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“At Broadstone Hall, we are not preoccupied with such formalities as they are in theton. I will serve as your guide, and your Master of Ceremonies. In fact, you can call me Master Bow. We’ll be getting to know each other quite well before the Ball is over. First, I will introduce you to our host, the fabulous Countess of Stalbridge, and then I will make sure you are seen to your suite.”
“My bag.” Phillipa looked behind her as the horses trotted away. Ainslee was in there! “I need to get dressed before I meet her.”
“It will be brought to your room. Everything will be taken care of while you’re here, Miss Willoughby. You will not have a care in the world while you stay at Broadstone Hall. We’re here to cater to your every indulgence. And you will have many chances to indulge at the Ball. We have the finest selection of monsters waiting to meet you.”
Her mouth went dry at the mention of the monsters. They were here. She’d never been in close contact with one. Oh, she’d seen them on the streets of London, but they’d kept to themselves. Even though she and Ainslee had talked about the possibilities that awaited her at the Ball, it had never felt real until this very moment.
What would it be like to speak to one? To let one take her in his arms and twirl her around on the dance floor.
To kill one….
“Countess Stalbridge, I present to you, Miss Phillipa Willoughby.”
Phillipa snapped to attention. A grand woman stood before her. Dressed in a moss-green velvet gown that accentuated her dark skin and a matching fascinator with feathers that sprayed straight into the air, she smiled; a warm, motherly gesture that Phillipa had so sorely missed.
But it was short-lived. She pursed her lips as her gaze raked over Phillipa. Stopping to access the sun-reddened skin on her cheeks and again for the dirt stains at the bottom of her skirts.
“Miss Willoughby. I expected you to take this invitation seriously.”
“I-I am.”
The woman harrumphed. “I am your hostess, the Countess of Stalbridge. Her Majesty assured me that you would be an excellent addition to this affair. I would never question the Queen, so I’m sure she has her reasons for selecting you. As you can see, many of the ladies have already arrived and dressed for dinner. The Ball begins this evening. You’ll be shown to your room, and then you’ll meet with Master Bow again. I see we’ll be putting his magic to the test.”
“My sincerest apologies, Your Excellency. It means a lot to me that I was invited to this Ball.” Phillipa curtsied. Already she could tell the energy here was different. Exciting. “I promise I will not let you down.”
It was a promise, however, she wasn’t sure she would be able to keep it.
The High Tea
Dearest Reader,
This month’s Monsters Ball has opened with quite the scandal. Miss Phillipa Willoughby—also known as the Duchess of Chelmsford—arrived at the Ball in the most scandalous manner. She came completely undone, not in a proper dress and most likely fresh from her beloved garden, not ready to be received by Countess Stalbridge or any of the finest monsters in the bête monde.
I have it on good authority that the countess was quite tempted to ask Phillipa to return home, but she would not defy the Queen’s choice.
Rumor has it that Her Majesty chose Miss Willoughby for the Ball for these precise reasons. After the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Wesley, Duke of Chelmsford, she was encouraged to return to society for another season in the marriage mart. She refused.
Of course, there is no refusing the Queen’s demand, but we will be watching with great interest to see how Miss Willoughby behaves at this most important social event, and what the implications of those actions may be.
Until next time, sip slowly, my friends.
Lady Grey
ChapterFive
Phillipa
“Well, that was absolutely dreadful.” Phillipa closed the door to her room and leaned against it, closing her eyes and wishing she had another chance to make a first impression on Countess Stalbridge. The hostess was putting on an impressive production for her benefit and she’d already disappointed her. She did not know what it would mean for the rest of her time here. Phillipa had wished to not garner too much attention during her stay, since her goal for the next three days differed greatly from the countess’s.
Master Bow, on the other hand, seemed pleased to have a blank slate to work with. Phillipa looked forward to having him dress her in the most stylish finery. How she wished she’d paid more attention to Bernadette when she prattled on about this Season’s latest styles. Again, she didn’t want to draw too much attention, but to pull off her plan, she needed to be alluring, discreet, and most importantly, fearless.
The latter would take some work.
“How could you possibly think anything here is dreadful? Look at this room! It’s gorgeous!” Ainslee’s wings sprayed shards of pink, teal, and purple light through the room as they fluttered. She was positively radiant—practically glowing like the flame of a candle.
The third floor room was small but spectacularly furnished, with heavy purple curtains framing the windows and flowering vines of roses papering the walls. The bed was larger than the one Phillipa shared with Bernadette at home, carved from rich wood, and she could get lost in the stack of decorative pillows. A single painting hung on the wall, just above the bed. A princely creature with horns and claws offered a glass slipper to his lady.
It was beautiful, slightly grotesque, and Phillipa couldn’t shake the feeling that this very scene had played out more than once on the grounds of Broadstone Hall.
