Page 68 of One Perfect Dance
“Not a word to Geoffrey, then, either,” William said. “That boy has promised to never again keep a secret from his mother.”
Rex went home to change for the ball and to send Ash the costume he planned to wear, the landau, and a team of footmen. William, having found a suitable sofa, left too. He needed to escort Lady Kingsley to the ball in time to be part of the reception line. The Kingsleys, mother and son, wanted everyone to know that Regina had their full support.
Ash asked one of Regina’s footmen to help him with a body wash and a shave. By that time, Rex’s valet had arrived with Ash’s clothes. “My lord is having most of the seats removed from the landau, Mr. Ashby. It will be here in half an hour.”
The worst parts were putting on a pair of breeches and being moved to the sofa, but Ash was soon fully dressed in all of his finery, including the new dancing slippers that Regina had embroidered for him. He was costumed as Oberon, King of the Fairies, to match Regina’s Titania. Her maid Annie had been very helpful in providing a description of her costume so he could have one made to match it.
She would be in blue, in a shade chosen to match her eyes. The costume included a gown with a high collar and two long pointed pieces of blue brocade draping from her shoulders nearly to her hem, the insides embroidered and embellished in white, gold, and shades of blue to look like moth wings. Her crown and mask, Annie had told him, were gilt with blue stones. “My lady will look wonderful,” she had enthused. Ash had no doubt of it.
Ash’s costume was black, embroidered with silver. A black, floor-length robe buttoned from the neck to the waist and then open below. He wore breeches and stockings beneath, a silver crown, and wings, made the same as Regina’s. Long trailing wings of black brocade with the moth-effect lining in blue and silver. Lying on the sofa would not show it off to its best advantage, but that could not be helped.
His mask was silver, too. Supported at one side by a silver holder, it was designed to be held in front of the face. He would take it with him, but he didn’t plan to wear it. He wanted everyone to know who he was, and to have no doubt that he had come to support his betrothed.
Only four Paddimore footmen remained on duty in the house. Almost all the other servants were working at the ball. Rex’s footmen arrived, however, shortly after Ash was ready, and were able to carry him, sofa and all, down the stairs.
The landau was not a particularly stately vehicle, and he had never thought to arrive on a sofa, of all things, but at least Ash was going to the ball.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The ball wasnot the disaster Regina had feared. Clearly most people had discounted the gossip. Not all. Several guests had sent last-minute cancellations, and others just failed to turn up. Some of those who attended were clearly looking for something scandalous to report.
Masquerade balls often did without a reception line, but under the circumstances Regina wanted to be sure that only invited guests arrived. She, William, and Cordelia had decided to forego public announcements, so that guests could have the fun of being anonymous to other guests, but they set up the reception line so that everyone had to identify themselves to their hosts.
Footmen either side of the main door checked invitations and sent a page boy up the servant stairs with a note naming the new arrivals. Guests then funneled up the main stairs where Regina, Geoffrey, William, and Regina’s mother presented a united and confident family front. They were supported by the Deerhavens, as owners of the ballroom.
Those wearing masks needed to drop them briefly as they passed down the reception line, their faces unseen by those waiting behind them and to those who had already entered the ballroom.
Even after the ball started, a page would be sent into the ballroom to fetch someone to greet new arrivals, just to confirm the person matched the name on the invitation.
The array of costumes made the scene colorful and fantastic. Kings and Queens of England and abroad, other historical and folk tale characters, mythical creatures, gods and goddesses from various pantheons, characters such as shepherdesses and highwaymen improbably clean and richly dressed.
Lord and Lady Arthur arrived in full oriental style. Lord Arthur, tall and blond, made an unlikely if resplendent Indian ruler, but Lady Arthur was every inch his princess, dazzling in a richly colored gown, dripping with gold and jewels from the ornate headdress she wore under a filmy shawl to the ankle bracelets that flashed into view as she walked.
The Stancrofts had taken advantage of the opportunity to be anonymous. Both wore full-face masks that included feathered headdresses, covering Arial’s scars and Peter’s golden beauty. Their costumes—Arial in blue and Peter in red—were gown and sleeves in one, so that, when they raised their arms, the fabric arched out into great wings either side of their bodies.
The Deerhavens had gone for the mythological—king and queen of winter, him all in black with a stag-horned headdress, and her in white wearing a crown made of ice-like crystals.
Some, of course, her mother among them, did not bother with costumes, but even most of those carried masks. Mother’s was a confection in gold lace on a long stick, which she held up in front of her eyes from time to time as a nod to the theme of the evening.
Regina danced the first set with Deerhaven and the second with William. She did not dance the next set, instead circulating the ballroom on Geoffrey’s arm to speak with her guests.
If anyone was going to rude, this would be the time. While her dearest friends were as warm or warmer than usual, she sensed a reserve in others, though no one mentioned Deffew or even hinted at his accusations. Not to Regina’s face, at least, though undoubtedly, there was plenty of conversation behind her back.
Twice, they interrupted their progress around the room to go and greet a late arrival. The third time a page entered the ballroom, he went to Deerhaven, who looked around to find William. The two men left the room. “I wonder what is happening,” Regina said to Geoffrey.
“Shall we go and find out?” he asked.
She nodded, and they followed the two men out. From the top of the stairs, they could hear a furious voice. “We have invitations, and these stupid fools are not letting us in.”
“The invitations are for Lord Snowden and his son,” Deerhaven replied. “I know Lord Snowden, and you are not he.”
“I have invitations. I have a right to be here,” the voice insisted.
“Lord Deerhaven,” said William, “I believe these to be the Deffew brothers.”
Regina peeped over the balustrade, but all she could see was the top of masked heads.
“Take off your masks and identify yourselves,” Deerhaven commanded. The two intruders backed away. “Kingsley, unmask them.”
