Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! This chapter is a little longer but I didn't want to split up the scene so I hope you guys don't mind. Thanks for your reviews.
Chapter 15 – Shall We Dance
As the days passed and the date of the ball drew near, the topics of conversation at each meal in the dining hall concerned the coming event and what was to be worn to it and whom they were wishing to dance with.
"I went home over the weekend," Sarah told Ella and Alice as they ate dinner. "My gown was finished and mother wanted me to try it on."
"What color is your gown?" Ella asked.
"The overall gown is a sky blue and it has a white satin underskirt and trimmings," she replied.
"You'll look beautiful in sky blue, Sarah," Ella answered as she looked at her friend who was stunning with her glossy black hair, bright blue eyes and creamy complexion.
"I think it's the prettiest dress I ever had," Sarah stated with a smile. "What about you, Ella? Do you have your gown yet?"
She nodded, "My mother brought me a gown from Atlanta for my birthday."
"What does it look like?" Alice asked.
"It's emerald green and has pretty white lace at the neckline and the cuffs and pretty designs through the skirt," she told her friends.
"A dress from Atlanta," Margo snorted. "How provincial. My gown came from New York."
Ella rolled her eyes. "A dress is a dress, Margo; being from New York doesn't make it any better than a gown made in Atlanta or Charleston or China for that matter."
"That just shows how little you know about style!" Margo replied. "New York is the height of fashion, only Paris surpasses it!"
"Well then I'm surprised you didn't jump on a boat and go to France for a gown, Margo," Ella answered.
Margo gave her a haughty look. "Don't be ridiculous! Do you have any idea how long it takes to get to Paris?"
"Actually I do know, I've been to Paris," Ella replied coolly.
"You expect me to believe that?" Margo asked with a laugh.
Ella shrugged, "I don't care if you believe it or not but I have been to Paris and also London and Rome. My step-father took us to Europe for vacation last summer."
"I don't care if you've been to Europe or not," the girl huffed. "We were talking about fashion and I for one like to stay current with the styles. I read Godey's."
Ella laughed, "Do you think you're the only one here that reads Godey's Ladies Book? You must really think you're someone special, Margo; but I hate to inform you that just about everyone reads Godey's, including me."
"I read Godey's," Sarah added.
"So do I," Alice stated.
Margo turned her attention back to her plate with a dismissive look on her face.
"What color is your dress, Alice?" Ella asked.
"It is pink with trimmings and bows in a rose color," she answered.
"My dress is turquoise," Margo interrupted once more.
"Would I be right in guessing that turquoise is the height of fashion?" Ella asked sarcastically.
"Of course it is or I wouldn't wear it!" she exclaimed.
"Well I'm sure our gowns are just as nice as yours, Margo," Sarah stated with annoyance.
"It doesn't really matter if your gowns are fashionable or not," Margo sneered. "No one will be looking at the three of you."
"I suppose they will all be falling at your feet right?" said Ella as she gave her an assessing look, trying to figure out where Margo was headed with her latest statement.
"I am always at the center of attention at every event. All of the boys want to dance with me," she replied. "If you're nice maybe I'll convince a few of them to take pity on you girls so you don't have to stand around with the matrons and the old maids looking like a bunch of multi colored wall flowers."
Ella smiled her eyes glittering with undisclosed hatred of her advisory. "Don't do us any favors, Margo," she told her. "I have never lacked for dance partners and I'm sure that won't change because you are in the room."
Margo laughed, "Oh Ella, you must be the one who thinks she's something if you believe you can compete with me. You may be the belle of the ball among those country bumpkins in Georgia but you won't stand a chance next to me, after all I am from New York and have grown up in very prestigious social circles, I know what I am doing."
"Atlanta isn't an uncivilized city, Margo. I wasn't raised in a barn among the pigs and the cows. I was raised in a large modern home with servants and closets that are bigger than the rooms we live in here. I've been to a number of balls, barbeques, and parties. My mother was raised a lady and so was I. I am well aware of the social graces, I can hold my tea cup properly, I know the steps to every dance, I know how to flirt and how to carry on a decent conversation so don't tell me that I don't know what I'm doing because I can compete with the best belle's they can throw at me and you, Margo Sinclair, are not one of them," Ella stated, her voice taking on an icy tone.
"Oh my," Margo stated with mock surprise. "Is our little Irish kitten offended? No need to bring out your claws, Ella. I'm only stating what should be common sense."
