One Night At The Ball: A Sisters of the Curse Novella

by Lisa Manifold

  The bedroom was off the main sitting room, and she had a large bed hung with the finest, thinnest silk. Catrin thought of her rooms as an underwater palace—all sea foam, blue, white, and gold in color. She’d only been to the shore of the ocean once. It had been a sunny day, and the colors had stayed with her. She’d completely redone her rooms after that journey, which had been their last.

  Unlike most rooms of the castle, Catrin’s rooms had long windows up high with leaded glass in them to let in the light. As they were at the top of the castle, her rooms received a great deal of sun. She liked it that way. It reminded her of the long-distant seashore.

  Her mother interrupted her musing. “Finally, Catrin! We have much to do. Thank heavens you did not get too much sun today!” Roslyn took her arm and pulled her into the dressing area.

  “Mother, please stop,” Catrin removed her arm from her mother’s grip. “I’m happy to accompany you, no need to tug at me.”

  Roslyn stopped. “I know, dearest.” She sighed. “I’m nervous. Wait until you have a castle full of guests and are introducing your grown daughter for the first time!”

  Catrin raised a brow at her. Then they both laughed. “Come, and tell me of your day while we dress you,” Roslyn said. “Who did you meet?”

  The question was casual, but Catrin could feel the weight behind it. Someone had told her of Aland.

  “I spent the early part of the day with Ceridwen, from Gallivas.”

  Grizelle had joined them. “Nice girl. Keeps getting saddled with that lout Bryce, however. Poor thing.”

  Catrin nodded. “I think he may have an interest in her. I’ve seen him paying her attention.” She frowned.

  “Do you not like him?” Roslyn asked.

  Tatiana, her lady’s maid, undid the fastenings on her day gown, and Catrin stepped from it. “No, I am unimpressed with him and his manners. I have no great experience, but he is not pleasing to me in the little time I’ve encountered him.”

  “Good. I don’t care for him either,” Grizelle settled herself into a bench that sat off to the side. “I’m glad to see you have the same good taste.”

  Catrin laughed as Roslyn hushed them both. “He’s from a good family…” she broke off as Grizelle made a choking noise. “Oh, all right. His mother is a lovely person. His father…well…she’s done her best with him.” Her lips thinned. “Doesn’t change that he is also a king’s son, so hold your tongue and your frowns and be gracious.”

  “Enough about others. What about Aland?” Grizelle asked.

  Catrin looked around. Tatiana had stopped what she was doing to listen. She smiled. How lucky she was, to have a family that loved her so. Even Tatiana, who had no obligation to do so.

  She couldn’t help teasing them a little. “What about him?” She looked at herself in the mirror, fiddling with her hair. Not meeting anyone’s eyes.

  “Well, as he squired you about this afternoon, you must not find him as boorish as you have others,” Roslyn said.

  Catrin met her eyes. Roslyn was as good at teasing as Catrin. “Oh, all right. He was most charming. I enjoyed his company a great deal. I’d like to spend more time with him. Will that suit you?”

  “Oh, thank heavens!” Roslyn clapped her hands. “I was worried you wouldn’t find anyone you cared for. The week is nearly half gone.”

  “Mother, I believe you’re being a bit hasty in naming my feelings. I like him, and I think he likes me. That’s all there is at this point.” She ignored the groans from the other three women. “Honestly! I like him, and he’s…pleasing to look upon.”

  Grizelle and Roslyn laughed. “Have you a sense of his thoughts?” Roslyn teased.

  Catrin considered, even though she felt sure that her mother was not really seeking an answer. “I think he likes me as well. He looks at me with a…well, it can best be described as considering look, when he thinks I’m not looking. I’ve caught him before he had a chance to rearrange his features.” She looked around at the others. “Surely that’s a good thing?”

  Silence greeted her question. She caught a glance that shot like lightening between her mother and aunt.

  “Well? Wouldn’t it be a good thing if he were considering me?”

  “Of course it would,” Grizelle stood, and came over to Catrin to stand near her. They both gazed in the mirror that stood off to the side. Catrin could see the worry in her aunt’s face.

  “Stop worrying. He’ll be interested or he won’t. I’ll do my part and try not to shame you all,” she said with a smile.

