She stood in the center of her new bedroom, wearing only a corset and an underdress while she had her arms extended out as the two maids measured her and took notes. She always hated getting measured and fitted for new clothes. Standing still for hours and getting pricked by pins or needles. As a child she had often tried to hide whenever the time came for fitting. But this time, she felt no irritation or impatience. As a matter of fact, she was excited for it.
After the measuring, they sat down and proceeded to look over a bridal magazine. Trying to pick out which design and material would be best.
"How about this one Mademoiselle?" The first maid said pointing to one illustration of a woman modeling a bridal gown. "A grey-green, long-sleeved bustle with a closed bodice and ruffles in the back."
"I don't know." She said. "It doesn't really seem like me."
"But it's the latest in Victorian fashion, and the color suits you perfectly. You said you wanted to be modest."
"Yes Mimzy but I always dreamed of getting married in white and while the dress is pretty, it looks very tight and restricting."
She flipped the page.
"Oh I love this one." Mimzy pointed out. "The 17th century styled gown with the elaborate cuffed collar and turban head piece. Very refined and elegant looking."
"Mimzy you fibber." The shortest maid giggled. "You can't expect her to wear that, she'd look like a white frilled lizard."
Their mistress laughed at the idea.
"Pardon moi, Niffty but which one of us is the most educated on fashion?" Mimzy asked.
"Well which one of us is the most educated on Charlotte?" Niffty counter asked. "She wants a fashionable gown but one that suits her."
"Well what would you suggest she wear?"
Niffty flipped through a few pages and stopped on one.
"Something like this. An empire-waisted, short-sleeved regency gown trimmed with flowers. A little old fashioned but beautiful and simple and, my lady, you are the only one I can ever picture wearing it."
"Oh it is lovely." The bride to-be awed at the illustration.
"For material I think we should use French gauze and white satin, with lace for the veil and the train." Niffty continued. "And I was thinking of maybe adding a wreath of fabric flowers to the veil, what do you think my lady?"
"It sounds just perfect."
"In that case we better start ordering the materials and the patterns, and getting our sewing machines ready." Mimzy said.
"I wish it wasn't only six months away." She sighed impatiently.
"Don't be in such a hurry, you don't even have a dress yet." Niffty said.
"I know but...I've been thinking...Maybe we should have just eloped."
"No, no talk of that. The master insists that you have the wedding of your dreams and I agree."
"It's not that I don't want a wedding it's just, I'm worried about Father. The longer we wait to be married, the more fearful I become that he'll try to seperate us again."
"Your father can do nothing to spoil your happiness. He gave his word that if the master succeeded at the task given to him, then he would give his blessing. He's bound by honor to let the two of you marry."
"You're right. I guess I'm just a little nervous. Everything's been going so well lately and I can't help but feel that it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong."
"Well I have something that might put your fears to rest and make you feel more excited."
Niffty quickly exited the room and returned carrying one of her corsets.
"Something for you to wear on your speical day."
"Oh thank you Niffty but I don't think that'll fit me."
"Not the corset silly. Before I came to work here I was constantly surrounded by people who would steal just about anything valuable and of course my size and build made me an easy target. So I hid the only thing I owned of any worth, in my corset."
She then opened the corset and turned it inside out, unpinning two items from the fabric. They were natural pearl earrings surrounded by old European cut diamonds.
"They can be your something borrowed." She said placing the earrings into her mistress's hand.
"Oh Niffty they're beautiful. I'd be honored to wear them."
"With those earrings and that gown, you will be the most beautiful bride in all the world."
Niffty seemed to light up.
"Get a hold of yourself Niffty." Mimzy scolded. "You act as if you're the one getting married."
"Well I'm happy for her, for them both, and that's why we have to make sure she looks her best." She turned to the lady. "The master will be left speechless when he sees you on your wedding day,and left breathless when he sees you on your wedding night."
"Niffty!" Her mistress blushed.
Then all three ladies laughed.
"But tell me Mademoiselle." Mimzy said. "Has the master asked you to perform unspeakable acts of desperate passion on the parlor floor yet?"
The women laughed again.
"Mimzy you're positively indecent." The young bride said.
"I just know what men desire. So how far have you gotten with him?"
