As the party looms on the horizon and my worn feet continually mounting the staircase, I am beginning to feel a loss of all hope. I'm seeing less and less of the Stranger as he appears to be constantly engaged in closed-door discussions with the other gentleman.
While tidying the Mistresses room, I notice a postcard with a note from Blythe announcing her and the staffs arrival in the coming days. I'm on the verge of tears, and my Mistress senses it.
"Wipe that pout off your face Mademoiselle. Frowning makes you look ugly. The party is in two days and I need you to assist in my preparations," says the mistress. She walks over to me and lifts up my chin. "Won't you enjoy assisting me with my costume?" she asks.
"Yes mistress," I say quietly.
"It's going to be a spectacular event. One that few will forget. Has Lady Thisbe given you your assignment yet?" she asks.
"No Mistress, she has not," I say.
"Hmmm, well, I'm sure she has her reasons," she says admiring herself in the mirror. "Felice, are you fond of her?"
Too eagerly I respond. "Why yes, she is very kind to me and I find her manner charming, and her voice..."
"Stop!" shouts the Mistress.
"Mistress, I am sorry if I have offended you," I say with worry.
"She has cast her spell once again I'm afraid," she says.
The Mistress begins rummaging through her drawers and pulls out a framed photo and presents it to me. "You see this woman here?" she asks without expecting an answer. "She was like a mother to us."
"She is very elegant in that hat," I say unsure if I should have kept silent.
The Mistress won't take her eyes off the photo. "Her name is Liane de Pougy. We both apprenticed with her some years before."
"Is that how you became acquainted with Lady Thisbe?" I ask.
"Yes," she says releasing a sigh. "We were very young and impressionable. But Thisbe used her charm to recruit, and quickly formed her own following, leaving me with Liane to pick up the pieces. I have not forgiven her for going back to England. Do not be fooled Felice. She will lure you, then discard you. Charm is her art."
Unsure how to respond, I commence dusting the bureau and remain silent.
"You may wonder why I have allowed her into my home to orchestrate the coming events. While she has her faults, she is very well connected with certain persons in our society. As you will come to find out, she is also known to produce spectacular events, if you can tolerate the secrecy and silly rules she requires," says the Mistress.
"Come here Felice," she demands. I walk over to her with my eyes averted. "Look at me," she says. I attempt a pleasant expression. "You don't fool me silly girl. Are you love sick?" she asks.
"No Mistress, I..., I..." failing miserably she interrupts.
"You are in-love with the officer, aren't you? I've seen the way you look at him," she says callously.
"Actually Mistress, I'm sad because I will miss the new friends I have made," I say.
I seem to have taken my Mistress by surprise. "Are we not friends, Felice?" she asks.
"Yes Mistress," I lie.
"Then you will take that brush and brush my hair. I need you to practice some hairstyles on me," she instructs.
I begin to brush her hair gently as to not provoke her. She seems primed for an outburst, so I use the technique I was accustomed to when brushing the hair of unruly children. Soon I lose myself by the sound of the bristles raking through her long straight locks.
"Felice, it's important to me that you understand that when this party is over, Blythe and the staff will return and everything will go back to normal. You must not ever tell a soul about what transpired here," says the Mistress.
"Of course Mistress," I say while hiding my disappointment.
________
After the tedious tasks of the day, Pet informs me that the Lady would like to see me now in her rooms. He takes me there promptly, and as I enter, I see Clothilde sitting at one of the school desks. She turns to look at me with a sparkle in her eye which yields a heavy pang in my chest.
