Girl's Day Out
I had just got done unpacking from yesterday’s move when Dana entered my room, “Your Grace, your parents have just arrived.” I nodded to her and dismissed her. Since Vellum’s Blackwood was my official residence, technically my parents were guests of my household, so I had to greet them. I finished brushing my hair and went downstairs where my parents were waiting to be received. I wanted to show them I had what it took to run my own household properly. As I stepped off the last step of my stairs, I said, “Welcome to Blackwood Deep. I’m pleased to have you as my guests.” My parents both smiled at the perfection at which I greeted them. They both walked forward and hugged me. My mother kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, “That was so perfect my love.” I nodded at her and smiled. I was so glad that I had practiced that along with my curtsy. She motioned to Delilah, who had accompanied them to Vellum. Delilah stepped forward with a large garment bag and my mother grabbed it from her, “We finished your dress for the ball tonight, we ended up adorning it with crystals from the ocean of Mesha. We thought it would be a nice touch to impress the Queen Mother since her family hails from there.” I looked at Dana who was next to me and she nodded and took the bag from my mother, “Your Grace, I will see to it that it is prepared properly. If Her Grace doesn’t mind, I would like my sister to assist since she knows more about this dress than I.” My mother nodded, “Of course Dana, it is what I had in mind as well.”
The sisters waited to be dismissed and I waved my hand at them. My mother chimed in, “I didn’t have time to get accessories or shoes though. I thought we could make a trip into Tarn and find some things. I have brought a dress for Jess as well. I figure it would be a girl’s day. I booked a boutique in Tarn just for the occasion. I nodded and called out for Dana, “Yes, Your Grace?” I turned to her looking up the stairs, “Please find Jess and summon her here.” She did a quick curtsy, “As you will it.” A few minutes later Jess was emerging from the dining room, “You called?” I nodded at her, “My mother has fixed up a dress for the ball for you and would like to take us to a boutique in Tarn today to find accessories and shoes.” Jess got a big smile on her face; she had not grown up with a mother, so the thought had to have excited her. She walked up to us and turned to my mother, “I am ready whenever you are Your Grace.” My mother placed her hand on Jess’ shoulder, “You can call me Talia, you are my daughter’s best friend now. The boutique is booked for 20 minutes from now, that should give us enough time to take a carriage.” My father kissed my cheek, “You ladies go have fun. If you don’t mind, I have some business with the King so I will be accompanying you.” My mother nodded at him, “You can drop us off and pick us up later if you don’t mind.” He nodded, “Well let us get going then.” We all shuffled out to the awaiting carriage, I had guessed that my mother had told them to stand by.
We got into Tarn and made our way over the boutique that my mother had booked for us. There was a ruckus in the front of the building where a young blonde woman was yelling at who I am pretty sure was the store clerk. My mother sighed as we got closer to the boutique, “I guess today is another day to piss off House Maigny. Wait here.” Both my parents filed out of the carriage, I looked out the window to try and figure out what they were saying. I just know that the girl kneeled at my parents and my mother said some words to her. Afterwards, she stalked off with her maid practically pouting along the way. My father got back into the carriage, “I swear House Maigny spoiled the ever-living crap out of that Melody.” My eyes widened, “That was the famed Melody I keep hearing about huh?” Jess giggled next to me, “She’s a real piece of work. She would follow the King around like a lost puppy and act all innocent around him but as soon as he leaves the room she transforms to a mega bitch. Er, pardon my language Your Grace.” My father laughed and shook his head, “Your assessment is spot on though Jess. Like Talia said, treat us as if we are family.” She nodded blushing, “Thank you Your-…I mean Reginald.” He smiled, “Reggie if you please. Ladies, you may go. Enjoy your day.” We both climbed down to join my mother and the shop keeper. Her eyes widened at the sight of me, “Your Grace, they said you were the most beautiful, but I did not know how much. You are breath taking and I am proud to have you wear my wares tonight at the ball.” She kneeled in front of me but since she was a commoner the greeting was different, “May your home find peace and prosperity.”
As the shop keep rose from her kneeling position, she looked over my shoulder and her eyes widened. I turned to see what she was looking at in such a way and immediately bowed my head. The royal carriage was passing by, and a dainty gloved hand stuck out the window in a wave to signal to be as we were. I looked at my mother and she nodded, “It was the Queen Mother, she sometimes likes to take a carriage in the city.” We went inside where we found mannequins adorned with beautiful dresses and cases with glistening jewelry and in the other room were shoes. The shop keeper turned to us, “What would you like to see first?” My mother looked at me to answer, “I think we should start with the bane of my existence, shoes.” My mother laughed; she knew I hated high heels. They were wholly uncomfortable, and she knew if I had it my way, I would wear sneakers under that dress. I know this wasn’t appropriate so I had resigned myself that I should get used to this since I would attend many events that would require them. The shop keeper led us to the other room and turned to my mother first, “May I help you pick out something Your Grace?” My mother shook her head, “I prefer you focus on my daughter as she is the guest of honor at tonight’s ball.”
