Chapter Four

Emily was left speechless, mouth agape. “You’re serious.”

“As a heart attack.” Ella was angry with not just Ava but also with her family for accepting the status quo of Ava’s behaviour.

“Not that I’m complaining, but what changed your mind?”

“Ava. I don’t want to go into why.” It was explanation enough, Ella thought.

“Ok, will you let me get you ready?” Emily didn’t push for more details. Just glad Ella was going.

Ella thought for a minute. Why not! If you’re committed to something, you should fully commit. “Yes”

Em clapped in excitement. “Ashwell will not know what hit them.”

 Standing in front of the mirror, Ella was completely taken aback by her reflection. This couldn’t be her. She looked completely different from both her twin sister and her usual self.

Ella even shared her feelings with Emily.

Which Em had replied there was a difference between class and cheap. Ella had all the class and Ava had all the cheap.

Ella couldn’t believe the ball was tonight. After telling Em she would go, it had been a whirlwind of activity. Not giving her time to think about what she had committed herself to.

Even early this morning, they had both driven to the next town to get their hair trimmed. Because Ella worn her hair up all the time, she only got it trimmed every six months. Never in town where anyone could see her. Ella didn’t have a regular hairdresser just finding someone in London or a nearby town.

The spray was removed from Ella’s hair, leaving behind a gorgeous light golden blonde colour. Her hair, styled in a renaissance fashion, was elegantly tamed with waves flowing down to her waist and pinned back at the sides. Ella never showed her hair in its natural state. No one in town had ever seen it. Em had been utterly amazed.

The fabric used for Ella’s mask coordinated flawlessly with her dress, displaying hues of green, blue, and purple. It was devoid of feathers. Just lace and diamante’s and tied with a ribbon into her hair.

Em had decided to craft a dress from scratch for her. Ella would have never chosen this for herself. The colour was a gorgeous emerald green shot with electric blue and purple.

Fabric glided over her body, resembling water as it transformed colours with each movement. The dress’s cut was a perfect fit for the fabric. The bodice had thin straps and a low-cut neckline, and it was completely backless. It started just below the dimples at the curve of her waist, cupping her bottom before flaring out into a train.

At first glance, the dress seemed to have an A-line silhouette in the front, but it transformed when she moved and turned. The fullness of her skirt was concentrated at the back. It was an unfamiliar experience for Ella to see so much of her bust revealed.

Em had put a lot of effort into her makeup, creating a dark and mysterious look that complemented her mask. It accentuated the colour of her blue eyes. Her mouth looked fuller than it already was.

“Wow.” That was the only words Ella could come up with to express her appreciation for what Emily had done for her. 

“Oh Ell, you look hot.”

Ella remained speechless at her own reflection as Em joined her in front of the mirror.

Emily was stunning in a classic black Audrey Hepburn-style dress. Simple but elegant. Instead of white gloves like the outfit from the breakfast at Tiffany’s movie, she had chosen pink.

“It’s incredible how fast you made this dress.” Ella finally said.

“It’s been made awhile Ell. It has been waiting for you for 2 years. I hadn’t intended to give it to you just yet. I was going to dye that unused and unwanted wedding dress I had been making. Then I remembered how mysterious this ball was with all the masks.” Emily shrugged before adding. “This dress is perfect for it. While on a fabric buying trip in London a few years back, I came across this fabric and immediately thought of you. I planned to give it to you once you emerged from your cocoon. It turned out much more visually appealing than I anticipated. Ava might be thin, but you, babe, have a smoking hot physique.”

Ella reached over and grabbed Em’s hand. Her friend’s handmade gift to her was so incredible that she felt overwhelmed with emotion. Saying to herself, ‘I will not cry. I can’t cry because Emily would kill her after all her hard work.’

“I’m just glad I had some nice shoes to do it justice.” Pulling back her dress to look at her shoes, that she had found for her wedding, beautiful silver crystal strappy heels.

