I did not see Cedric much for the next few days as the duke had set the date of Amber's first coming out ball. He wanted me to learn to throw an event of this magnitude, and at first I was terrified because I thought I would have to do all the work, like I had with James, but then he explained that I would be directing servants and Amber would help me. I felt slightly better.

I went to the lab early in the morning, before Amber would ever be awake, and helped Cedric with a few tasks, then I was off again.

For the first time, I felt like the servants knew I existed. If I asked for something, on Amber's behalf of course, they did it. A few of them even called me Lady Sofia, which I had rarely heard before. Baileywick still looked smug whenever I spoke with him, and he made me feel uneasy, but even showed some respect.

The decorations and the menu were set. The guest list had already been made by Amber and Duke Roland, but I was told that I needed to learn who the guests were, and what positions they held, and how they were related to others. I thought my brain was going to explode. The easiest part was looking at fabrics and dress designs. Not only was Amber having new ball gowns made, so was I to a lesser extent. This part was exciting, and Amber complimented my ideas.

We each had measurements taken, then Amber excitedly took the dress designs to Duke Roland for approval. He looked them over with stern look, though I thought I saw the side of his mouth drawn up as if trying to hide a smile. Finally, he approved, Amber beamed and clapped her hands, and the duke put an arm around each of our shoulders, leading us out the door of his study.

"You girls will look beautiful," he said as he squeezed my shoulder. "I'll have to double the guard so no one carries either of you away the first night."

"Father!" Amber laughed.

I smiled uncertainly. The duke still had his arm on me though he had let go of Amber.

"Let's go, Sofia. I want to make sure the stables will be ready for all the carriages."

I turned to the duke, his hand sliding down my back as I pulled away to face him. "Your Grace," I curtsied before Amber pulled me out of the room.

The day before the ball, Amber wanted each of us to retire to our rooms for rest so we would look fresh. I could not waste my time that way. I quickly snuck into the garden and then walked to the cemetery to place fresh flowers on James's grave.

Guiltily, I asked for forgiveness for not coming every day. I told him of all that had been happening as quickly as I could, as if he could hear me. Then I apologized and said I had to see Cedric too, as I had not been able to see him as often.

I ran back to the castle, hoping no one would see me acting so childish, but the fresh air and exercise was exhilarating. Cedric was in the lab, seemingly flustered, when he saw me.

"Can you stay a while?" he asked, running from table to table.

'Yes. I'm yours."

"Good. There will be a lot of people overdoing it tonight, so we need cures for indigestion and overdrinking." He walked me through the steps for the indigestion powder, warning me that too much salt could have the opposite effect so to carefully measure that. Then I put a small spoon of that powder in what seemed like a thousand glass phials, while Cedric worked on the potion to help with the nasty headaches people seemed to get after drinking too much.

"The pain and suffering people bring on themselves does not seem worth it."

"Eh." Was all he replied.

Glancing at him, I saw he was carefully pouring a purplish liquid into small flasks. The smiled which crept onto my face made me blush as I remembered the day we kissed. I felt the urge to run my fingers through his hair, and I wanted to be in his arms again.

He quickly looked up, then down, then back up at me, still holding the large jar of liquid. "What?"

I laughed and looked away. "Nothing." But when I peeked at him, I saw him smiling. As I was done, I meandered over to his table and watched him finish filling the phials. "Can I help with anything else?"

"This was the biggest task I had for today. You should probably rest before the ball tomorrow."

I groaned. "That's what Amber said."

"You think she is wrong?" He capped the last phial.

"I don't know. I've never been to a ball."

He chuckled and came around the table, taking off his robe which desperately needed washing. "It's a lot of work, which you are coming to understand, but that doesn't mean the work stops once all the plans are made."

"Will you be there?"

"Only as an employee."

"So….you entertain."

"Yes."

"You won't dance with me?"

"It would not be proper." He dropped his robe on the floor and held out his hands. "At least not at the ball." I took his hands and moved toward his chest. Our lips found each other's again, and the feeling was electric. Then his hands were on each side of my head, gently cradling me. "I've missed you so much."

We kissed long, and hard, and unlike before, that was all we did until we just held each other. "I need you to go," he finally said and he must have felt me tense because he followed up with, "for now, or I won't be able to stop holding and kissing you." His voice was thick, and deeper than usual. I will see you tomorrow, ok? I've…got work to do." He pushed me away.

"Will you need help in the morning?"

"No," his voice was strained now and he turned away slightly. "You will be too busy, trust me. But I will see you later, at the ball, and then, the next day here."

I nodded, swallowing, trying to push down the hurt and not feel the chill that had come to me as soon as his arms were gone. "I can't wait until the ball is over."

"Me neither." He smiled at me which made me feel slightly better as I walked out the door.

"See you later, Cedric."