When Cinderella arrived at the ball all the guests wondered who is this beautiful young girl. She was determined to act the part of a lady and flirt with whomever would pay her any attention. She knew that if Madam spotted her she would never get another chance to leave the house again, so she had to make this night count! She was surprised by how many eyes were on her. Her initial reaction was to cower, but she pushed through and acted like this was normal for her.
She observed others at the ball. Everyone appeared to be on their best behavior. She spotted Drisella eating off the serving table and then demanding an elderly woman give up her chair for her. Too far to hear, she knew what she said, Move twit, there's not space enough for old people here. She hid from Madam in the crowd and stumbled into Emmerett, the man of honor, himself.
He was absolutely enchanted by her! He couldn't take his eyes off her. They danced and talked, and giggled all night. They ended up sitting out on a bench on a balcony that overlooked the garden. She traced the lines on his hands and he wondered how such a beautiful and elegant young lady could have such calloused and strong and tiny hands.
"I've always wanted to dance the night away. You made my dreams come true." She blushed.
"Well, I've always dreamed of meeting a girl like you. So honest and genuine. So beautiful and gentle, but also deep..." he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, "...and hard working..." He turned her hand over and kissed the palm of it, then gazed into her eyes, "and exquisite." Their faces drew closer to each other and they rested they foreheads on one another, just breathing each other in.
She was having such a wonderful evening with him that she completely lost track of time. Suddenly the clock struck midnight, and the sound of it struck her out of the romantic moment she was in and pushed her into reality. She needed to get home before the other ladies or it would be disastrous.
"Sorry," she said, as she stood, "I have to go!" and she hurried away.
"Wait, come back!" he cried and ran after her, but before he could get through the crowd he was bombarded with other eligible ladies thirsty for attention. Desperate to not lose this interesting girl who he knew had more to her than met the eye, he ordered his servant, Elwood Cadmotter, to follow her.
Cinderella raced home as fast as her horse would carry her, leaving a trail of chicken feathers behind her.
When she got home she hid all of the glorious things that helped to transform her into the belle of he ball by her mothers grave. Despite being freezing, she changed from her warm cloak to her dirty old smock and hurried inside. She needed to get the fires going to warm up, but more importantly, before the ladies of the house got home. First she plunged her hands deep into the ashes and rubbed the soot on her face and through her hair. Then she lit the fires and went to bed.
Too exhausted to remember the rest of her plan she had schemed for the night, but too excited to sleep, Cinderella lay in her bed reliving the best night of her life. She had almost kissed the sweetest man who'd ever lived. He did kiss her, on her hand at least. Holding her hand to her own lips she thought to herself that she was quite in love with him already.
Meanwhile, Mr. Cadmotter didn't find Cinderella, but he did follow the feathers as far as he could. They ended at a very large tree and there he saw pile of clothing in a wad. He figured the girl was trying to evade him, so he set a plan of his own.
His wife, Faye, owned a dress shop in town, and he thought there may be a chance that if they left a special dress for her in this spot she would wear it the following night. This would make it easier for them to recognize her at the ball. He hurried home and discussed it with his wife and she had just the dress in mind. They returned to the tree that same night and left a beautiful gown draped across a large stone that sat under the tree and topped it with a gold necklace with a sapphire amulet.
Then they left hoping it would work.
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