"Mimzy we should not ask such things." Niffty said. "It's private."
"Oh I don't mind. You're my best friends, I can tell you anything." The lady assured them. "We've kissed and that's all. What with this being a small town and all, he wants us to wait til we're married so my reputation is not ruined."
"How considerate." Mimzy drawled. "But don't be too anxious. In time, everything will be right."
The lovely lady smiled and looked down at the earrings she now held in the palm of her hand. She thought that she was the luckiest woman in all the world. Engaged to a wonderful man who loved her so much and surrounded by dear friends who were like an extended family. Once she was married, she would never be lonely again. It was all she ever wanted.
Unlike the last strange dream she had, Charlie recognized the people who were with her. Niffty and Mimzy, but there was something different about them. They were dressed in clothes from a time that existed far back into the past. One of a different century and even though age wise, they looked no different in the dream than they did in reality, Charlie felt that they were younger.
But what had especially confused was that it didn't feel like a dream. She felt like what she saw in her mind had actually happened. That it was a memory. The first dream made her felt like that too. Not just a mere vision created by the mind while dormant, but a long buried memory that was brought back to her. But how could that be?
For some reason, she now wanted to talk to Alastor right away. She didn't know why, but something inside said that he would have all the answers. So once she had taken her shower and had gotten dressed, she went to look for him.
He was in the kitchen drinking a cup of black coffee and looking over reports from work.
"Good morning Charlotte." He greeted with his usual smile. "Did you sleep well?"
"I slept fine thank you but, do you have to work today? Because there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Alas I am urgently needed today, but I can spare an hour. What is on your mind?"
"Well um...Gee I don't know how to word this."
"Just speak it out."
"Alastor has anything odd ever happened in this house?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to be a little more detailed with your question. Odd things happen everywhere, you know?"
"What I mean is, have you ever heard voices and but you don't see anyone? Or have strange dreams?"
"What kind of strange dreams?" He asked intrigued.
"I don't know how to explain them, and there's another thing I'd like to ask. But I'm worried you'll think I've gone crazy."
"I would never. Ask away."
"Do you..." She paused for a moment, unable to believe that she was actually asking this. "Do you believe in ghosts?"
He looked at her amused.
"What an extraordinary question. Not one I was expecting."
"I knew it. You think I'm crazy, don't you?"
"No. I believe in them."
"You do?"
"Of course. I believe there's a god, and that there's a devil, and there are angels and demons. So why wouldn't I believe in ghosts?"
"Well most people don't. Even religious people."
"Isn't it funny how people are willing to believe in one thing logic and science can't prove, yet they refuse to believe in another thing that can't be proven by those two subjects?"
"How do you mean?"
"Here's an example. Most people don't believe in ghosts because science and logic can't prove it's existence. However science and logic can't prove the existence of love either, but almost everyone in the world believes in that."
"That is funny." Charlie agreed. "I guess it's because things like ghosts are scary and can be bad, so people don't want to believe in it. Love on the other hand is always good, they're usually not frightened by it and that makes it something they can believe in even if science and logic doesn't support it."
"It would be wise to not be so close minded to things that can't be proven easily." Alastor said. "Because forces that are the hardest to prove, are by far the more powerful. Love being the most powerful force of them all."
Charlie didn't notice it, but Alastor's shadow was ever so slowly reaching for her own shadow. The gentleman then spoke again, but this time in a whispering, altered voice.
"Love truly can transcend time and space. It can accomplish things you would never think possible. Things that you can't even imagine."
Suddenly she felt as if a gentle hand was caressing her skin, and she liked the feeling of it.
"Do you believe that as well my dear?" He asked. "Do you believe that if the love between two people is true, then they cannot be separated forever? That somehow, someway, they'll come back to each other?"
Something familiar about those words. She had heard them before, she knew that she did, but she couldn't recall when and where at the moment.
"Yes I do." She answered, taking in his words.
"Oh the way she smiles." Alastor thought dreamily. God how he wanted to wrap her up in his arms and kiss her again. But no, no he couldn't get overexcited again. He needed to be patient.
"I must go now Charlotte." He said, his hands slowly moving to place a book. "Here's that book of stories I told you about. I hope reading it, will prove useful."
"Thank you." She said accepting the book.
"You're welcome."