The shopkeeper turned to me, “Your Grace, do you have a particular style in mind? What is the color of your dress? Perhaps we can see if we can find something to match.” I nodded, “It is teal, like the colors of my house.” She turned looking around, “Please have a seat Your Grace and I will bring you some options.” She walked about the room strategically plucking boxes from the shelves while my mother did the same for herself. Jess sat next to me and whispered, “I think I’m going to wait my turn for help, I don’t know a thing about all this, and I don’t know the color of my dress.” The shop keeper brought back four options. She kneeled in front of me, and I took off my black flats ready to try on the shoes. She pulled out the first option which was a plain grey high heel. She placed it on my foot, and I walked around. It was very comfortable, and I was just about to say I would take it, but my mother looked at the shop keep, “Not that one, it’s too plain.” The shop keeper nodded, “Yes Your Grace. This was just a sampler to see if I had the fit right.” She turned to the next box, and I returned to my seat annoyed that I couldn’t go with the comfortable option. She pulled out a black shoe with gold trim and a gold heel and placed it on my foot. I thought that this one would hurt because of the gold. I got up from my seat to take a few steps. This one was comfortable as well and just I was about to say I’d take it, my mother again chimed in, “Before we make a decision, Xan, you must see the other two options.” I nodded and sat back down. I would appease her but take the comfortable option. The next option was a white version of the black pair except the adornment was silver. These were just as comfortable. I sat back down to await the last option. Before she pulled out the last option she smiled, “Your Grace, these next shoes are couture. There is nothing like them in all of Vellum. I made them with my own hands.” She pulled out a pair of teal shoes adorned with gold lilies around the rim and a clear heel. I looked at her, “They are gorgeous. What is the heel made of?” She smiled and whispered, “Meshan crystal. Prince Blake sent this pair to you with compliments.” She winked and continued to whisper, “He will see you tonight at the ball and wanted to see you wear something from him. Do not tell your mother.” She placed the shoe on my foot, and I got up to walk around. It was far more comfortable than the others which swayed my decision. I turned to her, “These will be the ones.”
My mother turned and looked down at my feet and gasped, “Are those Meshan crystal heels? They are perfect. We will most definitely take them.” I sat down and took the shoe off and handed them to her. She reached in her pocket and deposited a letter in the box and winked, “It is my honor that you will wear my hand made shoes to the ball.” I nodded at her, skeptical of her eagerness to help me since learning of her loyalty to the Prince. I still had not formed an opinion on the Prince and I had yet to meet him, so I didn’t know whether to trust him or not. I turned to the shop keeper and said, “Can you please assist my friend in finding something to wear with her dress?” The shop keeper looked at my mother who nodded, “She’s wearing light pink tonight.” The shop keeper nodded, “Any friend of The Batiste is indeed an honored customer. I will find you something befitting a person standing by Her Grace’s side.” I didn’t like how she put that. It was as if she found Jess beneath me, and I never thought of her that way. I shook my head, “Jess is my valued friend. She is not beneath me, and she is her own person.” My mother shot me a dirty look to signal that was not proper. The shop keeper widened her eyes and kneeled, “I am so sorry if I offended The Batiste. I did not mean to, please forgive me.” It seemed that she needed my forgiveness. I shook my head, “I am not offended. I just need you to treat my friend well. Do you understand?” She rose and nodded, “Yes Your Grace. It will be done. She gathered the shoes and Jess was able to pick out a white satin pair that were a little plain. The shop keeper had asked to adorn it with two Meshan crystals as an apology. She took the shoes to the back and came back with the shoes adorned with a heart shaped crystals on the front hem.
I nodded in approval, “Thank you, they look beautiful.” I looked at Jess who was blushing, “I didn’t need the extra adornment but thank you the same.” My mother, who was wearing navy blue, chose the black and gold pair in her size. Mother had smaller feet than me, so I had realized why she pressed for me to look at the options. She didn’t want to match with me, and I understood that it was more so for me than it was for her. We moved on to the accessories where I picked out a silver clutch and gloves to match. The shop keeper had asked about jewelry, but I had the thought that the King was going to send over a courier. Perhaps what he was sending was a piece of jewelry, but I thought I should buy something in case I was wrong. I chose a festoon style necklace adorned with blue topaz gemstones but that was the extent I wished to wear for jewelry. Jess and mother both declined the jewelry. Jess said that lycans don’t typically adorn themselves in such a way. My mother said that she would wear some family jewels as her right as Duchess.
We got home to find a man just as he was about to ring the doorbell. I hopped out first knowing what this was about. I walked up to the man and recognized him as the gate keeper. I smiled at him, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to receive you, sir.” He smiled back and waved a hand at me, “It is no problem Your Grace. I just arrived myself, His Majesty insisted that I deliver his gift myself.” He pulled out a small box with a gold ribbon on it and handed it to me. I looked at the box and then at him, “He wanted me to see you open it and get your answer to his question.” I nodded, pulled the ribbon, and opened the box. Inside was a rose gold ring in the shape of a rose adorned with a small opal in the center. I looked at the gate keeper, “Please tell His Majesty that no matter what he sent to me, I would wear it to let him know I am on his side.”
