Author's Note: Hi, everyone!
Thank you for your patience. After posting the last chapter, I finally got a job at a local bookstore. Since then, I've been busy with the onboarding & completing courses. But the good news is that I worked on this chapter during the St. Patrick's Day weekend and whenever I'm off from work.
Now, in case you're wondering…a Disenchanted story is in the works. However, let's get through That's How We Know and we'll cross that bridge from there.
Thank you to retro mania and Crimson Commander688 for the reviews, I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Enchanted doesn't belong to me and retro mania. All rights go to Disney. OCs belong to retro mania.
Without further ado, let's get into it!
Chapter 4
"Right this way, please miss." Juliet said, as she led Nancy down the corridor. As the two women walked, Nancy took note of the interior décor. The castle itself is very reminiscent of the French Baroque and Rococo style, with its shape and form of ornament and plasticity, of symmetry and conformity.
Soon, the pair made their way up the stairway.
"Up here, in this wing are the bed chambers for the staff. Your boudoir is on the upper level." Juliet said.
"Where is Edward's room located?" Nancy asked.
"On the other side of the castle," Juliet replied. "Even Narissa had her own quarters."
Part of Nancy wondered why the staff was relieved upon learning that Narissa is gone. But, she'll find out later; at some point.
Finally, Juliet and Nancy reached the lady's boudoir.
"Here we are, miss. Your new room," Juliet opens the door; revealing the inside.
Nancy enters the room with Juliet behind her. She couldn't help but gasp in awe. The chamber itself is feminine, elaborate, and overdone. The walls were rose pink and white, with gold panels. An ornate, chandelier lamp hung from the ceiling. On one side of the room, there's a white-gold vanity table with three drawers and a mirror. A small stool is in front. Perfume, a jewelry box and other objects sit on the vanity. Next to the vanity, is a dresser with a flamingo pink lamp with roses on the lamp shade. Over by the dresser is a white gold ornate closet and shelf. A chair sits on the opposite side of the boudoir. At the far end of the room is a canopy bed, with a gold crown at the top. Next to the bed is a small table with a lamp. And by the bed are doors leading to the balcony. The room itself is fit for a princess and even Barbie herself. Morgan would have loved this room too. Nancy even wondered if Giselle had seen this room.
Nancy takes this time to open doors and walk out on the balcony. The view was quite spectacular, she could practically see the kingdom of Andalasia.
"Is everything to your satisfaction?" Juliet questioned.
Nancy faced the lady's maid.
"Yes, it's lovely." She responded, beaming.
Meanwhile, in Edward's chambers…
"So, sire…how was your adventure in New York City?" Nigel asked.
He and Edward are currently in Edward's room discussing the journey Edward went on.
"It was quite adventurous, to say the least." Edward responds. "New York City was quite a strange land. I've attacked a peculiar beast on four wheels, been run over, got peed on by a dog, and finding Giselle was exhausting."
"Oh, my." Nigel remarked. "That is some adventure you had."
"How was the ball you and Giselle attended?"
"It was wonderful." Edward answered. "The best part about it was meeting Nancy and falling in love with her."
Nigel nodded.
"How was Giselle feeling when you found her?" He inquired.
"Well…at first, she seemed to be happy to see me," said Edward. "But when I sang our duet, at least half of it…well, she didn't sing along with me. It wasn't until later, at the ball…I realized I'm not Giselle's True Love after all."
"Apparently, she had grown accustomed to New York." The young prince added.
"And your heart said to go with Nancy," Nigel interjected.
"Yes," Edward admitted. "From the moment when I put that slipper on Nancy's foot and heard her sing when we returned to Andalasia, I just knew that she's my true love, my heart's desire."
"Ah," said Nigel. "And uh, you intend to marry Nancy and make queen of Andalasia?" Nigel asks.
"Precisely, Nigel." Edward replies. "But before I do that, I'm taking Nancy out on a date."
