EleanorValenti this update is for you =)

Lady Walker did not let me see the seamstress without her and made sure to torment the poor woman until the gown was worthy of being brought to Queen Victoria herself. Lady Walker sent for the family jewels and made sure to pick the brightest and most polished gems which I thought wasn't appropriate but Lady Walker would not rest until all the attention was on her son and his rich wife to be.

"This way everyone will wish to know you, they will respect your money and in return you shall make my son shine tonight, you will help him in every way he needs, nothing that he asks of you tonight is to be refused, absolutely nothing." Lady Walker commanded after not letting Edna touch my hair by bringing in a French lady to braid it. "And don't forget your escort will be our dearest cousin Brielle for tonight she will know how to guide you in case you forget how to behave or don't know."

"Right, in case I forget to walk and get down on all fours," I mumbled angrily inside the tight corset.

Lady Walker was done and forbade me from eating before the party since there was to be plenty of food at the ball for the Duke was a generous man.

"When the men offer to refill your cup make sure you let them refill it than you'll have the option to drink or to somehow slip it somewhere else but you must never refuse it. You are to do your best to blend in and follow Henry's and Brielle's lead when eating, drinking, dancing, conversing, be a follower, talk sparingly, men of great fortunes never appreciate the opinions of women only small humor," Lady Walker fixed the diadem on my head that belonged to the Stewart family.

"And if I do by any chance slip up tonight? Make everyone see Henry and you for who you truly are?" I tried to intimidate her but she pressed pulled the necklace backwards in an attempt to choke me.

"Then you must know that your brother is an easy target, and that by some miracle he has fit quite well at that school he's at but that could change at any moment should I wish it, Henry's connection there could destroy his reputation, alienate him from society and we wouldn't want that for him would we? Think on how difficult his life would become? Rejected by all at his school." Lady Walker let go and felt the jewels coming away from my skin finally.

"There is no depth you would not stoop to is there?"

"Brielle will be watching you, closely do not disappoint me," she picked up her things to leave when Edna walked in the room.

"As you wish," I bowed jesting at her and she did not like it but dealt with it all the same.

"Milady," Edna came inside the room as Lady Walked left the room.

"Edna come in."

"You look... like a Queen."

"Thank you Edna."

"No truly I hope The Queen does not show or you may put her to shame and that would not be right."

"Mother would tell me this is too much, that a lady does not need this many things in order to shine and that if she does there's indeed nothing that truly shines about her."

"You mentioned you will be seeing her soon right?"

"Soon cannot come soon enough Edna," my tears threatened to come out and my hands almost ripped off that necklace as I looked at the mirror wishing to undo everything from my hair to my dress.

"Alright then cheer up; it is a masquerade Ball after all!"

"Edna will you stay by my side when the time comes for me to marry?" I asked worried she might not want to be around.

"If the times comes I will not leave your side."

"Why do you say if? What would make you think I would not marry Henry?"

"Well his mother for one," she smiled.

"Lady Walker? I thought everyone was in love with her."

"Upstairs I do not doubt it..." She meant the difference between the masters and the ones in service.

"I might have to find a place below the stairs then."

"I thought you would break up with Mr. Henry before we went to see your mother and then you changed your mind..."

"Uh well yes I changed my mind."

"Why?"

"Because I believe we make a well enough match and before I get stuck with someone who is old enough to be my grandfather I am better off accepting him."

"Never milady, you could end up with a prince from a faraway land if you wished to."

"Thank you but I better be off to the Masquerade Ball."

"Right well before you go may I mention something I believe Mrs. Trudor has not told you."

"Yes of course."

"Today when I woke up there was a small commotion from the cook, she was saying someone had broken the doorknob that led out to the back of the house."

"What?" The note after I was attacked flashed before my eyes.

"And there was even soil on the ground and Mrs. Trudor said it could have been the food delivery man or any of us coming back late from somewhere but I do not believe any of us would have broken the doorknob off."

"Has the doorknob been replaced?"

"Yes."

"I need you to tell Mrs. Trudor that the door to my room needs a new doorknob and key and I want it done at the earliest convenience."

"Yes milady," Edna saw I was rattled by the news but did not press on I knew once I was back from the party tonight I would not sleep in my room, I would sleep on the floor of Edna's room but not in here alone for if the person who attempted against my life was back I would not make it easy for them.

