Chapter Four

Emily stood in stunned silence, her mouth agape in disbelief. A heavy silence hung in the room, only to be shattered by the sound of her friend’s voice. “You’re serious,” Emily managed to say, her voice full of surprise.

“As a heart attack,” Ella replied, her tone laced with anger. Her frustration was not only directed towards Ava but also towards her own family for accepting Ava’s unacceptable behaviour. She didn’t say more to Emily. Not wanting to delve into the reasons behind her change of heart. It didn’t stop her friend from asking.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what changed your mind?”

“I don’t want to go into why just now, Emily.” The weight of her words hung in the air, conveying enough explanation for Ella’s decision.

Ella paused for a moment, contemplating her next words. The room was filled with anticipation. “Okay, will you let me get you ready?” Emily didn’t press for more details, relieved that Ella was finally going.

Ella pondered for a moment, her determination solidifying. Why not? If she was committed to something, she should be fully committed. “Yes.”

The room seemed to buzz with excitement as Emily clapped her hands in anticipation. “Ashwell will not know what hit them,” Emily exclaimed, her voice filled with exhilaration.

A mixture of scents filled Em’s room the night of the ball. The faint aroma of her favourite perfume lingered in the air, mingling with the subtle fragrance of Emily's own perfume. The anticipation of the upcoming ball, a symphony of excitement and nerves, pulsed through her veins.

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Ella’s eyes widened in disbelief as she took in her reflection. The soft lighting in the room highlighted the delicate contours of her face, accentuating her high cheekbones and flawless complexion.

Overwhelmed with surprise, Ella shared with Emily her disbelief at the contrast between her appearance and Ava’s. Emily noted it was a matter of class versus cheapness. Ella embodied elegance, whereas Ava seemed to personify cheapness.

The fact that the ball was happening tonight was beyond belief for Ella. After impulsively agreeing to go when she spoke to Em, her life had become a whirlwind of activity. She hadn’t had a moment to contemplate the magnitude of her commitment.

Even early this morning, they had both driven to the next town to get their hair trimmed. Because Ella worn her hair up all the time, she only got it trimmed every six months. Never in town where anyone could see her. Ella didn’t have a regular hairdresser just finding someone in London or a nearby town.

The spray was removed from Ella’s hair, leaving behind a gorgeous light golden blonde colour. Her hair, styled in a renaissance fashion, was elegantly tamed with waves flowing down to her waist and pinned back at the sides. She couldn’t help but run her fingers through her long, cascading curls, marveling at how they framed her face so elegantly. Ella never showed her hair in its natural state. No one in town had ever seen it. Em had been utterly amazed.

The fabric used for Ella’s mask perfectly complemented her dress, showcasing beautiful shades of green, blue, and purple. Not a single feather adorned it; only delicate lace, dazzling diamante’s, and a ribbon tied into her hair.

Emily had painstakingly handcrafted the dress from scratch, a choice that Ella would never have made for herself. The dress was a breathtaking emerald green, embellished with vibrant streaks of electric blue and purple.

As Ella moved, the fabric glided gracefully over her body, resembling the ever-shifting colours of water. The dress was flawlessly cut, featuring delicate straps, a plunging neckline, and a daringly open back. It started just below her waist dimples, hugging her curves before cascading into a magnificent train.

At first glance, the dress appeared to have an A-line silhouette from the front, but it transformed beautifully with her every movement and turn. The fullness of the skirt was concentrated at the back. Ella found it to be an entirely new experience to have so much of her bust revealed.

Emily had meticulously applied her makeup, carefully blending dark shades to create a mysterious look that perfectly complemented her mask. The deep hues accentuated the striking colour of her blue eyes, making them even more mesmerizing.

As Ella stared at her reflection, she was at a loss for words, her mouth appearing fuller and more enticing than ever before.

Ella’s admiration for Emily’s efforts could only be expressed with a simple “Wow.”

Emily joined her in front of the mirror, radiating beauty in a classic black Audrey Hepburn-style dress. The simplicity of the attire added to its elegance, showcasing Emily’s timeless charm. Instead of the traditional white gloves, she had opted for pink, adding a touch of femininity to the ensemble.

Overwhelmed by Emily’s talent, Ella finally found her voice. “It’s incredible how quickly you created this dress,” she exclaimed, unable to hide her astonishment.

“It’s been made awhile Ell. It has been waiting for you for 2 years. I hadn’t intended to give it to you just yet. I was going to dye that unused and unwanted wedding dress I had been making. Then I remembered how mysterious this ball was with all the masks.” Emily shrugged before adding. “This dress is perfect for it. While on a fabric buying trip in London a few years back, I came across this fabric and immediately thought of you. I planned to give it to you once you emerged from your cocoon. It turned out much more visually appealing than I anticipated. Ava might be thin, but you, babe, have a smoking hot physique.”

