It was the first time Katie had seen the self-assured Katherine lose composure, and it was almost enjoyable watching it. "I understand perfectly," Katie told her, "and I apologize to you if I have chosen the wrong costume for this affair. I do get over zealous when it comes to dressing up. I just love costume balls, croyez-moi! I hope I have not offended you."
Katherine smiled with relief that Katie hadn't pressed the point about her sister. "No, not at all, your costume is quite fine and looks lovely on you. I only wish I had the loan of your seamstress for my gown. As it is I had to borrow my half-sister's seamstress. She has done a suitable job on my costume, but it does not compare to the elegance of yours. If you should ever let your girl go, please do not hesitate to send her to me."
Katie smiled to herself. She decided to play the game, since she was enjoying herself so much already. "I would never dream of letting my seamstress go. You know she came with me from France and knows all the latest styles and fashions. Not to sound immodest, but I am probably the best dressed woman in these parts."
"You must be very pleased then," Katherine said, and Katie could tell she was starting to feel irritated.
The orchestra began to play once again and a masked stranger came and led Katherine away in a gavotte. The couples began twirling about the room and Alden and Katie stood staring at one another. As Alden saw a man approaching them, apparently intent on asking Katie to be his partner, he turned to her. “Voulez-vous danser?” he asked with a smile, and swept her out onto the floor once again with him, before she could answer his question.
Katie caught her breath. “Parle-vous Francaise?” she asked. She did not realize that Alden spoke or understood French.
“A little,” Alden grinned down at her. "I hope you will forgive me for being so forward in dancing with you without receiving your permission, but I wanted to talk to you before someone else steals you away from me."
Katie raised a darkened eyebrow, but said nothing.
"You have been very understanding, concerning Lady Winslow's mistake," he began. “And by the way, you were right. Of course, it was easy to confuse you with someone else because you were in costume. That is what you asked Katherine in French, isn’t it?”
Katie laughed up at him. “She was making such a big to-do about the costume, thinking her half-sister had tried to out-shine her.”
“Well, in spite of the remark, you have been gracious in understanding the faux pas, Lady Winslow made.
"But, of course, I am her guest," Katie pointed out. "She has made it possible for me to enjoy this elegant affair. It is of little consequence that she should have mistaken me for her half-sister."
"You are somewhat like Alain. Perhaps that is the reason I feel we have met before, but I don’t ever recall meeting a sweet French Maiden here about. In spite of your ancient, your voice sounds quite familiar.”
"You sound familiar also," Katie teased, "but since I do not know who you are, behind that mask, how should I know if we know one another?" she asked.
Alden chuckled. "Of course, you are quite right. I suppose we shall have to wait until the unmasking before we discover whether we are friend or foe!" he joked.
Katie knew he would never discover who the Snow Queen really was. She expected to escape the masquerade before the unmasking, and her only worry was not to betray herself before then.
They danced the rest of the number in silence and then Alden bowed and begged her pardon. As he departed from her, Katie stood alone for only a moment. She had already caught the eye of many of the guests and she was soon surrounded by curious admires who wanted to fill her dance card and guess her true identity.
Some of them, like Katherine, had thought she might be Alain, but when she spoke, they realized their mistake. Alain was bubbly and gay, and had a young light voice. Katie, with her fake French accent, was very calm and somewhat quiet, and even though she no longer had to disguise her voice, she decided to carry out her French masquerade. After all, that was what the mystery of a masquerade ball was all about, wasn’t it, being in mysterious disguise?
As the evening wore on, Katie became even more sure of herself, and found herself enjoying all the attention she attracted. She noticed Katherine was managing to avoid her, and though she wished that Alden would claim another dance with her, he seemed quite busy with all the guests. She was always surrounded by various admirers who kept her twirling to the music, and tried to coax her between dances to reveal herself to them. So she had little chance to observe Alden or Katherine during the evening.
She secretly pretended that she was the returning heiress and that this ball had been thrown for her. After all, she thought, this was probably the only chance she would ever have to attend something like this again. Even if she had to face the truth of her dismal future, tonight she was the bell of the ball and no one could take that away from her.
For the first time in weeks, Katie felt relaxed and happy. She let herself dream as she pretended to be a lady of high fashion. Her costume was very becoming on her. The jewels sparkled, the feathers floated, and the satin shimmered with every movement she made. She felt that she truly was Cinderella, which Alain suggested she play the part of. She sighed to herself as she realized that, like Cinderella, her evening must end at the stroke of midnight.
Her dance card was full, and between the dances she was constantly entertained by her male admirers. She found herself suddenly full of life, something she had seldom been since her mother died. She had always been so sheltered, and had never had occasion to even converse with young men, let alone dance with any, so this was truly a new awakening for her.
Katie was enjoying herself so immensely, that she lost all track of time, until someone mentioned that the unmasking was drawing near and they were anxious to discover just who she was. She looked anxiously towards the glass paneled doors that led out into the garden, wondering how she was going to escape from those waiting near her, without being noticed.