"Thank you Edna, now will you see me off?"

"Of course."

Edna helped me make it into the carriage with the ball gown then sent me off as I waved goodbye to her. No longer worried about Henry I worried for my safety, the safety of my staff this night. Who would dare to do this? It had to be her, Lydia was the only person who could be trying to kill me now. Lady Walker needed me alive until I was bound to her son my life was not in danger. But why? Why was Lydia after me?

The Masquerade Ball was guarded behind tall gates and I was required to show my invitation at the door to the guards but what was all the secrecy for? It was not until I was inside I began to understand the masquerade aspect of it, the Ball was more intimate than the Winter Ball in the sense of numbers and yes intimacy. In the midst of so many exotic dancers, dim lighting and couples kissing each other in almost every nook of the Duke's house why would I need Brielle to keep me company? Everyone's reputation here was surely in shambles for everyone was in their worst behavior openly in front of me.

"Milady?" Another showed me a black bowl and I stood in front of it wondering what to do.

"No thank you."

"Everyone who dares enter must put their hand in here and be transformed into the Duke's wish."

"Oh forgive me..." My hand went in as if expecting some beast to eat it and when I came out with a piece of paper the bowl holder had gone off before I could ask what did the name Valentina mean.

Upon my arrival in the inner room where the concentration of people were gathered around the flamboyant beaded dress Lady Walker had me put inside of drew too much attention so I found myself retreating into corner where I undid the mask that went around my hair looking for a familiar face but I could not make out who was who and began to think what damage I would cause if I were to go home.

"Lady Alice," a man said and when I turned he bowed giving me a devilish smile so I bowed without giving my hand to the gentleman.

"Uh yes and yourself?"

"Oh but a masked admirer," he said handing me a drink and then I knew it was Sir Holloway again, how quick he was.

"Sir Holloway."

"And you must put your mask back on at once, no one takes them out until we are all safely home," he put out his hand and I gave him the mask.

"Forgive me it's just I have never been to something like this..."

"No I wouldn't expect you to have," Sir Holloway went around behind me which I held the mask in the proper place for him to tie it.

"I received a paper and it said Valentina, what does it mean? Is there to be some kind of game?"

"Yes a game of names, the name in the paper is your name for the night, tonight you are Valentina, it is better that way," he fastened the mask tight around my face with two knots.

"Two knots?"

"I must make sure no one will know who you are tonight, only me, you will be my secret tonight Valentina." He whispered near my ear and I was afraid of what exactly I had come to this party for, and where was my companion for the night? Mr. Henry? Joseph? Lilly?

"Uh forgive me but have you seen anyone of my party?"

"Yes by that table over there..."

Sir Holloway led me to one of the tables filled with sweets and lifted up to my mouth a small round white pastry.

"What is this?"

"Open up and you will find out," and when my teeth sank into it something sweet and fruity from inside it drenched my mouth.

"Oh..." I had never tasted something so airy and fluffy the Duke certainly paid attention to food while Sir Holloway chewed the other half of the pastry.

"A delicacy from Paris, do you like it?"

"Yes sir it is very decadent;" I talked of the pastry since I had not even gone near France and when Sir Holloway put his hand on my cheek I kept him where he was with my hand.

"Where are my friends sir?"

"Forgive me but Brielle is otherwise entertained, Lord Stanley is a little late and Mr. Henry has been allocated to the desires of his heart."

"Take me to Mr. Henry or Brielle please Sir Holloway."

"That will not be appropriate at the moment Valentina."

"Why not?"

"Oh I see you are much more chaste than I expected."

"Sir..."

"How shall I tell you now that I have thought of nothing but us together in this party tonight? Yet you come in looking much more like a princess than I expected with such a lovely warm hand on my chest," he said and I took my hand away.

"Sir Holloway please..."

"Shhh I am Dionysus tonight," he met his body to my dress.

"Dinoysus?"

"The Duke has a penchant for the Greeks but do not spread it around or it would make him look very bad in the eyes of the church," while he distracted himself with the talk I stepped behind someone in the hot and suffocating crowd.

"Valentina you little trickster," he chased after me as I hoped to bump into someone I knew but the crowd came to an end and Sir Holloway held me by the waist.   

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Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.