Prologue
The noise rang up from downstairs.
Almost every noble in town crowded the grand ballroom with their laughter. Music started flowing into the noise as the voices got louder. People were still arriving, I assumed. I ran a little late that night, battling with my governess about which dress would match my mask. I rarely dressed up and wanted to feel my best that night—a small change to my routine life. Milly laid a dress on my bed, so dark a red it was almost black, along with some rather bedazzled flats. She knew I would dance till my legs gave out and thought she would at least choose some comfortable shoes for me. I went over to the bed and touched the soft fabric. It seemed a bit dusty, but the old smell of it gave me a weird comfort.
“I had to dig this old thing up, but it suits your mask quite well, Ina.”
I picked up the dress so it hung in front of me. I admired the black lace trim. I stepped into it, then walked to my mirror to admire the soft velvet draped beautifully down my thin body. As did the straps hanging just off my shoulders. It formed my body as Mil came over to zip up the back.
”Thank you, Mil, it looks just as I hoped.” I said, smoothing it down my thighs and noticing that there was a slit hitting so high on my hip, it was a bit scandalous. I opened it a bit, showing off what I was proud of.
Mil bowed and walked out of the room, giving me some space. I looked at myself in the mirror holding up my mask. I could barely recognize myself in such attire. I usually wore lanky dresses and aprons so my clothes wouldn’t get dirty while I worked. I took a deep breath closing my eyes, preparing myself for a probably less than enjoyable conversation with my parents. I walked to my door, and stood at the top of the stairs, looking down onto the people who crowded the dimly lit entrance. I see my mother and father walking over to a seemingly wealthy man, based on his over-the-top attire. He kisses both my mother's cheeks and shakes hands with my father. I tried to distract myself, looking for him. He was always my rock at parties like these.
I looked around waiting to see a platinum blonde, who probably towers over everyone here. Then I spotted Ernest as he walked over into the ballroom. He is 3 years older than me and is almost like a big brother. We grew up together, which meant he got to witness all of my family's struggles. He was always there when I got into a fight with my parents. Always there when I needed someone to confide in or stay the night with. He and his family always came to our weekend parties, knowing I had no one else to be around. Also, his parents were just as insistent as mine about attending these parties. Parties I would usually get drunk at if he wasn't around. Most nights I would dance with random men, hoping that one of them would drop dead so the night could be over. At times like this, life reminded me that my parents were only willing to come home from work when there were drinks and gossip available.
I made my way down, seeing my parents at the foot of the stairs talking to the same rich man, who probably only came here to write a new name on his list of mistresses.
My mom noticed me first, her face still full of laughter. Her cheeks were red.
“Oh honey, you finally came down! I saw Ernest in the dancing hall if you want to go find him.”
My dad turned around next, giving me a small frown.
“Dear, wear your mask. You represent this household. Play the part please.”
I stared at him blank-faced and watched them both turn away to talk about someone supposedly getting married to their cousin. I walked through the crowd of people, some of them parting the way so that I could get through. Most of them were too drunk to even realize I was there. I made it to the floor, putting on my mask while trying to find my missing friend. I walk around the dancing people, my heavy velvet dress flowing like water at my ankles. I could see surprisingly well through my mask. I stopped, remembering to put on my pouch of dancing ribbons. No one had asked for one yet, thank goodness.
A big hand clasped my right shoulder and I spun around to find a tall masked man wearing a navy blue suit, the top of his undershirt unbuttoned. I let out a small huff of amusement as I turned to face him completely.
“I’m sorry, It took me a minute to find you. These masks are no joke.”
I raise my eyebrows at him as if I know he's lying. My hand grabbed and tugged at his collar lightly.
”Oh, I’m sure a beautiful woman didn’t have anything to do with you taking so long, huh?”
He looks down at his shirt, and looks up, tucking his lips tightly together.
“Listen, it wasn’t my fault she was dancing with me like it was foreplay. She had been eyeing me all night.”
He starts buttoning his shirt back up.
“Also, I think there’s something anonymous about these masks. Makes people bold or something.”
“Uh-huh.” I say with one eyebrow up.
He shrugs and I push his arm and lead him to the floor.
We both danced, looking like wild animals. We used these nights to get out of our heads, have fun, and let go of our troubles. Everybody was drunk anyway, why should we have cared what we looked like? We spun and spun weaving through people down the line in the dim light. The chandeliers up above made it even more euphoric, along with our lightheaded breathing. The song ended and we bowed to each other, looking back up grinning widely with sweat beading on our foreheads. Whenever Ernest was here, I didn't mind these parties. He made me feel guilt-free about embarrassing myself, which I just considered having fun. We walked to the side of the room to take a break and I slumped onto one of the dusty velvet chairs, panting. Ernest stood right next to me, opening up his shirt again from the heat.