Katie began to feel a little frantic and feared that she would be caught in her deception. She would have to hurry and find a way out to the garden without anyone following her. The evening had been glorious, but Katie was not anxious to pay the price that Katherine would demand if she found Katie had deceived both her and Alden with her little performance.
There hadn't been a chance to do much spying on Katherine, or learn what the guests thought of the mysterious heiress. The conversation had always been centered around Katie, herself and who she could possibly be. Perhaps they even thought that she was the mysterious heiress returned. Apparently, no one could recall a young French woman living in the area and they were all anxious to discover who this mystifying guest was. Katie regretted that she would have very little to report to Alain, but she knew she must leave now, or be caught in her charade.
Suddenly the orchestra struck a chord. As the drums rolled, and the trumpets sounded, Katie felt her palms go clammy for she realized it was the sign for the guests to prepare for the unmasking. All eyes turned towards the balcony which housed the orchestra, where the conductor would give the signal at the stroke of midnight for the guests to remove their masks. Katie let out her breath. This was her chance to slip away unnoticed.
She made her way around the edge of the hall and through the French doors, leading out to the courtyard. Her heart was beating calmer now that she was nearing the willow tree. As she let out her breath in relief, she heard a voice behind her. Katie gasped, and spun around to see Alden approaching her.
"What is your hurry mon che`re?" he beckoned. "Aren't you going to stay for the unmasking? You know I have been looking forward to learning who you are. There is something so familiar about you, and no one attending the ball knows of a French woman living in the area, which makes it all the more mysterious! It makes me wonder how you got an invitation. Certainly, you don’t intend to disappoint us all!"
Katie said nothing but only stared with wide anxious eyes as he came to her side. "You are not running away
are you," he teased, “only to leave a glass slipper behind?”
Katie didn't move as Alden reached her, and to her astonishment, pulled her close to him. He lifted her face to the moonlight. "You look frightened, mon amie" he said a little apologetically. "Are you afraid of me, or afraid I may find out who you truly are? Surely that should not distress you. It’s only a party, after all, and we wish all our guests to feel at ease."
Katie looked away from him and tried to slip from his grasp, but he only pulled her closer and, with one hand, started to remove her mask.
"Come now, you have teased everyone here all night. I am not the only one who is impatient to know who the little French Snow Queen is. When I saw you leave I could not let you get away so easily. It would not be fair to our guests. They have all been waiting to see who you are. The whole Hall has buzzed with their speculations on your identity. Some even believe you are Katherine Gail. How can you disappoint them so?"
Alden did not wait for her to answer, as with one swift movement he removed her mask. As the mask fell free, his sleeve caught on her wig, causing it to tumble from her head. Katie's long red locks fell, billowing about her shoulders, and Alden stopped short in amazement.
"Katie! What the devil...?" Then he laughed softly as he pulled her close to him once again. "So, it was you all the time, you little minx! A little French woman, are you, mon che`re? This is why we were never able to find Alain among the guests. You were wearing her costume, but why?"
Katie opened her mouth to explain, but he brushed her answer aside. "Never mind, knowing Alain, I think I understand. Just look at you, though! You were so charming all evening, with that alluring French accent. The Bell of the Ball! You acted as though you were born to a high station in life. I couldn't even get near you after I let you out of my arms. I can't believe it. Who would have guessed that practical Katie, the little seamstress, could spin the aura of mystery about her the way you did tonight?"
"I'm...I'm' sorry if I was stepping out of place but..."
Alden didn't seem to be listening. "The way you handled Katherine, claiming you and your seamstress came from France. You are certainly clever, and a grand little actress! And speaking French so fluently…I wonder if Kathrine even understands French?" Alden let out an amused chuckle. “But what amazes me, is that you speak French! You say you come from lowly stock, and are even a bastard, yet your education seems to belie that claim. It makes me wonder if you are being totally honest about who you really are?”
Katie, who had felt so sure of herself all night, now felt at a total loss. "I'm sure you are flattering me beyond all reason," Katie said, not knowing how to turn Alden's compliments. “It was my mother who spent her hard earned money to get me a tutor so I would have a good education. She had high hopes for me, I guess.”
"As well she should have,” he praised. "You are a woman of strange qualities. I don't know what to make of you?"
Katie was strongly aware of Alden's hands on her shoulders, and of the lock of dark hair that always seemed to fall across his forehead in such a provocative way. His breath mingled with hers as he bent his head close to her. She had to force herself to stare back into his eyes without trembling at his very touch. He looked intensely into her eyes, not seeming to notice that her fists were clenched against her sides trying to fight back the sudden emotion that was creeping through her.
"From the moment I first laid eyes on you, Katie, you have never ceased to amaze me!" The whisper was almost a rasp. "The first night you came down my staircase in Lorna's green dress...I had no idea I had stumbled upon such a beautiful prize. Now tonight, you conducted yourself as if you were used to a glittering social life. It is a shame that you have to be hidden away in that sewing room of yours. You were born into the wrong station in life, Katie. You should have been a princess or at least a Grand Lady. Yet even without a proper birth, you handle yourself as a Grand Lady would!"
