Authors: Astrid Yrigollen
“Do you mean the young Master? Nothing this morning that I can see.” She glanced around the room quickly. I sat up in bed surprised.
“Well that is certainly a nice thing to wake up to, nothing.” I smiled at her feeling that it was going to be a good day. Perhaps he was getting tired of his own tricks.
“I got a call from Hartsford Clothing. The shop girl said they just received some beautiful new dresses and that we must come see them today.” I nodded, feeling suddenly tired again. Mrs. Whitby had found a dress for herself quickly but we had still yet to find one that was as she put it, “suitable for me.” We had scoured dozens of clothing shops, Mrs. Whitby leaving word and our card at all of them to notify us at once when they received a new shipment of frocks. I must have made a face because she quickly chastised me.
“Now Miss, the Ball is only three days away and you, still without a dress! It will cheer you up and I have the feeling that today is the day we will find what we are looking for. Now get washed up and we’ll have breakfast in the city this morning, then go to the shop.” I obeyed groggily.
I showered, dressed and kissed Naza on her head goodbye.
As good fortune would have it, we found a dress that Mrs. Whitby deemed perfect at Hartsford Clothing. It was a white ball gown with a large hoop skirt and off the shoulder bodice. Delicate white diamonds and embroidered, understated white flowers accented the hem. I tried it on in the shop and Mrs. Whitby’s eyes gleamed.
“Oh Miss, you look lovely in that dress. I knew we would find the perfect one for you. It’s all about timing it is.” She turned to the shop girl and requested that the dress be sent today to Westwind.
“Now we must find you a matching wrap.” Mrs. Whitby happily went off to the other side of the shop to look for something suitable. I stood looking at myself in the mirror. I felt for the first time in a long time, pretty.
It’s only the dress Claren.
I chided myself trying not to be vain, but in truth I was really pleased with the way I looked in this dress. As I stood admiring my dress I noticed a man in the mirror’s reflection that was standing in front of the shop looking in, at me. My blood turned to ice water and I felt my stomach clench in fear.
Kurten!
I whipped around to the front window only to see a man in a heavy coat walking away. My heart was beating fast with fear.
Did I really see him? Was that Kurten?
Mrs. Whitby came back full of smiles and a small selection of wraps to show me, but when she saw the look on my face she stopped in her tracks. A light perspiration had formed on my head and neck.
“My dear! Are you all right? You are so pale. Please sit down.” She led me to a bench where I sat down. My insides were trembling. I was sure that it was Kurten, but my logical mind told me that it could not be.
“Please, Mrs. Whitby, can we go home now?” I asked.
“Certainly my dear.” Mrs. Whitby gave the address to the shop girl to have my dress and wrap delivered that evening.
The ride home was therapeutic for me as Mrs. Whitby chatted gaily about how exciting the Ball would be and how much I was sure to enjoy it. As she spoke, I began to convince myself that it was just the stress that I had been under at home with Etrigan that made me think I saw Kurten.
Listening to Mrs. Whitby, I was catching her excitement. I had not been to a ball since I was a little girl, and then I had fallen asleep early and was taken home by my nurse.
By the time we arrived at Westwind I was in good spirits again, if not a little perturbed by how much Etrigan was affecting me in a negative manner. Thomas greeted us at the door with a worried look on his face. His blind eye, forever unblinking, trained on me.
“The Master told me to let Miss know he had some business in town. Unexpected he said. He won’t be back for dinner.” Mrs. Whitby kissed her husband on the cheek.
“Is that all dear? You don’t quite look yourself.” Thomas seemed agitated.
“Well, it seems that the dog is missing. We’ve been looking for her all over the grounds since the morning, Timothy and I.” I felt panicked but something told me she was safe.
“I’ll find her Thomas, thank you for letting me know. I am sure she is alright. I am just going to put my things away and then I will look for her.”
I searched for Naza outside of Westwind and all along the great lawns. I ventured through a small portion of the woods but something kept telling me that she was in the house, with
him
.
I grew angry. He could try to do whatever he wanted to me, but if he hurt Naza, he would be sorry. Anger, hot and quick, flared up within me as I turned and raced towards the house. Gathering my skirts, I raced up the staircase to the door to the tower room and found it unlocked. I quickly but quietly went up those stairs. As I approached the landing I heard chuckling, then the sounds of a dog at play. It was my Naza, making her trademark small “woofs” when she was at play.
I stepped up to the landing to take in the scene. Etrigan was sitting on a chair reclining back with his long legs stretched out before him. He wore similar black slacks and a black long sleeve dress shirt. His hair had fallen slightly into his eyes and he seemed to almost have a pleasant look upon his face. Well, more pleasant than
I
had ever seen on his face. I realized that even though he was almost constantly scowling at me whenever I saw him, I still thought him handsome. Yet now, with this relaxed posture and slight smile upon his lips he was more than that. I knew that if I ever saw him smile or laugh he would be truly dazzling.
What are you thinking of you silly girl? Have you forgotten how he has tormented you non-stop for the past month? It doesn’t matter if he is handsome. Stop being vapid and do what you came here to do!
I stood up straight and called for the anger I had felt earlier. He was throwing a ball to Naza and she would race to get it then bring it back to him. She was unhurt and not being kept against her will. I was relieved but I was still going to let him have it for everything he had done to me these past few weeks, and for the last straw, taking my dog and making me worry.