"And what in your opinion is that, Margo?" she asked.
She laughed, "Come now, Ella; you know my dance card is going to be fuller than yours. In fact I'm sure it will be fuller than the dance cards of all three of you put together."
"You think so," Ella replied.
"Of course," Margo answered her eyes shining with malice. "A thoroughbred always wins against a couple of nags."
"It's good to hear that you acknowledge looking like a horse," Ella told her.
Alice covered her mouth to hide her smile while Sarah giggled out loud.
"I'd say she looks more like the hind end of the thoroughbred," Sarah remarked.
"Shut up, Sarah!" Margo demanded.
"Unlike Bessie and Caroline, I don't do what you say, Margo."
"I feel confident that between the three of us we will have more dance partners than you, Margo," Ella stated; "And you'd think common sense would tell you that."
"And why is that?" the snobby blonde girl asked.
"We have better personalities than you and everyone knows that in the south, boys prefer girls with nice personalities and you don't fit into that category."
"We'll just see about that."
Ella raised an eyebrow, "What do you propose?"
"We'll have a contest and then we'll see who's dance card is the fullest," Margo stated. "I'll even make it easy for you, Ella, and count all three of you together."
Ella smiled, "Margo, nothing will make me happier than to prove to you that you aren't as great as you think you are."
Margo glared at her, "We will see how smart you think you are when you're eating dirt, Miss High and Mighty Kennedy."
"Excuse me?" Ella stated.
An evil grin flicked across Margo's face, "You didn't think this little contest was going to go on without some kind of comeuppance for the loser did you?"
"If that's the way you want it than so be it," Ella replied.
"Oh believe me that's how I want it. When you lose, you will sit here at this table and eat the dirt I put on your plate."
"And if I win?" Ella asked.
Margo was silent for a moment, "You won't win so there's no point in discussing the matter."
Ella laughed, "It sounds like you're afraid, Margo."
"I'll never fear you, Ella."
"Maybe you should," she replied. "I think I would like to see you eat dirt so we'll make that the punishment for whoever loses the contest."
"Fine," she sniffed. "I'm not worried."
"Neither am I. The only problem is in trusting you not to add names to your list after the ball."
"We'll tally the numbers during the break before the last dance," Margo told her. "I'll even allow you girls to count the last dance ahead of time."
"Fine, it's a deal," she said holding her hand out for Margo to shake. "It's clean," she told her as Margo wrinkled her nose in distaste at the hand before her.
After a moments hesitation Margo grasped Ella's hand for a quick handshake before drawing her own hand back and wiping it on her skirt.
"You better hurry and wash your hand, Margo; you've been touched by a heathen from Georgia," Ella stated with amusement.
"And Margo," Sarah spoke, "I'll make sure that when it's time for you to eat dirt that it is of the finest kind from your own back yard."
"I don't have to worry, I always win," Margo stated as she rose from the table and walked away.
The girls were silent in the moments after Margo's departure, contemplating the situation that they now found themselves in.
"I feel sick," Alice said breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
"Don't worry we'll win," Ella assured her.
"Ella, I usually only get asked to dance two or three times if I'm lucky," Alice answered. "That won't be any help to you and Sarah."
"Don't be silly, Alice; your dance card will be filled. I have a plan to make sure of it," Ella told her.
"What's the plan?" Sarah asked.
"All we have to do is make sure that whoever we dance with dances with each of us."
Sarah nodded, "That's a good idea."
"Do either of you have brother's that will be there?" Ella asked.
"My three brothers will be there," Alice replied.
"You have to convince them to dance with us," Ella told her. "Do you think you can get them to agree?"
"I'm sure I can," she answered; "And I'll make sure they don't dance with, Margo."
"I know my two brothers will dance with you and Alice," Sarah spoke; "And they already hate Margo so there won't be any worry of them dancing with her."
"Good," Ella replied. "We will have to discreetly try to convince anyone else we dance with to not dance with her. I wish my brother was here to help us, he'd make sure everyone stayed away from her."
"It's too bad we can't bring a snake in there," Sarah replied.
"But Sarah, there will be a snake in attendance," Ella stated casually.
"There will?" her friend said, confusion in her eyes.
"Yes, a snake in a turquoise dress," she answered with a wicked grin on her lips as her friends laughed out loud.
