The next shop we went to was the one Curtis had originally pointed to. It was not as busy as the other shops and only a few people were inside. Curtis explained that was why he liked it: it was never very busy. While he tolerated shopping, he would much rather be doing almost anything else. His sister Clover on the other hand loved looking at all the pretty dresses. Since they were the prince and princess, the shop keepers paid extra special attention to them – that was until Curtis, in his boredom, talked his little sister into making mischief like in the other shop. I tried to subtly ask them what Christian liked but they saw right through that in an instant.

"Aww," Clover exclaimed excitedly. "You want to impress Ian! I know exactly what he likes and will find you the most perfect dress ever. Don't worry."

His sister's enthusiasm perked Curtis up and he said he would help too and give a man's perspective. I tried my best not to laugh at the serious face he made when he declared this. So in between Crimson having the pair look for their own clothes, they helped me look for the perfect dress. For awhile it seemed that whatever Clover liked, Curtis didn't and vice versa. It was getting frustrating. Between looking at clothes, I coaxed information about their brother out of them.

Curtis was more forthcoming than his sister. "My brother is becoming a man. Father says that I'll be like him someday. He is so brave. He fights with real swords and axes and things. He even rides big warhorses in armor and everything. With all the man tasks that he does now he doesn't have as much time to play with me, but that's alright. If I am to be a good man I need to start being more mature about things. That's what father says if I ever want to go hunting with my brothers. I do my best to be all grown up but I still want to have some fun before I have to be grown up all the time."

I heard Crimson's small snort from where she hovered over a dress for Clover. The two were picking out a dress for the young princess to wear to the first ball. Curtis was picking through a rack of dress coats. I walked over to a rack that was overly crowded with dresses. I dug through the messy piles until I spotted black and white, the colors I was looking for. It was a bit of a hassle to get it out from under the other dresses. By and by, I managed to pull it out. I examined the dress. It was a dress made of white lace with white fabric underneath. There was even black lace rising from the hem like black flames. It had lace shawl neckline that draped over the shoulders to form a sort of short sleeve. The dress was breathtaking and completely perfect.

"That one!" Curtis declared at the dress I had picked up.

"Try it on!" Clover shouted. I grinned and went to do just that.

It very nearly fit perfectly. Only the tiniest of adjustments would have to be made for it to fit like a dream. I couldn't imagine Christian not being captivated by such a dress. Clover had come with me into the changing rooms and watched as the tailor made the minor adjustments to the dress. She was swinging her legs over the edge of the stool she sat on. She was looking down at the ground in what looked like a forlorn way. I put my hand in front of the tailor's as a signal for him to stop. I stepped off the pedestal and over to the princess. I tried to not revel too much in how the dress felt as I walked in it. Carefully, I bent so I was on eye level with Clover. "Is something wrong?"

Clover wouldn't look up and didn't answer. I pushed some of her hair behind her ear. "Come on, what is it? Not enjoying shopping with your brother?"

She sniffed and I could see a few tear drops on her lap. "Oh, Clover, what's the matter?" I grabbed her hands. I wasn't entirely sure what to do. I had never had to deal with children much in my life.

Now she looked up from the floor. "I miss Ian!" She cried.

I opened my arms to hug her and she jumped into them and hugged my neck tightly. It seemed she was not as cavalier as her brother when it came to Christian's absence. I just hugged her for a few moments while she cried into my shoulder. "He's not the same," She mumbled in my shoulder. "He never has time for me and Curtis anymore. We used to play all the time and now he's never around. He doesn't even want to do anything with me anymore. I've tried playing games with him and he just seems bored all the time. He doesn't even joke with me like he used to. I don't think he likes me."

I squeezed her tighter. Her older brother was growing up and leaving her behind. "Christian still loves you. I know he does. You should have heard the way he talked about you yesterday. He was so proud. He's growing up and your father is going to give him more responsibilities now."

"I don't like it." She let go of me and wiped her face on the back of her hand. Her eyes were red from crying.

I put my hands on her shoulders. "I don't imagine you do. It's not very nice when someone seems to be going away, but your brother is still here and you can see him and tell him that you miss him. I'd bet he's missing you too sometimes."

"You think so?" She had stopped crying now.

I smiled. "Of course he is. Who wouldn't miss you?"

Now she gave me a small smile. "I guess that's true. I am pretty amazing."

