I am back again and on time :)
Miss Elizabeth sat on the sofa when they got in.
She stood up with a friendly smile. "Wendy, how lovely you look."
Wendy curtsied like she was supposed to. "Elizabeth, what do I owe the pleasure?"
The woman's smile only got wider. "You look like a real lady now."
Wendy smiled politely and took a step to the side.
"Please allow me to introduce my teacher. Madam Elena Shearmore." She said and gestured towards her tutor.
Miss Elizabeth gave it clumsy courtesy. "It is an honor to meet you Madam Shearmore. It seems you have taken care of my ward well."
Wendy was confused. When had she been a ward of anyone?
She took a breath and sat on the opposite sofa of her old teacher.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Shepherd. Miss Wendy has told me many things about her life in the countryside."
"Wendy, I hope you have not bored her too much," Elizabeth said.
As the refreshments came, the maids served them tea and placed the cakes on the table before leaving.
"It has been such a long time since I have had a decent tea," Elizabeth said and lifted the cup to her lips. "But do tell me, Wendy. How are you faring in these days?"
"Good," Wendy said and watched Elizabeth's every movement. "How are things back in the village? How are my parents?"
"Oh dearest." Elizabeth set the cup down on the saucer with a clank and waved off her concerns. "Everyone is doing just fine. The inn has fewer guests now, but that is to be expected."
Wendy took a drink from her teacup. "Good, I have missed all of them so much."
Elizabeth started looking around. "I must say, though, this is quite the splendid drawing room. To think I would be allowed in." Then she looked over at Mrs. Shearmore. "My apologies, Madam, I had almost forgotten you were there."
Wendy eyed the tutor out of the corner of her eye and the woman smiled. "It is quite alright, Mrs. Shepherd. I am somewhat fascinated with the talk of the countryside. Miss Wendy makes it sound quite magical."
Elizabeth made a hand gesture and laughed. "Oh, this girl has always had such a lively imagination. And she was quite the handful, too."
Wendy frowned and lifted her teacup to hide it.
Madam Shearmore kept the conversation going. Elizabeth told her many things without being asked; about her background as the daughter of a well-respected teacher, and how she never felt at home within the village, before she started teaching.
The only time she referred to Madame Shearmore was when she told her to call her Elizabeth instead of Mrs. Shepherd, and she wanted to call her Elena.
Was this what her tutor had meant? Miss Elizabeth seemed to lack even the most basic etiquette and was extremely rude.
Wendy had barely had lessons in two months, and she could only see it in the woman's behavior.
She talked about herself an awful lot, she didn't hold her teacup properly, her posture was all wrong, and she talked badly about Wendy, while Wendy was sitting right in front of her.
"You cannot fathom how unbelievably lucky we all think Wendy is, to end up in such a splendid house," Elizabeth said.
She also mentioned how splendid everything was a lot.
"I do not believe it's down to luck, Mrs. Shepherd." Madam Shearmore said and sipped elegantly from her teacup.
Compared to her slow and elegant movements, Wendy's former teacher was rather clumsy-looking.
The teacup didn't make a sound as she put it down on the saucer. "After all. She does have a reputation that precedes her."
Again, the woman sitting on the other couch dismissed her with a wave of hand. "Do not get me started on that whole dancing with fairies thing. I will admit she was very beautiful in her performance, but that's not something we should talk about in these beautiful halls, should we?"
Wendy raised an eyebrow and looked over at her tutor again. When she saw the disappointed look in the woman's eyes, she knew not to say anything.
"I do not know about that." Madam Shearmore said stiffly. "There are many people in nobility that have been quite enchanted with the rumors of the girl who danced with fairies."
She then turned to Wendy. "That reminds me, as we are going to the summer ball in a few months, we need to have chosen the last name for you."
Wendy stopped in the middle of reaching for her teacup. "I can choose my own? I was under the impression that that would be my father's profession."
Her tutor made an off-handed gesture mirroring Elizabeth. "Normally that would be the case. But this is a ball for the nobility. You might as well make it a little bit entertaining."
"How charming," Elizabeth said from the other side of the table. "When is this ball?"
Wendy picked up on how she had interrupted their conversation. "It is the Baroness' ball, Quite the tradition. But what would my last name then be?"
Her tutor got an unfamiliar smile like she was actually enjoying herself. "Something with a fairy, perhaps? You could be introduced as Wendy, the girl who dances with fairies and no one would blink an eye."
Wendy smiled. "That was actually how I introduced myself to the Baron."
"Please tell me you did not," Elizabeth said. "That is very unbecoming of a lady."
"Mrs. Shepherd." Madam Shearmore said. "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
"The purpose?" Wendy's old teacher seemed confused.
"Yes. Was there a particular purpose for you to come and see the Miss?" Madam Shearmore's voice had the hidden sharpness to it, that Wendy knew all too well.
Miss Elizabeth straightened her back a bit. "Well, of course, I came to see that my ward was faring well and … kept up with what I had taught her."
"Why do you keep talking about me as a ward?" Wendy asked. "You were the village teacher, not my personal tutor."
