The House of Happiness by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online Page B

accepted the Marquis’s invitation.  She would go to the ball, she would dress in a gown of rose pink silk and she would dance with Gregor Brodosky.  She would dance all night, only with him, and his Russian heart would go boom, boom, boom to hold her in his arms!
    *
    Eugenia stood waiting to be announced. The stairway that led down to the ballroom was of white marble, with a runner of thick red carpet. Below, the ballroom was already crowded and the orchestra playing. Figures in resplendent costume swirled by.  But something was wrong. Each figure wore a mask. Eugenia felt her face with her fingers. She wore no mask. Would she be allowed to dance?
    â€œMiss Eugenia Dovedale”
    At the sound of her name, the various instruments of the orchestra began, one by one, to cease playing. Soon only the sound of a violin floated in the air.  The dancers stopped and turned to watch Eugenia descend.
    There was something wrong. At each step she took, someone in the ballroom began to laugh. Soon there was a chorus of laughter.  A figure detached himself from the throng and came to the foot of the steps. His shoulders too were shaking.
    â€œHer shoes! Look at her shoes!”
    Eugenia glanced down. Her slippers were so worn that her toes peeped through. The hem of her dress was ragged and the sleeves ripped.
    The laughter in the ballroom was now uproarious. Tears pricked Eugenia’s eyes but she kept on walking down. Then the figure at the foot of the steps tore away his mask to reveal his identity.
    It was Gregor, Gregor Brodosky, and he was laughing at Eugenia along with all the rest.
    â€œOh,” choked Eugenia, struggling awake. “Oh.”
    She felt her face. It was wet with tears.
    What a fool she was! The dream had told her that. How could she possibly go to the ball? She had no gown. Great-Aunt Cloris would never buy her one. It was all her own fault that she found herself in this dilemma. She had been so eager to dance with Gregor that she had entirely forgotten the state of her wardrobe.
    Even as the memory of her mother’s decision to sell off her jewellery surfaced in her mind, Eugenia suppressed it. She would never agree to a sale.
    The Marquis would have received her letter of acceptance by now.  She had sent it yesterday.  Well, she would have to send him another, rescinding her decision. 
    Mrs. Dovedale bustled in, humming happily.  Eugenia shrank in her chair.  She had told her mother last night that she had accepted the invitation to the ball. She had been ecstatic but Eugenia, fearful her mother might pry into the reason for her change of heart, had slipped quickly away to bed. Now she would have to explain yet another change of heart!
    Her mother sat down and rubbed her hands together. “What fun we are going to have these next few days, Eugenia my dear.”
    â€œFun?” echoed Eugenia faintly.
    â€œPreparing for the ball, dear.”
    â€œMama,” she said quietly.  “There isn’t going to be any fun. You see, I-I have changed my mind.  I am – not going to the ball after all.”
    Mrs. Dovedale spluttered. “Not going?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou tiresome girl!  What do you mean by this incessant torment of your mother?”
    â€œMama,” pleaded Eugenia. “I cannot go. I have no dress. I will not go in any more hand-me-downs.”
    â€œOh, is that it?” Mrs. Dovedale looked as if she would faint with relief. “You do not have to worry about that. Everything is arranged.”
    â€œArranged?”
    â€œI now have the money.”  Her mother looked triumphant. “Tomorrow we will go and choose the material and then hire a dressmaker.  She will have to work quickly. It is only a week to the ball.”
    Eugenia paled. “How do you have the money? Have you sold your jewellery? I will absolutely refuse to see a dressmaker if you have sold your jewellery! And if I find out