Laughter and music floated up the grand staircase to where Princess Maranda clung to the marble hand rail. She knew her identity was safe behind her diamond studded, feathered mask, but this did little to calm her nerves. She had overheard her mother, the Queen, speaking to several Ladies in Waiting about the appearance of the new Duke. His father had passed several years ago, and his son and heir had arrived just last week to accept his title and the many properties that it entailed including the "Haunted North Eden Castle." He was said to be a most handsome, scoundral, just like his father.
The music stopped. She knew it was time to assend. She took a deep calming breath and . . .
Friday, October 2, 2009 Joyce DiPastena said...
She heard an odd rustling nearby. A breeze accompanied it, brushing gently across her cheeks.
"Beware," a voice murmured, so softly she was sure she only imagined it. Until it came again, with a fluttering sensation against her ear.
"Beware."
Instinctively, she raised a hand to brush away the tickle.
"Beware...and do you mind? You've set my feathers all askew. Would you please smooth them out again for me?"
"Feathers? What..."
"Beware."
Princess Maranda nearly jumped out of her luscious silk gown. Her mask! It was the mask that was whispering in her ear!
She gathered her wits and smoothed the feathers. "There, does that feel better?"
"Does what feel better, lovely lady? I assume you are talking to me since I see no one else around."
Princess Maranda gasped as she looked up into the most brilliant blue eyes she had ever seen. It almost looked like they were twinkling at her with laughter. A midnight blue mask surounded those heart stopping eyes. The gentlman they belonged to was at least a head taller than her, and he smelled of fresh air and waterfalls.
"Excue me sir, are you speaking to me?" She asked, her voice quite breathless.
He continued to hold her gaze and replied . . .
Sunday, October 04, 2009 5:32:00 PM Joyce DiPastena Said...
"I am speaking to one of the stars that fell from the sky. Please, my little twinkling star, may I have this dance?"
Maranda placed her small gloved hand in his strong tanned fingers, blushing too hard at his charm to give him any other answer. But as she moved with him towards the dance floor, her mask fluttered again against her ear.
"Beware," it murmured soft as a breeze. "He is not what he appears."
Sunday, October 04, 2009 8:14 PM Cindy R. Williams Said...
"Shush," Princess Maranda whispered to her mask.
"Parden me, my Lady?" The stranger stopped, and spun her into his arms as the stepped into the ballroom.
"I was speaking to---oh never mind, it is of no consequence." She flashed her famous smile that caused men to fall at her feet any time she chose to use it's power. "I have not had the pleasure of an introduction. You are but a mystery gentleman to me."
"I am . . ." His azure eyes were still focused on her lips even though her smile was had melted away.
Princess Maranda smiled again, pleased to know that he was a man just like any other of the ton her could not withstand her dimpled smile.
This time the gentleman actually stumbled on the next step of the intricate dance. He pulled her close and . . .
Sunday, October 04, 2009 5:32:00 PM Joyce DiPastena said...
...gave a tremendous sneeze right over her shoulder.
"Ah..forgive me," he sniffled, his face red from embarrassment and the force of his nostrils' explosion."Your mask...those feathers... Would you mind if I...?"
He reached out a hand as if to remove her mask, but the feathers positively shrieked in her ears, "Beware, beware, beware!"
She winced at the screech that apparently only she could hear, but slipped away from the gentleman's arms all the same.
"Er...um...would you like a handkerchief?" she asked, and fished a small square of linen out of the elegant reticule that swung from her dainty wrist.
Thursday, October 8, 2009 Sophia said...
The blazing blue eyes left derisive flickers of flames on the fingers she held her dainty hankie that he left untouched. "You dare to ask my indentity but recoil from possibly revealing your own?"
Thursday, October 8, 2009 Cindy R. Williams said...
A loud sneeze burst forth again. "I shall take that handkerchief after all," the man looked bemused behind his mysterious dark mask.
He took the handkerchief from her hand and blew his nose so loud that couples dancing nearby gasped.
Princess Maranda could not control her giggles. He was an unusual man. He cared naught what the ton thought of him. She felt her heart warming toward him.