"Was it just my imagination or did I actually see you shaking hands with Margo Sinclair?" Carreen asked as and Ella walked the school grounds after classes the next day.
Ella laughed, "It wasn't your imagination."
"So you girls have decided to bury the hatchet?"
Her niece laughed once more, "Oh no, it was nothing noble like that."
"Should I even ask?" Carreen questioned a spark of amusement in her eyes.
"It's nothing really, just a small bet about who will have the fullest dance card the ball Saturday night."
"What happens to the loser?"
"She eats dirt," Ella answered.
"You can't be serious!" Carreen exclaimed.
"Those are the terms we agreed to."
"That's disgusting!" she cried.
Ella laughed, "I believe that's the whole point, Aunt Carreen. Margo wants me to eat dirt so she can prove that I am beneath her but I have no intentions of losing so she better prepare her stomach for Monday's dinner."
"Oh my," Carreen stated.
"Don't worry; I won't make her eat much, just enough to humiliate her."
Carreen laughed softly, "You didn't have anything to do with that snake incident did you?"
Ella pretended to be shocked, "Me?" she asked. "You don't really think I'd do such a thing do you?"
"Yes, I believe you to be more than capable of it but it's probably better that I don't know the details."
"My lips are sealed," Ella told her with a laugh.
Silence fell between them and Carreen took the opportunity to bring up the subject of Ellen O'Hara's diary which had been keeping her awake at night.
"Ella, what did Scarlett and Suellen do with my mother's diary?"
"Mama has it," she told her, "Aunt Sue wanted to burn it but she wouldn't let her."
"Do you know anything else that it said?"
"She never told me anything about what was in it, I only know a few things because I was eavesdropping."
"Did you hear anything about me?" Carreen asked.
"No, not specifically. I know they seemed upset about whatever was said about them. Aunt Sue took the portrait of Grandmother O'Hara off the wall and put it in the attic and I don't think I've ever heard her speak of her since then."
"What about Scarlett? Does she still speak of mother?"
Ella shook her head, "Not much but when she does you can tell that it hurts her. I don't know what that diary says but whatever it is it isn't good and it probably would've been better if it had never been found at all."
Carreen felt her heart sink a little further. It all seemed so strange to think that something as simple as a diary had so disturbed her sisters. She felt as though she no longer knew who her mother was and in feeling that way it made her wonder if she really knew herself. Had their mother written hateful things about them? It didn't seem possible but perhaps the face Ellen showed to world and to her family wasn't really her. Maybe they didn't know Ellen O'Hara at all.
Scarlett pushed herself up into a seated position and pulled the sheet close to her body as she watched her husband dress in the early morning sunlight that was filtering through the curtains. It seemed all her hard work was for naught as he seemed intent on catching the first train to Charleston.
"Wouldn't you rather stay here?" she asked as he buttoned his shirt.
He smiled at her, "I would but I have a previous engagement."
She sighed, "I guess I wasn't very convincing."
"I wouldn't say that," he told her. "I enjoyed having my favorite meals and the new supply of cigars and the best brandy that could be found. Most of all I enjoyed your scenes of seduction."
"Apparently not enough," she complained as she pulled the sheet more tightly around her.
He chuckled as he watched her, "I love how you play the seductress at night and then find your modesty in the morning light."
She allowed a smile to cross her lips, "You know since its Saturday, the children will sleep in for a few more hours, you could come back to bed and make me forget my modesty."
"But then I'd miss my train," he told her with a grin as he put on his suit jacket.
"That's the whole point," she told him.
"I realized that," he replied as he crossed the room to the bed stopping long enough to scoop up her nightgown from the floor.
He dropped the nightgown onto her lap and then kissed her passionately. "I'll see you soon."
"Oh Rhett, are you really going to stop her?"
"Honestly Scarlett, I haven't decided yet. I'll make up my mind when I get there."
"If you don't know what you're going to do, then why go?" she asked a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Because if I allow her to go, I can be there to chaperone her, my dear and maybe I can smooth things over with her about that argument we had."
"She'll be more agreeable to smoothing things over if she gets to go to the ball," she told him.
He laughed, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Don't go, Rhett; just let her be," she spoke.
He kissed her once more, "Everything will be fine, Scarlett."
She studied him for a moment and then smiled, "You're going to let her go."
"I didn't say that," he said as he turned away from her and moved towards the door.