The woman got a little flustered at that. "I know that is the only role I could have in the village, but…"
"I just find it rather odd that you would insist on coming." Madam Shearmore said and put the cup to her lips again. "We are very busy preparing for the season, you see."
Elizabeth's eyes grew big for a moment. "ohh, I do apologize. I did not mean to insist on coming, but. You must understand that I was very worried for Wendy. She was always much of a wild child."
"Then I can put your worries to rest." The elegant woman said and sat the teacup back down. "While she does have flaws, Wendy is an extremely hard-working young woman, and I have no doubt that she will thrive no matter what."
The other woman smiled. There was something odd about that smile. "It warms my heart to hear. You do not know what it means to me that one of my pupils has risen as high as she has. I look forward to seeing her progress. Might I be so bold as to request that come to this ball just to see how far she's come?"
Wendy was stunned. But she finally got it. This woman wanted to keep coming here and wanted to be invited to the ball - and into high society.
"Do you think I'm lacking?" Madam Shearmore's voice had lost any politeness.
Wendy tried to hide a smile as Elizabeth almost jumped in her seat. "Of course not … Mrs. Shearmore."
The polite tone was back when her tutor spoke again. "Good, because I will have you know that I have taught many young ladies, who have grown into fine women and found wonderful husbands."
"I never meant to imply…." Elizabeth shook her head.
"Yet you think you need come and see that I, and Miss Wendy's other tutors, are doing our jobs?"
Elizabeth lifted her hands in defeat. "No, no, I was merely saying that…"
"I have known of your father." Mrs. Shearmore cut her off again. "A Mr. Carley, correct? Quite the skilled scholar, if I believe. He taught many upper-class children about basic reading and writing as well as history."
Wendy watched her tutor, a bit terrified at what she could say next.
"I'm honored that you know of my father…" The other woman said hesitantly.
"What makes your father great is that he knows where his place is. He has never overstepped any boundaries. Do you understand what I am saying?" Mrs. Shearmore said and stood up elegantly.
In contrast, Elizabeth Shepherd seemed to shrink. "I never meant to cross any boundaries, I just wanted to…"
"You are the daughter of a teacher of the upper class, that gave you certain privileges and an insight to that world. Considering your last name I am guessing you married a shepherd? I do not know what possessed you into thinking that teaching Miss Wendy would give you any kind of privilege. But it does not."
Wendy felt an odd sense of satisfaction as she stood up next to Mrs. Shearmore.
The teacher glanced at her with a smile. "Come now, dear, we have many things to discuss. Abraham?"
The butler gently opened the double doors. "Yes, Madam Shearmore?"
"Could you please escort Mrs. Shepherd out? Me and the Miss are in a terrible hurry."
Wendy couldn't help but glance back and Elizabeth as they stepped outside the room.
She had always thought of Elizabeth as a high-class woman, but compared to her new tutor, Elizabeth was nothing but a clumsy and uneducated villager.
She had an odd sense of justice for it. Had it always been that easy to put her in her place? She touched her cheek.
"I never liked that kind of woman." Mrs. Shearmore said.
"Excuse me?" Wendy asked, completely lost in her own thoughts.
"That woman was arrogant and rude." She then looked at Wendy with an odd smile. "I much prefer your charming demeanor."
Wendy felt a blush coming on.
"Anyhow, she has given me a newfound passion." The older woman smiled.
"With what, may I ask?" Wendy said with a smile.
Her tutor smiled. "Getting you ready for the summer ball, of course. I have half a mind to invite her just to show her how wrong she is."
Wendy laughed and waved her off halfheartedly. "There is no need for that."
"Nonetheless," The woman looked at Wendy with pride. "I will make you the most presentable debutante. We should start looking at dresses."
One month later
"Take a deep breath, Miss," Sarah said.
As Wendy did the maid managed to close the back of the dress.
Wendy breathed out and looked at herself in the mirror. The ballgown hugged her upper body tightly and flowed out elegantly over her hips and further out. The green color matched her eyes.
She smiled at herself, and she sat down on the vanity and Lilian and Sarah started braiding her hair.
Two months of preparations led to this moment.
Every one of her tutors and herself - even her maids and the Baroness - had been working towards this event.
The last month alone had been filled with discussion on dresses, shoes, ball etiquette, hairstyles, and colors.
"Are you nervous, Miss?" Sarah asked as she finished the last details on her hair.
"Very much so," Wendy said and looked at the green stone on her finger. "What if I do not fit in?"
"If anyone is going to fit in…" Lillian said as she put a necklace around Wendy's neck. "it is the one who stepped out of the fairy tale."
Wendy smiled at the encouragement.
There was a knock at the door, as Sarah was busy trying to put the last few curls into place.
"Wendy, are you almost ready?" Eric asked from the open door.
With the two maids distracted by his presence, Wendy managed to pull out a drawer and take her silver coin out, and put it in her purse.
"Just a moment." She said and stood up elegantly in her shoes. "What do you think?"
