Alright, alright, I know it's been absolute EONS, but, a chapter ... It would have been longer, but this is what I had written and I figured I'd throw it out there so you all wouldn't think I had abandoned the story ...
"Comeon, Andrea, let's go!"
After breakfast, Andrea had gone back to her room to get dressed and now was being rushed along by her little brother, Andrew, to go to the market to find a gift to bring to the ball tonight. Personally, she would rather watch over her younger siblings than go to yet another ball. But her parents required it of her, so she was going to make sure Andrew and Helen, her younger sister, picked out something decent to give to the Maldonado girls.
"Andrea, you can't possibly have that much to do."
Great. Now Helen had joined Andrew. She couldn't stall for much longer.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Andrea called as she picked up her rose handbag to match her dress, threw a coat around her shoulders, and left her room. Turning right, she walked down the steps and joined Andrew and Helen in the foyer.
"Let's get this doll. Don't they have younger girls?"
Andrea was desperate to get back home. For one thing, the ball started in two hours. It wasn't so hard for the younger children to get ready quickly, but she was out of that league now. It took a looong time for Genevieve to help her get ready. Unfortunately, Helen and Andrew were being picky.
"No, no, no. They have older girls, Andrea. Plus, if we got a doll, we'd have to find one for each girl, and we don't have enough time for that."
"I know, I know!" Andrew could hardly contain his excitement. He was pointing at the window of the nearest store. Helen and Andrea turned around and looked. Inside the window, there were sampler sets of all different varieties. It was a commonly known fact that the Maldonado girls loved to embroider. With a sigh of relief, the children walked into the store and selected three sampler sets for the girls, then loaded themselves back into the carriage that would bring them back to Norma Manor.
Once inside the carriage, Andrea leaned against the wall. She might as well start thinking about which gown she was going to wear. Together, she and Genevieve had narrowed it down to five dresses. Did she want to look elegant or cute? Simple, or a bit more extravagant? Choices, choices, and she was expected to make them! With a sigh, Andrea exited the carriage when it reached their house and made her way up to her room to begin getting ready for the ball.
"You are back! I was getting a bit worried that you wouldn't get back in time to get ready. Come come! You still have to choose your gown, and then you have to choose your handbag, along with your hairstyle."
Andrea groaned. "Why must I make all these choices? Can't some of them be made for me? I mean, heavens to marmalade, I don't even want to go to this ball!"
"As Lord Jonathan and Lady Lindsay have already explained to you, skipping out on balls is discourteous and refusing your host's hospitality can be quite offending. Unless you have a real reason not to go, it is all in good manners to go. Now, go to the closet. We still have to pick a gown."
Andrea knew there was no arguing once Genevieve got that tone in her voice. With a sigh of resignation, she walked into the closet to survey the dresses that were laid out. Her mother had apparently removed the sparkly pink dress, probably thinking that it looked too immature, which left a shimmery green one, an elegant purple one, a blue one with silver stars spangled all over it, and and a simple gold one. Andrea was inclined to pick the purple gown simply because her favorite color was purple, but she knew she had to look at it thinking more about how things they would look on her than what was her favorite color.
"Well, I think that the green accents your eyes, but the purple one works well with your complexion. The gold one makes you look a bit pale, and the blue one ... Well, the blue one would look nice, but the purple one would look better." Genevieve had apparently been thinking about this the entire time she had been gone. Or at least, a good portion of it ...
"Alright then, let's go with the purple one. I like it best anyway, and I haven't worn it for a while."
After getting dressed in the selected ball gown, Andrea and Genevieve made their way over to Andrea's vanity table to talk about hairstyles.
"Now, no fussing here Andrea, because we have to be ready to go in 45 minutes, and who knows how long it will take me to do your hair and face, you change your mind so often."
"Alright, I was going to tell you to do whatever you thought would be best, but something with braids."
Genevieve put her finger on her lip, thinking hard. Anything I like, but something with braids ... A little odd, but manageable.