"You don't have to, I can see it in your face," she replied happily.
"I hope your right, Scarlett. I'd hate for you to have to eat crow," he teased.
"I'm not worried."
"Good, I'll tell mother to wire you if there are any casualties."
"You're so very funny, Rhett," she told him as he left the room.
"I know, my money and my sense of humor were the reasons you married me."
Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Don't you have a train to catch?"
His laughter echoed in the hallway as he shut the door and she slid back down into the bed.
"Have fun Ella," she whispered to herself feeling confident that she had won the battle.
"Ella, it's time to go dear," Eleanor stated as she stepped inside her room.
"I just have to put on my necklace and then I'll be ready," she replied as she hastily hooked the locket Eleanor had given her around her neck.
She cast a final glance in the mirror and was startled as she took in her image. She couldn't help but see her mother's face reflected in her own.
"Good God, I look like mother!" she exclaimed as it finally sunk in how much she resembled her.
Eleanor laughed at the shocked expression on her granddaughter's face.
"It's always a surprise the first time you see your mother's face looking back at you in the mirror."
"Oh my god," Ella said. "I didn't think this happened until you were old."
Her reply sent Eleanor into another fit of laughter, "It's better to realize it when you're young dear; your heart is more able to stand the shock. I woke up one day at the age of forty and realized I looked more like my mother than myself and I almost had a stroke."
Ella picked up her fan and stepped away from the mirror, "I never saw it that much before," she remarked.
Eleanor took her arm as the moved from the room and into the hallway. "Don't look at it as a bad thing my dear; your mother is a beautiful woman and so are you."
Ella smiled, "I think you're beautiful, Grandmother."
"I might have been about fifty years ago before I had wrinkles and gray hair," she answered with a laugh.
"You don't have that many wrinkles and I think you're beautiful regardless of your hair color."
"Well you're a sweet girl to think so," Eleanor replied with a soft smile as they reached the bottom of the stairs where Rosemary and Samuel were waiting.
"What are you two talking about?" Rosemary asked.
"We are talking about beauty. Ella just saw her mother's face looking back at her in the mirror."
Rosemary laughed, "Don't you just hate when that happens?"
"I almost needed smelling salts," Ella remarked as they picked up their wraps.
"I for one am glad I got back from New York in time to escort the three finest ladies in Charleston to the ball," Samuel stated as he opened the door for them. "I'm sure I'll be the envy of every man in the room."
"You keep talking like that and we'll need to put on our boots," Eleanor answered as she swept out the door with his laughter ringing behind her.
"Now, Mother, you know I married Sam so I wouldn't lack for compliments," Rosemary teased as she and Ella followed her out the door. "You'd do well to find yourself a man like Sam, Ella," she stated.
She giggled, "You're right I should. Uncle Sam do you have a younger brother or cousin of an acceptable age for me?"
"I'm afraid not but if I run across a man who happens to share my qualities I'll be sure to send him your way."
"You make sure you do," she answered as he handed her up into the carriage.
Ella felt light and full of excitement as the carriage traveled through Charleston's busy streets. All of the heartache and sadness she had been feeling slipped away as anticipation of the evening ahead filled her heart and mind.
Once they were all in the ballroom Ella scanned the room for her friends and spotting Alice she turned to Eleanor and asked permission to join her.
"Of course dear, have fun," her grandmother replied before lowering her voice and adding, "Good luck with your dance card war."
She grinned as she thanked her and hurried away to join Alice and wait for Sarah. Once they were all together they admired each other's gowns and then looked to see where their mutual enemy was stationed in the room.
"There she is," Sarah stated nodding towards the far end of the room.
"I thought that gown was supposed to be the height of fashion," Ella said as she looked over the turquoise colored gown adorned with feathers and pearls that Margo was wearing.
"I think I'd rather be unfashionable," Alice commented.
"Somewhere there are hundreds of naked pigeons," Ella replied.
Sarah and Alice laughed, "What makes you say that?"
"Those feathers had to come from somewhere," she answered.
Rhett spotted his mother shortly after entering the room and he made his way towards her. Looking up she saw him as he moved to stand beside her and he couldn't help but grin at the look on her face.
"I take it your not happy to see me," he stated with humor.
"Rhett Butler, I swear if you came here to torment Ella and drag her away from here, I'll put you over my knee and give you the whipping that you've been long overdue for."