I walked in to the room with what I had hoped was my most unpleasant face. Naza immediately dropped the ball she was playing with and looked at me. Etrigan, who was so engrossed in their game, looked at her in a quizzical manner when she stopped playing. He then followed her gaze. He immediately sat up in his chair with eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape. I noticed his wings were pulled in closer to his body. I stepped in closer to him and raised an accusing finger.
“You! You torment me for weeks, the only time you talk to me is to be mean, then you steal my dog? Just because you are beautiful doesn’t mean you can treat other people in this fashion! We have feelings too and to answer your questions, your father brought me here because my own home was taken away from me. Both my parents are dead and your father wants to be my guardian but I do not see how that can be done since you hate me so and will not tolerate me!” I turned on my heel and left with Naza trotting behind me. I went in to my room and laid down.
I was angry but I felt more tired and shaky than anything else. Mrs. Whitby tried to rouse me for dinner but I stayed in my room on my bed not moving. I heard the front bell ring and a carriage drive off, but still I did not move. I heard a low knock on my door, then the door open.
“Miss? Your dress arrived just now. Don’t you want to see it?” Mrs. Whitby stood at my bedside with the large box wrapped with a huge blue bow. She had an anxious perplexed look upon her face. She had no idea that I just went up into the “young Masters” room and gave him the business. I knew she was just trying to cheer me, and I would be behaving selfishly if I did not acknowledge her efforts. I sat up on the bed and smiled at her.
“Yes, please.” She smiled and placed the box on the bed.
“You will be so beautiful in this dress Miss. Why, I expect some dashing young man to fall in love with you Saturday night and come calling for you Sunday!” The room was dark because no fire had been lit yet and I had not turned on any lights. Mrs. Whitby turned on a lamp and for a brief moment before he disappeared, I saw Etrigan’s tall form standing in my doorway listening.
“I just hope I don’t fall asleep like the first Ball I went to.” I said looking in to the darkness where Etrigan had stood.
The night of the Ball Mr. Lowood dressed in a white tie tuxedo and looked extremely dashing. Mrs. Whitby insisted that someone be brought in to arrange my hair. I finally relented and was glad that I did. The soft upsweep hair style that was created made me look more mature I thought. Mr. Lowood’s eyes lit up when I came down the stairs.
“Claren! You are a vision! You will have so many suitors after tonight, I think we will have to enlarge the foyer.” He said teasingly as he held my wrap for me. I had to lift and hold my skirts up a little if I wanted to walk quickly, but other than that, I was pleased with the dress.
“Thank you, Mr…I mean to say, Uncle.” He chuckled good naturedly.
“I know it will take a little while to get used to Claren, but the sooner you do the better it will be for both of us. You are a beautiful young woman and I do not want anyone getting the wrong idea.”
Mrs. Whitby joined us in the foyer, hugging Thomas good bye.
“Have a good time Sir, Miss.” Thomas said walking out to the carriage with us. Our carriage was being pulled by the real horses that belonged to Mr. Lowood. As I neared the carriage door, Thomas whispered urgently to me.
“Do not be too vexed with the young Master. He does not have a wicked bone in his body. I should know.” I didn’t know what to reply so I just placed my gloved hand on his arm and smiled at him in what I hoped was a warm manner. I did remember that Mrs. Whitby had said that Thomas was the only one that Etrigan spoke to.
I wanted to have a nice evening and not have any further thoughts of Etrigan, but I did notice that he had not played any tricks on me since I had gone up to his room. I had half expected to find my dress floating in the pond.
Mr. Peterson’s home was as grand as it was lavish. Several majestic white balconies jutted out of its exterior. Sapphire chandeliers, tables made out of solid black onyx, white fur rugs, and huge vases positively stuffed with roses of every color decorated every room.
“What a showy display of one’s means, wouldn’t you say Claren?” Mr. Lowood asked me as we handed our coats and gloves to the maid.
“I admire the flowers. I used to have a small rose garden.” I cut my sentence short since I no longer wanted to even mention St. Marhen.
“Did you now? Then you must have one again at Westwind.” Mr. Lowood stated as he handed his card to a particularly short servant that announced us to the rest of the party.
“Mr. Fredrick Lowood and his niece, Claren Lowood.” The servants booming voice caught me somewhat off guard, or perhaps it was because my last name was changed.
“Please don’t look so startled Claren. I do apologize for not informing you earlier, but I do think it would be wise to have your last name changed. Just to, what is that expression, ‘keep everything on the up and up.’” Why did he choose only now to announce what his intention was? He seemed to delight in my shocked expression.
He raised his arm for me to rest my hand on as he led me into the crowd of people. I was met by a sea of smiling faces that were “ever so curious to meet me” as many of them later said.
“Fredrick, I thought for sure you were going to be a no show once again!” A plump older woman, dripping in diamonds around her throat, said as she leaned on my “Uncle” in a suggestive manner.
“No Beatrice, I was getting quite bored at playing the hermit at Westwind so I decided with the arrival of my niece, I would step out a bit. She is young and I do not wish her to be bored in the countryside.”
“This is your niece then?” Beatrice asked eyeing me suspiciously. She held out a plump hand to me palm down.
“Mrs. Beatrice Walefield, delighted.”
“Let me introduce you to Claren Lowood. My late brothers’ child. I am her guardian now, well, once the legalities have worked themselves out.”
I took her hand lightly and curtsied.
“How do you do Mrs. Walefield.”
“I do very well thank you. You must meet my daughter who is around here somewhere.” She craned her white neck attempting to look over the heads of the people who had gathered around us to talk to Mr. Lowood.