The Unknown

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Victoria!" I open the door without knocking, my excitement getting the better of me. But when I look into the room I find Victoria and Stephen wrapped in each others arms, their lips interlocked. I turn my back a blush creeping onto my face.

"If you could please, maybe not do that while I'm around. That would be much appreciated." Stephen laughs while I hear Victoria's sharp slap hit him in the arm.

"Well you could knock you know." Stephen's voice gives me reason to turn around and I find Victoria and him sitting on her bed. Her face is beat red while Stephen sits there comfortably.

"You could be more careful you know." That gets him to shut up, but it doesn't turn his smile off. "But I have more important news. I know how to pull this off." Stephen jumps to his feet and Victoria sits up straighter. "But I have one question. Why can't you just leave? You know, like in the middle of the night or something?" Stephen turns to Victoria and nods his head. She takes a deep breath and explains why.

"After my father died my mother went crazy. She was convinced that anyone who leaves in the middle of the night like he did would end up dying. So, for my safety as I grew, she posted guards at the very edge of her estate. No matter how hard Stephen and I tried we wouldn't be able to leave without notice. My mother would know and she would send someone out to get me right away." I nod my head in understanding.

"You know that would have been nice to know when you told me I had to come up with something." I shrug my shoulders and Stephen and Victoria just stare at me a bit confused. "Anyways, it doesn't matter, because I have the perfect plan." I walk over to the front entrance of Victoria's door and peek out into the hallway. The hallway is cleared so I close the door and lock it. I turn to find that they watch me closely and expectantly.

"Come one Mae, what is it?" Stephen sounds almost annoyed.

"In two weeks time, a ball is going to take place here. Victoria will obviously be going to the ball that night and her mother will probably be wanting her to spend all the time she can with possible suitors." Victoria moans at the thought and Stephen's face turns a little red. His hand travels over the covers and finds her. My heart gives a little shout of jealousy at the sight, but I push my feelings down. I continue, "But what if Victoria was at the ball, but wasn't."
They watch me like I've lost my mind.

"I don't know if you just heard yourself Mae, but that didn't make any sense." Stephen crosses his arms over his chest and lets out a little huff of air. He's already giving up.

"What if I posed as Victoria while she escaped with you. The guards will be placed inside for better protection of the people that come. I'm sure your mother thought to invite all the richest people she could. The guards need to be placed closer to the building for better protection. Even if there are guards at the perimeter, there will be very little." I wait for their response, but all I get is laughter from Victoria. I look over at her, my face starting to grow red.

"It's brilliant!" She looks so relieved that my heart starts to inflate.

"It's a really good idea Mae, but we have one problem. You look nothing like Victoria. Victoria has blonde hair, you have a strange red."

"Well thanks." I mutter.

"She is at least seven inches taller than you and your eyes are different colors. You have brown while she has blue. We couldn't pull this off."

"Not if I ask mother for a masquerade ball." Victoria leaps out of her bed and rushes to her closet. "Stephen, remember while we were in London, I found those shoes that I thought were absolutely ridiculous but my mother made me get them?" Stephen rolls his eyes at the memory and stands up to follow her. Victoria comes running out of the closet with a dress and pair of shoes. She sets the shoes down before me and motions for me to step into them. I look up at her with what I'm sure is a crazed look.

"They are a new style Mae. They call them high heels. These ones are over the top, but my mother loved them and wanted me to have them. I vowed to never wear them, but if you put them on it will raise your height." I look down at the shoes and slip them on. My feel don't feel too uncomfortable but my balance sure does. When I look over at Victoria, I'm shocked to find that now I am looking directly at her nose. I look over at Stephen and he seems to be in deep thought.

"It's not perfect, but it's close enough. The only thing is the hair." Victoria reaches over and starts tugging at my hair.

"I know! Max, the guy in the village I was telling you about. He sells wigs! I can get him to make a wig to match your hair!" Stephen rushes over, picks Victoria up, and spins her in circles. They laugh together and I watch standing in my much too high heels.
Maybe I can do something good after all.