  Grizelle met her eyes in the mirror and smiled, but Catrin could see that it didn’t reach her eyes.

  What was going on?

  “Of course you will,” said Roslyn, taking the gown that Tatiana brought over. “You always do. We have no complaints about you, Catrin. Not ever.” She too met Catrin’s eyes in the mirror, and the look made Catrin feel reassured.

  The thread of something not being quite right was just that—a thread of nervousness.

  “All right, let’s get you washed,” said Tatiana, returning with a basin of steaming water. “Can’t have you untidy for dinner!”

  “Grizelle, would you come with me and pick out some jewelry that best matches Catrin’s gown?” Roslyn stood back to let Tatiana closer to her, and Grizelle jumped.

  “Of course.” She turned from Catrin and the mirror and walked through the dressing room door.

  A thought made her call out to Grizelle. “Oh, Auntie?”

  Grizelle stopped and faced her, eyebrows raised.

  “The fortune teller, a woman named Melasine, sends her regards.”

  Grizelle’s face was blank for a moment, and then, Catrin could see, she placed the name. “Did she now? Did you go and see her?” Her words were light, but her brow had furrowed.

  Catrin nodded. “I did. So did Ceridwen. She told me to remember that people hurt you out of love, or some such drivel.” She shrugged.

  “Well, isn’t that the point?” Roslyn interrupted. “Come, ‘Zella, we must get the right pieces for this gown. We’ll be back shortly,” she said, giving Catrin a pat on the shoulder. “But take your time! No need to rush!” With a flurry of skirts she made for the door. Catrin could hear the murmur of conversation as they left her chamber.

  Catrin let out the breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. The room seemed larger without her mother and aunt. More cheerful. Something was off, she just couldn’t quite catch what it was. Normally, they didn’t bring those feelings into a room with them.

  Once Tatiana helped her to wash, she looked at her hair. “Tati, what can you do with this?” She grabbed at a hank of hair that had fallen down while being bathed.

  “Don’t you worry, my lady. Your mother and I already discussed it, and I have the perfect adornments for the end of your braid. You’ll look lovely, indeed you will!”

  The maid’s enthusiasm was catching. It also dispelled the nagging feeling of something being off from earlier. When her mother returned carrying jewel cases, Catrin felt cheerful. She found herself looking forward to dining that night.

  Roslyn opened the cases.

  “Mother! Aren’t these just a bit much? The ball isn’t tonight, you know! If I wear this, I’ll look ostentatious!” The set was of diamonds with topaz. In her pale cream gown, she would look soft and warm and very, very well-off. The diamonds were enormous. Just looking at them made her feel nervous all over again.

  “Catrin, while this must seem like too much display, trust me, it’s not. Have you not been observing the other women here?”

  Catrin didn’t answer immediately. She was considering—she hadn’t really noticed what anyone else was wearing. Between keeping her thoughts centered, her magic under control, and trying to be all that she was supposed to be, she hadn’t noticed the many details of their guests.

  Her mother waited for an answer. “No, not really. In truth, Mother, I’ve had more at the forefront of my thoughts.”

  Roslyn rolled her eyes.
“Catrin, you must—”

  Grizelle, who had been silent up until now, interrupted. “Leave her be. She does have more concerns than the attire of others.”

  Catrin gave her a grateful glance.

  “Besides, it’s not as though she’d been exposed to society as we were, Roslyn. You’re doing fine, Catrin. And don’t worry. Your jewelry will be completely appropriate. That set looks wonderful on you.”

  Catrin looked in the mirror at the pale cream overdress with an underdress of soft yellow. A circlet of gold rested upon her head and seemed to glow in contrast with her dark hair. Her eyes appeared an almost shockingly bright blue today. Her lips were full and redder than normal as Tatiana had stained them with berries and then used lemons to deepen the color. A light rouge was used, but not so much as to draw negative comment. She felt lovely.

  With evening approaching, there were more candles than sunlight, and she knew she’d look warm and glowing at dinner. It was a good look for her, she thought, giving herself a small grin in the mirror. The jewels, though—her grin faded. They seemed to be almost vulgarly overdone.

