Once Upon a Romance 01 - Before the Midnight Bells Read Online Free PDF Page B

clamoring for her assistance with their toilettes. Ella had spent two hours artfully tousling Beatrice’s hair and almost as long carefully painting her face, and in the end Beatrice resembled the ideal of tavern maidenhood. Prudence’s hair fell in two thick braids down her back, each plaited and bound with yellow and green ribbons, and Ella had woven the same ribbons in intricate knots around her face, making her look delicately pale, rather than pasty white. Even Millicent had asked Ella for her help, and Ella had enjoyed giving her stepmother a gracefully low knot in her hair and some artfully placed “flour” smudges to complete the look.
    Ella was proud of what she had accomplished for her family, but even with the early start she had little time left to see to her own appearance. In the wee hours of the morning she had decided a simple shift and a large woolen wrap made an excellent costume for a matchgirl, and they only took a few hours to piece together. She added to that her own sewing basket, emptied and filled with matches, and her outfit was complete. She left her hair down and used no cosmetics, and still she was barely ready to go when the carriage arrived. It didn’t matter though; she was pleased. Her stepsisters would have every advantage her hands could provide as they trolled for husbands, and she could find an out-of-the-way corner and rest. A most satisfactory situation for everyone.
    ***
    It seemed as though there were miles of carriages winding towards the palace grounds. Each carriage carried its own light, and they made a twinkling pathway up to the gloriously lit castle. As the Embertons ’ hired coach pulled through the massive stone gates into the courtyard, pages and squires, dressed as street urchins and buskers, directed each driver to an empty space where his passengers could disembark. Ella watched in amusement as a new group of costumed children poured into the courtyard and took over the duties there, while the young busker who had helped her descend gave a shout of glee and ran off in the direction of the music. Even the palace staff would have an opportunity to join the celebration in honor of the Princess’s betrothal.
    At the entrance to the ball, a majordomo dressed as a one - legged beggar was announcing the guests. Each guest was announced with the same gravity, and Ella struggled to keep a straight face on hearing “Mr. Edward Treacher, the Dwimple Street Fishmonger” pronounced in grandiose tone. At the top of the grand staircase they paused to be introduced to the crowd, “Mrs. Millicent Emberton of the East Side Embertons, and her daughters, Miss Emberton, Miss Beatrice, and Miss Prudence.” Ella gasped at the sight spread out before them, and to either side she heard Beatrice and Prudence doing the same.
    The ballroom was aglow with hundreds of candles, their flames dancing in the polished crystal holders. Light shone off of the gilt carvings that framed each door and window, all of which were thrown open to allow the ball-goers access to the rooms and gardens beyond the ballroom. Tables groaning with food were placed around the room, and Ella could see more set up in nearby rooms, all laden with golden platters from which heavenly scents emerged. On the far wall an orchestra played in their balcony, and below them the marble floor of the ballroom was filled with dancers, swirling about in their Paupers’ finery. Above the dancers hung a giant chandelier, glittering brightly on the beautiful scene.
    Millicent was the first to recover herself. “Come girls, let’s see if we can push our way through the throng, and find partners for the next dance.” Prudence and Beatrice eagerly agreed, but Ella demurred.
    “ I’ll join you in a bit, Stepmother, I’m going to visit the edibles first.”
    “ Ella.” Millicent gave her a stern look, “it is simply not the done thing. You must find a dance partner and ask him to fetch you a plate after you’ve taken a turn with