I was sitting as still as I possibly could while my mother did my hair. She was pulling out the heating rods in my hair. Whith each one that came out. A perfect blonde ringlet fell to my neck. After all the rods were removed, my mother gathered the front pieces of my hair and secured them to the back of my head with a lace bow. With my hair all curled and the navy blue dress trimmed with white lace I was wearing, I looked like a perfect doll.
We were getting ready for tonight's dinner party at the vis count Winter's manor. At the end of the every summer the vis countess would host a dinner party. This event eventually became known for knowing who were to be the stars of the up coming social season. Anyone who was invited became well known among those of high society. This would be the year my mom went from being a simple women to being known as an elegant lady and star of high society.
My mother made sure her dress was perfect. It was only a dinner party so the dress couldn't be to flashy but needed to be elegance and grace. She wore a silk satin cream colored dress flared out with the many layer of petticoats and crinolines. Her dress was off the shoulder emphasizing her neck and shoulder. To finish the outfit she pinned her up on her head and wore a string of pearls around her neck. She looked elegant and effortless.
My father came into the room to see if we were ready. My mother told him we would be out in a few minutes. Mother checked me one more time and then herself. Now we were ready for tonight's dinner party.
My family climbed into the carriage and we set off to the Vis Count Winter's Manor. I looked out of the window. The streets were dirty and there were homeless people sitting around the streets. At 6 years old I never understood why those people were out on the streets with no homes. As I grew older I understood, but it was too late.
We pulled into the driveway of the Vis Counts's Manor. It was a grand and opulent home with three levels. There were fires lit in Iron basins at the front of the home. The carriage stopped in front of the manor. We all climbed out of the carriage. We stood at the foot steps of the stairs leading to the front door. We took our steps forward. It was now time for the dinner party.
Now inside the manor we were escorted by a footman to the dining room. We were greeted by the Vis Count and his wife. We exchanged our greetings and took a seat at the dinner table. Tonight's dinner was a five course meal. By the time we got to the entree I was too full to eat anymore. The stomach of a 6 year old could only hold so much food. I asked to be excused. I was told to wait until all the courses we served. I took a few bites of the entree. I'm glad I stuck around other wise I would have missed desert. They served a strawberry cake. I savored the few bites I could fit in to my stomach. After all the courses were served, I was then realesed.
I left the table and Alex was also excused with me. We were shown up to the nursery. We were the only children's at the dinner party. Looking back I realized children weren't invited. I was an exception because I was friends with Alex. His parents thought it would be good for him to have someone to play with so he wouldn't bother them.
Alex's parents were not as doting as mine were. They were more strict and had expectations for him. His father, the treasurer of the Starzen empire, expected him to follow a financial career like he did and to keep close relations to the royal family. That was not Alex. He was more spirited and adventurous, and sitting in a office all day would not suit him. He would be better off exploring the world making connections with foreign countries.
Now in the nursery I immediately looked around to see if there was any thing to play with, but nothing interested me. It was a nursery for a boy after all. There were not any dolls or tea sets to play with so I settled for the building blocks. Alex joined me and together we a built a castle. Satisfied with our work, we now left to search for something to do again.
"I wish they would let us out side to play." Alex complained.
"Playing outside would be fun." I said
"It would be, but they want to keep us hidden as they talk." Alex said.
I didn't understand what he meant. I was to young to realize the adults liked to keep children hidden away until they reached adulthood, but Alex was two years older than me and was quite perceptive for a child so he understood.
"We could just pretend we're outside." I said.
"How would we do that?" Alex asked rhetorically.
"With your imagination." I said.
"I know that but what would I imagine?" Alex responded.
"You see this chair. It's a tree" I said.
I proceed to climbed up the chair and stand on it and said, "I climbed up a tree. Now I need you to catch me as I jump out of it."
I then jumped into Alex's arms. He did his best to catch me but we both fell over myself landing on him. I rolled off of him and laughed.
"Don't do that Anna. You could have gotten hurt." Alex scolded me.
"It was fun. Let's do it again, but don't fall over this time." I said excitingly.
"No let's find something else to play." Alex said.
"Ok we can think of something else." I said
We sat there for moment trying to think of something else. I mainly just sat there with an empty mind until something came to me.
" I know, we can play adventure and travel to a far away land." I said.
Alex agreed. We then started to prepare for our adventure to a far away land.