If the city was busy, the palace ballroom was overrun. Ella could not see a single bit of blank space where she could stand unobserved. She did eventually make her way around the outer edge.

Other noblewoman didn't give her a second look. This felt different than when she passed them in the streets. Then, they actively avoided looking at her while they pinched their noses as if the smell of farm animals would kill them. Here they only ignored her because she was not a man in a crown. It was exhilarating.

The crowd shifted and Ella swung to the left to avoid a server carrying a tray of drinks. Her elbow dug into the soft back of one of the women. She turned on Ella with her hands on her hips.

"Watch where you're going." Annie snapped. There was no hiding who she was. The red hair stood out like a fire on a cloudy night. Besides that, the pink dress was imprinted on Ella's memory.

"My apologies," Ella quickly muttered, pitching her voice lower.

Annie sighed but offered a small smile. "No, it was an accident, I overreacted. To tell you the truth, I am a little nervous. I've never been to something like this."

Ella couldn't help but reach out and grip the younger girl's hand. Even while the image of her hands tearing at her dress plagued her mind, Ella was determined to calm her. "I haven't either. I'm sure we'll both get through it all just fine," she assured her. "At least no one knows who we are, that's nice isn't it?"

They giggled, leaning towards each other conspiratorially. It was dangerously close to the way they'd whisper to each other in the kitchen while Ella worked. Any second now her stepmother would storm in to tell them both off.

"My stepdaughter is quite lovely, and most certainly housebroken," came the Marchioness's voice from Ella's left. "She would make quite the wife to your son."

"Wife?" Ella repeated under her breath.

At least Annie had the good sense to look disgusted by the conversation that was becoming exceedingly transactional. "My mother, she's been talking to any man who will listen about my sister and I. If she could sell us off outright at the market she'd surely be happier. Then Drizella could have her undivided attention as well."

That stunned Ella. They'd left her at home but here they were trying to sing her good praises to find her a husband. Fine, let them sell her off. They wouldn't last a week without her. Ella excused herself and slipped through a sudden gap in the crowd. Breathing had suddenly become the most difficult activity. There had to be a door somewhere, a way out.

A hand touched her elbow and a man leaned in towards her. "Gabby?"

"Ricky?" she spun, grabbing onto his sleeve.

"Is it really you? I've asked six women if they were Gabby and I'm terrified they'll be calling the guards soon," he joked.

Their hands fell away to hang at their sides. They'd found each other. This was their entire reason for being at such an event. Now they couldn't even manage a proper greeting. The music shifted and everyone cleared the center of the room except for the couples that stayed behind to begin the dance.

Ricky held his hand out halfway between them. "I don't suppose you know how to dance."

"It's been a long time, but I think I might remember enough," Ella said. She took his arm and let him drag her away. The glass shoes were surprisingly stable through the waltz the orchestra led them through. Even when she stumbled and had to slam a foot down to stabilize herself they remained in one piece. Bit by bit, she let go of who she was to become lost in the moment.

Three songs went by before other men began approaching Ella for a turn. She was able to ignore them for the most part, but Ricky prodded her towards them. "Go on, maybe one of them is the prince. He could fall in love with you and make you the queen one day."

"I'm not interested in any prince," Ella told him, gripping his hand more tightly. "I came to dance with you, and you promised not to leave me." The other dances shot them withering glares as they moved around them like waves around a boat. The pair had stopped moving at the very center of the ballroom. They made quite the statue.

Ricky tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow. "Come with me then. It stinks of narcissists." He pulled her along the back of the room to a side door. It led to a line of flower covered arches over a stone pathway. The further they went, the quieter the sounds of revelry became. By the time the arches opened up onto the full palace gardens, the music was like a distant lullaby.

"Are we even allowed to be here?" Ella whispered. These were the royal gardens. Rose bushes sported bright red roses along the sides of the path. Morning glories slept in their tightly closed funnels waiting for sunlight. Ella glanced to the eastern sky, wondering how long it would be until midnight.

The garden air was heavily perfumed with dozens of exotic flowers Ella couldn't hope to identify. They tickled her nose until she was forced to pull her mask off.

"It's alright, if anyone sees us here I'll distract them so you can run," Ricky offered, pulling his own mask off. He glanced around the empty gardens before leaving it on a stone bench. "I almost thought you wouldn't come."

"I almost didn't," Ella admitted. She let him take her hand while they wandered the garden. As they walked, she told him what they'd done to keep her away. It was the first time she'd lied to him so openly but she couldn't let him know her family had done this to her. What poor pitiful person would stand for that kind of abuse from a loved one? He would think less of her than he did now when he thought she was a maid. She couldn't tell him about the magic either. They'd lock her up in seconds.

Light from the grand windows spilled across the grass on either side of them. "You should leave that place," Ricky snapped. "To think someone would treat anyone that way."

"Where would I go? I have barely any money to my name, no family, friends, or safe harbor. Even though they're inside trying to sell me off to the highest bidder with a son, they're still all I have," Ella reminded him. Not to mention it was her home by right. If she kept along her path, one day she might even be able to buy the home outright. Annie could stay with her, and they'd finally be free of the marchioness.

Suddenly, Ricky stopped her and spun her to face him. "Let me take you away then." There was no room for debate in his voice.

This man, this strange man who'd saved her in an alley and convinced her to go to a ball she had no business going to, was offering her a way out. Since her father died, Ella had given up the silly idea of marrying for love. No one wanted anything to do with the scullery maid long enough to like her, let alone love her. Her stepmother's idea to set up a match was better than nothing. At least she'd be free.

Now, a glimmer of hope threatened to overwhelm her. Maybe it wasn't love, but that was alright. Ricky had thus far proven kind and considerate. He was employed in the palace which meant steady money. If they married and she moved to the city, Ella could even apprentice herself to Madam Coffey and earn her own meager living. That was enough to be safe, content, maybe even happy one day.

"I can't just leave," Ella pointed out.

"Don't worry. In a day's time I will come for you. Just tell me where to find you and I will take you far away from there, Gabby," he begged her.

Before she had a chance to answer, the clock tower began to ring. It reached three before Ella thought to step forward to where she could see the clock's face.

Midnight.

There was no time. If she was found here it wouldn't matter who came to save her. She gripped her skirts in her fists and turned for the doors.

"Gabby," Ricky called after her. His fingertips brushed her elbow but he didn't grab her.

"Find me, Ricky. Find me or I'll find you," Ella called over her shoudler.

"Wait, is that a yes? Will you let me take you away?" he called after her.

Ella was nearly at the doors now but she turned back to cup her hands around her mouth. "Yes! It's a yes."