  “I’ll be glad when I can return to normal dress,” she grumbled.

  “You’ll miss this when everyone is gone,” her mother cautioned.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Roslyn didn’t reply, but focused on putting the final additions to Catrin’s jewelry. Once finished, she stood over Catrin’s shoulder, looking at her in the mirror and seeming most pleased with herself.

  “You are a picture, Catrin. So very lovely.” Tatiana and Grizelle made noises of agreement.

  “Let us go and meet your father.” Roslyn smiled. The three of them left, Roslyn hurrying the party along. “We’ll meet him in his receiving room.” The king kept a small room, rather like a little throne room, on the way to the dining hall. It made it easy when he had to meet with someone quickly.

  “Ladies, you are ravishing,” Garrick said when they entered the room. “Worth waiting for.”

  He held out his hand to Roslyn, and she took it, allowing him to raise it to his lips. The gesture made Catrin smile. Her parents were still in love after all these years. She wondered, as she often did, how her mother’s illness years before had affected their relationship. They certainly made sure they told one another how they felt in a variety of differing ways. She’d heard small whispers about it since the guests had arrived. As most royal marriages were arranged, there was no guarantee of loving your life partner. But her parents were in love, and had fallen in love prior to marrying. It helped that they were unofficially engaged for some time, based on their parents’ fondness for each other.

  Roslyn smiled at him, and Catrin could see her mother relax somewhat. Good, she thought. I hope Father keeps her focus elsewhere. Having guests was wonderful, but her mother’s constant scrutiny was tiring. Nor had the lessons with Grizelle stopped, but they had gotten shorter because she and Grizelle were often tired.

  The thought made her turn to Grizelle. “Shall we meet in your rooms after everyone retires tonight?”

  “Yes, indeed. It helps to know where you feel the struggle throughout the day. Bring your maid with you, however. I cannot have you running about unattended. I’ve been remiss since all the company showed up on our doorstep!” She grimaced. “Heaven knows, I don’t want to hear about my lapse from your mother!”

  Catrin laughed quietly. “It won’t be from me, Auntie! I promise!”

  Grizelle patted her hand. “I know it won’t, girl. You’re doing very well. You’ve a great deal to remember, and I’m proud of you. So let’s keep it up.” She stopped talking as the king and queen approached.

  “Are we ready to enter? The steward told me before you arrived that most of the guests had gone in.” Garrick still held Roslyn’s hand.

  “Yes, please,” Catrin answered. “I’m hungry, Father!”

  “Must be all the walking you’ve been doing,” he said with a laugh. She couldn’t help smiling at him, even though she knew he was teasing her as her mother had earlier about Aland.

  He didn’t wait for a response, but shifted Roslyn’s hand onto his own in a less intimate manner and walked to the door.

  They moved down the hall, and the herald announced first Catrin and Grizelle. They made their way through the room to the head table, their progress slowed by Grizelle’s reliance on both her walking stick and Catrin’s arm Catrin took the time to look around at the guests.

  All the women looked soft and lovely under candlelight. Grizelle had been right, they were all bedecked in fine jewelry. She sighed, just a little. It was a relief to not feel overdressed. She felt enough of a spectacle.

  She was pleased to see Ceridwen sitting with her with her parents. Ceridwen was looking towards the center of the head table. She finally looked around, and Catrin caught her eye and smiled. It was good to see that Ceridwen looked more cheerful than earlier in the day. Given where she sat, however, she’d have to wait until tomorrow to speak to her.

  At the head table, Catrin sat next to Aland. To her dismay, Bryce sat on the other side of Aland. He was noisy, although Catrin saw that he didn’t make any effort to speak with Aland. Instead, he spoke with the lady on his other side—a lady from his own kingdom. Unfortunately for her, Ceridwen was on the other end of the head table. She sighed. Apparently, her parents thought Aland a better person to cultivate than Ceridwen. She wanted friends, though. She resolved to speak to her mother. Maybe being seen to be favored by the host would allow Ceridwen some freedom. Catrin could see that Markellus, the prince of Ethion, sat beside her. They were talking genially. She wondered if he were the one. Ceridwen didn’t look distressed but was happy and smiling. What a tableau this must make, she thought. All three of the handsome Crown Princes, and her and Ceridwen all on display. She could see that Ceridwen’s mother had the same ideas regarding jewelry that Roslyn did. Ceridwen was extremely lovely, and Catrin knew she looked well. Gazing out at the hall, she could see the whispers and conversations going on. She smiled. Let them whisper. Were she looking up at all the people at the head table, she’d be gossiping, too.

