Ella hung up the phone and then went over to the dress she’d been working on all week. She had no idea how this would work. If Tim came to get her, and she was locked in the attic, she’d be screwed. Her stepmom would just tell him that she wasn’t there. If he didn’t come to get her, she’d look ridiculous coming to dinner in her dress. But… she didn’t really have a choice. She needed to put it on now in anticipation of her stepmom coming to let her out. Would she just shove her back into the attic and lock the door when she realized Ella intended to go to the party?
She put on the dress. It was hard to tell what she looked like without a full-length mirror, but she had a feeling she looked silly. The dress sort of fit funny anyway, now that she’d lost weight, and her attempts to take it in had made it a bit uneven. It would have to do. She put on some black heels her stepmom had let her keep because they were scuffed.
The only bit of makeup she had left was broken and in the bottom of her makeup bag. Her stepmom had taken anything good and given it to Anna and Drew. Ella would have to make it work. She also managed to pin her hair up with a few broken bobby pins.
When she was done, she was satisfied that she looked okay. She had made a mask out of paper and an old rubber band she’d found in a bookbag from school. Like everything else, she would have to make it work. At least she could shove the mask into her top and not have to worry about her stepmom seeing it.
Once she was ready, she sat down on the edge of her bed and waited for Teresa to come and open the door. It seemed to take longer than usual. By the time she heard footsteps on the stairs, it was well past 5:00. In fact, she’d been sitting there for hours.
It wasn’t Teresa who opened the door. Instead, it was Phyllis, one of the older servants. “Your mother wanted me to inform you you’ll be eating dinner on your own tonight. They are preparing for the ball.”
“Yes, thank you.” Ella nodded her head and followed the old woman down the creaking stairs. If Phyllis thought it odd she was wearing a gown, she didn’t say anything.
Once in the dining room, Ella sat at the table. A cold stew was coagulating in the bowl at her place. Apparently, the cook had served the meal on time, and Teresa had just forgotten to send for her. Ella didn’t bother to try to eat it. She wasn’t hungry anyway. Above her, she could hear music coming from each of her stepsisters’ rooms. They must’ve both been getting ready for the ball. She wondered if Teresa intended to go even though Ella’s aunt didn’t care for the woman who’d replaced her sister.
Once again, Ella found herself sitting there forever. Perhaps Teresa would leave without remembering to send her back to her room. Then, maybe she could find a landline and call someone to come and get her. Or the phone Tim had brought. She doubted Teresa had actually tossed it out.
It was almost 9:00 when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She braced herself. With any luck, they’d just go.
They didn’t of course. Instead, Anna and Drew came stomping into the dining room. “Oh, look. She’s still here! Sitting in the same chair for hours!” Anna laughed. She did look lovely in a dazzling silver gown, her hair pinned up on top of her head as if a professional had come over and done it. Perhaps one had.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Drew asked. “That dress is hideous!”
“It’s so last year!” Anna agreed.
“Wait--do you actually think you’re going to the party?” Drew burst out laughing, Anna joining with her.
“Girls, what’s going on?” Teresa asked, coming through the door. “We need to be going…. Oh, dear. Ella? What’s the meaning of this? What are you wearing?”
Ella looked down at her gown. “I just… Tim said my aunt would be upset if I didn’t go. I thought… you’d let me.”
“You thought I’d let you?” Teresa joined in her daughters’ laughter. “Darling, this is for your own good. They’ll eat you alive out there.”
“Besides, how can you wear that when it’s got stew all over it?” Drew asked before she picked up the full bowl of cold stew and dumped it all over Ella’s dress.
Ella jumped up, unable to believe even Drew would do something so awful. The cold soup seeped through the fabric, and Ella wanted to cry. She certainly couldn’t go now.
“Yes--and wine!” Anna picked up the goblet in front of Ella’s bowl and splashed it on her. It wasn’t white wine--only water. She’d forgotten Ella wasn’t allowed to drink anything else. Still, it was cold, and brought tears to Ella’s eyes.
“What’s going on?”
Tim’s voice coming through the door was the only spark of hope in her dim world. He took one look at her and his eyes bulged. “Ella, are you all right?”
“Clumsy, that’s all,” Teresa interjected. “She’s managed to spill her dinner all over her only gown. Pity she won’t be able to come.”
“Oh, no, Ella.” Tim came around to her. He was dressed in an expensive suit and looked like a million bucks. She couldn’t hug him for fear of getting stew-water all over him. “Don’t cry. It will be all right.”
“It will?” she asked, looking down at her ruined dress.
“Yes. You said you didn’t have a gown. So I brought you one. Come along.” He took her by the hand and led her out of the dining room.
Teresa followed. “You can’t expect her to get ready and get over there now. The party is about to start. It’ll take her….”
“Ella’s quick,” Tim assured her. “You three can go along, and I’ll get her there.”
“But… she can’t go!” Anna said, stomping her foot. “She’ll… embarrass us.”
Tim turned and looked at her. “Whatever do you mean?”
Teresa swiped at her daughter, hitting her in the arm. “What she meant to say is… as you know… Ella’s a bit accident prone. She might spill something else.”
“I’ve never known Ella to be accident prone,” Tim replied, taking a large bag down from a hook by the door. “I’m sure it will be fine. Besides, you’ll have to stay away from her tonight anyway. As I’ve already explained, my mother said the three of you can go, but you need to keep your distance. She’s not particularly happy about the situation.”
Teresa looked like she’d swallowed a sour grape. “Very well. Girls, the car is ready. Let’s go. Ella, we’ll see you later. I can’t wait to hear all about how much fun you have tonight.” She narrowed her eyes, and Ella knew for certain there’d be hell to pay for this.
“Here you are, Ella. Go up to your room and get dressed.” Tim handed her the bag.
“Oh, uh, there’s a half-bath over here. I’ll just get dressed there.” She didn’t want to take the time to go up to the attic, and there was no guarantee someone wouldn’t lock her in.
“All right.” He smiled at her, and she took the bag, rushing to get changed so he wasn’t late for his own mother’s party. She might pay for this later, but she was going to enjoy it now.