Lily was amazed when she stared at the reflection. The Lily she knew was gone, and a little lost girl had taken her place. How true it is. She took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom. After shutting the door behind her, she headed down the hall. She gasped when she realized she’d forgotten the most important part of her costume.
She hurried back inside the bedroom and opened the top drawer of the large antique bureau. The white mask was neatly tucked into its red, satin-lined box. She pulled the box from the drawer and set it on the bed. Tony had gotten it for her when she’d held the first ball. He’d had it made especially for her from a specialty shop in New Orleans. The delicate curves of the mask covered only a small portion of her forehead and nose, but it did the job. She fastened the thin silk ties and replaced the box in the drawer. Now she was ready.
Lily walked out onto the front veranda. The floral honeysuckle and hyacinth filled her senses like a drug. All of the lights in the house had been turned out except for a few small lamps, and many candelabra had been lit. The glow emanating from the windows was one of enticement and mystery. She was very pleased with how everything had turned out.
“Miss, are you here for the ball?” A deep voice floated from behind her. Lily turned to find a wonderfully handsome young man, no older than nineteen, standing just outside the set of stained-glass French doors. He was wearing satiny black breeches with white stockings and a red jacket. The white cravat was tied perfectly around his slender neck. Lily smiled at the sight. She knew the servants had been handpicked as well.
She ran her hand through his tousled blond hair. “Oh, my young stallion, I sure am.” His eyes widened. “Is everything ready?”
Lily cornered his lean frame against the brick wall of the house. His eyes melted closed when she threaded her fingers through his silky hair. She gave a smart tug, loving the way his body leaned into her touch. “Yes, miss,” he said with a quick breath. “It is.”
“Good.” Lily pulled on his hair one more time, then released him. The young man sighed, staring at her hand. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek before skipping down the wide set of steps. “I’m going to look for my rabbit,” she said over her shoulder. “Tend to everyone and make sure they’re well taken care of.”
Lily was at the edge of the woods by the time the first flicker of headlights approached. She roamed through the many paths until she came upon a row of Victorian roses and honeysuckle. The path was heavily lined with the fragrant blooms on one side and powerful oaks, laden with moss, on the other. The torches sparingly lit the walkway, casting eerie shadows among the brush. Lily couldn’t control the tickling butterflies in her belly. Partly due to the fear of what lay in those shadows and partly because of her excitement for what might be there to snatch her into the night.
With each cautious step, her Mary Jane shoes moved soundlessly on the tamped dirt pathway. A rustle echoed from the tree line. She stopped to listen. There it was again.
She caught sight of something white skipping out onto the path, then back again. She giggled and clapped her hands. It was no intruder. The partially shadowed figure was indeed in costume. My rabbit! The slender white figure hopped out from behind one of the trees, then darted back yet again. Lily jumped up and down. The tickle in her belly rolled as she continued to laugh.
The rabbit popped out again. This time Lily chased after it, giggling all the way. She stopped when she reached the tree. No one was there.
“Oh, Rabbit!” she yelled. “Oh, Rabbit, where have you gone?” She walked off the path into the woods. There, again, she spotted the white streak. Lily ran after it.
Soon she was deeper into the woods. Up ahead she could see the faint glow of a torch. “Rabbit! Come here!” No answer. She walked toward the area where the light was shining. Lily laughed when she saw her rabbit standing next to one of the chaise lounges Tony had ordered. The white silk damask fabric looked simply angelic in the torches’ reflection. “Oh, Rabbit. It seems I’ve lost my way.”
Lily’s rabbit was in fact Renee. Her slender brown legs were covered with white stockings. She was wearing white ballet slippers with a blue velvet jacket overtop a brushed gold vest. And there Renee stood with pocket watch in hand, checking the time. “I’m late,” her silky voice purred, “for a very important date.”
Lily giggled. “Rabbit, you look good enough to eat.”
Renee smiled, causing her whiskers to move. “Now, Alice, either you can drink me or eat me. Which shall it be?” Renee’s sultry voice floated across Lily’s senses, forcing her to move closer. Renee slowly drew her hand across one of her furry bunny ears.