The entire estate seemed to hum with a quiet yet anxiety-inducing excitement! All the servants buzzed about like busy bees as they made their final preparations for the Yule Ball. They decorated the Estate from top to bottom. Garlands of red berries and Holly were interwoven along the marble banisters, great golden candelabras were lit, and a grand, beautiful Christmas tree was placed in the great hall. The sight was utterly breathtaking.
Hearing the servants move to and fro about the halls, Cecilia hid away in her bedroom, where she sat at her small table drawing and sketching the small snowstorm outside. ' Perhaps there will be no Yule Ball," she thought, shivering as she tightened the quilt about her, sniffling. But no, she knew deep down there would be nothing that would deter her mother's ball. Rain or Shine she knew her mother's influence was fiercer than any storm. Tucking her bare feet beneath her quilt she gazed out the small window as she saw the sun begin to set and the servants rush outside to light the lamps. The Yule Ball would start anytime now!
KNOCK KNOCK!
with a gasp, she quickly took hold of her journal and pencils and hid them beneath her quilted blanket.
"Y-Yes come in!" she called out.
With a groan the door swung open as Mrs. Eisen strode inside, her face looking haggard.
"Oh my dear! You're not even close to being ready! If your mother finds out....Wait right here!"
And just as soon as she finished speaking, she rushed out, slamming the door behind her. Stunned, Cecilia clutched her hidden journal and pencils and knew this was her chance. Quickly she rushed over to her bed and shoved them carelessly beneath the mattress. As soon as she hid them, she quickly walked over to her vanity table where she poured some cold water into her basin. Splashing the water upon her face she grimaced as the icy water began to burn her skin. Instinctively she buried her face in the warm quilted blanket and rubbed her freezing cheeks.
BANG!
Cecilia jumped! The door had burst open as Mrs. Eisen and two footmen strode inside. They carried in a medium-sized copper tub and set it down in the middle of the room with a thud. Just as they had set it down and Mrs. Eisen had shooed them away, a few maids had rushed in carrying buckets full of water and began pouring them into the tub.
" Come along now Miss Sholer, Into the tub!" Mrs. Eisen declared, striding over to
Cecilia as she took hold of her quilted blanket and tossed it upon the bed.
With nothing on but her shift, Cecilia stepped inside the tub. The water was lukewarm at best, and just as the water touched her bare skin she began shivering.
"Here you are Miss," Mrs. Eisen said, handing her a wash ball that smelt of thistle and honeyed oats. Shivering, Cecilia took hold of the spherical soap and slowly began lathering it in her hands when Mrs. Eisen sighed impatiently,
"Oh let me help you with that, miss!" She said, snatching the soap from her hands she began to lather and wash Cecilia's black hair.
Feeling Mrs. Eisen's nails scrub roughly against her scalp, Cecilia winced, her eyes beginning to water in pain.
'Please let this be over soon, " she thought.
A cold splash of water had poured over her head, and instinctively she curled inwards.
'So cold!' she thought bitterly, 'I can hardly bare it!'
"Alright Mrs. Errington time to stand up," Mrs. Eisen instructed without skipping a beat.
Shaken and bitterly cold, Cecilia stood shivering fiercely as she carefully stepped out of the tub. Mrs. Eisen then took hold of a big linen towel from one of the maids and began to dry her quickly.
"Now we must get you dressed and downstairs," She said, walking over towards the armoire and taking out Cecilias gown and undergarments.
In a blur Mrs. Eisen and the maids began to dress and do her hair, and before she knew it she was staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She actually looked...pretty.
"There!" Mrs. Eisen sighed wearily, "Now you must hurry downstairs quickly! The guests should be arriving at any minute!"
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