The Ball - Chapter Sixty One

James waited as Amelia emerged from the top floor. She walked down the steps, all dressed in an elegant dress with a feathered mask to conceal her identity until James wanted to reveal who she was to his parents.

 .

James walked over to Amelia and stroked her cheek gently. "You're so beautiful. I don't think they will guess who you are." James told Amelia. She started to blush, but no color would come to her cheeks to show it.

They were joined by Kristen and William. Kristen was very intrigued to see this young girl wearing a unique mask. "So you are the young lady that my son has fallen for?" Kristen asked Amelia.

Amelia's voice was very low when she replied, "we do love each other. I hope that we can make you very proud of our union." Kristen paused for a moment, thinking she knew that voice but wasn't sure where to place it. "I'm sure if you make him happy, we will be happy for you both," she replied. "Let's go enjoy the dancing that I have arranged for everyone's entertainment," James told them.

The Lady's and their partners whirled around the ballroom. Amelia was enjoying dancing around the ballroom with James while his parents dance alongside them. They really seemed to be enjoying themselves.

James and Amelia spent the most part, dancing. Amelia was having the time of her life. She felt like the top of the world. It was like something out of a fairytale.

"I'm so nervous; what if they don't accept me?" Amelia told James as he whirled her around. "I think it will be a shock to her, but I think she will be ok with it. And may I add, your so beautiful tonight." James replied.

"He seems to really love her. You can see the love in their eyes for each other. Kinda reminds me of how we were when we first fell in love with each other, But there's something strange about her; it's like I already know her." Kristen told William. "I think she's a lovely girl; they really look like they're in love. I'm just glad that he found someone that he wants to marry, and that makes him happy." William replied to Kristen as he danced with her on the ball floor.

After the dance had ended, Kristen and William walked over to James and Amelia. "So you are to be my new daughter-in-law. I'm pleased he found someone that he loves him as much as he loves you." "So now that we have met you, can you remove your mask and let me see who my son is marrying," Kristen asked Amelia.

Amelia removed her mask, and Kristen gasped to see that it was Amelia behind the mask. "I knew there was something familiar about you. Is this some kind of joke!" Kristen, now mad, snapped at Amelia. "Please! Mom, it was all me. I fell in love with Amelia when we were kids. She's my whole world. Please don't be mad." James begged his mom.

"It's true, we have loved each other for a very long time. I love him for who he is, and he accepts me for who I am. I know I'm not a princess, but my family is of noble blood. Please don't be mad." Amelia begged Kristen.

William knew the whole time it was Amelia and was hoping that she would accept her. But as Kristen got mad, he feared that she wasn't going to accept her. 

"We need to talk in private. I don't want to make a scene." Kristen told James as she tried to keep herself from blowing up in front of all his guests.

Kristen followed James across the corridor into a sitting room.

Amelia's Lady's all saw from a distance the whole thing unravel. "Poor girl, she seems so nice." Lady Karen told Lady Molly. "I know, but we have all heard the horror stories of how the queen gets when she doesn't get her way," she replied to Lady Karen. "I wonder if she will let them get married?" Lady Carrie asked Amelia's sister. "I hope so, but I'm not sure. It all depends on how much James stands up against her. He would be the only one to get by with it." she replied.

Amelia stepped out of the ballroom to hide her tears that were streaming down her cheeks. She hid her face when she saw William. "My dear, please don't cry. I'm sure it will all work out. Shes just mad right now." William told Amelia.

Amelia gave William a hug. "You have always been really good to me. I will never forget your kindness to me. Amelia replied to William.

"I'm sure after she talks to James, she will calm down and rethink her logic. She will see why he has chosen you and come to terms with it."William told Amelia. "I hope so; I would hate to see James and his mom not talk due to this," she replied.

Once they were alone, Kristen began to yell. "What are you thinking? She was an experiment that was supposed to help us find a cure for children that was passed down with the curse. Not for your future wife. I'm still waiting for you to cure yourself, and now you get with another with the curse. So now I'm to have grandchildren with the curse as well?" Kristen screamed at James.

"Wait! Please let me explain! She's the only one for me. I don't want anyone else. I like the way I am, and I like the way she is. If she decides after she's older that she wants to be cured, then we will. But I like my life the way it is." James pleaded with Kristen. 

"You did say that I could marry who I wanted this time as long as I was happy. She makes me really happy." James told Kristen.

"I did say that, but I didn't expect you to go and fall in love with Amelia," Kristen told James. "I have to have a word with her alone," Kristen told James. She left him standing in the room and headed down the corridor to find Amelia.

Amelia was standing in the corridor alone and unsure what to say when she saw Kristen heading her way. Amelia stood quiet as Kristen started talking to her in a much calmer tone. "I realize I have acted a bit harsh to you. I wanted the best for my son, as any mother would their child. I now see you mean everything to him, and it would crush him if you two were torn apart." Kristen told Amelia.

Amelia was now in shock at what Kristen just told her. She didn't know what to say or do. "So, are you saying that we can get married?" Amelia asked her. "If that is your wish, then yes, but I do have one thing that is a request from both of you. I want my grandchildren to be normal. So if you want any children, you need to take the potion along with James so that they will have a normal life like I wanted for James. "Now enough with this, let's go have a ball," Kristen told her as she tugged on her arm, leading her back to the ballroom.

The guest all stood waiting on James and his family to return. They had no idea what was going on. "I do hope they work it out. They have been gone for a bit." Lady Molly told Lady Karen. "I hope so; she seemed really upset with James and Amelia." Lady Karen replied.

Everyone returned in a much better mood. James could see Kristen and Amelia getting along. His heartfelt relief when Kristen announced everyone to dance. Amelia joined up with James as the music began. As they danced, James got close to Amelia. "What happened?" James asked her.  

"Shes approved of us being together, but she has a request that I will have to talk to you about later after all the guests have left," Amelia told James. "Ok then, let's have a ball that any princess would dream of," James replied as he twirled Amelia around him.