The sun sat and everyone awoke and those still awake put out the last few details and lit the last of the candles. Micah and Sarah were in their usually posts, waiting for Reign and Elizabeta to wake.  “Are you nervous for tonight?” Micah asked. “Very.” Sarah answered trying to smoothing out the few unseen wrinkles in Elizabeta’s blood red party dress.  Sarah heard the rustle of the silk sheets and she turned around and met Elizabeta with a smile. “Good Eve M’Lady.” She said with a curtsy and handed her, her custom glass.   “Good Eve Sarah.” Elizabeta replied.  Micah walked over to Reign. “Good Eve Master.” Micah said. “Good Eve Micah.” Reign replied.  “Are you two prepared to have your lives changed forever?” Reign asked.  Sarah and Micah nodded.

“Good.” Reign said getting up out of the bed and moved over to his wardrobe and started to grab for his blood red shirt and black leather breeches. He pulled the breeches up over his hips and pulled the shirt over his head and tucked it into his breeches and synched the belt into place, he than sat down on the chair near by and pulled on tall leather boots. He then stood up and looked in the mirror and smiled. He turned around and looked at Elizabeta who was still lying in bed. “Aren’t you going to get up as well?” he asked. “I will I was waiting for you to finish I didn’t want to miss watching you get ready.” She said with a sheepish smile.

Elizabeta stretch and sat up and put her feet on the floor. “Which dress did you pick out tonight Sarah?” she asked. “Your Blood Red party dress.” She answered stepping to one side so that Elizabeta could see the dress and all the other bobbles that Sarah had picked. Elizabeta looked at the set up and smiled. “Sarah you know what I like.” She said walking over to her wardrobe and began pulling out all her undergarments that she would need. She began to wiggle into a white corset and pulled on some white bloomers while Sarah synched up the corset. After all was done Sarah took the dress from its holder and Elizabeta knelt onto the floor and Sarah lowered the dress over Elizabeta head.  Elizabeta slide her arms into the sleeves of the dress and she stood up.  Sarah moved behind her and began to pull on the ribbons tightening up the dress. Elizabeta stood in front of the mirror and combed her hair. “All finished M’Lady.” Sarah said. Elizabeta turned around and inspected the back and she gave a nod.  She then walked over to her vanity and sat down.

“How do you think my hair should be done tonight Sarah?” Elizabeta asked.  “Well, M’Lady I have always liked your hair in a French braid with gold thread.” Sarah said with a bit of a blush.  Elizabeta nodded. “Then lets do it that way.” She said. “Yes M’Lady.” Sarah said with a smile and set to work braiding Elizabeta’s hair.  Once Sarah had finished Elizabeta pulled out her Ruby and Diamond circlet and Sarah hooked it into her hair. Elizabeta then pulled out her Ruby earring and put them in her ears. She then stood up and walked over to the mirror. “Perfection.” Elizabeta said.  Sarah then pulled out small ruby colors slippers and knelt down on the floor. Elizabeta pulled up her skirt and Sarah fitted the slippers onto her feet.  Sarah stood up and smiled. “Now it is your turn to go and get ready.” Elizabeta said. Sarah curtsied “Yes M’Lady.” She said.

“There is a rose colored dress waiting for you in your room, for you to change into” Elizabeta said. “I expect that you will be wearing that?” Elizabeta said in a half statement half question. “Of course M’Lady, the cut of the dress is exactly where I want it to be so that the next time I wear it will show my marks.” Sarah said with pride. Elizabeta nodded and the two ladies walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs to Sarah’s room so that she can get ready. 

When they got into the room Micah and Reign were in their final stages of getting ready. Micah was wearing a near identical colored shirt to Reign.  “Now that you are ready will you excuse us, we ladies need to get ready as well.” Elizabeta said holding the door open.  Reign looked at Elizabeta and smiled. “Don’t let us keep you.” Reign said bowing and walked over to the door. Elizabeta walked over to Reign and gave him a kisses and shooed the men out of the room and closed the door behind them giggled. “Now it is your turn to get ready.” Elizabeta said walking over to Sarah and sat her down in front of the vanity and started combing her hair. Once she had finished Elizabeta walked to the small wardrobe and pulled out a rose colored dress and laid it on the bed. Sarah walked over to a small dresser and pulled out her white undergarments and began to put them on. Elizabeta took a hold of the ribbons of the corset and began to pull them tight. Once Elizabeta had finished tying the corset she took the dress off the bed and Sarah knelt on the floor and Elizabeta slipping the dress over her head. Sarah slipped her arms into the sleeves and then stood up.  Sarah then stood up in front of the mirror and Elizabeta began to tighten the ribbons on the dress.  Once she had finished tighten the ribbons she tied them off and Sarah sat down in front of the vanity and Elizabeta set to work braiding her hair. Once Elizabeta finished braiding Sarah’s hair Sarah pulled out two diamond combs, and handed them to Elizabeta and she gently set them into Sarah’s hair.  Sarah smoothed down a few stray hairs and then stood up and walked over to the mirror.  Sarah looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.  Elizabeta walked up behind Sarah.  “Are you ready?” Elizabeta asked.  Sarah nodded and took a deep breath and turned and looked at Elizabeta “Let’s go.” Sarah said.  Elizabeta gave Sarah a hug and they both walked out of the bedroom where they were met by Reign and Micah.

The gentlemen met the two ladies with wide smiles and they walked over to them and offered them their arms.  The ladies took their arms and they were escorted into the main dining hall where they were met with cheers and applause.

The couples stopped at the door and looked over the crowd, and then they moved over to the platform and they walked up the stairs. Dr. Malleus met the couples at the foot of the stairs and offered a hand to both Elizabeta and Sarah, helping onto the stage and led them over to the two large overstuffed chairs and sat down while Micah and Reign walked to the edge of the platform.

To Chapter 20