Before I realized it, Margret was stopping by and giving me my dress. Before I realized it, the Seer's and I were decorating the office. And before I realized it, the date of the ball came. 

We did our work as we would any other day, except now there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation in the air. Which I admit was a but odd in a building that corpses and mourning people frequented. Throughout the day I noticed how Charles almost waltzed around the room. When he caught me staring, he would pretend to be embarrassed, but I could tell he truthfully didn't mind. 

"Anna, are you excited!" Charles said to me at my desk about half an hour till Margret will walk home with him. I opened my mouth to talk but before I could say anything Charles spoke again. "I sure am, and you will have a lovely time here and at the church ball. And oh, how happy William is. Don't you see how there is more spring in his step today compared to even yesterday?"

"Yes I see it." I respond a bit soft. "And I am excited too. When will you and Margret be coming over?"

"A quarter to 7:00. Than we will stay till 9:00. You are coming along with us to the church, correct?" Charles asked in a voice that sounded as innocent as a child's. I'm not certain if he did that on purpose or for a reason, but it seemed like the voice was an accident because afterward Charles cleared his throat. 

"I should be." I tell him. Charles smiles and started to tell a story about the husband who brought in his late wife today. 

"I know it's frightfully rude to talk about the dead like this, but I swear she was the ugliest woman and when I asked the man if he had brought any of his wife's makeup, he was very shocked and said she wore none. But the poor woman could have really used some." Charles joked. He always made light of his work. William did the same, but in a lesser manor. 

"So was that why you asked me that question earlier?" I asked, remembering earlier in the day when Charles came up to my desk and I asked what I use to make myself pretty. 

"Yes, normally we keep a little bit in the back room but we recently ran out and Margret hasn't  been out to buy some more."

"You make Margret get the makeup?" I ask a bit shocked. While I talk I notice Charles turn around and read the clock. By now it was time for Margret to be here and truthfully I'm a bit surprised she hasn't came yet. Charles stood up and went to the coat rack and puts on his coat and hat as he talks to me. 

"Yes. It's not like William and I know about that. It's best a woman does that job. But if you would rather do it, I can talk to William." 

"Oh don't worry about that. I will think about it, but you don't have to be the messenger." Charles nods and started to step out the little door. "Are you not waiting for your wife?"

"No she is busy getting ready. But don't you fret, we'll be back my dear Miss Anna." Charles says and than he swung the door open and stepped outside into the busy street. I was then left alone sitting at my desk. I just sat there for a minuet or two, waiting for something, but I wasn't sure what the something was. Than William came out of the backroom and was about to go up the stairs when he spotted me sitting at the desk.

"What are you doing, Anna? Shan't you be getting ready?" William was right and I stood up and followed him up the stairs. I go straight to my room and put on my dress. While getting dressed wasn't necessarily quick, it didn't take that long and looking at myself in the mirror after I finished, I noticed I almost looked beautiful. Than I had to do my hair, which was always a struggle. I plated my hair than tied it up in a high knot and added flowers to match my dress.

When I leave my room, William is waiting just outside. He is in a Sunday suit that hadn't been worn in a long time. I heard laughter downstairs, along with music. William offers me his arm without speaking and I take it gingerly. When we get to the stairs, William goes down first than helps me down at the bottom. 

"Oh you look so wonderful!" Margaret remarks with frilly voice. Her dress is elaborate with lots of flowers and fancy fabrics. The dress had a long train and she wore opera gloves. I looked down at my own hands and felt embarrassed that I had on kid gloves. 

"Thank you, so do you." I respond like my mother taught me. At least she can be proud that I remember my manners, for the most part. 

"Let us dance. Play something good, sir!" Charles instructed the violinist to do. The man played a good dance song that sounded familiar, yet I couldn't place it. Charles asked Margaret to dance, and she excepted. He bowed and she curtsied and they started to dance. I looked at William and I could see that he was nervous. 

"Miss Heaven, will you dance with me?" 

"Yes." I say with a smile. William than bowed a little and I curtsied in reply. Than we were off just like Charles and his wife. It was a fast paced song so we moved quickly. I could tell William fumbled a bit, yet he kept his composer and we went around the room. 

We did this for what must have been a while although it felt like only a few seconds because before I realized, Charles told the violinist to play a slower song for our last one. The man complied and played a slow song that almost made one cry. William and I danced and when he saw the Seer's gently talking to each other, he did the same to me. 

"Thank you for dancing with me tonight." He says. I nod in reply because I could tell he wanted to say more and I didn't want to interrupt. I could hear my mother in my head saying, 'You mustn't interrupt when a man is talking, especially when he is talking about something important.' "To be truthful I feel like you just coming here has changed me. Now I know you are leaving with Charles and his wife soon. If you fall in love,  just remember me." 

Maybe it was the way the music tore into one's soul. Maybe it was the memorizing movements of the dance. Or maybe it was actual love. Nether less my heart broke to hear William and I made up my mind to stay with William tonight. I knew it would hurt Charles, but he had Margaret. 

The dance ended and Charles payed the violinist. He helped Margaret into her coat and hat and did the same himself. 

"Are you coming, Anna?" Charles asked and I felt bad but I wanted to stick to my plans. 

"No, I want to stay here with William." Charles nodded with a smile and gave his wife a wink and walked out into the night, arm in arm with Margaret. 

"Why do you want to stay with me?" William asked. 

"I don't know." I walked over to the stairs and started to walk up when I stopped and called down to William. "Are you coming along?" He followed me up but stopped in the hallway to see where I would go. But before I could chose a room, he brushed past me and opened his bedroom door. I gingerly followed him inside. 

We stared at each other for a minuet, than he stepped very close to me and kissed me. I had never kissed man, save for my neighbor Joseph when we were eight. I liked the way he kept his hand firmly on the back of my neck, yet he was very gentile. We did this for a while until I got a glance at the clock and saw that it was getting late. I gave William a goodnight kiss and went back to my room, but all I could do was think about the kiss.