "Oh Edward," she cried as she leaned forward and rested her head on Edward's shoulder. She felt him wrap his arms around her and rest his head on top of hers. "Everything has just become so confusing since I came here. It was so scary and then Morgan and Robert took me to their home and helped me. And Robert and I had such a nice conversation at the restaurant before Pip showed up. But I was still waiting for you and when Robert told me I needed to accept you weren't coming I got so, so, so angry with him. Can you believe it? I actually got angry! And then I started feeling confused about Robert what I felt about him. Then you showed up and our date was so horrid and awkward and I became scared that maybe this isn't meant to be. And now I just don't know what to do. I don't know what I feel anymore."
After a moment Giselle realized just what she had said and pulled back from Edward. Nervously she looked at Edward's face. He was pale and there was a hint of sadness in his eyes but mostly he looked concerned for her.
"Oh my love," he sighed as he reached out and drew his hand down her cheek. "This must have been so difficult for you. I know I would not have been able to get by without Nathaniel's help and you have managed to do it all by yourself. But you don't have to do this alone. I love you Giselle and I do want to marry you. But more than that, I want you to be happy. I would never force you to do something that you don't want to do. If you need time I shall give you time. And should you choose to stay here I will return to Andalasia and wish you all the happiness this world can bring you."
"Oh, thank you Edward," Giselle whispered.
Giving her a small smile Edward stood up. "Now, why don't I go fetch some of the refreshments I saw downstairs and we shall try a second date. Would that be acceptable Giselle?"
"That would be wonderful," Giselle said with a sense of disbelief. With a slight bow in her direction Edward strode back down the stairs and headed towards the refreshment tables. Feeling truly at peace for the first time that day Giselle stood up. Knowing that Edward would give her the time she needed to make a decision was enough to allow herself to relax and try to sort through her feelings. It was a new experience. In Andalasia you always knew what you were feeling and this complexity of feelings was very strange. As Giselle looked over the dance floor she saw Nancy and Robert dancing together and laughing. She felt a twinge in her heart as she saw the two of them kiss. They seemed so happy together. And they had been 'together' as Nancy had called it for nearly five years. She didn't know if she would be able to wait for someone for five years.
Deciding it was rude to continue to spy on them Giselle turned to walk back to the chaise in order to await Edward's return. As she turned she bumped into someone. She opened her mouth to apologize and instead let out a gasp of terror as she recognized the hag who had pushed her into the well.