While nothing worth mentioning happened over the week, I can clearly feel and excitement rising in the office, especially from Charles. Everyday when Margaret comes in, she gives updates about the ball and how my dress is coming along.

Margaret showed me some fashion plates to pick a dress from. I picked out a plane one but it had some lace and fake flowers to make it pretty. The day after that we bought fabric and taking Charles' advice, I got red and not brown.

But all the preparations lead me to today where after work Margaret and I sat around my desk and talked about the ball.

"Why do you and Charles take this ball so seriously?" I ask her. She looks at me then away into some memory of hers. Margaret smiles and I can tell whatever it is, it is dear to her heart.

"When we were only children, Charles and I met at that dance. Although we hardly knew how to dance, he asked me. I liked his humor because it was so different from all the other boys and he was just so kind. We have went ever since." Margaret concluded.

"That is a sweet story." I respond and we both pause for a minute.

"And he hasn't stopped talking about you since." William said from the hallway. I didn't  realize he was standing there so I jumped when he spoke. Margaret laughed and agreed with William.

"Will you be joining us this year?" Margaret asked. "Oh please do. It's Anna's first year and she will want to know someone who isn't married." I looked down a bit embarrassed but Margaret was right.

"You know I can't do that. If I haven't left in so long what makes you think the world wants to see me now?" William said somberly.

I really do feel bad for William. He is a very nice man, just a bit different. He is a bit awkward around people yet he is handsome and kind. People just don't like him but I do.

After that William went back upstairs and Margaret and I are left alone. But after a minute or two more she decides to go home. Margaret calls a cab and is taken away. I go upstairs and see William sitting in the living room. I go and sit down next to him.

"If it's any constellation, I don't think you are odd and in fact you are one of the nicest men, let alone people I know." William looks up at me and smiles.

"Do you really think so Anna?" He asks and for a second his eyes look like that of a child's that are filled with hope.

"Yes." I say definitively. He smiles again. William than moves his hand over to mind and holds it. My cheeks blush and I look down. William draws his hand back quickly and turns his body away from mine a bit.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me." I look back at William's face and I extend my hand and grab his this time.

"It is alright, I didn't mind." I tell him trying to make him feel better. So we sit like this for a while without talking. But finally William starts to speak

"Please forgive me if this offends you, but you're one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I really like you Anna." I blush and mouth 'thank you' " And I would love to come to the ball with you. But I cannot. You should go, maybe you will meet some handsome man and you two will fall in love. But I cannot go." At that William got up and went into his room. I could hear the door lock a second later.

I than go and get ready for bed myself, knowing tomorrow I will need to talk to Charles and maybe Margaret too.

In the morning I get ready for work like usual and when Charles comes in I talk to him in a hushed voice.

"William said I was the most beautiful woman he's seen last night." I tell him. Charles smiles and tells me to continue. "But he is insistent that he not go to the ball and that I'll meet some other man and fall in love with him. It is so sad to hear."

"Oh I wish he would come, it would do him good." Charles says with a sigh.

"I would really like to spend time with him, and you and Margaret. But I believe that we could never get him out of the building, even if we commit arson." Charles laughs and I realized that I was starting to take after him with his jokes.

"Maybe it's best to let him be, my dear." But I don't like this answer and I want to help William and go to the ball. But than and idea sparked in my head and my face lights up.

"What if we host a ball here!" I almost say in a loud voice so I make a point of hushing myself. "We could have a little one with you and Margaret, and me, and William. That way he wouldn't have to leave and he could still enjoy himself." I could see Charles pondering this and than his face lights up too.

"Yes it could work. We could hire a violinist and we could dance right here! Oh I love you and your ideas!" Charles says with a huge smile. "When Margaret comes we can tell her the idea and than William."

So that's what we did. The day progressed normally with a few customers and one elderly lady who was confused and wanted a picture of her living granddaughter. So I explained to her that we only shot the deceased. Than Margaret came in.

"Hello Anna, Charles." She says to the two of us and walks over to her husband.

"Margaret what if we hosted a very small ball right here for William? We could do it earlier in the day before the actual church ball so we can continue our tradition and William could have fun too." Charles says to her. She thinks for a minute than said that it was a great idea. We all smiled and Charles called in William.

"My dear friend, I know you want to go to the ball with Miss Anna, so we are going to have a small ball right here! Do not fret, it is only us and one violinist." Charles said happily. Than William smiled.

"You would do that for me?" William asks dumbfounded. All of us said yes because William really is a kind soul. "Thank you." We all said variations of 'of course'.

"Well we best be leaving now that we have more plans." Margaret says and the couple leaves arm in arm.

William and I go upstairs where he thanks me a thousand times after I told him it was my idea. We eat a dinner and sit in the living room again where William read a book out loud while we held hands.