“I’ve got an additional item that pairs perfectly with the dress.” Em said as she moved to the clothes stand holding a garment bag.

Ella spun around. “Em, no! you have done enough.”

Grinning, she produced a midnight blue cloak, fully equipped with a hood. The trim of the cloak perfectly matches the dress. The light from the floor lamp in Emily’s bedroom was causing the trim to change in colour. 

“It’s lovely.” tears welling in her eyes. How did she deserve a friend like Em?

“Don’t you cry and mess up your makeup, Ella. We don’t have time for me to fix it.”

This comment made Ella look out the window. Darkness had already fallen outside. Frowning, Ella checked her watch, seeing it was almost time to leave. As the departure time drew closer, Ella’s nervousness intensified, causing her to let out a deep breath. She could do this.

 In just 20 minutes, they reached the Blackwater manor in Emily’s red Ford Fiesta. Parking on the side of the pebbled driveway that circled the front of the picturesque stately home. the stone building stood two storeys high.

Featuring beautiful long windows all around the Manor. The front had wide curved stairs leading to the large double door entry. the Manor had been in the Blackmore family for centuries.

Modified for better plumbing and heating. The modernisation throughout the property has always been careful not to take away from the original beauty and classic look of the manor.

Upon their arrival, Emily’s mother approached to collect her daughter, unaware that Ella was concealed beneath her dark, hooded cloak.

Ella was overcome with nerves and panic, prompting her to retreat quickly from the driveway and seek refuge under the trees along the path to the house, ensuring Em’s mum wouldn’t spot her.

She had arrived, but her uncertainty lingered. Her anger influenced her decision to tell Em she would come. Did she make the correct decision? It wasn’t Ava that frightened her, but rather the potential havoc she could unleash. Ava’s indifference towards causing a scene contrasted with the horror it would bring to Mary Blackwater.

Ella watched as Em looked around for her. Em’s mum, Nancy, led Em down the path towards the house while Em scanned the area for her friend. Ella was hidden within the darkness of the trees, making it impossible to see her.

Did she really want to do this now? She didn’t dress like this with the intention of winning Stephen back. Ava could have him. By departing prior to midnight, she could maintain her anonymity since she wouldn’t be present for the unmasking.

Not entering would cause Em to never speak to her again. Well, for a little while at least. Could she really blame her? While standing among the trees, Ella deliberated with herself until the final person made their way into the manor. Ella despised being late, so she had to decide whether to attend.

Ella couldn’t bring herself to not attend after Emily had invested so much in her outfit, makeup, and hair.

“Deep breath in, deep breath out. You can do this.”

Taking one step forward, then another, until her focus was on each step, not her destination. She continued until she arrived at the front doors that had been left open.

Ella arrived late and noticed two men in matching suits checking invitations to the left of the doors. She slipped by unnoticed, not wanting to interrupt their conversation or draw attention to herself.

Upon arriving at the ballroom, Ella discovered a lady and a man who were responsible for checking coats and handbags. Since Ella hadn’t brought a bag, she only had her cloak, and her invitation was being held by Em, with whom she was staying that night.

She pulled down the hood, took off the cloak, and handed it over to the young woman who stood nearby.

“Thank you.” Ella said politely.

“Wow, miss, you look gorgeous! Here is your ticket for the cloak.” The young woman extended the ticket, which Ella took out of her hand.

Blushing under the mask, “thanks.” Ella was unfamiliar with people giving her compliments about how she looked.

As she turned towards the group in the ballroom, she couldn’t help but notice the many people staring at her. Ella hesitated before moving, unaccustomed to being the centre of so much attention.

They are likely attempting to solve the mystery of her identity. It’s possible that they did that to all the guests entering the ball. Taking a deep breath, Ella fixed a smile on her face, then, as gracefully as possible, made her way across the room. To seem as though she was a natural part of this place. She pushed past her imposter feelings and kept going.