Shattered Dreams

by Shirley Wilkinson

  “Good, I’m glad. We just have your makeup to finish, and then you can eat before changing.” Avila was a little overwhelmed by all of the steps. She was beginning to understand why they said it would take all afternoon. It was already nearly dinnertime, and they still had to finish her makeup. Her hair alone had taken most of the afternoon to complete.

  Avila once again sat down for Savanah to get to work. While Savanah worked on Avila’s makeup, Kate and Amelia cleaned everything else up. The makeup didn’t take as long as her hair, thankfully. Avila was pleased to note that the woman hadn’t used much since she wasn’t used to wearing any to begin with.

  Savanah handed Avila the hand mirror again to see the difference. She couldn’t believe what a significant change a little bit of color could make. It was understated but beautiful. She felt like she was looking at an entirely different person in the mirror.

  Avila couldn’t thank the three women enough before they left. Once they were gone, she remembered she was supposed to dine alone that evening and decided to check the adjoining room for Etta. She was pleased to find the capable woman already waiting for her when she arrived. The meal was a simple affair again, so it did not take long to finish. By then, her nerves had caught up to her once again. She thanked Etta for the meal and asked her to send Meru in to assist.

  When Meru arrived, Avila was surprised to see several things in her hands in addition to the adjusted dress. “What is all that?”

  “Ma’am, I was asked to bring these to you. These shoes were designed to go with the dress you picked out, and there are several pieces of jewelry here. I was asked to have you choose the ones you would like to use for the night.”

  “Who asked you to bring these to me?”

  “I was stopped on my way here by a courier from the queen. She asked if I could deliver these. She also asked me to pass on the message apologizing for the oversight.” Avila couldn’t believe it. Things had already gone beyond her expectations, but this was excessive. Since it was sent via courier, though, she couldn’t decline it without the possibility of causing a misunderstanding or offense.

  With a quiet sigh, she turned to her room to get changed. Meru followed her in, and with a little assistance, she was soon standing there in nothing but her underthings. She reverently stepped into the dress, and Meru helped her adjust it so it would lay just right. Once done, she checked her reflection once more to make sure her hair and makeup were still intact.

  She couldn’t believe how she looked. Everything still looked perfect, but to her, she didn’t look at all like herself. She turned to Meru to finish the last touches. The girl held out several selections arranged on a velvet tray for Avila to choose from. The set that caught Avila’s eye first was a necklace and earring set that was silver-based and set with a variety of colored diamonds. The setting was made to look like twisting vines with small bright flowers scattered throughout. Avila was thoroughly entranced.

  She didn’t look twice at any of the others and had Meru help her get the necklace and earrings on. “So, what do you think?”

  “Ma’am, it isn’t really my place, but I believe you are absolutely beautiful.”

  She had gotten so used to Meru that she hadn’t thought asking would be inappropriate; she had only wanted another person’s opinion. She felt a little bad for putting her on the spot and reminded herself to keep her position in mind, especially this evening. “Thank you, Meru. I appreciate the compliment. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”

  “No ma’am, if you don’t mind me saying so, I appreciate knowing where I stand with you.” Meru blushed a little at her straightforward statement, but she was smiling. Avila was happy to see that her efforts weren’t a waste.

  “Good, thank you too! Now, I think it is time for me to be headed out. Is there anything I am missing other than the shoes?”

  Meru helped Avila strap the low heels on and then quickly turned back to the armoire. “Don’t forget your wrap, ma’am.”

  Avila took it gratefully and walked with Meru to the door. When she opened it, both David and Angelo turned to her. She was pleased to note the appreciative smiles from both men before they bowed. She never really thought of herself as pretty, at least not by Aril’s conventional standards, but it was a nice feeling to be noticed.

  “Ma’am, are you ready to leave?” Angelo asked as he stepped forward.

  “Yes, I believe it is close to the time I am expected to be there.”

  “If you would please give me one moment, I would be happy to escort you.” With that, Angelo stepped away and pulled out a com unit. The conversation was brief, and from what Avila could hear, he was letting someone know they were on their way.

  He stepped back after the call and indicated the double doors. “Ma’am, if you would stay by my side until we are joined by Adam outside this wing.”

  Avila nodded and headed toward the doors with him. When they reached the double doors, the two guards pulled open a smaller set of inset doors Avila hadn’t noticed before. Once they passed through, there were three more guards on the other side.

  Two of them simply nodded at Angelo once they got an unobstructed look at his face. The other stepped up to Avila and bowed. “Ma’am, my name is Adam. I have been asked to assist in your detail tonight. It is my honor.”

  Avila was a little surprised at his formality but tried to take it in stride. “Thank you, I appreciate your help.” Avila hoped she was living up to the expectations everyone seemed to have of her.

  Once Adam joined them, the procession changed a little. Angelo led the way since Avila had no idea where she was going, while Adam followed her. They walked down several different hallways that progressively got more crowded.