She spun around for him.
He smiled at her. "You have never looked lovelier."
He came closer and kissed her forehead.
She smiled and took his arms. He led her out of the room.
"Mother and Father are already in the ballroom," Eric said as they went down the corridor.
Wendy nodded.
The Baroness had explained to her how this was going to be a bit different than usual. Normally the host family would already be in the ballroom at the beginning of the festivities, but because this was Wendy's debut and she was engaged to Eric, she and Eric would arrive in the ballroom last.
"I was never this nervous when I hunted." She said as Eric helped her down the stairs. they would soon be at the ballroom.
"Fret not, my sweet. I'm right here." Eric smiled confidently and patted her hand.
Wendy smiled at the big double doors. Eric knocked.
They were slowly pulled open.
"Mister Eric Brian von Branigan, and his intended Miss Wendy, the girl who danced with fairies!" Abraham called out into the ballroom as they stepped inside.
When they felt like everyone suddenly turned to look at her. Her stomach did a flip. If Eric hadn't been there to pull forward, she probably wouldn't have moved.
Everything was so grand, so shiny. Everyone looked like they had come straight out of a fairy tale book.
As they stepped forward, people courtesy and bowed to her. Wendy lifted her skirt with one hand in a curtsy and smiled politely at them.
"Oh, look at you two. You are even more beautiful than I imagined you would be." The Baroness came and placed a loving hand on Wendy's cheek. "I do not think anyone would doubt that you have danced with fairies."
"Adeline, you are embarrassing the young ones." The Baron smiled behind her.
"Hush dear." The Baroness said playfully.
"Well." The Baron spun around, so he faced the crowd of people still looking at them. "To show myself a good host, why don't my son and his intended take the first dance?"
Eric smiled and guided her out on the ballroom floor, other guests moved back to give them more room.
A soft melody from the hired orchestra played, and Eric gently guided her around in the dance they had rehearsed so many times.
It reminded Wendy of the time they had danced in the light of glowing lanterns in the fall.
He smiled, and she smiled back. "You really look like a prince now."
"Then you would be my queen." He leaned down to her as the song ended. "The most beautiful fairy queen of them all."
He kissed her, and she had the whispers of gasps all around them.
"I'm afraid we can't stop now," Eric said - his face was still close. "Others will want to join the dance, so we have to continue a few songs more."
Wendy nodded along. He could have told her anything and she would have agreed.
He was dreamier than any elven creature.
They danced to more songs as they smiled and laughed together until he finally let go of her hands.
"Young Lord Branigan." They heard as they stepped away from the dance floor.
It was an older man.
"Quite exquisite dancing, I must say." He praised them.
His eyes fell on Wendy and she smiled politely and held up her hand, the one with her engagement ring.
He gently took hold of her hand and kissed the top of it. "It is an honor to meet you, Miss Wendy, who dances with fairies. I am Lord Adam Tobias Falkeland."
Wendy nodded with a smile. "The Viscount of Falkeland" She curtsied.
The man looked impressed. "Can I borrow your fiance for a moment? There is something important I wish to discuss."
Wendy felt uneasy but smiled. "Of course." She untangled herself from Eric's arm and smiled at him. "I am a bit thirsty so I will find something to drink and take a rest, dear." She patted him on the shoulder, and he kissed her on the forehead.
The Viscount mumbled something about young people.
She had barely left Eric when young women started flocking to her.
"Miss Wendy?" a younger girl out of a group greeted her.
Wendy turned to her with a smile. "Yes?"
"I am Lady Caterina of Nothernshire." The girl curtsied for her. "Pardon me for asking, but is it true you danced with fairies?"
Wendy's smile softened. "Why yes, though I have not done it in quite a while now."
The young woman around her giggled.
"You truly looked magnificent dancing with the young baron." Another one said before she introduced herself.
As she stepped out on the balcony with the glass of water in her hand and her purse in the other, she was exhausted.
She had met so many people this night. Eric had still not found his way back to her.
She sat her purse and the glass down on the balustrade of the balcony.
Not all the people she had met were nice. Some of them had chided her from afar and made snide remarks about her dancing or her dress because her shoulders were bare
Mrs. Shearmore had told her these kinds of comments would come, but that did not make it any easier. She had managed to hold up a good front, especially since there were so many others, who were especially fascinated with her.
There were many men who wanted to dance with her, and many women who wanted to talk about everything from the countryside to what shoes she was wearing. The dancing was a nice escape from talking.
She drank the water and opened her purse.
Her fingers glided over the silver coin. She took it out and looked at the eagle on one side of it.
Her feet were sore from dancing, and her throat was dry from talking. She hoped it would be enough. That she had made a good impression.
She was just going to take a little break and look at the stars for a moment before she returned to the ballroom and all the people who wanted to talk and dance with her.
The coin felt so cold in her hands.
The balcony door behind her opened.
"Well, I did not expect to find the guest of honor out here."
Wendy straightened her back and turned around with a smile.
Another week another chapter
Please tell me what you think.
See you next week, I hope.