With our ball quickly approaching I begin to get nervous and I wonder if Robert is even going to be able to come. I understand that he is a busy man but it would be nice to be able to see him. The rest of the plantation is putting together finishing touches to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch. A week before the ball my cousin Catherine asked: “So Elizabeth can I see the dress you’ve decided to wear for the ball?” 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9JJ7VwSAH
“Shoot!” I panic because I haven’t even thought about what I was going to wear. “I haven't even thought about what I’m going to wear. I’ve been so busy lately.” I bite my lip trying to figure out what I can throw together so I look halfway decent. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpkcAXotGv
“That’s alright,” my aunt pipes in. “Peggy can take you into town to have a dress made.” 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjrsOFXJV8
I look at Miss Peggy who is straightening things up before dinner. “Yes Miss Elizabeth, we’ll go tomorrow morning.” I breathe a sigh of relief; I have to look perfect in case Robert shows up. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwSKrsvuY6
The next morning Miss Peggy, Ella, Catherine, and I head into town to Addy’s Shoppe, a seamstress who also designs beautiful dresses. “Miss Lomax!” she practically yells “It’s great to see you again! I hear your family is throwing a ball! How exciting! I’m surprised that you weren't in earlier to get a dress!” Addison or Addy as she preferred people to call her is a chatterbox and a very excited person which some find annoying but I think it’s one of the best things about her. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvdTzwEZ1C
“Hello Addy, yes we are and I’ve been so busy with the details that I totally forgot about getting a dress,” I admit embarrassed. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6rwQOiPJi
“That’s alright because I knew you would be in need of my services so I took the liberty of designing you a dress. I kept your measurement so hopefully, we’ll only need to make minor changes. Shall we?” She leads me towards a changing room. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCxCqKK6rn
Addy is a talented designer and she really knows what she is doing so I completely trust her. She leads me into her changing room where a beautiful purple dress with black accents and a little train. I gasp due the beauty of the dress, it is the most extravagant and elegant dress I have ever seen. I hurry up and undress and try on the dress which has so many layers it feels like hours before I am ready to look into the mirror. Once everything is all laced up and my corset is so tight that I can barely breathe but it’s worth it because when I look into the mirror it looks perfect. “I love it, Addy! Thank you so much!” I say while hugging her.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoGPanqK5Y
“Let’s show the others!” She exclaims grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the changing room.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV0yHPKrwI
I let go of her hand and she stops giving me a curious look. “I want to wait until the ball to show everyone. I want everyone to be surprised when they see your beautiful work.” I explain to her. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFAYedba0h
“Oh yes of course! I’ll have my boys box it up and deliver it to your home.” When she says, boys, she means the few male slaves that she owns. She helps me take off the dress and bids me goodbye by kissing me on the cheek. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7F6KxgyCr
One week later421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhSdX6IVJA
The day of the ball is finally here and I couldn't be more excited! I love going to balls! I love dressing up and the pageantry of it all. Everyone is rushing around and getting decorations put up. We have beautiful arrangements of magnolias sitting at each table, the band is setting up, and the kitchen is a mad house which doesn't stop me sneaking in there and trying to help. Miss Peggy lets me stir the batter to one of the desserts but that’s all she allows me to do. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYi8sp9xTi
When five o’clock rolls around I get ready by putting my hair up with ringlets and magnolias pinned in. I recruit another house slave to help me get in my dress which takes about thirty minutes because I want every detail about my dress to be perfect. I’m a perfectionist. After I’m in my dress I place my white gloves on and grab my accordion fan.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhjDSu8Tw8
By the time I am fully ready most of our guest are already here so it’s the perfect time to make my grand entrance. I walk down my stairs to the parlor where almost everyone is standing talking. The first person to notice me is Daddy who announces to the crowd “My daughter, Elizabeth Lomax”, his announcement was followed by applause and oh’s and ah’s. It made me feel like I was President Davis! While I’m making my way down I search the room for Robert but I don’t see him. I am a bit disappointed but I’m not going to let it ruin my night, besides he’s probably busy. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYhxiwLUG5
We all sit down to eat a delicious meal of turkey, potatoes, corn, and many other side dishes. We had enough food to feed a whole army! It felt like Thanksgiving. After the main course, we had a delicious chocolate cake that was elegantly decorated. I was so full after dinner I knew it was time to get to dancing to burn off all this food. I get the band going and wait for somebody to ask me to dance. I don’t have to wait long, within minutes I get asked by somebody I’ve never seen. His name is William and from Louisiana, he wasn’t that bad looking but my Robert is more handsome. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtexgbthoFp
I spend most of the night dancing with random strangers which was fun but I had to take a break because I was getting overheated. I had a drink of wine to cool down, which also made me feel ready to dance some more. While waiting for someone to dance with I got caught up in conversation with Angela who was a slave owners daughter. I’ve had a few conversations with her in the past and she’s a really nice girl and definitely nothing like my “acquaintances”. During our conversation, her eyes went away from mine and looked behind. Next thing I hear is “Can I have this dance?” The voice is rather familiar, it takes me a few seconds but I realize that the voice belongs to Robert! 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmqXHjxD1Q
I turn around fast and Robert is there smiling,his green eyes sparkling like never before. He isn't in his uniform with is a good thing because I’m not sure how southerners would react to seeing a Union Officer. “Yes, you may,” I say with a smile on my face. He grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAPqW5fULG
“You look beautiful,” he says. I blush, still not used to getting complimented by him. I’ve been told that I’m beautiful many times by many different men but coming from him makes me feel butterflies in my stomach. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYUXeIYTj7
We dance for what feels like hours but my feet start to hurt so I tell him to follow me into out garden. It’s quiet out here so we can catch up. “I can't believe your here!” I marvel. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxWtza0Cci
“I told you that I would come see you eventually,” he smiles pulling me in for a kiss. I miss the softness of his lips. Every time we kiss I struggle to catch my breath afterward, he takes my breath away. “So this is where you live?” he says pulling me out of my trance of our kiss. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw3BaTB9dP
“Yes, I was born here too,” I reply. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgI35JVADy
“It’s beautiful. So this is where your father….” he trails off looking towards the slave housing. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xi6i7e5kI
“My father keeps his slaves? Yes, this is the place.” 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3awlDPX1u
“Doesn’t it bother you?” 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWP7YWCt3W
“Yes, but what am I supposed to do?” 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB8Rqx4deD
“You could leave with me.”421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOTeTXqXMZ
“And leave my father alone? I can’t do that.” I look down afraid to disappoint him.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKua0wsM3V
“Your father is a monster!” he yells obviously annoyed. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUo1iINHIw
“He is still my father!” I shoot back.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK2bGnVOEK
We hear a throat clear and a little man steps out of the darkness. He stands at attention and says “Sorry to interrupt Sir but we must go, a carriage is waiting outside. I will explain later.”421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm6T6nOnNO
Robert nods and begins to leave. He turns back before leaving and says “I’m sorry but I must leave.” Then he's gone. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLp1XyyhSj
I feel that hot tears run down my cheek and burst into an all-out sob. I feel so stupid for saying what I did. Am I the reason why he had to leave? Was his plan to get me to run away with him? “No man is ever worth crying over Eliza. Come back to the party and have fun.” Ella says while wiping my tears. She must have seen what happened with Robert and I. I nod and whip more of my tears and make myself looks presentable again. I go back to the ballroom and dance the night away. 421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95QueuGDrD
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8Dsj2tyZi
Penana
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