Chapter 60

Eve stepped inside the house with her hands full, and Aunt Aubrey, who was sitting in her resting chair in the living room, caught sight of it. The older woman peered through her reading glasses and said,

“I thought I heard the carriage stop in front of the house.”

“Ah yes. I ran into someone whom I met last Sunday and she dropped me home,” replied Eve, while placing the umbrella at the stand.

“Must have been a nice person?” Aunt Aubrey asked and Eve gave a second before she nodded. “Was it the Moriarty’s who handed these to you?” she asked, looking at Eve walk into the living room.

“It was from Lady Marceline. Allie’s elder sister gave it to me,” replied Eve, carefully placing the gowns on one of the empty cushioned chairs. “She invited me for this upcoming ball that is going to be held in the Moriarty mansion, two weeks from now. She said I might need these clothes.”

“Why does it sound like you aren’t planning to attend it?” Aunt Aubrey’s words were gentle that didn’t raise, she pulled the glasses that had been resting on her face.

Eve placed the other things in her hand before coming around and sitting in another chair. She said, “I am worried something will happen there. A room full of creatures, even with humans being invited, it wouldn’t be safe.”

Aunt Aubrey nodded, “It is always better to be cautious than put oneself in danger. What is the ball about?”

Eve shrugged her shoulders and then reached out for the parchment scroll that was earlier given to her by Lady Marceline. She unrolled the scroll, her eyes moved across the written words and the red seal of the Moriarty family at the bottom.

“It is Mrs. Moriarty’s birthday,” and Eve handed the parchment to her aunt, leaning forward from her chair before letting her back to rest. “The woman hates me with passion. She would breathe out fire if she comes to see me there that day,” she lightly chuckled. “Have you been to a ball before, Aunt Aubrey?”

Aunt Aubrey, who was adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose, answered, “I have. Women and men in their finest clothings and behavior. The rarest delicacies presented, and drinks. Music that will bring people’s feet to the dance floor. The ones I have attended were a sight to behold.”

The way Aunt Aubrey had described it made Eve’s young heart yearn for it. To have a look and be part of it, even if it meant being in the shadows. Not many people who lived in the town of Meadow had the privilege to get an invitation to attend a ball held by the people of high society. After all, the rich liked to socialise only with the rich and not the poor people. And this time, even though she was invited, she didn’t forget Allie say ‘Don’t’, which Eve only believed the little girl didn’t want her to attend the ball.

One day in the future, she would host a ball and she would invite people whom she appreciated, thought Eve to herself. One day.

“Aunt Aubrey, did you hear any news about the coast side?” Inquired Eve.

“Mm, there was one. I heard it from Mrs. Keppler, who heard it from her husband. Who in turn heard it from many other mouths before it came to him,” replied Aunt Aubrey, and she let out a heavy sigh. “It can and cannot be true. Mrs. Keppler said that two weeks ago, someone captured a mermaid.”

On hearing this news, Eve frowned and asked, “Do you know who captured the mermaid?”

The elderly woman shook her head, “She didn’t know any more than what I told you and I didn’t try to push her to ask her husband. The woman has a mouth that can get anyone into trouble. The coasts in the West have never been clear of people and there’s always that one person, who would want to trade things.”

“I know…” whispered Eve.

Over the years as Eve had grown up, she had heard stories of mermaids and mermen being caught by either humans, vampires or werewolves for their own greed and need. Some of the sea creatures didn’t know any better and easily fell into the trap that was laid for them.

“Sometimes I wish it wasn’t this hard. Even humans are spared at times,” muttered Eve, which Aunt Aubrey heard.

“Let us hope and pray that one day maybe not now, but in the future those things will change for better,” Aunt Aubrey assured, not wanting Eve to feel dejected.

“For the better,” Eve softly smiled and then stood up, “I will go and take a bath.”

Minutes later, Eve had immersed herself in the water tub.

She stared at the ceiling of the bathing room while still immersed in water. She stayed there for several minutes more, where she could breathe perfectly. Wondering what fate had in store for her. She had never been able to speak to her kind because they were killed once they stepped on the land.

Once Eve was done bathing, she wiped her wet hair with the towel in her hand. Walking towards the dress that she had placed on the bed that belonged to Lady Marceline, she decided to try them on.

Picking up one of the gowns in her hands, Eve tried to wear it after pulling the zip down. She started from below by letting the smooth silk dress slide up her feet and then legs, and when she pulled it further up, the gown stuck below her waist.

“Just a little more,” Eve said to herself while gently trying to pull it up.

After a minute, she gave up and decided to wear it from above. But when she did that, the gown didn’t move down from her bosom. She questioned in doubt, “Did it grow?”

Moving her body left and right, she tried to wiggle the dress down her body. When she was finally done pulling the dress the way it was supposed to be worn, she walked towards the mirror while her breath came out short because of the tightness around her bosom.

“It does look good,” Eve admitted, looking at the dress and her reflection in the mirror. She turned front and back, standing at the side to look at herself. She said to the reflection in the mirror with a sweet smile, “How are you doing, Lady Genevieve? Everything well and chaotic in the mansion?” The smile on her face fell as she felt she needed to get out of this dress.

If she was ever going to plan to wear this dress, she would have to lose some more weight so that she could fit into it, thought Eve to herself.

But in an effort to get out of the dress, Eve heard a loud tear in the room and her eyes went wide, “Noooo!” The harsh tear didn’t stop, and Eve noticed the zip hadn’t been able to hold itself.

Right then, Eugene knocked on her door, “Miss Eve?”

“Just give me a minute,” replied Eve, changing herself into her regular clothes before opening the door.

Eugene’s eyes fell on the two gowns that now occupied Eve’s bed, and he said, “Oh, you bought new gowns!”

“It was handed down, and it is now torn. I don’t think it can even be mended. The cloth is too delicate,” said Eve looking at the black gown that was torn. She was positive that she and Lady Marceline were of nearly the same size, yet the gown had not fit her right.

“It cannot be mended?” Repeated Eugene, and then he smiled, “Nothing goes to waste in this house, milady. If you allow me, how about I take it from you if it isn’t going to be of any use?”

As she wouldn’t be wearing it, Eve doubted she would have any use for it as she doubted she would even be able to get the same material to mend it. Nodding, she walked to the bed and picked up the gown before handing it to Eugene.

“Thank you, Miss Eve. Your evening tea is ready. Would you like to have it in the living room or would you like me to bring it up here?”

“I will be down there in a moment,” replied Eve. Eugene bowed his head and left the front of the room with the black gown.

A week went by peacefully, where Eve hastily left the Moriarty mansion and didn’t stay in the piano room and instead took a walk in the garden to avoid being asked by Lady Marceline about the ball or the dress that she had given her. She hadn’t come across Miss Rosetta, and somewhere while passing the mansion, Eve had taken a look at it before continuing to walk towards the local carriage stop.

One evening, Eve was helping her aunt in writing a letter to a distant relative. She dipped the tip of the quill into the ink and wrote two words, when they heard a knock on the door.

“Eugene, see who has come at this hour,” said Aunt Aubrey.

“Right away, milady,” Eugene quickly got to the door and opened it. “How m—” he started to cough and clear his throat.

“Who is it?” Aunt Aubrey asked.

“Let me go and take a look,” said Eve, getting up from the ground and making her way to where Eugene was. When she reached, she was surprised.

“Mr. Moriarty.”