Long ago

"Oh Lisa, how could you cause me so much pain by putting me into this corset. I swear that the blasted thing was designed by the devil himself. What is the point of looking good and not being able to breath? Is the new hit to look half dead whilst you are in public." I ranted about as Lisa laced up the back of my corset.

I was luckily enough to be able to get away with not wearing one during the day because they were afraid that I would fall my horse since I spent most of the morning on it because today was one of the few days that my parents actually let me out onto the streets of without being inside of a carriage. Lucky me.

Now that the daytime festivities were over, it was bleeding into the time of day that everyone was really waiting on. Dancing through the entire night since we only had one complete hour of darkness head of us. Tables would be lining the walls and stacked with different assortments of foods for in between your dance card slots. And there was no doubt in my mind that my card was going to be filled for most of the night. But, with a flick of my hand, I could brush that dance off if I wasn't recovered from the last or hungry.

Not that I ever really turned down the dances and the dancers that they gave me. Even when I was little and didn't officially have a card, I would go around and ask people to fill my "card slots" that I had drawn on a napkin with crayon for the people that couldn't get their card filled. Happy to see that the social little girl went away and that I don't have to ask for dances anymore. Now I really only had seconds before my next dance would pick up. Yay for me.

The traditionalism of my day clothes to my night clothes were utterly dramatic. I was wearing a flowing dress of blue and greens that rippled beautify in the wind. By now I was being squeezed into my elaborate dress filled with ruffles, strings and knots. Thankfully, Lisa had designed it so that I could breathe normally while most women would be taking shallow breaths tonight.

I desperately wanted for Alexander to be in the room while all of this was happen to keep me company like every other night. But, sadly he had to go and set up the tables now because he managed to slip out of his duties for the day and assist Lisa and me. And I would be stuck mostly by myself and random strangers that I was to dance with. And now I was feeling a bit worse because I could of at least had Zachary to talk with.

"Perk up, Anne. It is going to be a wonderful night full of dancing and laughter. And most people will be drunk by midway and you will be able to slip away early." She says as she pinned the last of my curls back and setting my necklace straight.

"You are absolutely right, Lisa. Tonight is all about fun and merriment. And I might just get to pull away for a minute to spend time with you and Alex. Do watch over him, I don't want him or any guest to say or do something they might regret." It has happened before.

"Anyone in particular that you want to keep him away from?" She asked quietly

"Keep Emma away from him at all cost. We don't need to have her rub off on him with her unconventional ways." Emma was my lovely cousin that had somehow found her way into the royal my marriage. And lets just say that she wasn't the most faithful of wives that were out there.

"I understand. Now lets get you down stairs so that you can make your big entrance. And your mother and father informed me that you shouldn't be looking for any suitors tonight. They want everyone to see that you are sold on Lord Merrick." And so the wedding had already begun planning without my consent.

"I will remind myself often through the night to do just that. And I seem to be forgetting remind me so that my father or mother doesn't. We don't need scandal rocking the ballroom in a time of festivities."

"Yes ma'am, I will try to do my best. Now you are all ready and proper. Lets get you down to your adoring fans and subjects." She said helping me out of my chair. She walked a few paces behind me to make sure that my dress wouldn't drag or snatch on anything, which luckily it didn't and conserved my modesty.

Alexander was waiting outside of my door to escort the two of us down the steps with each one of us on his arm. A simple silver mask was pulled across his eyes like most people to conceal his identity. How ghastly would it look if a serving boy escorted you into the ballroom instead one of your betrothed. Mother would have a fit.

Just before I was able to be announced in through the double doors, Alexander whispered in my ear "I have two slots open tonight and no dances with you. I will pull you aside when those come. Now knock them dead princess." He slipped out from my grasp. And now I didn't feel as strong without someone else to back me up.

Notes