  It didn’t take them long to reach their destination. Avila was once again greeted with a large set of double doors. This set was already open, and she could see a huge crowd of people milling about inside the room.

  Angelo stopped just before the doors and stepped aside to present Avila to the nearest doorman. “The Lady Durant.” With that, he stepped behind her.

  The doorman motioned for her to step forward. Once she was inside the room, she stopped on the top step like she had been instructed and waited for the doorman to announce her. She had to repress a flinch as his voice boomed out above the din. “May I present the Lady Avila Durant.”

  The noise in the room suddenly went down several notches. She could almost feel every set of eyes in the room turn in her direction, and her nerves suddenly had her locked up. She knew there was something she should be doing right then, but she couldn’t think of what. The best she could do was smile, and she knew it had to look forced.

  She was rescued by a voice to her right. She turned to the sound of her name and found an older gentleman standing there, smiling at her. It took a moment, but she finally remembered that she was supposed to be meeting a councilor. “You are Councilor . . . Raban, correct?”

  He gave a small bow at her question. “You are correct, Lady Durant. I will be your escort for the first part of the evening. Would you like to join me?” He offered his arm. She took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves and placed her hand on his forearm. Once she had accepted, they descended the steps into the crowd.

  The next hour passed by in a blur for Avila. Many people approached her to introduce themselves, and Councilor Raban was always right there to give her information on who was whom. When they were not being approached, the councilor was sure to point out people he thought might be vital for her to know. She only hoped she could retain a fraction of the information she was being presented with. The good news was that she didn’t have time to be nervous once she started making rounds.

  Once the first hour was up, an announcement was made for everyone to move to the ballroom, as the ball would be starting shortly. Avila wondered if what was coming would be any easier than the last hour.

 
She started making her way to the ballroom with the councilor, stopping along the way for a few brief introductions. Before they made it into the hall, a young man that Avila had not yet seen stopped them.

  “Lady Durant, my apologies for my tardy introduction, but I wanted to be sure to make your acquaintance.” The man gave her a small polite bow.

  “Of course, there is no need for an apology.”

  “Thank you for your graciousness. I am Lord Nathanial de Legris. I know you are headed to the ballroom; it would please me if you would allow me to escort you. I have wanted to get an opportunity to speak with you for years.”

  Avila wasn’t sure what to make of this request, so she turned to her current escort for some guidance. He gave her a small nod and patted her hand before letting it go. “Lady Durant, it has been my great pleasure to escort you this evening. I hope you enjoy the ball.”

  With that, he continued on into the ballroom, leaving her with the stranger. She supposed if there had been any danger, he would not have left her alone, but it still made her uncomfortable. There was no point in being rude, though, so she took the offered arm and stepped toward the ballroom.

  “So, Lord de Legris, you said you wanted to speak to me for years? Did you follow my work previously?” Avila could only assume that was what he meant.

  “Please, call me Nathan, if you don’t mind, that is. As for your work, well, my father is the Duke of Armand, which I am sure you recognize from your previous work, being that our family is responsible for the Southern Peloun Reserve.”

  Avila was a little overwhelmed already. He was obviously excited; his speech had gotten less formal and faster the closer they got to the ballroom, but she understood what he was trying to say.

  “I worked with people from all three of the major reserves, but it never occurred to me the royal family was watching over it directly. I mean, I knew the king’s brother was responsible for an adjoining estate, that is where most of my queries were directed through, but I guess I never thought about it in those terms. So that means you were there when all my questions were reviewed?”

  “Of course! I had always hoped you might be able to visit the Armand estate and the Peloun Reserve, but you just disappeared after the bill was passed.”

  Avila wasn’t sure how to react. She had been hearing similar things for the past hour and still didn’t have a good response. She never thought she had made any kind of impression, especially on people she had never met, and was a little bemused at Nathan’s apparent excitement.

  “Well, I didn’t really disappear. I just spent time focusing on other things. I didn’t expect anyone to be following the bill, really. However, I would like to visit all the reserves someday, so your offer is appreciated.” She meant it, too.

  All three of the reserves across the planet were said to be beautiful in their own unique way. Each covered a different landscape. From what she remembered, Peloun was in a drier climate but still had an abundant array of wildlife that had adapted to the harsh environment over time.

  “It would be my honor to receive you. I know my father and brother would be just as thrilled to have you grace our estate.”

  Avila was definitely feeling embarrassed now. She wasn’t sure how to take the young man’s enthusiasm. They had reached the ballroom, though, and it looked as if the dancing would begin soon.

  “My lady, would you do me the honor of dancing with me tonight?” Nathan bowed to her when he made the request. Avila hesitated only a moment, but she didn’t get to answer.

  “I believe the first dance is reserved for me.” Galdren’s voice completely took Avila by surprise. That was the first time she had seen him all evening, although she had not had time to look for him.

  When he reached out his hand, he gave Nathan a nod. “Maybe you can get the next one.”

