Chapter l149

Chapter 0149

Charlotte and I scoured through some magazines, looking at design ideas for new gowns for the Second

Ball.

Since us candidates needed to conceal our true identities as part of the challenge, Elva and I couldn’t match this time. Therefore, every time we saw a cute kids‘ costume, I showed Elva to see if she cared for

We passed by several options. An owl with lots of feathers. A baby seal with pearly white fur trim. A

chameleon with shimmering fabric that changed colors in different lighting.

Finally, halfway through the third magazine, I stopped at a particular striking gown. It was a butterfly

design, bold and beautiful with wings and an assortment of colors.

“Look at this one.” I turned the magazine to Charlotte, who immediately perked upon seeing it.

“Wow! That’s gorgeous!”

With a butterfly, I liked the theme of rebirth. It felt fitting somehow, to go from my old life as a lowly

caterpillar to someone who could dare to dream of flying among the star–like princes.

Someday soon, I would have to transition again back into a butterfly. But for now, I could don my 1

and fly. 1

wings

“It will be a challenge,” I said, pointing to the many seams of the gown. The design required an immense

number of smaller fabric swatches, all sewn together like a stain–glass–mirror of color.

Charlotte shrugged. “We’ve done well on the previous gowns we’ve made. Plus we have all those

swatches left over from before. The only thing we would need is some wire for the wings, but I’m sure I

can scrounge some from around her somewhere.”

Decided, I earmarked the page and we set that magazine aside. Instead, we began to more adamantly search for Elva’s design. So far, she had turned down the bumblebee, the lady bug, a swan, and a cat.

At the picture of the cat costume, she sighed. “Why would I be a cat, Mommy? I want to be a wolf!”

Charlotte and I glanced at each other. Then we poured through the magazines with renewed fervor.

Eventually, we found an acceptable design, a faux–fur trimmed dress with a mask in the shape of a wolf

face.

Elva loved it at once. She grabbed the magazine from my hands and held it to her heart.

“This one! This one, Mommy!”

When she was willing to part with the magazine again, Charlotte and I poured over the required items

and the patterns,

“We don’t have the correct materials to replicate the fur,” Charlotte said. She walked up and down the

table we had covered in all our remnants. “We’d have to order some.”

The Ball was fast approaching, and with my luck, I wasn’t sure we would get what we needed in time.

1 have a better idea,” I said, tapping my chin.

I walked toward the door where Mark was diligently keeping watch.

“Something the matter, Piper?”

“I was just wondering if I could go shopping. We need some things for Elva’s gown, and I’d rather not

have to wait for an order to come in.”

He drew his brows together, frowning but also clearly considering it. “That’s not typically how these

things work. Usually the servants take care of everything.”

“Mark, you know by now that I won’t make someone else do what I am perfectly capable of handling by

myself.”

Mark watched me for a moment, then withdrew a cell phone from his pocket. “Give me a moment.” He

opened a text. I didn’t see to who, or what he said, but I recognized the way his thumbs moved over the

bottom half of the screen.

He only waited a moment for a reply.

“Someone will be here soon to take you. Should I alert the nanny to come stay with Elva?”

I

I glanced behind me, ready to ask Elva if she wanted to come, but she was too busy setting up a tea

party for her stuffed animals. Those usually took all afternoon.

“If you would,” I told Mark.

Ten minutes later, the nanny walked through the door, ready to join Elva, Charlotte, and I for the tea party.