Saturday evening, the day of the ball, Iliana was mostly put together. Earlier that day Dray had given her another dancing lesson, and she was feeling a little more confident than before. With a little less than an hour to go until Dray would be there to pick her up, it was time for Iliana to get ready, so Celsey and Rose went to work. 

It was easy enough to get the dress on, but what took longer was that her helpers kept on tweaking her hair and trying to decide what make-up to put on her face. Iliana said she didn’t want make-up, but Rose said that all the ladies at the balls wore it. So they settled on a little powder and peach colored lip-stick. When everything was ready, there was a knock at the door, which Rose went to answer.

“You look so pretty,” Celsey said, standing behind Iliana as she looked in the mirror. “I wish I were going to a ball.”

“I wish you were coming too,” Iliana said. “Maybe then I wouldn’t be so nervous.”

“Just relax. It’s going to be great.” Iliana returned the smile her friend gave her.

Rose came back up with a handful of Blue Jewels.

“Dray said they were for your hair,” she explained.

“He’s here?” Anxiety bubbled in Iliana’s throat.

“Oh yes, and he looks so handsome in his suit.” Rose and Celsey started sticking the flowers into her hair. “At least these will ensure it doesn’t come undone.” The last one Celsey stuck behind Iliana’s ear.

“Done,” Celsey said. Iliana looked in the mirror, hardly recognizing herself. “Let’s go show Dray,” Celsey said, clapping her hands excitedly. Butterflies danced in Iliana’s stomach.

“It is time to go,” Rose said gently. Iliana took a deep breath, then let it out.

“Alright,” she said. “I just need my shoes.” Celsey went and got the shoes Dray had bought Iliana out of their box. They were simple, yet pretty, plain white shoes. There was only an inch-high heel, so she could still dance in them. Iliana slipped them onto her feet and Rose and Celsey went downstairs to get Dray. Iliana started down the stairs, and Dray came out of the kitchen and looked up at her. He stopped and stared. Iliana blushed and hurried down to him.

“Wow,” Dray said. “You look beautiful.” She smiled sheepishly.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” It was true. Dray wore a three-piece suit, complete with bowtie and gloves, with his black hair pulled back as always, and that top hat sitting on his head. He smiled back at her. He turned to Rose and Celsey, who were watching from the kitchen doorway.

“Thank you for preparing her for our date,” Dray said with a bow.

Date? This is a date? Well, duh, of course it’s a date, what else would it be? My first date…

Then he turned to Iliana. “Shall we go?” he asked, holding out an arm.

“Yes. Oh, wait, my shawl…”

“I’ll get it,” Celsey volunteered. Her friend ran up the stairs and came back with the shawl. Dray wrapped it around Iliana’s shoulders and she took his arm for the first time. It felt comfortable, familiar.

“I’ll have her back before midnight,” Dray promised her mother.

“You better. Now, get out of here before Iliana changes her mind,” Rose said as she opened the front door wide for them.

“Will do,” he said, then he whisked Iliana down the front steps. A carriage sat on the street, but it was not Dray’s, and there was a pair of horses hitched to it. “I hired a cab so we could ride together,” Dray explained as he opened the cab door. He helped her into it, careful to lift her skirts out of the way, and shut the door behind them. Immediately the driver whistled to his team and the carriage started down the street.

Iliana was still quite nervous, and it must have showed, because Dray took one of her shaking hands with one of his own. “Stop worrying. You’ll do fine.” He smiled at her and she smiled back. He held her hand the whole way there.

When the cab stopped Dray got out first, then took her hand and helped her down. When she stepped out she looked around in amazement. Finely dressed lords and ladies surrounded her, some making their way up the stairs that led to the ballroom, while others stood around and talked with each other. The Summer Palace sparkled beautifully. It wasn’t the official palace, the King actually lived in Fouriel, the capitol, and only visited Abelton once a year. He wasn’t even here now. The lords and ladies of Abelton were the ones that held balls at the Summer Palace. Uniformed guards stood at regular intervals, looking… not intimidating, but definitely authoritative.

It was extremely crowded, and Iliana was beginning to feel pressed in from all sides, but then Dray cut a path through the crowd, leading her by the hand. They began their ascent up the many steps to the door. With each step Iliana’s anxiety melted away, and she felt light and happy. When they finally got to the top of the steps a young man came and took her shawl and Dray’s hat.

“Right this way,” the young man said, leading them into the ballroom. It was packed, dancing couples off to one side and a large amount of tables to the other. A huge, sparkling glass chandelier hung from the ceiling. A wave of mixed perfume scents hit her nose, and she took a couple of deep breaths to get used to the smell. Iliana gazed around the room, and saw her special arrangement sitting on a pedestal by a stage at the far end of the room. It was in a line of other similar arrangements, and Iliana could tell that the others had tried to make their's look like a flame too. She only felt a little prideful in thinking that hers looked the best. “In thirty minutes the feast will begin,” the young man informed them. “Until then, there is music to dance to and wine.” Then he left.

“Do you want to dance, or drink wine?” Dray asked.

“I don’t drink,” Iliana informed him.

“Dancing it is, then.” He took her by the hand and cut another path through the crowd to the dance floor.

“Wait…” Iliana said, tugging him to a stop.

“What?” he asked, turning around to face her.

“I thought the dancing was after the feast…”

“Well, what else would you like to do? You don’t drink and you don’t know anyone here, so we can’t go talk with someone. That leaves dancing.” Iliana still hesitated. Dray smiled his kind smile. “Come on, you’ll do fine.” He pulled her onto the dance floor and whirled her around.

