Ella Enchanted - By Gail Carson Levine Page 0,63

show me anything about the ball or Char's thoughts. There was nothing. The next morning I tried again and found an entry in his journal from the night before.

How dare she! That fright -- Hattie -- rusted at me the instant Lela left. "Some wenches will stoop to anything to intrigue a man," she said "I shall be devastated if I had to wear a mask in order to be interesting."

She warned me the mask might conceal anything: a deformity, advancing age, the face of a known bandit. "if I were sovereign," she said, "I would order her to remove her mask."

I wanted to reply, "If you were sovereign, every Kyrrian would wish you'd don one."

Certainly I've wondered why Lela hides her face, but it may be the custom in Bast. If she is a bandit, she's courageous to come to court. More likely she is disfigured. Maybe she's has a scar, or one eyelid droops, or her nose is a mottled purple.

I don't care. I'm pleased to have found a friend at these balls, where I expected to find only tedium.

Does Ella Lela want more than friendship? Why did I write that name?

Did she come to these balls, as every other maiden did, hoping to wed a prince? (No matter what I am like, so long as I am a prince.) I confess: I do wish to see her face.

I turned the page and found a reckoning from Olive to Hattie.

You o me 6 KJs. I danced with him to times wen you wer eeting. Pa me.

* * *

IN THE AFTERNOON, I slipped out of the manor to the greenhouse near the menagerie. There I picked daisies and wove the flowers into a garland to replace Lucinda's tiara. If I was to stay at the ball after midnight, I couldn't wear Lucinda's jewels.

My gown for the last ball was my favorite: white, with a low neckline edged in lace. The skirt parted in front to reveal a petticoat with three lace flounces. In back, my skirt was tied with a large bow that flowed into the graceful sweep of my train.

I faced myself in the mirror and began to set the garland in my hair, but Mandy stopped me.

"Here's something better, love." She handed me two packages wrapped in tissue paper. "Open them."

They were a tiara of woven silver leaves and a silver chain on which hung an aster made of lapis.

"Oh, Mandy!"

"I bought them at the market. They won't disappear at midnight." She placed the tiara on my hair and fastened the chain around my neck. "You make them beautiful, sweet."

I looked in the mirror. Mandy's selections added something that Lucinda's creations hadn't -- just right for my gown and just right for me.

* * *

CHAR WAS waiting for me at the palace entrance. When the carriage drove up, he dashed to help me out before the coachman could step down. The clock struck half after eight. The beginning of the last ball.

"You look splendid," he said, bowing.

I was touched by his gallantry, since he believed me disfigured.

As we went inside he said, "Your carriage is an unusual color."

"Not in Bast." If he knew much about Bast, I was in for trouble -- unless orange coaches were common there.

He took my arm. "May I visit you there?"

"Bast would be honored."

"And you?"

"I'd be honored too."

"If I'm going to visit your family, you should meet mine."

"I'll be delighted, someday."

"Now is a good time. They're nearby; you're nearby."

"Now? King Jerrold?"

He chuckled. "That's who my father is."

"But..."

"He's kind to everyone except ores. You needn't worry."

The king rose when we entered. I curtsied, blushing for my rudeness in wearing a mask before him. When I rose, he was beaming at Char. Queen Daria was smiling too.

I'd seen them many times, but never so close. The queen had a wide face, perfect for broad smiles. An honest face. Char resembled his father, but softened a bit. The king's face was severe in repose, although merry now.

"Mother, Father, may I introduce Lady Lela, my new friend and acquaintance from Bast, where the carriages are orange."

"Lady Lela." King Jerrold took my hand. He had the roundest, deepest voice I'd ever heard. "Welcome to Frell."

"Most welcome." Queen Daria embraced me. "I've waited long to meet the maiden my son loves."

"I don't love her, Mother. That is, I like her, certainly."

Over the queen's shoulder, I saw Char looking silly with embarrassment.

Queen Daria held me away from her and searched my face. "I can't tell through the mask, but