"That's right, and don't you forget it!" I gave her shoulder a squeeze before getting back on the pedestal so the tailor could finish.

Only a few more pricks with the needle and the dress was ready to be sewn to my exact measurements. I dressed back in my original outfit white the tailor made quick work on the sewing. I was impressed by how quickly the man worked. He was completely done by the time I was ready to buy the dress. Curtis had picked a very good shop; each of us had found at least something. Clover had found a lovely black and white dress for herself and Curtis had picked out a couple of tunics. When we took the boxes to the clerk to be paid for, I was amazed to see the tiny Crimson seem to pull a purse of money out of thin air.

Curtis noticed me watching the little fairy and whispered, "Yeah, she does that. It's really neat when she's not twisting my ear off." I could tell by his wince that Crimson had heard him and done just that.

Once we were outside the shop Crimson fluttered in front of us. She was very business-like as she told us how she saw things. "Now, it is almost midafternoon. We have frittered the day away and the sun is nearly set. Now Curtis has all his dress clothes for the ball because Prince Christian has given him an old mask of his to wear, but Clover has no mask. We have to find her one to match the dress before the day is out. Miss Ebony, feel free to go on your way. You have been a great joy to have on our little shopping endeavor but I feel that I cannot force you to stay if you have other places to be."

Clover grabbed my hand and pleaded, "Oh, please don't go, Ebony!"

She was quickly joined by her brother, "Yeah, it's only one more little shop. It won't take any time at all."

I laughed at their eagerness to keep me around. I was happy to continue to shop with them; after all I needed a mask too. I told them I would go with them to the mask shop and look at masks. Crimson suggested that we put our purchases in the royal carriage so we wouldn't have to bother carrying them. So after the quick stop at the carriage we found ourselves in the Happy Mask Shop. Crimson was strict as to not allow us to joke around in the masks as we had done in the dress shop with the ugly dresses. It seemed she was to have the prince and princess home by a certain time and she wanted to get everything done. Having nothing to look at himself, Curtis followed me as I looked at masks. Clover was excitedly looking at masks displayed in a glass case to the side of the store.

"You should wear this one," Curtis told me as he held up a lion's mask with large tan feathers sticking out all around the roaring lion's face. He made sure that Crimson was paying attention to his sister so he would not get scolded.

I laughed and took the mask from him. I held it up to my own face and roared. "I'm not sure in the appropriate mask for a black and white ball." I returned the lion to its stand.

After examining what felt like every mask in the shop, I decided on a white mask that was overlaid in black lace. It was simple but elegant. Curtis approved my option, but I think he just wanted to get out of the shop and go home. Clover came rushing over to me wearing a white butterfly mask with glittery designs pained around it. It seemed we had all found what we were looking for, and in good time. Crimson would be happy. We bought the masks and soon they joined our other purchases at the carriage.

"Where are you headed to next?" Crimson asked. Curtis and Clover has already climbed in the carriage. "Perhaps we could give you a ride in the carriage, if it is on the way."

I had not thought about carrying the things I bought back to the inn by myself. It would have been quite cumbersome. "I'm staying at the Gilded Leopard currently. It is a few streets over."

"Then you can ride with us. As it happens I have a message to deliver to another guest of the inn." Crimson fluttered into the carriage and I followed.

It was a short ride to the Gilded Leopard. The carriage stopped in front of the wide steps and Crimson made sure that the prince and princess stayed in the carriage while she delivered the message. They protested, but she threatened to use some fairy spell to make sure they stayed put. So we said our goodbyes in the carriage and they told me they would be looking for me at the first ball. I climbed out of the carriage and an attendant hurried over to help me with my packages. Crimson just nodded once to me before she zipped through the front doors. The man who Giselle had been seen flirting with at mealtimes was leaving through the doors at the same time Crimson flew in. He saw me and tipped his hat politely before going on his way. I tried to remember his name, if I remembered correctly it was Jack. I returned the greeting and then the attendant carried my gown and mask up to my room.

Giselle and Victoria still seemed to be out shopping when I returned. It would be good to get a bit of peace before they came back and endlessly complained about their day with Dewey. So of course I was surprised when the door slammed open and Giselle stormed in and shouted, "You little rat!"

I just have one thing to say about this chapter - ugh.

(I should mention one of my favorite websites that gives me ideas for pretty gowns, newyorkdress)