Chapter 55

The Night of the Ball

KARIN POV

“Lady Karin, will you please stop being such a shy thing and come out,” Maggie said with her hands on her hips. “I’ve dressed you plenty of times. I don’t get what the fuss is about.”

“I don’t think I can pull this off,” I said through the bathroom door. “I’ve never worn anything so revealing.”

“Which is all the more reason to wear it tonight,” Joy said as she sat at the vanity applying the finishing touches to her hair. “Besides, that’s only the top half. If you expect your hair make-up finished in time, you will have to come out of the bathroom.”

“Okay…” I say with a sigh.” Opening the bathroom door, I exited, and I bit the side of my lip. “Are you sure that I look okay? I really don’t think I have the figure for this.”

Their eyes sparkled at the periwinkle sweet-heart cup with floral lacing that I wore.

“Oh yes, we’re sure, Lady Karin,” Joy said, nodding in approval. “It extenuated your slender frame, and you should see the fabulous thing it’s doing with your breasts.” She huffed. “Why you hide them in the first place is something I will never understand. And look how the stockings show off your long legs. Wait until we’re finished with you. Sir Ansel’s head is going to spin around his neck like an owl.”

Laughing, I walked over and traded places at the vanity with Joy. “Okay, I trust you both. The top is beautiful, and I hope the bottom half will be as well.”

“The seamstress did a wonderful job, Lady Karin,” Maggie said. “You’re going to love it.”

I sigh. “Mags, I wish you would call me Karin. You too, Joy. Lady Karin is too formal, and nothing is formal about our friendship.”

Maggie gave me a soft smile in return. “We will work on it.”

“Good.”

Joy turned my body away from the mirror, making sure I couldn’t see. “Alright, enough chit-chat. We need to finish getting you ready and I work better when I know I can do a dramatic reveal at the end.”

“I would expect nothing less,” I reply teasingly. I closed my eyes and sat still as Joy started my makeup. “By the way, you both look stunning,” I say. They did. Maggie’s emerald green dress highlighted the natural glow that always seemed to cover her, and the beach swept curls Joy placed in her shoulder length hair brought out more of her already beautiful face.

“Thank you, La—” I scowled, and Maggie laughed. “Karin.”

“You’re welcome.” We continued to make small talk about the ball and what I could expect tonight, but after a few minutes, I found myself daydreaming. I couldn’t wait to see Ansel. I knew he would look handsome, and we would have an amazing time at the ball. Our connection over the weeks had grown stronger, to the point we could hardly be away from one another. Still, there was a part of me that worried how tonight would go with the others in Blue Moon. It was the first time we would be out together, and with the swirling rumors and Cherry’s admission, I could only hope that things would be okay.

“You have to stop being such a worrywart,” Joy said breaking my train of thought. “Everything will be fine.”

“I’m not worrying.”

“Then why is your face so scrunched up?” she replied. “I can barely get any eyeshadow on you because you’re frowning so much.”

“Sorry.” I say, frowning more.

She placed her hand on my shoulder. “Sir Ansel would never let anything happen under his watch, and we will be right there.”

“Exactly,” Maggie said, chiming in. “Besides, I worked so hard to put all of your hair into a French roll and I refuse to let anyone mess it up.”

I laughed loudly, and Maggie and Joy shortly followed behind. “You both always know what to say to make me feel better.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Joy said. “Anddd done.” She turned me around to face the mirror. “Open your eyes and revel in my greatness.”

I opened my eyes and could hardly believe I was looking at myself. “Joy…” I say through trembling lips. “This is amazing.” The soft glam she’d given me with simple rhinestones in the corners of my eyes was perfect. It highlighted my features without going overboard and made me feel beautiful. Standing, I hugged her tightly. “Thank you so much. And Maggie, thank you again for my hair. I love it.”

“Absolutely,” Maggie replied as she went over to the closet. Reaching inside, she pulled out the bottom of my dress.

I tilted my head at the periwinkle tulle in her hands. “Is it finished?”

She laughed. “Of course it is. Now, arms up, ballerina, let's put on the final piece.” Doing as I was told, I watched perplexed as Maggie wrapped the fabric around. “Alright, in the words of Joy, anddd done,” she said as she escorted me to a body size mirror. For the second time of the night, I can hardly believe I’m looking at myself.

“It looks like a ballerina costume…but way fancier.” I whispered.

“That was the plan. I had her take inspiration from one of yours and make it into a ballgown.” She placed her hands on my shoulder. “Now I hope you see what we’ve always seen. You’re beautiful. Inside and out.”

Before I can say anything, Joy appears in front of me.

“A ballerina needs her pointers,” she says as she hands me a pair of stunning square toed heels with silk strings that laced up my legs. She bent down and helps to slip them on. “Now you’re ready.”

I look at myself in the mirror once again and smile. “Thank you both. I love it.”

“Good,” Joy replied, before tilting her head. “Doc says that he, Henry, and Sir Ansel are downstairs waiting for us.”

Maggie nodded. “Well, I guess we shouldn’t put them off any longer.”

“Agreed.” Quickly exiting the bedroom, the three of us walked to the top of the stairs. “Let us go first,” Joy says. “I want a front row view of when Sir Ansel sees you.” Joy and Maggie bustle downstairs and I can hear Doc and Henry’s excitement.

“You look beautiful ladies,” Ansel said.

“And you look very handsome,” Maggie replied. “Alright missy! Enough stalling!” she calls up to me.

Exhaling sharply, I take my first step. The moment I see Ansel, my heart falls to my shoes and his expression tells me he feels the same. His royal robes complement my dress perfectly and only added to how dashing he already looked.

“Wow…” he murmurs when I get to him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a surazan and hands it to me.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling, and he pecks me on the cheek.

“You’re welcome.” He stares at me, and I fall shy under his gaze. Pulling me in his arms, he kisses me passionately in front of everyone. “You look gorgeous,” he says huskily as his eyes shift in color. Leaning in, he plants a gentle kiss on his mark behind my ear and my knees buckle.

“Y-You look nice too,” I stammer.

“Thank you.” Henry cleared his throat, and Ansel pulled away. “Oh, as if you weren’t just fawning over Maggie,” he says, rolling his eyes.

Henry chuckled. “Yes, but what was just happening was way more than fawning.”

My cheeks redden, and Ansel smirks. “Fair enough,” he said.