Soon she was smiling and laughing. The orchestra played many different songs and once Dray tried to get her to do the ‘waltz’ again, but she was hopeless at it. So instead Dray made up his own dance that Iliana could do. He kicked up his feet, clapping his hands and laughed loudly, all the while leading her in a spinning frenzy. Iliana realized they were gathering a crowd, and a few couples were trying to copy their dance. Her face was already flushed from the dancing, but it became even redder. 

But Dray would not let her stop. They kept going until the music ended. When it did Dray stomped his foot and held out his arms in a flourish, then bowed, pulling Iliana down with him. The crowd burst into applause. Iliana could see how Dray would be a good entertainer, everyone was drawn to his performance.

Over the noise a trumpet sounded, then a man announced loudly:

“Dinner is served.” The crowd began to disperse immediately, making their way towards the tables for their meal.

“You did great,” Dray complimented as they walked toward the dining tables.

“Thanks,” Iliana said, her face still flushed from the dancing and the attention. He led her to an empty table and pulled the chair out for her. Soon after they were seated a group of people came over and sat with them. One woman was ecstatic about their dancing.

“I’ve never seen anyone dance like that at a ball before,” she told Iliana after she took a seat next to her. Giant diamond earrings hung from her ears, wobbling erratically every time she moved. “Tell me, what is that dance called?”

“I don’t know. Dray made it up.”

“Really?” The woman exclaimed, looking to Dray for confirmation. He nodded. “Well, what do you call it?” He thought about it for a little while.

“I’d have to say ‘the jig’.” Iliana almost snorted at the silly name.

“‘The jig’?” The woman asked. Dray nodded again. “Well, that’s not a very elegant name,” the woman pointed out.

“Well, it’s not a very elegant dance.” The woman was about to reply when waiters came out of nowhere with their food. Dishes were placed in front of Iliana, heaped with food.

How am I supposed to eat all of this? She eyed the platter uneasily.

“You don’t have to eat it all, Iliana,” Dray whispered, as if he were reading her mind. “Just eat what you want.”

“Is that your name? Iliana?” the woman beside her asked. Iliana nodded. “Such a pretty name. Never heard of it before, but pretty, all the same. My name is Elise.”

“It is very nice to meet you.”

“Yes, it is, isn’t it?”

“…Yes?”

“Oh, look at this!” Elise exclaimed in dismay. She was looking down at her plate, which Iliana thought looked rather appetizing. “They put way too much gravy on this pigeon. How am I supposed to eat this? You’d need a towel to wipe up all this grease! Waiter!”

Iliana just sat there, astonished. How can this woman be so ungrateful for food that was handed to her on a literal silver platter? It all looked delicious to Ilaina. She was sure that the kitchen staff had spent all day preparing all this food, and here was this woman that was openly scoffing at it. Iliana opened her mouth to say something, she wasn’t sure exactly what, but Dray nudged her with his elbow. He leaned over to whisper in her ear.

“Just nod your head, say uh-huh every once in a while, and she’ll be happy.”

“But she’s…” Iliana said, looking at the woman. Elise was ranting to a bored looking waiter about her food.

“I know what she’s doing. This is how some rich people are. She’s really only doing it for attention. Just ignore her.” Iliana tried, but it was very hard. With every little thing Elise found something wrong. Her chair was too soft, the lights were too bright, and the waiter wasn’t fast enough to refill her wineglass. And when Iliana said ‘no thank you’ to the wine bottle, Elise looked as if she’d just declared herself mentally insane.

“Of course you want some wine!” Iliana tried to assure that she in fact did not, but Elise wouldn’t listen. She had Iliana’s wine glass filled, then the woman shoved it into her face. Dray plucked the wineglass out of Elise’ hand and gave it to the man sitting next to him, whose face lit up. “Oh, let your date have a little fun, Mr. Dray!” Elise complained.

Mr. Dray? Does she know him?

“She said she doesn’t want it, so please, just leave her be.” Elise pouted, but finally let it go. Iliana and Dray were the only people at the table that weren’t drinking, and the others were getting quite tipsy by the time dessert came around. Iliana was feeling incredibly full, and was about to tell Dray that she didn’t think she’d be able to dance anymore when a man came up and tapped Dray on the shoulder.

“It’s time,” the man said. Dray nodded, then turned to Iliana as he rose from his seat.

“Iliana, I have to go prepare my act for tonight,” he explained. “Will you be alright here?”

“Oh, yes, I’ll be fine. Good luck! I can’t wait to see your performance.” Dray smiled, kissed the top of her hand, and was then led away. Iliana watched him go, then turned back around in her chair.

“My, what a fine young man,” Elise purred, also apparently having watched Dray walk away. Iliana remembered her calling Dray by his name before, and was curious to know if she did in fact know him.

“Excuse me, but how do you know Dray? He’s only recently come to the city, as I understand it.”

“Oh, yes, he’s only been here a few weeks. But he’s already weaseled his way into our circles. He’s quite the fast talker, if you know what I mean. How else could he have convinced them to let him perform after he’d only been here one day?” Iliana was dumbfounded.

“One day? But he told me he came to Abelton because he was hired as entertainment.”

“Oh I assure you, after the last ball the planning committee had sworn off magic shows and the like. Too much potential for things to catch on fire. But he somehow got them to take a chance on him. I’m hoping I won’t be disappointed with his performance.” Before Iliana could ask any more questions, a trumpet blared over the noise of a crowd.

“Announcing the Magnificent Dray!” A voice called out. Curtains had been drawn back from an enormous stage, and there was Dray, bowing to the spectators. Iliana jumped up and hurried over to the crowd that was forming.

There must be some sort of misunderstanding. Yes, I must have heard wrong when he told us he was here for the ball. Iliana tried her best to push these thoughts out of her head as she slowly made her way to the front of the crowd. And really, what does it matter anyway exactly when he was hired?