Chapitre 3

The next few weeks ran smoothly, I assumed that Father had spoken to Lottie and Step-Mother about my dance with the handsome Count. But, despite this Lottie was being especially horrid to me, trying to trip me up in the halls, putting pepper in my tea to make me choke and even hiding an ant's nest in my bed. Step-Mother did nothing to stop this of course; she even smiled when I found glue caught in my hair. Months passed and there had been no news from the Count, Step-Mother was very relieved to know this, winter gave way to spring and soon it was time for the Cutter's annual spring ball. Lottie was practicing her piano obsessively, and Step-Mother had started paying for singing lessons for her. The spring ball was one of the most important events in my father's calendar, so he was desperate to make sure that everything was perfect, the flowers were on order, extra staff and servants had been hired, the finest chefs in Paris in the process of organizing the food, it was a mad flurry of organization and stress. Lottie's stupid complaints about her clothes and food didn't help anything whatsoever.

"Where are my good shoes?!"

"Estelle, you've taken my pearls haven't you!"

"My food is too cold!!" Petty remarks but it nearly drove me to the bridge of sanity. At last the day had arrived; the ball was to go from the afternoon until the early hours of the morning.

"Miss Cutter, please wake up." Opening your eyes, Mina was standing over me, her hair was washed and her face was shiny and clean. I got out of bed and rubbed my eyes, the long nap I had this morning would provide me with energy to keep me awake the rest of the evening. A gentle tapping came from the door.

"Estelle? Are you in there?" Father!

"Yes, come in." I said as I wrapped a dressing gown around myself, Mina bowed her head as he entered carrying a large bag.

"Mina, could I have a moment with my daughter please?" Mina left, closing the door behind her. Father walked over to the window and looked out on the city which was bathed in the afternoon sun.

"Estelle, you know how important tonight is for me; and… I want to apologize for the way Agatha and Lottie have been treating you. Their actions were terrible and I apologize on their behalf."

"Father there's no need to; I know that they hate me." Father sighed and put the bag down on the bed.

"Your meeting with the Count last season unfortunately made them hate you even more. And I'm afraid that if he comes tonight and tries to woo you again, then it'll only make things worse for you." I sighed and sat on my bed.

"He hasn't spoken or written for months, I think he has lost interest in me."

"Nevertheless, be careful Estelle. Beside, I have something to give to you." He sat down next to me and pulled the large bag forward.

"Before your mother Elizabeth was taken from us, she wanted you to have this. She said that the time will come when you will use it and your true talent shall shine." He pulled a long case out of the bag and handed it to me, it was made of soft black fabric with a gold handle and clasps. I opened it, the sight alone made tears fall from my eyes.

"Mother's violin!" I whispered before picking it up. It was made of a soft, dark wood, roses made of gold had been laid into the wood and the small tuning handles were made of gold too. I gently picked up the bow; it was made of white horsehair and the same wood as the violin.

"Father…I-I haven't played in years. I-I can't do it, after what happened… please… I can't accept this!" I said, my voice choking on tears that fell freely from my eyes. I gasped as I felt Father's arms around me, hugging me into his body.

"Please Estelle. Elizabeth wanted you to have this, regardless of whether you would use it or not." I looked up at him; his eyes were on the verge of tears.

"I will c-cherish it with my life, thank you." Father smiled, and pointed to the bag.

"In the bag are the clothes I want you to wear tonight." He turned and left, Mina entered the room and gasped as she saw the tears on my face.

"Oh Miss! Why are you crying?" I shook my head and smiled a little.

"I'm fine Mina, now can you help me get dressed." I said, quickly changing the subject. I showered and Mina strapped me into my under corset. I didn't feel like talking about Mother just now. Mina opened the box with the dress in it and pulled it over my head, it fell right to my feet the soft fabric washing pleasantly over my skin.

"It perfect Miss! I suits you wonderfully." I looked at my reflection; the dress was made of a pale pink silky material which hugged my curves but spread out at my waist into an ankle length skirt. The neckline was curved to show my collarbone and a teaspoon of cleavage. I felt tugging at my back as Mina was tightening the back of the dress.

"Mina, do you know whether the Count will be coming or not?" I said as I brushed my hair, letting it fall naturally in curls around my shoulders before Mina added some small pink flowers in my hair.

"I do not know Miss; I will inform you if he does." I stoop up and allowed Mina to apply my makeup. After it was finished I looked into the mirror, my eyes were outlined in black with brown eye shadow, my lips were pale pink and a tiny touch of blush was on my cheeks.

"Wonderful Mina, thank you." Mina smiled and bowed before handing me a small white fan.