  Her attention was pulled away from watching others by Aland.

  “How are you enjoying the castle full of guests?”

  “I like it. I’ve told Mother that we must do so more often. Having everyone here makes me realize how removed we’ve been.”

  Aland nodded. “We always travel in the warm months. My father likes to see the neighboring kingdoms for himself, and I like seeing people other than my own court.” He grimaced. “After a long winter, I’m sure they’re tired of me as well!”

  “Really now, Aland, how could they be? Such a conversationalist as yourself?”

  “Now you flatter me with false words and lies, Catrin!”

  They laughed together easily. Catrin couldn’t believe how natural, how right it felt. Was this how her mother felt when she met father? She’d have to ask her later tonight.

  Aland was handsome. Gallivas was not the most prosperous kingdom. Her own, Nandrenay, was more so. Laurycia was extremely well off, as was Ethion. She’d heard her father say the king of Gallivas had ambitions. From that standpoint, it would serve Gallivas well if she and Aland came to an understanding.

  The two kingdoms were not close, however, and that was problematic in Catrin’s eyes. She loved her home and wanted to live there.

  She gave herself a mental shake. He hasn’t offered. She was putting the cart far in front of the horse. But he was the first young man that she’d spoken with and liked, and he met the requirements of her parents. So she decided that a little daydreaming was not such a bad thing.

  Thinking about that, she looked over to Ceridwen. She was still talking with Markellus, and she looked happy. He must be the one. Ceridwen looked the happiest she’d been all day.

  She met Ceridwen’s gaze and smiled before Aland spoke to her again.

  “My lady, do I understand correctly? Will we be hunting stag tomorrow?”

 
; She turned her attention to him fully. “Yes, indeed, my lord. I cannot wait. The head gamekeeper reported a herd closer than usual to the castle, so Father decided to take advantage of it.” She couldn’t keep her excitement to herself. Riding was one of her favorite pastimes and since preparations for their guests had begun, her riding had been curtailed. “Will you hunt?”

  “Most definitely. We don’t normally have good hunting in the warmer months.”

  “If you go down to the stables early, you’ll have a better choice of mounts.” She herself was not worried. She rode her hunter, Gideon. He had also been trained by one of her father’s knights, and was capable of staying calm in most situations. She found that Gideon was excellent in a hunt, no matter how many others were about.

  “Thank you for that warning. I shall do my best to get ahead.” He smiled. “I am surprised you hunt, my lady.”

  Catrin cocked her head to look at him. “Why? My father is an enthusiastic rider and hunter.”

  “Does your mother hunt?”

  She wasn’t sure where these questions were going. “No, not any longer. I am not sure if you know, but when I was younger, she was very ill. She nearly died. Prior to that, she rode with my father, but after she recovered, she chose to retire from the hunt.”

  Aland nodded. “I’d heard of her illness. I wasn’t aware she hunted. She looks the picture of health now, however,” he said, turning to look at Roslyn. “As do you, my lady.” He looked back at her and smiled as Catrin felt her cheeks heat.

  “I would like to ride at your side, if you’ll allow it.”

  Catrin laughed. “As long as you don’t slow me down, my lord!” She laughed again at the surprise on his face. Why he was so taken aback that she hunted, she didn’t know, but she meant what she said.

  “I will do my best not to shame you,” he laughed with her. “I make no promises.”

  Bryce finally turned to Aland and watched them laughing with what looked to be a speculative look. With no great surprise, she thought that whatever the look meant, it didn’t look kind. He caught her eye and made a slight inclination of his head. Like all her interactions with him, he seemed rude. She gave him a tight smile and slid her eyes away. Bryce seemed to have a shadow with him that affected anyone he was near. She didn’t want to feel any such thing tonight.