Chapter Seven

Beatrice made her way to Alexander's office. She needed to tell him the list of things she would need for the ball. When she got there, she did not bother to knock this time. She just pushed the door open. She walked to his side and beamed at him.

"My dear husband, I came to inform you about the items I shall need for the ball," Beatrice said. " I did not write them down so you have to take them down on a piece of paper."

Alexander nodded and pulled a sheet of paper to put Beatrice's list down. "I am ready," he said. "Call the items out."

As Beatrice called them out, Alexander wrote them down. When he was done, he spoke.

"I shall ask the housekeeper to get them for you. Some of them should be in storage while others will have to be bought. Anything to make you happy, my wife."

" There is one more thing, two actually," she said. " I will need you to send for the dressmaker. I need a new dress for the ball. I also need someone to fill out the invitations."

" I shall send for the dressmaker. That is not a problem. As for the invitations, Isaac can fill them out."

" Alright then, I need to go to the lake side for a while. You can send for me when the dressmaker has arrived or when some of the decorations have been brought out of storage."

" Go well, milady and do not stay long out there. You can come in to check on me at noon," Alexander said.

Beatrice waved at him like a young lass giddy with happiness and went out of the office. She walked to the door and stepped out of the place. She just needed to be alone for a while and reflect on her thoughts. Nomar had said that there was to be no training session for today. He said she needed to rest for a while so as not to wear herself out. He also said that since she had become more advanced at it, the magic tended to sap some energy out of her body and if unchecked, could develop into a deadly illness. That was why she had to take a break from time to time.

Beatrice sat down on the edge. She was already feeling chilly on the inside so she did not take her shoes off and dip her feet into the water as she had always done before.

Beside her, Nomar was quiet as there was no training session and nothing to say for now. When she had spent enough time there, she went back inside to Alexander's office. As soon as she stepped inside, he welcomed her with a crushing hug.

"I was getting ready to leave and come to fetch you from the lake side. The maids have brought out the decorations."

" Well, leave me to it then. You can go back to work."

Alexander nodded and Beatrice went out of his office and walked to the great hall. On the floor were all the items she had asked for. They had done well getting them this quick, she reasoned.

The great hall was a very big space with hand wrought chandeliers hung in the middle, and all the four corners of it but the one in the middle was the biggest of them all. Stone lanterns hung in brackets along the wall but there were not lit as it was still day time. A large portrait of a beautiful woman occupied the middle of the front wall. The whole room was marvellous.

Beatrice gave orders to the maids and few of the guards the housekeeper had mobilized from outside. Satisfied that they had begun to carry them out, she left to find Isaac. As she was passing through the dining area, she chanced upon him there.

"Good day, Isaac," Beatrice greeted.

"Good day, Lady Beatrice," Isaac responded.

" I am hosting a ball which will be happening in three days time and I need someone to fill out the invitations. Alexander told me that you can do it."

" Yes, I can," Isaac confirmed. " How many will you need?" he asked.

"You know the people of this town better than I do, Isaac. You can just write the names of the people you think should be invited. They should not exceed fifty, though."

Isaac went to the main library of the keep to fetch the materials he would need for the invitations. He went back to the dining table and after some work, he was done with the invitations. Beatrice was pleased with his work and she thanked him profusely.

She put the invitations into a big pouch so as not to get them squeezed and went outside to the guard post. She called to one of the guards and sent him on a message.

"Saddle up a horse from the stables and deliver the invitations to the people whose names you see on the notes. The ball is to be held in three days time."

" Yes, Lady Beatrice," he replied and quickly went to carry out her orders. Beatrice waited until the guard had mounted the horse and departed before she went back inside. Once inside, she went into the kitchen and requested the dishes she wanted prepared on the night of the ball. The wizened old woman who was the chief cook of the keep promised Lady Beatrice that the dishes would be available by the time of the ball and they would do a good job preparing them.

Satisfied, Beatrice went up the stairs and into their chamber. The only thing that had not been settled was the issue of her dress. When would the dressmaker arrive? she wondered. If she does not come before dusk, it would surely have to be tomorrow, she speculated.

Beatrice did not when know the type of dress she wanted since she was not familiar with the ways of these people and the types of dresses they used for balls like this. She would rely on the dressmaker's expertise and make her choice.

A knock came at the door and she got up to open it since she had locked it earlier. She thought it was the dressmaker but it was only Lucia. She left her to let herself in and Lucia closed the door behind her.

"Good day, Lady Beatrice. How are you doing today?"

" I am well, Lucia. Why have you come? I hope all is well?"

" Lady Beatrice, I have come in respect to the ball. It seems like you have already sent for the dressmaker. Do you have any style of dress in mind?" Lucia asked.

" No, I do not. Do you have any suggestions, Lucia?"

" Yes, I do, My Lady. What do you think of the dress of that Lady in the portrait of the great hall?"

" What a brilliant suggestion you have made, Lucia. I love it and I shall ask the dressmaker to make it for me."

Just then, a knock came at the door and Lucia went to open it. She came into the living area with a tall middle aged woman with long blonde hair and piercing green eyes.

"Good day, Lady Beatrice," came the throaty voice of the dressmaker.

"A lovely day to you too, Miss John. I am hosting a ball in three days time and I need a new dress for it. There is a portrait of a woman in a white dress in the great hall and I want an exact replica of the dress she is putting on."

"My Lady, I have seen that portrait once and I must admit that you have a great taste. I just need to take your measurements, then I shall go and look at the dress properly and make note of the details."

Miss John took Beatrice's measurements and bade her goodbye. Lucia too left the room and Beatrice took a nap.

**********

On the evening of the ball, Beatrice ran round the keep checking at the last minute whether everything was in place. She went into the kitchen to enquire about the dishes and the chief cook assured her that the food was in place. She peered into the great hall and was in awe at the decorations. The maids had really done a great job with the look of the place.

As she was climbing up the stairs to go up to her chamber, she saw Isaac and stopped him. He was the one officiating the events for tonight and she asked him if everything was going smoothly. He answered in the affirmative. Pleased with the way things were going tonight, she turned and headed up the stairs.

When she got to their chamber, Alexander was already dressed for the ball. Beatrice shooed him away but he protested good naturedly.

"I want to have a look at your dress," he whined.

" I have already told you times without number that it is a surprise. Go downstairs and check on things."

Alexander resigned himself to Beatrice's words and left the room. Lucia was already there to help Beatrice with her wash. They finished with that and Lucia took the dress from the bag it had come in and helped her Lady to put it on.

The dress was very beautiful. It was white with multiple frills on the arms and shoulders. The bodice hugged her curves and accentuated her bosom decently. The skirt was layered with many frills and it shimmered as Beatrice moved because of the sequins scattered all over it. It was really breathtaking. Miss John had outdone herself.

Beatrice was just about to put on her pair of white shoes when the door swung open and Alexander's face came into view.

Alexander had come to peek on his wife's dress before the ball commenced but the sight he was facing made the blood in his veins to boil.

"What the hell is this," he thundered. "Pull this dress off at once!"