His parents had been fervent at putting their best foot forward. Each of his family members had been trussed up and shipped off in different directions. Niklaus to the North to become a warrior, one who was a prince and a warrior was prized far above the rest. Rebekah was sent West to the coast, Kol and Finn sent as a package East to broker peace and Elijah. Elijah was sent South to be taught the ways in which the Southern lords traded with the isles. He was sent to learn business and strategy. He had hardly expected to be taught dancing and wine. Least of all proper dress for the warmer climates.
Men dashed around in dress shirts with no jacket, no mantle. They wore breaches and no riding pants and jaunted after young maids in silks rather than wool. At first it had made him uneasy, skin crawling for the sight of it. And then he learned to embrace it. Elijah had become so accustomed to the garb that when dressed like this, cravat tied tightly about his neck, he felt suffocated. The mask he bore was the lynchpin in his sanity, slowly driving him mad. The music was loud, but bearable. His shoes were stiff, but learning to flex. And the women were toying with his civility. But the mask was destroying him, hard wood held against him with silk ties.
“Relax, Cousin,” Bartholomew had told him for the umpteenth time. Only Elijah ignored him, favored for finding his way further from the dance floor toward the veranda. The air was crisp and he delighted in the relative silence, fingers just touch to the edge of his mask before he heard the sound of footsteps echoing on the ceramic. His hand fell back to his side and Elijah refused to turn and greet them, assuming another cousin. “I have done as instructed. Relaxed in the expanse of wilderness rather than that ruckus you call a festival.”
“Emily?” Silken voice of the southern lady called out to her lady in waiting whilst she looked in the mirror at the dress she’d bought for such an occasion. Something was off, but she couldn’t quite place it. Maybe if it were tighter. “Emily, in here now, tighten my corset.” This night was to go as planned. There would be lords, upper class, and she would need to impress. Reel one in. Now, that was not something she would find to have much difficulty, but if she looked dowdy and like any other girl at the party, then how would she stand apart enough? Other than her clearly sparkling personality. And the way she’d rather dress in black. How fitting.
Naturally, the South fit her like a glove. Certainly ahead of its time in state of dress, she would seem more like a coquette with her style, but it would still fit in amongst people, never labeling her the whore she would be seen as anywhere else. Though perhaps she should wear more, but why? When her maid was done, she smoothed ruby stain over her lips and winged tips to her eyes which shone bright, prepared for the mask that would soon adorn her. Reaching to her dresser after giving Emily leave, she took hold of the ties and settled the mask upon her face with an almost mischievous grin. This could be fun. If they let it. Tying it tightly, she smoothed her hair then stepped back into her heels. Perfect. Time to catch a fly.
The carriage seemed to take more time than necessary to arrive at the rather large home, but it gave her time to smooth the dress and think about what and who exactly she wanted to catch and how to do it. Masquerades could have slight confusion, but she fancied herself one who could know someone by sound of voice. Or curve of jaw. That’s how she would find him. Stepping out of the structure and onto steps, Katherine looked to her left and right then headed up the stairs, knowing Emily would follow her bounds. Especially with slight warnings which she could hear quite clearly as she reached the top and looked around once more before heading in. “Dearest, Emily, you’ve forgotten. I’m a Pierce. And Pierces always win.”