 Ella reached over and grabbed Em’s hand. Her friend’s handmade gift to her was so incredible that she felt overwhelmed with emotion. Saying to herself, ‘I will not cry. I can’t cry because Emily would kill her after all her hard work.’

 “I’m just glad I had some nice shoes to do it justice.” Pulling back her dress to look at her shoes, that she had found for her wedding, beautiful silver crystal strappy heels.

 “I’ve got an additional item that pairs perfectly with the dress.” Em said as she moved to the clothes stand holding a garment bag.

Ella spun around. “Em, no! you have done enough.”

Grinning, she produced a midnight blue cloak, fully equipped with a hood. The trim of the cloak perfectly matches the dress. The light from the floor lamp in Emily’s bedroom was causing the trim to change in colour. 

“It’s lovely.” Tears welling in her eyes. How did she deserve a friend like Em?

“Don’t you cry and mess up your makeup, Ella. We don’t have time for me to fix it.”

This comment made Ella look out the window. Darkness had already fallen outside. Frowning, Ella checked her watch, seeing it was almost time to leave. As the departure time drew closer, Ella’s nervousness intensified, causing her to let out a deep breath. She could do this.

Within a mere 20 minutes, they arrived at Blackwater Manor in Emily’s vibrant red Ford Fiesta. They parked alongside the pebbled driveway that encircled the front of the charming, stately home.

The two-storey stone building boasted an array of exquisite, elongated windows. At the front, a grand set of wide, curved stairs led to the imposing double doors. The Manor had been under the ownership of the Blackmore family for centuries, and over time, it had been thoughtfully updated to include improved plumbing and heating.

Throughout the property, the modernisation efforts had always been executed with utmost care, ensuring that the original beauty and timeless allure of the manor remained intact.

Upon their arrival, Emily’s mother approached to collect her daughter, unaware that Ella was concealed beneath her dark, hooded cloak.

Ella was overcome with nerves and panic, prompting her to retreat quickly from the driveway and seek refuge under the trees along the path to the house, ensuring Em’s mum wouldn’t spot her.

She had arrived, but her uncertainty lingered. Her anger influenced her decision to tell Em she would come. Did she make the correct decision? It wasn’t Ava that frightened her, but rather the potential havoc she could unleash. Ava’s indifference towards causing a scene contrasted with the horror it would bring to Mary Blackwater.

Ella watched as Em looked around for her. Em’s mum, Nancy, led Em down the path towards the house while Em scanned the area for her friend. Ella was hidden within the darkness of the trees, making it impossible to see her.

Did she really want to do this now? She didn’t dress like this with the intention of winning Stephen back. Ava could have him. By departing prior to midnight, she could maintain her anonymity since she wouldn’t be present for the unmasking.

Not entering would cause Em to never speak to her again. Well, for a little while at least. Could she really blame her? While standing among the trees, Ella deliberated with herself until the final person made their way into the manor. Ella despised being late, so she had to decide whether to attend.

Ella couldn’t bring herself to not attend after Emily had invested so much in her outfit, makeup, and hair.

“Deep breath in, deep breath out. You can do this.”

Taking one step forward, then another, until her focus was on each step, not her destination. She continued until she arrived at the front doors that had been left open.

Ella arrived late and noticed two men in matching suits checking invitations to the left of the doors. She slipped by unnoticed, not wanting to interrupt their conversation or draw attention to herself.

Upon arriving at the ballroom, Ella discovered a lady and a man who were responsible for checking coats and handbags. Since Ella hadn’t brought a bag, she only had her cloak, and her invitation was being held by Em, with whom she was staying that night.

She pulled down the hood, took off the cloak, and handed it over to the young woman who stood nearby.

“Thank you.” Ella said politely.

“Wow, miss, you look gorgeous! Here is your ticket for the cloak.” The young woman extended the ticket, which Ella took out of her hand.

Blushing under the mask, “thanks.” Ella was unfamiliar with people giving her compliments about how she looked.

As she turned towards the group in the ballroom, she couldn’t help but notice the many people staring at her. Ella hesitated before moving, unaccustomed to being the centre of so much attention.

They are likely attempting to solve the mystery of her identity. It’s possible that they did that to all the guests entering the ball. Taking a deep breath, Ella fixed a smile on her face, then, as gracefully as possible, made her way across the room. To seem as though she was a natural part of this place. She pushed past her imposter feelings and kept going.