"I'd pay good money to see that," Rosemary replied.
"Scarlett probably would to," Samuel stated.
"Scarlett would sell tickets and then go shopping with the profits," Rhett answered with a laugh.
"Why are you here, Rhett?" Eleanor asked.
"Relax Mother, I'm not going to steal her away from the ball, nor am I going to upset her."
"You better not," she admonished. "She needs a little fun in her life."
"I assure you that I am only going to observe her for awhile and when the opportunity presents itself I will speak to her and then slink back to the shadows until the end of the evening," he answered.
"You make sure that's all you do," Eleanor told him; "Because I will be watching you and if I see one tear drop from her eyes you will answer to me."
Rhett's laughter rang out, "Mother, I'm trembling with fear."
Two hours later, the girls were standing in a cluster during a break in the music. Ella had already danced with both of Sarah's brothers and all of three of Alice's brothers. The crowded ballroom was hot and they waved their fans casually as they chatted. Ella's eyes scanned the room, admiring the lovely decorations and looking for any young man that she might know that she could add to her dance card. Movement caught her eye and her gaze settled upon the figure of her step-father as he approached her.
Her stomach dropped to her toes and she silently prayed, "Please god, don't let him drag me away in front of everyone."
Margo would never let her live down a disgrace like that. Her face paled and she laced her fingers together in nervous agitation. She took a step away from Alice and Sarah and met him before he reached her small group.
He bowed before smiling at her, "Good evening, Ella," he stated smoothly.
She found no hint of anger in his voice but she remained wary. "Good evening, Uncle Rhett," she replied.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered nervously. "Mother said I could come."
He chuckled lightly, "I'm aware of that."
She looked so distraught at his appearance that he almost felt sorry for coming.
"Are you angry?" she asked hoping to avoid disaster.
"Do I seem angry?"
"No, but that doesn't mean you aren't," Ella replied.
"I was angry when Scarlett told me that she had given you permission but I'm over that now."
"Is mother here?"
"No."
"Why are you here if you aren't angry about it?" she asked.
He grinned, "To make sure you are properly chaperoned, my dear."
"You're not going to make me leave?"
"No, I wouldn't embarrass you that way especially in front of your friends who are about to die from curiosity."
"They're nice girls," she told him.
"Introduce me so they know I'm not going to kidnap you," he remarked.
She led him to Alice and Sarah and made their introductions. After he kissed their hands and made them blush, he asked them to excuse them so that he could dance with his daughter.
She felt awkward as the dance began. Her last meeting with her step-father had been so awful and she had felt somewhat guilty ever since. Carreen had told her that she wouldn't feel better until she apologized but she wasn't sure how to go about it so she blurted it out without much thought.
"I didn't mean to act the way I did," she stated.
"Meaning?" he asked.
She took a breath and let it out slowly. "Meaning I didn't mean to argue with you during my birthday weekend. I should've stated my feelings without losing my temper and I'm sorry for that. Aunt Carreen says it's because I'm an O'Hara."
A look of understanding flashed in his eyes, "That O'Hara blood can be troublesome."
"I'm sorry, Uncle Rhett," she said quietly; hoping he knew that she meant it.
"You're sorry for the way you said it but not for saying it?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"So you meant the things you said?"
"Yes, and I won't apologize for how I feel, only for the way I presented myself."
He was thoughtful for a moment and then smiled, "Fair enough," he told her. "But I want you to know that I've never meant to hurt you, Ella; and if I have I'm sorry."
She was silent and so he continued on hoping that he would be able to get through to her in some way.
"Do you remember when you were learning how to dance?" Rhett asked as they moved across the dance floor.
"Yes," she answered.
"You stepped on my toes a thousand times," he said with a laugh.
Her cheeks reddened, "I'm sure I already apologized for that."
"There's no need to be sorry for it," he replied. "It happens sometimes and besides it isn't like you left me crippled."
She couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her lips.
"You see, Ella, our lives are like a dance" he told her. "Sometimes we move with grace and sometimes we step on each others toes."
He studied her face as she absorbed his words. "Do you understand what I mean?"
She nodded, "I think so. You're saying that I step on your toes and sometimes you step on mine."
"That's right," he answered; "But just because you step on someone's toes doesn't mean you don't care about them. You may be annoyed about it but there's no reason you can't still be friend's with that person when the dance is over."
