Two days later, a royal messenger arrived with an invitation to the upcoming ball and a mysterious package. Only, Anne knew what this contained, but she knew that she could not say anything. Her step-family had decided to open it after dinner.
"Oh, Maria! Oh, darling. You know the reason that we received such a special invitation? Because of Sir Charles, no doubt. You have completely and utterly made him fall in love with you! Oh, your first suitor! And your last! I shall see that you two are wed before the end of this very year!" cried Marylind whenever she opened her mouth. Anne could not wait to see the dress that Sir Charles had had sent out for her. This was the only thing that kept her from snapping at Marylind that the gifts were for her. But the dresses were absolutely a dream come true!
When the package was finally opened, four lovely gowns were removed. When Marylind saw that there were four, she instantly turned around and looked at Anne. "Why, Anne are there four dresses?" she asked with a look of pure malice on her face.
Anne tried her hardest not to look guilty, but she too quickly replied, "I don't know Ma'am. I'm sorry." Anne pretended like she was still cleaning the sitting room.
"Don't lie to me! There was a letter that came with this package! Do you want to know what it say?" Marylind asked mockingly. " 'Dearest Weerely family, I do hope that I am not to abrupt when I send this, but I wish to invite you to the prince's ball. Enclosed in the package that you should soon receive, will be four dresses-one for you each. I feel that the lilac would look handsome on Earless Weerely. The yellow is for Maria. The blue is for Cortia. (You will see that I found a fabric that will match her gorgeous eyes.) And the pale pink is for Anne. I did some research and realized that see was the daughter of the Earl of Weerely. I will also expect to see her there. Your, Charles.'" Marylind finished in a mocking tone. She reached into the package and pulled out a pale pink dress that was absolutely gorgeous. There were rosebuds trimming it and a long train behind it. As soon as Anne caught sight of it, she caught her breath.
"It's gorgeous," she said in almost a whisper. Anne reached out a pale finger to trail the fabric, but before she could even touch it, Marylind pulled it away.
"Yes it is. Therefore, it will be Maria's. You will adjust it for her as your punishment." Anne didn't ask why she was being punished. Sometimes she was punished for just breathing too heavily, or not cleaning something perfectly.
"Yes ma'am," Anne managed to choke out. She took the dress in her hands and looked up at Maria. She had a mocking smile on her face and Anne wished that she could smack her and her mother. How dare they believe that they can claim Anne's beautiful dress!
"I am looking forward to this ball, aren't you Anne? I mean, it's such an honor for a servant to be invited to one." Portia spoke from her spot by the fire. Anne looked down at her younger step-sister. She really wasn't very bad, not like her mother or sister, anyway.
"Anne will be going as a servant and nothing more. She will attend to us, but will not wearing any of these beautiful dresses. I don't care what Sir Charles says. She is a spiteful orphan who is indebted to me. Her father might have been an earl, but she is nothing." Marylind said quietly, a deadly sparkle in her eyes.
Anne bowed and left the room. She spent the days leading up to the ball adjusting the dresses, one of which should have been hers.