"I will have this laundered and return it to you at the Theater tomorrow eve." He smiled at her, white teeth sparkling in the candle light from the chandeliers and wall sconses.
She had no idea what he had just said. Butterflies danced in Princess Maranda's stomach. Is this what others felt when they saw her own smile often called "heart stopping"? She did not like him affecting her so strongly.
"Beware, beware, beware," the mask warned once again.
"Beware of what?" she asked.
The gentleman tilted his head to the side. "Beware? My lady, I just invited you to the Theater."
"Oh, never mind," she snapped at the mask. "Now, what were you saying?"
"I was saying . . .
October 8, 2009 8:00 AM Sophia said...
The blazing blue eyes left derisive flickers of flames on the fingers she held her dainty hankie that he left untouched. "You dare to ask my identity but recoil from possibly revealing your own?"
October 9, 2009 10:42 PM Joyce DiPastena said...
"...that there is a splendid new play being performed at the MAC. I was hoping you would allow me to escort you there tomorrow eve."
"That's it!" the mask exclaimed in its murmuring, fluttering way. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
The strings at the back of Maranda's head suddenly loosened and the mask fell away from her face. The gentleman, who had just finished stuffing her handkerchief into his elegant coat's pocket, stared at her abruptly revealed features...but not with the kind of awe men usually gazed at her with.
"Oh...Oh, dear. Forgive me, my lady. You were not who I thought you were. I was looking for..." He craned his neck to gaze about the ballroom. "Ah, there she is! You will excuse me?"
Maranda watched, frozen with shock as he walked away. Numbly, mechanically, she bent over to pick up her mask and slowly set it back in its place.
"Now then," the mask whispered briskly, "you're safe. But what of the woman he's really stalking? We'd best go after him, don't you think?"
October 10, 2009 Sophia said...
"Why did you have to ruin it?" Maranda stomped her slippered foot on the rush covered floor.
"It was your ruin I prevented." A feather tickled her ear.
Maranda followed the male she no longer considered a gentleman, staying far enough back that he wouldn't notice.
The lady he approached was dressed in a pearlescent satin gown with embroidered butterflies covering the skirt. Her blond hair piled high on her head trailed down to a gossamer shawl that appeared to be wings. Her face was masked with silk cloth. "Oh ...."
October 10, 2009 Anna del C. Dye said...
She knew that gown and the regal person in it.
"It can't be. What would he want with my mother."
"Beware," she heard again and a feather quivered in the night.
Her heart stopped as she witnessed the queen smile charmingly at the man.
"Beware," she heard again, but this time it was not her mask. Startled at the baritone voice she turned to find a black mask set with exquisite feathers that framed deep green eyes.
"Spying is an ancient form of wisdom," it said, "but in our day it is punished with death."
October 10, 2009 2:22 PM hopeandme said...
"Who are you?" Maranda whispered. "And what is going on? Who is that man with the Queen? And what am I to beware of?"
"I am. . .
October 14, 2009 10:31 PM Cindy R. Williams said...
"the Duke of North Eden. I recently returned from my adventures to take my place in this rediculous ton." His green eyes showed distain and he grimmaced as he looked around the ball room.
"Oh, I see. I am sorry if you do not like us, for I too am part of the ton." Princess Maranda was not feeling especially civil herself right now after her mishap with the sneezing, rude man.
"My apologies my lady, I have not been welcomed into this society prior to my inheriting my title, and find it quite shallow to base all upon titles and wealth."
Princess Maranda stared at the Duke in surprise. "How very interesting you are. I too think that title and wealth should have nothing to do with respect."
Those green eyes glowed under the mask and the Duke bowed and said . . .
that caused men to fall at her feet any time she chose to use it's power. "I have not had the pleasure of an introduction. You are but a mystery gentleman to me."
"I am . . ." His azure eyes were still focused on her lips even though her smile was had melted away.
Princess Maranda smiled again, pleased to know that he was a man just like any other of the ton her could not withstand her dimpled smile.
This time the gentleman actually stumbled on the next step of the intricate dance. He pulled her close and . . .