"Um…exactly, what's a date, your highness?" The grand duke asked.
"Well, from what Giselle explained, you go out and talk about each other, our likes and dislikes." Edward informed.
"Get to know one another?" Nigel questions.
"Yes, exactly." Edward said. "There's even activities involved."
Back in Nancy's boudoir…
"Well, now. What shall we dress you in for dinner?" Juliet asks.
"I'm not sure." Nancy responds.
Nancy had taken the time to take a bath. As Juliet undressed Nancy out of her ballroom outfit, Nancy's flip phone had fallen out of a pocket.
"What on earth is that?" Juliet asked, puzzled by a strange looking object.
"It's a phone." Nancy explained. "A device that allows you to call and text someone."
"Text?" Juliet questions.
"Send messages," Nancy replied. "I didn't realize I had it with me the whole time."
"Will you be taking your phone to dinner?" Juliet asks.
"No," Nancy answers, knowing that it'd be rude to have a phone conversation during dinner, especially in a public place (let alone a fantasy realm).
She then placed her cellphone over on the nightstand by her bed.
Now wearing a dressing gown, Nancy and Juliet were trying to decide what Nancy should wear.
"Let's see what we can find for you." Juliet leads Nancy to a large, elaborate looking closet. The lady's maid then proceeds to open the doors, revealing an array of dresses to choose from. Nancy examines the selections, until she laid her eyes on something red.
"How about this one?" Nancy suggests, pulling out the garment. It had quarter-length sleeves, a V-neck line in the bodice, and a full skirt.
"Oh, my! That's an interesting choice of a gown." Juliet remarked. "It may look a bit cleavage-y on you. Are you sure want to wear it?"
"Positive, besides…I feel like giving Edward a shock, in a good way." Nancy grins, very Cheshire cat like.
And so, from there, Juliet gets started on dressing Nancy, starting with chemise drawers and a corset.
"Now, hold still." Juliet instructed. "You're going to be laced in very tightly."
Nancy nods and she complies. Juliet begins to lace up the corset from the bottom, making her way to the top.
From the moment Juliet pulled the laces, Nancy could feel the corset tightening her body. The Tremaine woman did her best to remain calm and just exhale a bit.
"So, this is how the women of nobility got ready, just like in the movies." Nancy thought to herself.
"So, before meeting Edward, how long were you with Robert?" Juliet inquired, as she continued lacing up Nancy's corset.
"Five years," Nancy replied.
"That seems quite like a long time." Juliet commented.
"True," said Nancy. "The truth is, Robert was practical. He wasn't very big on the whole 'fairytale-esque' romance. I, on the other hand, am not one of those women you know, who sit around their entire lives waiting for some perfect prince in shining armor to come take me off to his castle; in the Hamptons. I got over that fantasy a long time ago."
"Uh, what's the Hamptons?" Juliet asked, confused.
"It's a summer residence, a place where people go to vacation." Nancy informed.
"Oh," said Juliet. "You know what I think?"
"Is that a multiple-choice question?" Nancy asks the lady's maid.
"I think you're a hopeless romantic who's discovered that romance is hopeless." Juliet responds.
Nancy ponders over Juliet's response before answering.
"You win. Part of the reason why I chose Edward is that I wanted a fairytale relationship. That's something Robert could never give me. Maybe now that he's with Giselle, those walls he put up are brought down."
Juliet completes her task with the undergarment. She moves on to putting Nancy into a wire hoop skirt. Finally, Juliet helps Nancy into the red gown. She once again laces Nancy up. Next, Juliet grabs a pair of red, close toed heels with three straps; from the wardrobe. She proceeds to slip them onto Nancy's feet.
"A perfect fit, mademoiselle." Juliet commented with a smile.
Next, Juliet leads Nancy to the vanity table. She couldn't sit due to the hoop skirt, so she had to be still. "You have such pretty hair," Juliet remarked.
