"Stella, wake up, wake up! Father has an announcement for all of us." called my twin sister Peggy as she stuck her head through my doorway. I rolled over and put a pillow on my head. I didn't want to get up, but if Father wanted me downstairs, I had to go. I rang for my maid, Elise, to help me get dressed. She helped me lace my corset and I put on a simple purple dress and began my journey to the parlor. 

When I arrived, Angie, Eliza, and Peggy were already there. I sat on the sofa and father stood. 

"Alright dears, I called you here because I wanted to tell you that I have made you an appointment with the tailor tomorrow to get your Winters Ball dresses." 

Peggy cleared her throat. "Pardon my interruption father, but I thought me and Stella wouldn't be going to the ball until next year." 

"Me and your mother spoke of it, and we decided you are both old enough to be courted and so should therefore go to the ball. You will go with Angelica and Eliza to get dresses tomorrow." me and Peggy smiled at each other. We had been waiting for a chance to go to the ball for years.  I wondered who would be there and if I would meet someone special. 

The next day we all woke up early and walked to the carriage so we could go to the tailor. We pulled up to the shop and we were greeted by the last person I'd ever thought I would see in a tailors shop.

"Hercules Mulligan! Well, it's been years. How are you?" I said with a grin. He smiled and pulled us all in for a hug

"Well if it isn't the Schuylers? How are my favorite sisters that aren't actually my sisters?" We had been close with Hercules when we were children and we had basically been as close as siblings. We looked around at dresses until we found a few we liked.

Stella Dress^^^^^^ (minus neck thing)

Angelica Dress ^^^^

Eliza Dress ^^^

Peggy Dress ^^^

Once we had paid for all of our dresses, we went back to the carriage, but before I could get in, I tripped and felt a pair of strong arms catch me. I looked up to meet the eyes of whoever had saved me. I was met with a pair of beautiful brown eyes that seemed to stare into my soul. 

"Mademoiselle, are you alright?" he said with the cutest French accent I've ever heard. He was very handsome, now that I could see him. He was tall and had curly dark brown hair and he was very, very good looking. 

"Yes, yes I'm fine. And who might you be?" 

"I am Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, but please just call me Lafayette. C'est un honneur de vous rencontrer." 

"Enchanté de vous rencontrer aussi." I responded, being the only one of my sisters who was completely fluent in French. 

"You speak French as well, Mademoiselle..." he trailed off, asking for my last name. 

"Oh! My name is Stella, Stella Schuyler. " His eyes widened. 

"Schuyler? It was lovely talking with you Miss Schuyler. Adieu, for now." he smiled and walked away. I got into the carriage and my sisters were all smirking at me. 

"What?" I said.

"You know." Angie said with a side eye. I blushed.

"Oh, that was nothing." Eliza chuckled.

"Stella, the man was staring into your eyes for a solid minute. That's not nothing. Did you get his name?" 

"He said to call him Lafayette. Though when he said his full name, I could've sworn he said he was a Marquis." I said thinking back. 

"Oh! If he's a Marquis he must have money so there's a good chance Father might let him court you if he was to ask." squealed Peggy. 

"Oh she's right! Maybe he'll be at the ball, if you're lucky." said Eliza. "I'm so jealous."

"Oh please Liza. There are plenty of handsome men in this world and I'm sure you will find one eventually." I leaned on my elbow as I gazed out the window of the carriage, wondering if I would ever see the handsome Frenchman again.