15 A Masquerade Costume

It's been two weeks since that night under the stars, I still haven't seen or heard anything from Caleb.

I'm beginning to think I did something wrong. But it was he who kissed me so why avoid me like this?

Deciding to put it behind me and not think about it any longer I went about my day as normal.

I sat on my bedroom balcony snacking at a tray of assorted fruits while I read through one of the books I had found in the library when a spotted a messenger arriving from town. A few minutes later Ella knocked at my door with the letter.

"Milady, this just arrived. The master and your mother are not here at the moment. May I leave it with you?"

"Alright." I took the letter from her and opened it, "It's an invitation to a masquerade dance at Mistwood Estate. To celebrate the arrival of Lord Silas De Lioncourt."

"Will you be going Milady?"

I pondered on the question for a moment, Although I had decided to put everything behind me, I was curious about why Caleb was avoiding me, and now to receive an invitation as nothing had happened, surely he would have asked his father not to invite me if he didn't want to see me?

"Yes, I think I will. Ella please will you ask that the carriage is prepared for me, I will need to go into town for a costume. Also, send word to my parents. I'm sure my mother will want to get a costume as well."

"Yes Milady." she bowed and left to do as I had asked leaving me to myself again.

Arriving in town I found my mother ready and waiting for me outside one of the dress shops.

"Hello, Mama." we embraced for a brief moment. "Hello, darling. Um.. your father has decided that he and I will be going away to the coast dear, so I am afraid you will have to attend the masquerade alone." she didn't seem very disappointed by any of it, It made me wonder if they were scheming to try and get me closer to the De Lioncourt 's, "That seems rather sudden, How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know for sure but at least a month. If not more." this was surprising, why hadn't they told me sooner of their plans? "You are old enough to manage the house alone now, and your father has business to deal with. You will be alright dear." She looked at me sympathetically. "Alright, I suppose I will be fine on my own." She smiled now, happy that I had agreed to it.

I was more than capable of being on my own, it was just very sudden.

We entered the dress shop and my mother had walked over to the shop keeper and began chatting while I looked around for a dress.

Coming across a black dress I removed it from the rack to better examine it, It was a lace v-neck dress but I immediately noticed that this dress had no corset. Only simple boning sewed into the waistline. It's lace sleeves came down to the wrist and it had a slight train to it. It was simple but elegant.

"Would you like to try it on Milady?" I heard the shopkeeper come up behind me. "Yes I would, thank you."

Slipping behind one of the changing screens I climbed into the dress, It was a perfect fit and hugged my body comfortably, It was so different to not feel a corset restricting my breathing. I loved it.

Stepping out from behind the screen my mother stopped mid-sentence and eyed me up and down. "Well? What do you think?" I asked nervously fidgeting at my waist. "It's exquisite." "Really?" I smiled, for once my mother agreed with my choice of fashion.

Boxing it up we moved on to the next store to look for a mask, We stepped into the cramped little costume store and the shop keeper showed us the way to wear all the masks were hung up on display. I chose a golden-winged mask, It looked like the spread wings of a bird in flight and it drew my attention. bringing it to my face I looked at my reflection in the store mirror. It covered my eyes and curved slightly over my nose concealing the top half of my face. "It's perfect." I grinned, pleased with my choices.

Having acquired my costume for the ball my mother and I stepped into our carriage and departed for home.