"Thank you," Nancy smiles.
"Will an updo be sufficient?" Juliet asks.
"Yes, it'll do." Nancy said.
Juliet begins to style Nancy's hair into an updo; allowing two curly strands to hang. Juliet moves on to the makeup, applying mascara to Nancy's eyelashes and poppy red lipstick to her lips.
"Last, but not least is the jewelry and a crown." Juliet opens a rectangular-shaped jewelry box and finds a pair of red, tear-drop crystal earrings. She gives them to Nancy who puts them on. Juliet also opens a drawer to the vanity table and pulled an intricate, triangular-shaped silver crown. She placed it on Nancy's head.
"There, you look extraordinarily beautiful, my lady." Juliet compliments Nancy, admiring her handiwork.
"Thanks," Nancy beams as she stared at her reflection. She looked…red hot. She couldn't wait to see Edward's expression.
Downstairs…
Edward, Nigel, Preston and Freddie are talking among one another. Juliet had informed Edward that Nancy is dressed and ready to go. Now, the group is waiting for Nancy to arrive. Edward himself, had changed into a different attire: white blouse, blue vest, navy blue velvet waistcoat, matching pants and black boots. His brown hair was combed neatly and well styled.
"So, what does a date entail?" Freddie asks Edward and Nigel.
"A date involves people getting to know one another." Edward explains. "Going out, talking about each other, our likes and dislikes."
Nancy walks down the stairs.
"And what do people do on a date?" Preston inquired.
"People go to dinner, or the theater, or go dancing;" said Nigel. "Dates can also last a long time. It really depends on the things you come up with for a date."
"Oh," Preston and Freddie said in unison.
Nancy continues to descend the stairs, until she reached her stop.
Nigel catches a glimpse of Nancy. Freddie and Preston followed the grand duke's gaze and sees Nancy.
"I see we're all ready to go?" Nancy questioned.
Hearing Nancy's voice, Edward turns and did a double take.
Standing before him, Nancy wore a scarlet red gown with a low cut in the bodice. The hoop skirt gave the gown a wide, bell shape. She held a small fan in her hands.
Starstruck, Edward walks up to Nancy to get a better look. All the while, Nancy smiles casually.
The hall boys gawked at Nancy's appearance, while Nigel looked intrigued.
Edward examines the gown.
"My love, are you mad?" He asked, astonished.
Nancy frowns a bit.
"I can see every inch of you, right down to your third rib." Edward remarked.
Nigel snaps out of it. He smacks Freddie and Preston a bit.
"Pull yourselves together, you two!" He commanded in a hushed tone. The duo complies.
"No, you can't." Nancy responds to Edward's comment.
The prince approaches Nancy.
"I can see right down to your navel." He said, blushing at the sight of Nancy's cleavage.
"Surely, you don't mean to go out like this?"
"I most certainly do," Nancy replied, standing her ground.
"I'll have you know, Juliet and I agreed on this dress, upon picking it out."
"We'll wait in the dining room." Nigel piped up, sensing tension between the couple.
"No, you won't." Nancy said with a hint of firmness in her tone. She faced Edward head on.
Edward smirks.
"I'll suppose it'll have to do." He said, giving in. "Could cover it up a bit,"
"I already thought of that," Nancy pointed out, gesturing to her small fan.
Edward smiles, bemused.
"You're gonna need a large fan." He said.
Taking Nancy by the hand, he leads her down the steps. They go into the dining room, with Nigel, Freddie and Preston behind them.
A/N: And there you have it!
The exchange between Edward and Nancy in regards to the red dress, I took inspiration from Outlander Season 2 episode two, "Not in Scotland Anymore." Even their formal outfits are from that episode. I must say, I enjoyed writing that part. Throughout the story, you see some looks from Outlander, Once Upon a Time and Marie Antoinette (2006).
Coming up next, is the dinner scene. Until then, see you next time!