  Avila took Galdren’s hand without thinking. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off him. He was wearing a formal black suit with a white shirt and a deep purple sash that crossed from his right shoulder to his left hip. His slim coronet only caught her eye when the light glinted off it. Its golden color blended in well with his sandy hair.

  The music started once they reached the middle of the room, and for a few brief moments, it was just the two of them sweeping across the empty floor. As far as Avila was concerned, they were the only two people there.

  For Avila, the music ended much too quickly. She didn’t even notice that neither of them spoke while on the ballroom floor until she was being asked to dance by another person. She thought she caught Galdren smiling ruefully as he walked away, but she didn’t have much time to wonder. There were actually several gentlemen waiting for her response; Nathan was only one of them.

  She hadn’t known him long, but he had already made an impression on her. Since his was the first face she recognized, she gave him a bright smile and held out her hand.

  “Sorry, gentlemen, I suppose you will all have to wait until the next round.” Nathan bowed over her hand as the music started up again. Avila was delighted to find he was almost as good a lead as Galdren. It must be part of the family training.

  Nathan was not silent, though. Throughout the dance, he regaled her with tales of trips into the savannah with his brother and father, and how drastic the difference was when he moved north to the capital.

  Before she realized it, the dance was already over, but Avila was having a wonderful time. She knew it was largely due to Nathan and his ability to make her forget how nervous she was. She would need to make sure to thank him if she ever had the chance.

  She ended up dancing with many more people and with Nathan several more times. She never danced with Galdren again. She wasn’t sure if he danced at all, but she did look for him. The few times she saw him, he was always sitting with his parents. She felt a little guilty that she was having fun while he was attending to his duties, but she reminded herself that this night was about introducing her, so she supposed it was all right to mingle.

  After the last dance was announced, Avila found that she was far more tired than expected. She also wasn’t sure where to go or what to do. She couldn’t completely hide her relief when Nathan found her and offered to escort her back.

  “I am sure I will have a guard waiting for me, but I would love to have your company until we reach them.” Avila smiled at him freely. She felt like she could easily be friends with the energetic young man.

  He held out his arm, and she linked hers through it. She was happy to find she was leaving in much higher spirits than when she arrived. The way things had gone tonight, she felt she might actually be able to fit in, something she had not wanted to admit how worried she was about.

  When they got to the double doors, she was not surprised to see Angelo and Adam standing there waiting for her with a contingent of other guards. They stood at attention when she arrived.

  Since the two guards would be taking her the rest of the way, she turned to Nathan and gave him a slight bow. “Thank you for making this a wonderful night. I enjoyed talking to you, and I hope to have the opportunity again.”

  He didn’t even try to contain his grin as he responded, “My lady, the pleasure was all mine, and it would continue to be my pleasure if I were able to share your company at some future date.”

  Avila couldn’t help but smile back at him. He had the kind of smile that was infectious. “In that case, I hope it will be soon. Please have a good evening.” She waved at him as she turned to follow Angelo back the way they had come.

  By the time she reached her rooms, the euphoria of the night had started to wear off. Her feet were beginning to ache from all the dancing, and she could feel the exhaustion pulling at her.

  Meru was already waiting in her rooms for her when she arrived. Between the two of them, she was quickly divested of all the hairpins and other accessories. She gave the necklace and earrings a silent, rueful goodbye before
they went back into their velvet case.

  She knew she probably needed a long soak, but she was afraid she might fall asleep in the tub, so she opted for a quick cleanup in the shower instead. Once she was finished, she fell into bed completely exhausted and was asleep before she realized she had even crawled under the covers.

  27. Maze

  It was already bright outside when Avila woke up, and the drizzle of the previous day was completely gone. Grumbling to herself for sleeping in, she rolled out of bed.

  Luckily, it was still only Sunday, and she had the whole day to recuperate. It was a good thing balls didn’t happen more often. She hadn’t overindulged in anything, but every part of her was aching. Her body was not used to that level of activity. She felt a little ashamed at having gotten so out of shape.

  Those thoughts and the sunny day propelled her into deciding the day would be an enjoyable one to spend outside. She didn’t take long to dress and was out of her room quickly. Lee and Jacob were the two waiting. They turned with a bow, and Jacob stepped forward to volunteer to take her wherever she needed to go.

  They started toward the garden entrance together, but Avila had an idea and turned to Jacob before they made it. “Jacob, do you think it would be a problem to ask the kitchens for a bagged meal? I was thinking about tackling the maze today, but I might want to stop for lunch at some point if I do. Today looks like a lovely day for a picnic anyway.”

  “Of course, ma’am. That will be no problem at all. Is there anything in particular you would like me to ask for?”

  “Oh, well, not really, but make sure they pack enough for you too. If you are going to have to stay with me, I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”

  “Thank you for your concern, ma’am. I will put in a request, and someone can meet us near the maze if that is acceptable to you?”

  “Yes, thank you.” At her consent, Jacob took out his com unit. He quickly described what they needed and instructed the person where to send someone to meet them. It didn’t take him long at all, and they were on the way.