“Thank you.”
“Now, go have that bath and get ready.” Adele smiled and headed for the door calling over her shoulder, “And wear your hair down, curled at the bottom. I think it will complement the dress perfectly.”
“Oh, let me guess. He likes girls with long dark hair falling freely,” Ally quipped.
“Perhaps. Try it and see what happens,” Adele said mysteriously as she left.
Running her hands through her hair, she went to the bathroom and turned on the water. It’s just a coincidence, she thought, but look what happened last time I went with that theory…
Ally went back out to the bedroom and laid the dress on her bed then spotted Coco, her little cavalier, dozing away on her pillow. On seeing her puppy, she changed her mind and decided to hang the dress over the door. Ally loved her baby girl, but she could not be trusted with clothes. It seemed that dogs found clothes a wonderful sleeping place. The newer and cleaner, the more desirable it became for Coco.
Chapter Five
An hour later, Alessandra emerged from her room, looking nothing short of a goddess in search of her god. Her long chocolate locks fell half-way down her back with the curls beginning near her shoulders. The dress looked as though she had been poured into it, and it gave her the confidence boost she needed.
She decided on a smoky eye shadow to bring her vivid green eyes further into focus, and scarlet lip gloss to match the dress. It was an ethereal, otherworldly effect that she had mastered. For some reason, she was drawn to it, and it felt right to look this way. She felt beautiful, more graceful. Her posture had straightened, and something else she couldn’t put her finger on had changed.
“It couldn’t all be the dress…Could it?” she wondered aloud as she left her room.
Descending the steps with the grace and stealth of a jungle cat, she knew her senses were more alert tonight. Her grandmother’s charity balls always seemed to have a magical effect on her, but never before had she felt like this.
At the end of the stairs, she made her way to the kitchen. Adele and Kat were sitting at the table in their gorgeous ball gowns. Kat was dressed in an elaborate jade green silk creation, which made her blue eyes sparkle and her auburn hair shine. She had naturally curly hair that had been pulled and twisted up loosely on top of her head. Adele wore a deep violet ball gown that matched her eyes perfectly, with her long dark hair pulled up in an extravagant creation and a matching violet mask. They both had a stunning natural look, and they were engrossed in deep conversation. It appeared the ladies were also knee-deep in scheming something, which more than likely involved her.
“What mischief are you two planning?” Ally asked, as she entered the room.
Kat jumped up from the table threw her arms around Ally. “It’s so nice to see you!! And you look incredible!”
“Thanks, I’m glad you came,” she said. It was more than a little awkward, and Ally was unsure how to express what she was feeling. She hadn’t seen Kat in ages. “You look gorgeous too, by the way.”
Kat blushed. “Thanks. Adele said there was someone she wanted me to meet, so I made an extra effort.”
“Well, you look amazing. He’s a very lucky man.”
Adele shared a look with her granddaughter. “You’re breathtaking Alessandra.” Her eyes misted over with unshed tears.
Now it was Ally’s turn to blush. “Thank you. It’s the dress.”
“Oh, pish posh! You have always been beautiful. You just never saw it.” Adele gave them both a big smile. “Now you girls have some champagne and get caught up.” She handed each of them a glass. “I’ll call you when your prospective suitors arrive. Now off you go.”
Kat took Ally’s arm just like old times and started dragging her towards the veranda. “Come on, I want the gossip on this man Adele was telling me about.”
So Gran didn’t mention the name, Ally thought. How strange.
“And what about you? There is some suitor lined up for you as well,” Ally laughed as they took a seat at one of the many tables.
Ally looked around and lost herself in the enchanting paradise. The lawns were decorated with fairy lights, and the big white silk tent stood tall and proud in the middle of the magical garden.
Despite the cold it was beautiful outside and Gran had ordered enough outdoor heaters to