“That is one of my favorite dances.” He says panting as a waiter offers him a drink.
He takes two and hands one to me. I drink it slowly, remembering the last time I got drunk at one of these parties. Let’s say it ended with me tumbling into a statue of my father. I couldn’t go to a party for another week. Not that I especially wanted to. I stayed up in my room, listening to all the laughter and music while Mil braided my hair before bed. I couldn't sleep that night.
The music started playing again. I looked up to Ernest to ask if he wanted to go again, but I saw him staring at a woman across the room and assumed it was the one who made him late. I nudge him, the corner of my mouth lifting.
“Go on, I’m gonna take a little break anyway.” I winked at him.
He gave me a look, and with a nod, I assured him it was alright. He walked away, turning around to give me a thumbs up. I gave him a nudging gesture with my head and he was off, strutting towards the girl. She was blonde just like him and was wearing a black poofy dress with a shallow neckline. I assumed that's what made him look in the first place.
I threw my head back over the chair letting my bangs fall, giving my sweaty forehead some air. Goosebumps suddenly went all over my body, centering at my thighs that were exposed by the slit in my dress. I turn my head to the right, still hanging back on my chair. A man in a red suit, matching my dress, was sitting leisurely in a chair across the room from me. His arms lay gently on the arms rests as he sat back and played with a coin in his hand. The dancers would cover him now and again, but he never broke eye contact with me. I stared back, surprised at his boldness, but not undeterred myself.
I sat my head back up and admired his form. He looked pretty tall for that chair but everything about him was perfectly proportional. Maybe it was his build, or how he slowly fiddled with that coin while staring at her, but something made her start sweating again. I sat up, my bangs hitting my forehead again as the rest of my winded hair fell forward, framing the mask on my face. He tilted his head and looked away. I got up, still watching him. Maybe Ernest was right, there was something anonymous about these masks that made me bold enough to walk over. I weaved around the dancers. My dress was flowing behind me, making the slit up my leg open as I walked.
I stopped in front of him, not saying a word. He didn’t move, only looking up at me, giving me chills yet again. All I did was take one of my dancing ribbons from my pouch and let it fall right onto his thigh. He looked at it and then at me slowly. He took a drink from a waiter walking by and chugged it in one swing. He got up, took my hand, and pulled me to the center of the room.
“I see you can read me pretty well even with this mask on.” He said as we stopped in the middle of the crowd of people.
“It’s easy to read people when you know you want the same thing,” I said, giving him a small smirk.
We looked at each other for a second. I saw that his eyes through the mask were a dark, dark green. They looked genuine. He smiled a bit and by some miracle, the music to my favorite waltz started to play. He took my hand, leading it to his shoulder where he set it gently. His touch was kind. A suggestion, not an order.
He took my other hand in his and put his other on my lower back. My mouth opened slightly at the abruptness of his touch on my skin. He was warm standing in front of me, and our hearts quickened right before the dance started. He guided me backward, letting my head hang to come right back up to meet his gaze. He spun me out and brought me back in, both our hands clasped in the middle of us. We let go, switching places with the person to our left, and coming back together in the center. I kept looking at him, as he watched my every move. It was like I was a piece of art to him, that he was trying so hard to take it all in for the short time we had. I did the same, watching how elegant his moves were, how effortless we were together as the music sped up and up.
The dance ended, and he bowed to me, his light brown hair laying on his shoulders as he rose back up. We stood there as the people dispersed, not knowing what to do now. I had the urge to take him into a dark corner and see what he looked like under that mask. But I didn't want to spoil what was so pure. To tamper with something so rare and fragile as our encounter. Seeing as I had never experienced something like this, ever. Instead, I saw his head shoot to the side as if looking for someone. He put his hand up as if to say, just a minute. I didn't catch who he was gesturing to. He looked back at me, slowly walking forward until his head was next to my cheek. He smelled like sweat and heat. My heart was beating so fast I could barely hear what he was about to say.
“For the first time, I hope I don’t forget about my night the next morning.”
He flashed those green eyes at me. But only for a second before he walked away, heading for the door. Everyone else in the room seemed to disappear as I watched him walk away. I was breathless, thanking Mother Earth for her boldness. For I would have never experienced such a wave of emotions otherwise. I watched him walk out the door, two other people accompanying him. They appeared to be his parents. I wasn't surprised, he looked about my age. I went to find my chair so that I could fall into it again. I let out a sigh with a beaming smile on my face.
“Man, never thought I'd see you that happy at one of your parents' parties.” Said Ernest as he walked up beside me. He leaned on the wall behind him. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, letting my hand rest there, waiting for my heart to slow down.
“I never thought I would either.”
