Of Gowns and Parties
Another story from the Mistress's Child series.
Her aunt has promised to get her a lovely dinner gown that she had been eyeing for a long time. She knew it would make her so much prettier, and she had promised the Prince that she would wear a nice gown to the party over the weekend.
She just found out that her aunt has decided she would not buy that expensive gown for her. The reason? Her brother decided he would not need that new suit she would buy for him, and did not want to buy it. And if she was not getting anything for the brother, the Mistress’s Child would not get anything as well. Or at least that was what the messenger from her aunt said. Like her father, her aunt had gone back on her word. And now she, too, had to go back on her word to the Prince and wear her hand-me-down dress.
She hated parties. They always made her look bad at the parties.
It was barely a month before the Prince's party, before it was another of those days when parties were held at the Mansion of her father, and she had to attend, for the sake of her mother.
The party-goers were well-dressed, and the servants were all draped in their finest livery. In the middle of the party, her aunt stepped up to make some announcements. Her brother was formally announced as the CEO of the company, whose real estate now include the broken-down house she lived in. She sighed – her brother would become her landlord then, and had certain rights over the house.
There were further news as well. The sprawling mansion had grown so large that it would require two Head Servants, each attending to a wing. Each of them would get an Assistant to attend to the nitty details so that they could put their full attention on making the Mansion even more beautiful, even more awe-inspiring to everyone. Everybody must know that the Family had a Mansion to rival no other.
The Mistress’ Child left the party sadly. She really had no mood to stay on. Her mother was already ailing, and doctors had given her possibly another 5 to 10 more years to live. Her aunt had assured her that she would be given a place in the Mansion once her mother passed away, but what kind of love would await her at the Mansion? Would she ever be accepted there?
Her faithful Butler answered the doorbell with his customary, “Welcome back, Little Mistress.” She smiled at him. This was a man who came in many years ago, to serve as a simple house servant to her mother. When her mother fell ill and he had to take up a stronger role in the house, she had argued and fought hard with her father for him to become a Head Servant, and get paid accordingly – but to no avail. Her broken-down house did not need a Head Servant, and her father was not willing to pay for one.
As the Butler prepared to fetch her a glass of hot water (he knew what she wanted, without her telling him!), she smiled to herself. At least she managed to convince her aunt to create a position of Butler, a position that not even the Mansion had. She knew that the Butler was happy just to serve her, but how she wished she could at least give him an assistant! Her house was a small one, but not one easily taken care of by one servant.
The Mistress’ Child sighed again, and massaged her aching shoulders. She had no idea that attending parties was so tiring.
Her aunt has promised to get her a lovely dinner gown that she had been eyeing for a long time. She knew it would make her so much prettier, and she had promised the Prince that she would wear a nice gown to the party over the weekend.
She just found out that her aunt has decided she would not buy that expensive gown for her. The reason? Her brother decided he would not need that new suit she would buy for him, and did not want to buy it. And if she was not getting anything for the brother, the Mistress’s Child would not get anything as well. Or at least that was what the messenger from her aunt said. Like her father, her aunt had gone back on her word. And now she, too, had to go back on her word to the Prince and wear her hand-me-down dress.
She hated parties. They always made her look bad at the parties.
It was barely a month before the Prince's party, before it was another of those days when parties were held at the Mansion of her father, and she had to attend, for the sake of her mother.
The party-goers were well-dressed, and the servants were all draped in their finest livery. In the middle of the party, her aunt stepped up to make some announcements. Her brother was formally announced as the CEO of the company, whose real estate now include the broken-down house she lived in. She sighed – her brother would become her landlord then, and had certain rights over the house.
There were further news as well. The sprawling mansion had grown so large that it would require two Head Servants, each attending to a wing. Each of them would get an Assistant to attend to the nitty details so that they could put their full attention on making the Mansion even more beautiful, even more awe-inspiring to everyone. Everybody must know that the Family had a Mansion to rival no other.
The Mistress’ Child left the party sadly. She really had no mood to stay on. Her mother was already ailing, and doctors had given her possibly another 5 to 10 more years to live. Her aunt had assured her that she would be given a place in the Mansion once her mother passed away, but what kind of love would await her at the Mansion? Would she ever be accepted there?
Her faithful Butler answered the doorbell with his customary, “Welcome back, Little Mistress.” She smiled at him. This was a man who came in many years ago, to serve as a simple house servant to her mother. When her mother fell ill and he had to take up a stronger role in the house, she had argued and fought hard with her father for him to become a Head Servant, and get paid accordingly – but to no avail. Her broken-down house did not need a Head Servant, and her father was not willing to pay for one.
As the Butler prepared to fetch her a glass of hot water (he knew what she wanted, without her telling him!), she smiled to herself. At least she managed to convince her aunt to create a position of Butler, a position that not even the Mansion had. She knew that the Butler was happy just to serve her, but how she wished she could at least give him an assistant! Her house was a small one, but not one easily taken care of by one servant.
The Mistress’ Child sighed again, and massaged her aching shoulders. She had no idea that attending parties was so tiring.
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