Two

Aurora's POV

Laura –that was her name, helped me recruit three more girls and we set off to my new Mansion.

The girls gasped and wowed at the home, the man had honestly done a good job cleaning and the furniture was beautiful.

The mansion had eleven rooms. One library, A parlor, A drawing room, A medium sized glass ball room that overlooked the sea, a huge kitchen, one personal library/study and seven bedrooms.

Laura, Daisy, Amber and Lily set to work preparing a dinner of roast turkey, gravy, rice, potatoes and carrots.

As we sat at the dinning table and ate I spoke.

"I'm planning on having a party, sort of like a home warming...."

The three meekly nodded but laugh almost jumped out of her seat. "Thats exciting miss!! We could invite people and dress up the house and bake delicious snacks and maybe have some champaign!!"

I allowed the edge of my lips to lift. "Yes."

"And You'll have to invite the most esteemed people around!!" Laura added.

They believed my story of being a princess from far away looking for fortune on my own.

I nodded and took a sip of my red wine. "Which are?"

Laura held up her hand and started ticking her fingers off. "We have Lord Beaxly, Lady Hera, Lord Duke, Lady Fiona and Lady Isabell–"

"Although I'm afraid Lady Hera and Isabell are such gossips, this place would be flooded with uninvited people." Amber added.

Laura scrunched her nose. "Very true, you could invite those two and end up entertaining thirty people!!"

"You could invite the prince." Lily added in her little voice.

Laura's eyes shone. "Brilliant!! that would make you so popular!!"

I set down my glass. "Daisy, get me a parchment and ink."

The girl scurried out. I turned to the others. "You three are going to dispatch invitations to the people you mentioned earlier."

They nodded and set their empty plates aside. Daisy ran back in with everything and I wrote, then I distributed it to the girls. "Be back early, the party would be in two days, a lot is to be done."

*************

Lady Hera sipped her tea dantily and set the elegant China down.

"So..... what are you wearing to the upcoming ball?" she peeked at Isabell who was busily exam in in her pretty and slender nails.

Lady Isabell shut her antique fan and pretended to think. "Probably some old dress." she finally said. "What will you wear?" She peeked at Hera under her fair lashes.

Lady Hera smoothed her red dress and picked invisible lint off the silk. "Hmm...."

They carefully watched each other.

Finally Hera broke. "I wonder what the new occupant would look like!!"

Isabell nodded. "Yes, and to buy a house like that!?"

Hera scrunched her nose. "She's probably from another country to not know about... them."

Isabell nodded wide eyed.

Hera took another sip of tea and played with the tip of her red hair. "I heard Lord Duke would be there!!"

Isabell scooted to the edge of the settee. "Really?!"

Hera nodded nodded pleased that she knew something Isabell didn't.

"Yes..."

She paused to add an effect, then continued with faked reluctance. "I heard he is invited, and so is his wife."

Isabell gasped. "Really? Why ever would she be invited? after all, we all know she's nothing but a filthy gold digger."

Hera nodded and her curls bounced. "Exactly what I thought when I heard. He definitely deserves a lot better! such a handsome man–"

Isabell sighed dreamily and started fanning herself hard. "Yes, handsome...."

"And rich!! Too bad the witch snagged him." Then she paused and leaned in conspiratously. "Rumors say she's a Water witch!!"

Isabell gasped. "You don't say?"

Hera nodded. "Yes" then suddenly leaned back and picked up her teacup. "Not that I listen to –or spread rumors."

Isabell sat back and snapped her fan open. "Of course not!!"

Hera nodded. "That would be unladylike!!"

Isabell nodded. "Yes."

So Hera went back to sipping her tea, and Isabell examining her nails.

**********

Jasper stared at the neat invitation in his hands. "Wha–"

Jack swiped it from his hands and tore it open. "The message is inside Jasp, not on the envelope!!"

Jasper rolled his eyes. "Thanks so much for that Jack."

Jack ignored him and intently read the letter. His green eyes lit up and he broke Into a grin. "There's gonna be a ball!!"

Jasper snatched the letter and quickly read it. Then he looked up at Jack. "Its near the sea!!"

Jack's green eyes twinkled. "So? I've always wanted to see one of them witches, they're probably hot."

Jasper sighed esparated. "Father would never let me go!"

Jack placed his hand on Jasper's shoulder. "We could always sneak out and use my invitation!"

Jasper raised a brow. "Do you have one?"

Jack snorted offended. "Of course!! it's probably at home."

Jasper ran his fingers through his dark hair. "What if we get caught?"

Jack slung an arm over his neck. "Jasp buddy, have I ever snuck out?"

Jasper snorted. "Is that really a question?"

Jack grinned. "Good, and have I ever been caught?"

Jasper frowned. "No, but–"

Jack jumped and made his way to the door. "Get your best outfit ready buddy, we are going to a ball by the sea!!"

Jasper's eyes widened. "Lower your voice!"

But Jack was already out the door.

*************

Lord Duke read the invitation slowly and neatly placed it on his desk when he was through.

Emilia sat in a chair by the fire. Her deep brown hair was in a messy bun on top her head and her eyes were glued to a book.

He walked up to her and placed his hands on the back of the cushion.

"We got invited to a ball."

She looked up at him and her amber eyes struck him like he had when he first me her.

"Not by Lady Hera or Isabell I hope?"

He laughed deep and rich and started to slowly massage her shoulders. "Of course not darling."

She sighed and relaxed in his arms. "Good then, I feel like they would kill me if given the chance."

Duke froze and walked around, then knelt in front of his wife. He took her hand in his. "No one, would hurt a hair on your head as long as I live!!"

Her eyes quickly watered and she tried to hug him but got restricted by her bulging stomach. "I love you." she whispered.

He placed a feather like kiss on each of her fingers. "Not as much as I love you.