~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Three Days Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was rather shocking that my ball had been kept a secret for so long. It almost amused me to see how relieved the servants were to be able to openly prepare the house for the party. As for me, I had lessons with Mme Leroux every day, which got rather old quite quickly, and selected flowers and other frivolous things for decorations. I was still allowed to go to the opera and rehearse, since the opening night of La Mort de Lumière was in two days. I would arrive at the beautiful theater earlier in the morning to spend it with the marvelous voice of the Angel. My previous obsession with understanding Edward Cullen had diminished, as had my thoughts of friendships with the other performers. All that mattered to me was the Angel and our music.
On the day of my party I woke thinking of just my angelic maestro. I dreamily rose out of bed and ate, and obliviously dressed and went into my carriage. The ride to the opera was peaceful, the perfect atmosphere for day-dreaming. When we arrived I swept into the theater and practically ran to the chapel. My Angel warmly greeted me. "Angel, how I've missed you!" I joyously sang. He gently laughed, a most musical sound, and replied, "Only the night has separated us." I stopped singing and seriously murmured, "But the night is long, and I am alone." There was utter silence, then a crush of instruments and mighty voices sounded. After a few moments of the deafening symphony, silence returned. Then the Angel gently whispered, " You are never alone, my angel. I am always there." My smile returned, and we sang together.
When our lesson finished, I slowly went to into the theater. Meg gave me a weird look, which had become her habit, then smiled. She probably remembered that my party was tonight, and that she was invited. All of the other dancers also gave me the funny looks, and I heard a few whisper things like, "Something is queer about that Dawier. Something not right..."
But they had never heard the majesty of the Angel of Music, and so I did not expect anyone to ever understand my rapturous joy. Rehearsals went well, and I sang so happily. But I was careful to restrain my voice. The Angel had said to hold back my power and deaden my pure tone, to save all the glory for opening night. Though I didn't really understand, I readily agreed to his demand. I would've given my life if the Angel had requested it. Right as I thought that, I saw M. Cullen chatting with Meg. That was enough to stir me out of the reverie, as beautiful and aloof Edward never willingly talked to the bubbly little dancer. But still I tried to evade them so I could quickly return back to the chapel, and to my master of song.
"Belle!," They both cried, and I stiffly turned away from the door. "Yes?" I answered, my feet still angled towards the escape. "Come and talk with us," Meg prettily simpered and gestured to come over. The handsome composer next to her smirked and mocking repeated her innocent gesture. I longingly glanced back to the door, then picked up my purple skirts and walked towards the two. "Yes?"I sweetly repeated.
Meg smiled then said, "Well, dear M. Cullen and I were talking about how we haven't seen you much lately, Belle. Whatever has been keeping you?" While she talked, the dancer twirled a golden curl round her little finger. I remained silent and turned to Edward. His beauty made me breathe a little harder, I had not seen him close up for three days. Then I coolly murmured, " Why how kind of you both. I have been round, of course." I smiled ever so sweetly, then turned back to the door. "I really must be going. I shall see you two at my party tonight." Then I breezed away, straight to the chapel. The Angel was waiting for me, and our voices joined.
"You will be beautiful," Marie said as she tightened my corset later that night. "I already am." I answered sadly. My euphoria from the Angel's voice had faded when I arrived back at the manor and had been whisked through various little preparations for the ball. Then the lengthy ordeal of my dressing had begun. " Of course, Mlle Dawier. But you shall be even more so when I am finished." I sighed my consent. Would I be meeting a potential spouse tonight?
"And you are done!" Marie squealed some time later, after I had been powered, curled, and sucked into a tight corset. "Thank you, sweet Marie."
"Well, don't you want to see yourself?" she asked. The whole while I had been dressing, I had been blindfolded. The gown was a complete secret, just like the rest of my appearance. "Yes. I would like to see." Marie gently untied the silk blindfold, and I blinked at the sudden candle light in my room. She led me to the full length mirror, and I stared.
I was dressed in a gown of deep purple silk, the color of rich wine. It had a tight bodice, which I already knew since breathing was rather hard, and flared out into a luxurious skirt and train. The short sleeves fell off my white shoulders, and were black lace twined with little strands of the purple silk. The back was low and elegant. Along the lower folds of the train were black silk roses, attached with tiny diamonds and pearls. My deep red hair was up-swept, and more tiny jewels were twisted into the thick curls. Two long strand of diamonds glittered in my ears, and my lids were covered with some smoky sort of powder. I turned back to Marie, who was holding two pairs of gloves in her hands; one set white and the other black.
"Rather scandalous for a debutante." I coyly murmured, then smiled to show I appreciated her efforts. I was gorgeous. "Yes, your father had me pick out the fabrics and style of the gown. I knew you'd like." With that in mind, I mischievously picked out the daring black gloves. Perhaps I would enjoy the night after all.