She nodded and smiled slightly but didn't say anything in response.
"If I've stepped on your toes, Ella, it's only because I felt I had to."
She nodded once more before asking, "Can we talk about this another time?"
He laughed loudly, catching the attention of other dancers close by. "You couldn't be any more like your mother could you?" he asked.
"I can't help it!" she exclaimed. "It just slips out. It's just that I was having a good time and I don't want to ruin it."
"Alright, I understand how you young ladies are about your parties."
"Thank you," she told him.
"How goes the dance card war?" he asked.
She looked at him in surprise, "You know about that?"
"Of course, my mother is campaigning on your behalf," he answered.
"What do you mean?" she asked her eyes wide with panic.
The music ended and he guided her to the edge of the ballroom. "She's making sure that every son, grandson, and nephew of every friend she has knows that they are to dance with you and your friends."
"If Margo hears about that I'll never live it down. She'll say I couldn't get anyone to dance with me on my own," she said with alarm.
"Don't worry she's being discreet," Rhett assured her.
"I hope so," she replied.
He took her hand and kissed it. "Thank you for the dance, Miss Kennedy," he said graciously.
"You're welcome."
"I'll make myself scarce until the end of the evening since you're embroiled in other more important affairs."
"Thank you," she told him as a young man approached to ask her to dance.
"My feet are killing me," Sarah complained as they made their way towards an unoccupied row of chairs at the back of the room.
"My face hurts from smiling so much," Alice replied. "I've never had so much attention in my life."
Ella laughed at her friends good naturedly. "Grandmother tells me that this is one of the balls that last until dawn so the two of you better rest up while you can, we still have plenty of dancing to do," she told them.
"Don't remind me," Sarah answered as she picked up her dance cards and counted. "I have eleven names so far, how about the two of you?"
"I have ten," Alice replied.
"I also have eleven," Ella stated.
"You know Margo really is stupid," Sarah stated as she leaned back in her chair. "She doesn't stand a chance at winning with our numbers being combined. Even if she dances every dance she still couldn't win."
"That's the beauty of it," Ella replied. "She set herself up and we get to watch her fall. It's no wonder she's failing arithmetic, and besides I know for a fact that she won't be dancing every dance."
"How do you know?" Sarah asked.
"I've been telling every one that she has a contagious rash and that they should stay away from her," Ella answered.
The girls laughed together before Alice turned serious once more.
"I think she believed that we would really be so unpopular and sitting off to the side all night while she had every man in the room to herself," Alice spoke. "She's so full of herself that she probably figured we'd each only dance two or three times at the most."
"I guess she's in for a surprise then," Ella replied. "I hope she's ready to eat dirt."
"I have a jar ready for her," Sarah told them. "I dug it up out of her yard yesterday when I got home from school."
Ella laughed, "I dug up something special for on top of it."
Alice smiled and her eyes sparkled with glee, "What is it?"
"I'm not telling it's a surprise," she answered.
"Oh my god," Sarah stated.
"What?" Ella asked.
"Margo's brother is coming this way."
"Do you think she put him up to something?" she asked.
Sarah shook her head, "No, Patrick Sinclair is probably the only one who doesn't bow down to Margo and based on the look on her face I'd say she's not happy at all that he's coming over here."
Before she could reply the man in question approached them.
"Good evening, ladies," he said politely.
"Good evening," they all murmured.
"Miss Kennedy, I would be honored if I could have the next dance with you."
"Do I know you?" she asked pretending she didn't already have that knowledge.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Patrick Sinclair; I believe you attend school with my sister."
"You could say that," Ella replied with a wry smile.
"Please don't hold it against me that I am related to Margo. It's not something I brag of."
Ella laughed at the comment, "That's understandable."
"Then you'll dance with me?" he asked.
She caught a glimpse of Margo glaring at her and she couldn't help herself.
With a flutter of her eyelashes she placed her hand in his and replied, "I'd be delighted, Mr. Sinclair."
Before leading her onto the dance floor he turned back to Alice and Sarah and stated, "Miss Callaghan, Miss Wills, I'd also like to dance with each of you if you wouldn't mind."
They both smiled widely and accepted. If that didn't kill Margo, Ella thought, nothing would.
She spent her dance with Patrick Sinclair in light casual conversation and she made sure to smile and giggle whenever they twirled toward Margo's edge of the room. At the end of the dance he kissed her hand and led her back to her seat.