"Alden!..Alden! Oh there you are, Alden!" Katherine stood in the doorway of the lighted ballroom and was waving to Alden. "What on earth are you doing out there?" She hadn't seen Katie in the shadows.
"I'm coming, Katherine," Alden called. "Go back and take care of your guests. I'll be with you shortly."
Katherine gave him a puzzled look, but obeyed, and he turned back to Katie. She had extracted herself from his hold, and was backing away. This had all been a drastic miss choice on her part, Katie scolded herself. She never should have pretended she was something that she wasn’t!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Alden reached out and captured Katie’s hand in his. "What is the matter Katie? Are you running away from me again? What have I done to offend you now?"
"Nothing, just...please leave me alone," she said as her voice broke a little.
"Why, I thought we had decided to become friends? I so much enjoyed the ride we had together. We need to go ridding together again soon."
"No!” Katie suddenly realized that she was the seamstress, and he was Lord of Emerson Manor. The make-believe game was over, and she had to come to grips with her true position, as far as Alden was concerned. The need of him was too strong for her to even risk any close association with him.
“It is just better that you don't get yourself involved with me," she cast her eyes from him. "I am just the seamstress. You have your heiress to worry about. How could you possibly find time to go riding with me? You have your hands full with Katherine and Alain fighting over your attention."
Katie pulled her hand free and turned away, escaping to shelter of the willow tree, but found Alden was on her heels, grasping her wrist once again. He jerked her back around to face him. Why was she being so aggravating? It was true he had been preoccupied with all the events of late, but somehow Katie could not be ignored, nor the way she had of constantly impressing him when he least expected it. It seemed she was persistently in his mind, disrupting his already confused situation.
"Why must you keep hiding from me Katie? I have made it very clear to you that I wish to be your friend. Isn’t that a good enough reason to share each other’s company? It doesn't make any difference about my station in life or yours. Katherine and Alain are also my friends, but I don't forsake one friend for another. You keep trying to remind me that you are only the seamstress. When I look at you I do not think to myself… This is only a seamstress and I am a man with a title. I say, this is Katie and she is a very lovely young woman and I like being near her." His voice softened. "To tell you the truth, Kate, I have been attracted to you from the beginning, even when you were covered with all that mud! I find you very alluring, and rather exciting.” He hesitated, catching Katie’s unresisting eyes with his. “I can’t seem to...control the strange draw you have on me...and I...I would very much like to kiss you at this very moment."
Katie's heart gave an involuntary leap, but she stiffened.
"No! Don't...don’t say that! You are obligated to Katherine! Aren't you supposed to be betrothed? What would Katherine think if she knew you were under a tree kissing the...seamstress...?"
Alden gave a soft chuckle. "Only I have not kissed the seamstress yet," he teased. "Why should you worry about my betrothal? Do you think I am taking any of that seriously? No one can force me to marry against my will. It matters little what Katherine thinks, or has to say. It is you, not her that I shall be kissing." He turned her chin up. The touch was electrifying. His exasperatingly magnetic eyes captured her very being.
"What are you afraid of Katie? Haven't you ever been kissed before? Surely a woman as lovely looking as yourself, has been pursued by many men. Look at you tonight. Every man in the room was at your side at one time or another. I am sure they all wished they could steal a kiss from you."
Katie's heart was pounding so erratically that she couldn't answer or move. She only stared helplessly back into those all-consuming eyes and timidly tried to imagine what it would be like to be kissed by him?
His face moved closer to hers. "Those sassy lips of yours look as though they
need a good kissing," he breathed against her face. "I should have done it long ago, when I held you in my arms at Emerson Manor, or when we fell from our horses together. I was mad not to have attempted to taste that pout of yours sooner!"
She closed her eyes, instinctively as she felt his lips brushed hers, lightly, at first. Even that soft touch sent exploding sensations through Katie's body. It only made her hunger for more, and he obliged her by covering her lips with his, causing her very soul to surge up to meet his. She felt him crush her soft body against his strong one, as he pulled her into a tight embrace. His fingers entwined in her flowing hair and he pulled her head back gently to consumed the beauty of her face with his hungry eyes. "You are so damn beautiful, Katie! Everything about you intrigues me!"
She let her breath out, trembling with the emotions that were surging through her body. She was confused, excited, contented, and frightened all at the same time. What was happening to her? Was she crazy? This was absurd!
She knew it was just the magic of the moment. Alden couldn't possibly be serious about the kiss! He was only infatuated with the way she had managed to weave so much mystery around herself all night. He had been drinking champagne, as were the other guests, she reasoned, trying to find an answer for this madness. Perhaps, he had a few glasses too many? She should not let his advances affect her so strongly, but now he was pulling her to him again, encasing her mouth in his, pulling her very heart into her throat as he encouraged her to submit to his probing lips.
In spite of her doubts as to Alden’s motivation for kissing her, Katie, too, wanted to explore the taste and touch of his mouth on hers. She tried to ignore her own inner warnings as she sank deeper into his arms, savoring the warm feeling of protection that it gave her. This was not right, she kept telling herself, but then why did it feel so right to her? She felt him lowering her to the soft grass beneath the tree as his lips became more insistent covering her face with kisses.
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