my submission! love to see you already at business!
The Dishonored Debutante
Ratselyn
Aredelia
Theodora
Bestonowych was overjoyed to finally enter the High Society.
For the last year she tortured herself with dance and etiquette lessons. Noble young lady supposed to have shining manners and a perfectly thin figure. The Bestonowych baron family couldn't obtain the tapeworm dieting capsules. And for that shortcoming Ratselyn was forced to have her breakfast, lunch and dinner be chewed a hundred times for each bite. Did it make her undergarment corset fit closer? Oh surely not! But her teeth did feel skinnier.
Tailors were called in to the manor for a monthly fitting. This one got to be the last. Baroness Bestonowych stepped into the room, bringing a nervous pressure to Ratslyn. A quick bow expresing curtsy brought a smile to her mothers face.
— You look so proper, darling.
— It's all thanks to you, mother, — by the slight contortion of red lips, Ratslyn could tell that baroness was proud of her answer.
— Well, well, child! If you are as grateful as you present yourself you will go, charm everyone and bring those roses sales up for your mama!
Traditionally, the Debutante Ball was a one of a kind marketplace for brides and grooms. But baroness Bestonowych was never about traditions.
Before she got the title, baroness was a street performer renowned for her graceful moves and beauty. There were rumors about her affairs with various gentlemen, some even mentioning his Majesty. But they were quickly swept under the rag, after announcement of her marriage to the old baron Bestonowych. The streets were distraught over the news, but only few could openly criticize the nobility.
One year after the wedding the world received two news: a little Ratslyn Aredelia Theodora Bestonowych was born and her father baron Bestonowych died the same date after being mistakenly fed arsenic.
The noblemen of different station lined up at the manors doors, as soon as the mourning period came to it's end. Their hopes of getting the wealthy barony and beautiful widow were crushed, as the baroness announced that she will forever be married to only one man. After long legal battles and help from hidden sources she inherited the family business, the estate and all riches. And at this day she was a successful businesswomen branching out with a new rose hybrid.
But Ratslyn never saw her mother in a favorable light. From her standing all there to be seen was a middle-aged greedy woman that killed her husband for inheritance. So there she stood, holding back her disappointment by clutching her puffy skirt.
— Ratsy! Be delicate with adornments! You will loosen the threads, — baroness hussled over to her daughter, — oh you just look at that work, sweetheart...
The debutante thrown a quick glance at the mirror. Standing in full stance, wearing the whitest dress available for making. Her eyes went back to the skirt. From top to bottom gown was full of tiny features. It was all the result of skillful hands adding layers and accessories, akin to forming a statue with a porcelain clay. Ratslyn was touched by all the effort. And by "touch" I mean a kick of shame.
She had exhaled.
— I will do my best, mother.
— That's my darling! — she cupped her arms around the young face, — You are so alluring that we will need a flyswatter to shoo away all the jealous ladies!
The carriage arrived. After that.. Ratslyn didn't even remember how she got to the ballroom door. Her anxious hearing could only pick out muffled music, so she leaned in closer to avoid missing her name announcement.
— Brother, look who we got here, — young baroness immedeatly turned her face to see a gorgeous redhead.
— Haa... Miss Cathy Isabella Cutelia Toopac, please accept my greetings, — this situation couldn't be saved by good manners.
— Of course, Rat. Would you mind coming with me? Considering our prior history I think we need a minute in private.
—"Shit!" — not a ladylike thought, but it's not like someone could read it via text from another dimension, so from her mouth come out,— My lady, I would gladly catch up with you, but I am afraid to miss my entry.
— Just come with me.
Cathy dragged Ratslyn into an empty waiting room. The latter girl got thrown to a sofa inside the room, as Cathy shouted into a hallway:
— Brother, bring us some wine!
— You are still an early drinker.
— And you still can't keep your mouth shut.
Ratslyn wanted to fire something back, but her intentions were swiftly challenged by a french kiss.
Their tongues met each other with much more hospitality, than debutantes offered to each other. Cathy's hand ran against the back of her ex lover, blindly but accurately untying ribbons. She slowly stepped back, peeling away embroidered layers.
— Ha.. Izzie... I thought you hated me after you father lost that greenhouse to my mother over a game of poker, — she said expositionary
— She also seduced him and my parents are divorcing now, — Isabella was ready to match the level of exposition
— Come on... How does that matter to us? It's not even my fault...
The conversation got interrupted with a knock.
— Perfect timing.
Cathy jerked towards the door, but her hand got suddenly grabbed.
— I understand that it's not a sober argument, but we can't get drunk! We have a whole ball to attend!
Her hands, as her plea got shoved off. Cathy Isabella got up and brought the alcohol over to the sofa.
— Oh Rat, dear. You like red wine, don't you?
Isabella picked up the outer gown simultaneously opening the bottle.
—What do you... — before Ratslyn could finish, a wine started splashing all over her white gown, — Aaaaaah! Are you crazy
Finishing the beverage Cathy dropped the bottle, turned on her heel. Her face lit up with a mischievous smile.
— This will sell well, — she waved a "goodbye" with stolen embroidering, leaving her ex lover soaking in sticky dark red fabric.
That night, my ancestor Ratslyn Aredelia Theodora Bestonowych tried to enter the ballroom in her red dress. But she was promptly kicked out for "indecency". By the witness account, as she was dragged away by the guards she screamed: "Buy our beautiful family roses, as they are as red as my dress right now!". and that made our roses sell really well for some time until our competitors the "Cat" guild didn't still them.
So in her honor, all debutantes from my family adorn themselves with a red dress and roses.
Or I just look bad in white and made it all up. We will never know.