"Don't let her get to you," he whispered to her. "She isn't anybody special."
"Thank you," she replied. "I'm glad someone other than us sees her for what she is."
"If you think going to school with her is bad, you should trying growing up with her," he answered.
"No thanks," she replied as he stepped forward to claim Sarah for the next dance.
"Margo looked like she was sucking a lemon the whole time you were dancing with him," Alice told her.
"Good, that's what she gets," Ella responded. "She's probably ready to have a stroke seeing him out there with Sarah."
"Wait until she see's him dance with me, they may have to carry her out," Alice replied.
"We can only hope," she answered. "It would make for a good conversation when we go back to school."
Shortly before the last dance of the evening the girls met up with Margo in a corner of the ball room and tallied their numbers.
"I had 30 dances," Margo crowed.
"Is that all?" Ella asked. "I had 35."
"I had 33," Sarah chirped.
"And I had 32," Alice replied waving her cards in Margo's direction.
"Lets see, with our numbers being combined that makes 100 dances compared to your measly 30. Do you know what that means, Margo?" Ella asked.
"What?" Margo growled.
"It means you'll be eating dirt come Monday," she answered.
"You don't really intend for me to do that do you?" she exclaimed.
"But of course, Margo; those were the terms we agreed on and we shook on it. You'd make me do it if I had been the loser," Ella told her.
"Fine!" Margo shouted. "I'll do it, but just because you danced more than I did doesn't mean anything!"
"I believe it does," Ella answered. "It means you were mistaken about your popularity among the male population."
"You're nothing Ella Kennedy and you always will be."
"And you, Margo, are a sore loser," she responded.
"Don't you get any ideas about my brother," Margo spat. "He only danced with you to annoy me."
"Apparently it worked."
"Stay away from him; you're not good enough for the Sinclair's!"
"I wouldn't want to be," Ella remarked as she and the other two girls moved away. "See you Monday," she called over her shoulder; "We'll have your special meal waiting for you."
"I hate you Ella Kennedy!" Margo stated through clenched teeth.
"I hate you too," she replied with a smile.
Once they arrived at Eleanor's home, Rhett stopped Ella in the hallway.
"I'll say my goodbye's now, Ella; I know you'll still be asleep when I leave," he told her.
"Goodbye, Uncle Rhett," she replied as she eyed the stairs. Fatigue had set in on the way home and she wanted nothing more than to go to bed.
"I suppose we'll have to continue our conversation another time," he said.
"Alright."
"You're much more agreeable when your tired, Ella."
She smiled sleepily, "I guess we should have conversations early in the morning and then we won't disagree as much."
"Somehow I doubt that," he laughed before kissing her forehead. "Go on to bed now, we'll talk when you come home."
She nodded and said goodbye before climbing the stairs.
That Monday at dinner, Ella poured the dirt Sarah had dug up out of Margo's yard onto a plate.
"Where's your surprise, Ella?" Alice asked.
"Right here," she said as she pulled a paper bag from her pocket and dumped the contents on top of the dirt.
"That's perfect," Sarah stated.
Ella picked up the plate and carried it to the table with Sarah and Alice trailing behind her.
"Dinner is served," she stated as she placed the plate in front of an offended looking Margo.
Looking down at the plate she screamed. "Why are there snails in it!" she exclaimed.
"Didn't you know?" Ella asked.
"Know what?" Margo cried.
"It's the height of fashion in Paris to eat snails," she told her.
"That's disgusting! I'm not eating snails!"
The girls were giggling madly as Margo gazed at the plate in front of her.
"You don't have to," Ella told her. "You can consider them decoration, but you did agree to eat dirt so eat up, Margo."
"I will not!"
Ella picked up a spoon and scooped up a pile of the dirt, "Oh yes you will," she stated as she shoved the spoon into Margo's open mouth.
Margo's prissy face puckered up and she began to gag. Reaching for a napkin she spit the dirt into it.
"I'm going to be sick," she cried as she jumped up from the table and ran from the room leaving Ella, Alice and Sarah laughing behind her.
"I think that may have been the highlight of my life," Sarah stated among giggles.
"Mine too, but I'll probably end up paying for it," Ella answered all the while thinking that whatever came next might be worth the sight of Margo Sinclair with a mouth full of dirt.