Picking up her hairbrush and a wet comb, Genevieve got to work.
"You look wonderful darling!"
Andrea had just entered the foyer after having her hair and face done, selecting a handbag and coat, and transferring the contents of her rose handbag to the purple one she had selected. The standard gathering place whenever the whole family went somewhere was the foyer, and Andrea was the next-to-last one there. Lady Lindsay had yet to arrive. While they were waiting, they were examining each other's choice of clothing. Lord Jonathan had selected a dark green tux, accented by a gold watch on a chain. James and Helen were in somewhat matching outfits of a blue that was almost purple.
"We've got to leave in ten minutes. What can be holding her up so long?" Jonathan asked, looking at his watch.
"I'll go help Martha get her ready," Genevieve replied, leaving the room.
Five minutes later, Lady Lindsay came hurrying into the foyer, apologizing for holding everyone up.
"Fine, fine, we're not going to be late. Close call, though, maybe next time start a bit sooner, will you?" Lord Jonathan replied. "Now come on everyone, let's get loaded into the carriage."
Another five minutes, and they were all sitting comfortably into the carriage on their way to Maldonado Manor.
"Now remember, Andrew, don't take too many refreshments, and please do try to get along with the other little children. I do not want a repeat of what happened at Charleston Manor. Helen, try not to spill the punch on your dress as you did at the Moore's ball, and play nicely, please. Andrea, try to look cheerful. I know you don't particularly want to be here, but who knows, maybe you'll pick up an admirer or two, and goodness knows it's about time. I'm proud of my fourteen-year-old, so don't let me down."
By the time Lady Lindsay had finished her last-minute instructions they were pulling up the drive. As a coachman stepped up to open the door, Lady Lindsay gave one final hissed instruction.
"Andplease don't leave your coats laying around!"
The three children rolled their eyes and Lord Jonathan chuckled.
"Welcome to Maldonado Manor. May I give you hand milady?"
The coachman held out his hand to Lady Lindsay, who gracefully took it and exited the carriage, followed by Lord Jonathan and then Andrea, assisted by her father, and then, last but not least, Helen and Andrew, both of which were lifted carefully down by Lord Jonathan.
"Allow me to show you to the door," said the coachman, turning to walk up the steps.
The Normas followed the coachman to the manor doors, gazing around at the beautiful scenery. They reached the doors, where the young man opened the door and bowed them inside, where they met another young lad who took their coats and showed them to the ballroom.
All in all, better than some balls so far, thought Andrea as they fallowed the youngster to the ballroom. But, after all, it's only just started. I can't really tell yet. I suppose I'll just keep an eye out for handsome young boys and see if they'll dance.
"Lord Jonathan! My, my, you are looking well. And Lady Angelina, you are looking fine indeed. Wherever did you get that gown? I must know! But talk can wait, talk can wait. Who are these fine young children? They certainly can't be my little Helen and Andrew, could it? You have both grown so much! And who can this charming young lady be? Andrea, is that you? Why, I hardly recognize you, you've grown so much!"
Helen and Andrew had begun to fidget while Lady Jennifer was exclaiming over them, and Andrea had been eyeing a handsome lad who had just entered the ballroom. Excusing herself, Andrea made her way to stand near the boy, hoping to start a conversation, and perhaps even to dance. Maybe coming to this ball wasn't such a bad idea after all ...
Now for my excellent reviews who have hopefully stayed with me through my period of invisibility ...
Dark Knightress: I'm glad somebody thinks this story is an easy write ... ) My magic seems to be hiding somewhere ...
InChrist-Billios: Glad you like Luke! I can see he's going to be popular ...
Lobuck: Yes, I like Luke too ) Thanks for the suggestions! I'll keep them in mind when I find my magic ... )
Celestial Seraphim: Hey, what else is he gonna do on his breaks? Andrea was the first noble teen he'd seen, and she's gorgeous, who cares what she acts like! lol
For reviewers this time ... --ponders-- ... a big bowl of your favorite ice cream!