Ava sent a servant to tell her coachman to get her carriage ready. Then she began helping Gisela off with the red dress.
“Will you hide this for me?” Gisela showed Ava her leather pouch.
Ava took it and stuffed it inside the wardrobe, hiding it behind the clothes inside.
“I can never go home again, and that is the only valuable thing I own. I suppose I’ll never see my horses again.” Gisela’s voice caught and she didn’t try to go on. Ava didn’t like self-pitying tears.
“You’ll see one horse again. Kaeleb has been in my stable since you rode here two days ago.”
How could she have forgotten about Kaeleb! “Thank you, Ava! I’m so happy he’s safe.” God had saved her, and He even saved her favorite horse. When she ran away, she would not only have the money her father left her, she’d have her beloved Kaeleb too.
Ava pulled the dress over Gisela’s head, tugging at the bodice until it was straight and fluffing the material down over her hips. “It looks as if it were made for you.”
She stepped back and looked at Gisela. “You look absolutely beautiful. The Earl of Hamlin will lose his heart tonight, if he hasn’t already.”
Gisela felt herself blush.
“Oh, I heard about him choosing you to be the tournament queen.” Looking over her shoulder, she yelled, “Bridget! Come now!” Then she grabbed Gisela’s hand and led her to a stool and motioned for her to sit. “I know all about him dancing with you at the banquet. And how he couldn’t take his eyes off you.” She grinned gleefully and patted Gisela’s cheek.
Bridget, Ava’s maid, came running into the room. “Bridget, we must prepare Gisela’s hair for the ball.”
They began brushing and styling and discussing Gisela’s hair, while Gisela tried not to fidget too much. She was terribly thankful to God for helping her escape her chamber and for saving her from Ruexner, but if Ava didn’t stop playing with her hair and let her leave, she would be late.
Valten watched Evfemia Mueller and the two maidens who had called Gisela “Cinders-ela” make their way toward them through the courtyard. When she approached, she bowed low and presented herself and her two daughters to him and his sisters.
Valten was tempted to grab her by the throat and demand she tell him where Gisela was, but Margaretha spoke first.
“Frau Mueller, we were wondering why Gisela isn’t with you. Is she well?”
The woman scrunched up her ugly face, looking first at Margaretha and then at him. “I am sorry, more sorry than I can say, but I’m afraid Gisela has … well, I am so ashamed I can hardly speak the words.” The woman actually crimped up her face as if she was about to cry.
“What?” Margaretha said, once again helping him to forestall throttling the woman. “What has happened?”
“Gisela met a man, a wealthy merchant from Venice, a few days ago. I’m afraid she has run off with him. He promised to marry her, and she left with him early this morning.”
Valten felt the heat welling up inside him. Was she lying? Or had Gisela left with another man? If she hadn’t, then where was she?
His betrothed hadn’t wanted him either. It was the same thing all over again. She’d chosen another man over him.
Valten turned and stomped back to the Great Hall. He just might put his unbroken hand through someone’s face, if given the slightest bit of provocation. Gisela. Could she do this? Would he look like a fool again?
“Ava, I must go!” Gisela’s patience was already gone. They had been fussing over her hair for more than an hour. “Please!”
“Very well. You are beautiful. See?” Ava held up the looking glass for Gisela to see for herself.
Gisela only saw an agitated face that desperately wanted to be at the ball with Valten.
“Thank you, Ava. Now I must go!”
“But you have no shoes!”
They all stared down as Gisela pulled the dress up a few inches to show her bare toes peeking out.
“I have the perfect ones.” Ava turned and pulled out of the wardrobe a pair of white leather shoes with pointed toes that curled up and over, with a jewel embedded on top.
She had never owned a pair of white shoes before—they were too impractical. These were obviously meant only for leisure parties and feasts … and for dancing at a ball.
Gisela pulled them on. Amazingly, they fit. Gisela straightened and hugged her friend. “You are an angel from heaven, Ava. Thank you.”
“Now go. Valten will be waiting for you.” Ava pushed Gisela toward the door, and she was only too willing to leave. She bounded through the doorway, across the marble floor, out the front door, and down the steps to the waiting carriage.
Ava yelled at the coachman, “Don’t let any harm come to her.”