"I hope the party goes well, if you need me, I'll be in the kitchens or serving food." I left my room; a buzz of conversation was already coming from the main entry hall. I entered the hall and looked down over the balcony around the room, everything was decorated with flowers and bright shades of color all around the house, the air smelt sweet and light like flowers and fresh fruit. Looking around, I spotted Step-Mother and Lottie both wearing new dresses, Lottie looking actually rather nice in a light green dress but she had placed a large number of huge green feathers in her hair. I walked down the stairs and everyone stopped talking and looked at me, their eyes burning into me.

"Father!" I said as I moved over to him, pushing past the gossiping crowd to him, his eyes lit up as he saw me.

"Ah! Estelle, you look wonderful!" He said as he made me spin around so he could look at me.

"Oh yes, about as pretty as a dead daisy." A voice said sarcastically as Lottie pushed her way over to me and Father. She looked over me and a flicker of something shot past her eyes.

"Sorry to say but your precious Count isn't here tonight! He must have gotten bored of you, because you're such a terrible dancer!" She said shrieking with laughter, Step-Mother chuckled a little as well as she sneered as my dress, her eyes narrowing. In her arms she held one of her fat, fluffy puppies with a diamond studded collar.

"True, I don't expect him to come; he has more important things to do than to see you." Step-Mother said, a fake smile washing over her face as she patted her dog lovingly. I drifted off, working my way through the crowd, getting bumped into and knocked around slightly. Afternoon turned into night, and still no sign of the Count, Lottie taking every opportunity she could to make fun of me, so that the people around her would laugh at me. Drake had been invited to my disgust and he proposed to me again after Father gave his speech and again during tea, in a way, I wished the Count was there, I had never felt that way about any man before.

Count's View-

9:07 pm

I looked out the carriage window as it pulled up at the Cutter's house. It was a very grand house, befitting for royalty. I entered the house, the hall was deserted but noise could be heard from the room at the end of the entry hall, which I assumed was the dining room. A pretty maid with red curls took my coat and hat, bowing her head in respect.

'I'll take a look around before making myself known.' I thought as I wandered off down one of the many hallways, opening a door I saw that it was a small gallery, the walls thickly hung with many paintings. I drifted past them, looking around at them, many of them depicting scenes of battle or victorious soldiers.

'Ah, the Cutters have a marvelous choice in art; some of these are extremely rare.' Walking through the small room, I came across one picture that I especially liked; it was hung in the corner. Dust had rested along the frame as though no one had moved it for years nor bothered to take care of it, forgotten.

'Estelle…' It was she, the young woman whom I danced with last season. Her pose was relaxed against a chair, her body was draped in a pretty pink dress which revealed her long and slender legs, the room in the picture was very similar to the room I was in. Looking closer at it, in the mirror behind her, there was a frightening girl trapped in the mirror, staring out at Estelle with dark eyes.

"She's beautiful isn't she? Just like her mother." A voice came from behind me, turning around I saw the old man from the carriage, he walked over to me.

"You are Hungarius Cutter I presume?" I asked, he smiled warmly at me.

"Yes, I am. Father of Estelle and Lottie and the head of Cutter's Gold Mining Corporation." He bowed slightly and we shook hands.

"It is a great privilege to meet you at last Count. There is something that I wish to discuss with you, concerning your pursuit of Estelle." I smiled, the beautiful Estelle, the future heiress of the Cutter fortune.

"You did not stay after you danced with her at the Lee's party. You didn't see what happened afterwards, when we got back home." His expression was one of deep concern, his eyebrows knotted together.

"My wife and step-daughter tore her apart. They screamed at her, saying that she didn't deserve you and that she was nothing but a common girl." I gasped; I had never intended that something like this would happen.

"Why do they treat her this way?" I asked, he sighed and rubbed his brow.

"Jealousy? Shallowness? Envy? I don't really know but I can tell you now, every time that you will try to woo her, they'll only become more vicious and it will break her." I sighed and looked at the painting; her beautiful green eyes stared back at me.

"I am not against you Count, in fact I appreciate that you've taken an interest in her. But nevertheless, if you are to court her, I ask that you do it in secret. One of my maids, Mina will know about it and will inform Estelle after the ball of your intentions." I smiled at him, relieved that he would allow me to court his daughter. I would tell Baptistin and Bertuccio about the plan, so they could help me keep everything quiet.

"In time, when and if she accepts me… then I shall make our relationship publicly known; until then, I will send her letters about time and places that we could meet." I said, Hungarius smiled and extended his hand which I warmly shook.