The blazing blue eyes left derisive flickers of flames on the fingers she held her dainty hankie that he left untouched. "You dare to ask my identity but recoil from possibly revealing your own?"
October 10, 2009 2:55 PM Joyce DiPastena said...
"I see...or rather, hear...that you have a talking mask, too. Perhaps we should heed them, my lady, and intervene on your mother's behalf. I realize the risk...I trust you do as well? Spying, as my mask reminded us, is punishable by death in your father's kingdom. Yet a bit of spying is what your mother needs just now if we are to rescue her from my cousin. Yes, I regret to admit, my cousin! If I am not much mistaken, he intends to...
October 20, 2009 Harmony said...
Kill the King, and sweep your mother off her feet. Alas, and all tonight at this Masqerade Ball. We shall pounce on him now and remove his mask with the hidden knife woven into his eyebrows. We shall save the Kingdom, and we shall be married in the morn my beautiful Princess."
"But how did you know I was the Princess?" Mask in hand she gazed into his sweet eyes.
"Your beauty is legendary, and there is such purity in your eyes, you could but naught be the incomparable Princess." Those green gazed deep. So deep Princess Maranda felt her heart race.
"Will you marry me, dear one?" He whipsered. His mask added, "Say yes!"
"Of course she will marry you," her mask answered. "The Princess merely nodded.
"Then let us make haste and save the Kindom.
They did just that and lived happily ever after.
THE END
8 comments:
The blazing blue eyes left derisive flickers of flames on the fingers she held her dainty hankie that he left untouched. "You dare to ask my identity but recoil from possibly revealing your own?"
"...that there is a splendid new play being performed at the MAC. I was hoping you would allow me to escort you there tomorrow eve."
"That's it!" the mask exclaimed in its murmuring, fluttering way. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
The strings at the back of Maranda's head suddenly loosened and the mask fell away from her face. The gentleman, who had just finished stuffing her handkerchief into his elegant coat's pocket, stared at her abruptly revealed features...but not with the kind of awe men usually gazed at her with.
"Oh...Oh, dear. Forgive me, my lady. You were not who I thought you were. I was looking for..." He craned his neck to gaze about the ballroom. "Ah, there she is! You will excuse me?"
Maranda watched, frozen with shock as he walked away. Numbly, mechanically, she bent over to pick up her mask and slowly set it back in its place.
"Now then," the mask whispered briskly, "you're safe. But what of the woman he's really stalking? We'd best go after him, don't you think?"
"Why did you have to ruin it?" Maranda stomped her slippered foot on the rush covered floor.
"It was your ruin I prevented." A feather tickled her ear.
Maranda followed the male she no longer considered a gentleman, staying far enough back that he wouldn't notice.
The lady he approached was dressed in a pearlescent satin gown with embroidered butterflies covering the skirt. Her blond hair piled high on her head trailed down to a gossamer shawl that appeared to be wings. Her face was masked with silk cloth. "Oh ...."
She knew that gown and the regal person in it.
"It can't be. What would he want with my mother."
"Beware," she heard again and a feather quivered in the night.
Her heart stopped as she witnessed the queen smile charmingly at the man.
"Beware," she heard again, but this time it was not her mask. Startled at the baritone voice she turned to find a black mask set with exquisite feathers that framed deep green eyes.
"Spying is an ancient form of wisdom," it said, "but in our day it is punished with death."
"Who are you?" Maranda whispered. "And what is going on? Who is that man with the Queen? And what am I to beware of?"
"I am. . .
"I see...or rather, hear...that you have a talking mask, too. Perhaps we should heed them, my lady, and intervene on your mother's behalf. I realize the risk...I trust you do as well? Spying, as my mask reminded us, is punishable by death in your father's kingdom. Yet a bit of spying is what your mother needs just now if we are to rescue her from my cousin. Yes, I regret to admit, my cousin! If I am not much mistaken, he intends to...
Oh, how funny. I am so glad I could participate in writing this wonderful fairy tale story. This is so much fun I can't wait until you do another one.
Please tell us when.
Barbara B
what a great and interesting post
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