“I’ll see you in a bit sweet.” Sara said, and Kathryn found herself running down the hall to the passage.

She slipped under the willow tree and hid the mask in one of the branches. When she came back, she’d put the cloak and black mask there instead. She peeked out of the curtain of the trees. She could see the large Wheel from here, and hear the band as they started to play, people were already arriving. She hurried back into the passage, back into the castle.

In the ball room she sat and listened politely as people were announced in. She’d been so board that she was surprised when she looked up and saw Jake. She hadn’t even heard them announce him in. He’d put on a white mask rather like the one she’d hidden in the tree. He was warring a white suit with gold trimming, and he looked rather prince-like. His brown hair had been combed and his face washed. She smiled and then realized that in a moment he would be bowing to her mother and father, and then to herself and the prince, as the rest of the guests had done before proceeding to the festivities. With each step that grew closer she grew more sure that he’d notice her, that he’d recognize who she was. He bowed to her mother and father and then moved on to bow to her and the prince, her heart pounded. He knows! She thought desperately. He knows! Though he bowed and moved on. He didn’t seem to look twice at her. She watched him as he paced the room, as if searching for someone. After a while, he moved outside.

Beside her the prince sighed.

“Well this is a lovely affair.” he said in a board tone. Kathryn nodded and tried to guess where Jake was going.

“Would you care to dance?” He asked as the last guest bowed to them. She sighed and nodded.

“Vary well.” She said, not wanting to ruin even his birthday.

The shoes on her feet seemed to sing with each step and she felt light as a feather. Yet her breath ran short and she soon found she was having difficulty breathing. The bindings of her corset being wound to tightly.

“Forgive me prince, but I must go for some fresh air.” She said.

The prince nodded and bowed going back to sit on his thrown. She however went outside and hurried to the willow tree. Quickly she took off her mask and cloak and hung them to hide in the branches. Then she down the white mask and put it on, letting her hair down over it. Her hair fell in ringlets and she peeked out of the curtain of leaves. She stopped and held her sides as pain ran through them. She tried to ignore it taking short sharp breaths. She walked out from under the tree into the noise and crowed.