Page 56 of A Governess' Unbridled Passion
“It is the wearer that lends the gown its beauty, and that is the person who shall dance at the ball,” Clara said. “Now, let’s get it off so we can make a matching mask to hide your true identity.”
“You cannot mean to do this?” Alice quizzed. “It is madness. What if I am caught?”
“The entire household of servants will be behind you, Miss Alice. You are doing this deed for them,” Clara informed her as the maids giggled while they undressed her again. “You will live our dream of dancing at the ball, and at the same time, we all feel that we’ve fooled that French woman.”
“And the part about what if I am discovered?” Alice tried again.
“You have nothing to lose,” Clara replied. “They have already dismissed you; what more harm can they do to you?”
“Well … I … suppose you are right,” Alice said, nodding her head.
The laundry room workers all looked her way smiling; everyone seemed to be in on this trickery against Lady Davina. Or so that was how they all saw it. But for Alice, it was a dream. Would she get to dance with the duke? It would have serious consequences if she were discovered, despite what Clara might think.
But Alice was beginning to believe it would be worth it. She would refuse any requests for dances unless the duke asked her. That should decrease the risks a little, and she would do all in her power to get the duke’s attention. A dance with him would be a lifetime of dreams come true for her.
Alice returned to the nursery where Betsy met her with a secret grin.
“You knew all about it then?” Alice asked as she went to her desk to get a book out for Lady Beatrice’s next lesson.
Betsy nodded with a knowing smile, continuing her play with Lord Jacob and acting as if nothing untoward was being planned.
But Alice knew that the whole household of servants were preparing for her presence at the ball because Clara had revealed the plan. The stewards, who would be walking around with trays of wine, would be watching out for her. At the first sign of trouble, they had a plan of action. A tray would be spilled to cause a diversion, and another steward would lead her from the ballroom, unnoticed in the bedlam.
Alice couldn’t believe how the servants had come together in such a cause, and all so that they could feel they’d fooled Lady Davina. The idea that a servant would be dancing in her ball, right under her nose, had all the servants animated. They’d even counter-planned for every possible scenario. It brought to light how much power the servants had in a household when they all got together.
Both Betsy and Alice found it difficult to concentrate on their normal day of routine with the children. It was doubtful that Lady Davina would visit the nursery, with the ball keeping her busy, so they felt safe from her, at the very least.
Every servant felt they were about to get their revenge on her, albeit only in a small way. It was enough to motivate everyone, enough to satisfy their thirst to perform a trick that she couldn’t see, and a trick that would appall her if she could.
As the afternoon passed by, Alice started to feel her resolve weakening. She was expecting to be caught out but only hoped it would be after she’d managed a dance with the duke. Alice wasn’t doing it for spite of the French woman.
Her only desire was to be by Lord Phillip’s side, dressed in a beautiful gown and dancing to the ball’s music. It would be the greatest farewell gift she could ever wish for if she could achieve that. Because Alice knew that she loved the duke but knew there was no hope for them.
Alice and Betsy ate dinner with the children, saying nothing of the coming event that evening.
“Why is the big hall looking so pretty?” Lady Beatrice asked, shocking both Alice and Betsy.
“What do you mean, Lady Beatrice?” Alice asked, confused over when the girl could have seen the hall. Lady Davina had instructed them that the children must be kept in the nursery room all day. “When did you see the big hall?”
Alice was aware that the servants had been decorating the ballroom with draping garlands and fancy candle-lit lamps. There were golden bows and silver decorations everywhere. When Alice had peeked in, on her return from the laundry room, she felt even more excited at her mischief. But she couldn’t understand how Lady Beatrice could have seen the hall.
“I wondered where you were going when you left me,” Lady Beatrice said quietly, now worrying that she’d done something wrong. “But I lost you because I went to look at all the pretties in the big hall.”
“Oh my …” Betsy quivered. “I had no idea that Lady Beatrice had sneaked out.”
“Have I done something wrong?” Lady Beatrice asked, looking worried.
“No, child,” Alice was quick to pick up on the girl’s troubled demeanour. “And you are quite right; the big hall is full of colourful pretty decorations. It is for the ball that your uncle is hosting tonight.”
“What is a ball?” Lady Beatrice asked, looking even more confused.
Alice recalled that her father had never hosted any balls. He’d attended them elsewhere, but Haroth Hall had remained deprived of any social events for many years.
“It is a time when many ladies and lords come together to dance to music,” Alice explained.
“Oh, I like to dance. Can I wear a pretty dress to dance in?” Lady Beatrice asked, looking quite excited at the prospect of dancing.
“A ball is not for children,” Alice broke the news. “But when you grow up, you can wear a ballgown and join in.”
