Double Trouble: Thirty Two: Morning of the Ball
 by Cariad
 

Double Trouble
~Thirty Two~
Julia woke up from a wonderful dream of Johnny Hotchkiss, only he had bright red hair, and she was blissfully happy. She couldn’t remember all the details of the dream, only the bright red hair. She shook the small inconsistency off. Johnny had auburn hair, not red, but it was close. Julia moved towards the door to her sister’s room and put her ear to it. There were no sounds of movement, but that was to be expected. Holly had been sleeping a lot more since the incident.

Not wishing to wake her sister, Julia tiptoed down to the kitchen, a sappy grin filling her face. After a week of nothing, she was going to see her Johnny again today. And Noah and Sam, her hero. Moving past her father’s study, she heard the phone ring. And ring. And ring. She slipped inside the door in time to hear the answering machine kick in.

“Julian,” a mechanized version of Ethan’s voice said, “I’ve got some documents that you would be very interested in seeing. Please give me a call or stop by my office before you go to the party. This is important.”

The machine squealed a loud beep and Julia slipped back out the door. Julia had no time to look for her father, for a small voice called out to her.

“Julie,” Theresa whispered. “Your father asked me to come over today to get made up.”

Julia swore under her breath. She would have no time to brainstorm with Holly about Ethan’s cryptic message. “I was just going to grab some breakfast, but I’ll have a tray sent up. You just go up into my room… quietly… and hop in the shower.”

Theresa gave the thumbs up sign and disappeared back into the back hallway. Julia sighed and proceeded to the kitchen to send up a tray of food. Once her task was completed, she proceeded back towards her room. She nearly ran into her father.

“Ah, you’re awake. Good,” Julia said, pulling his robe tightly around his body.

“Of course I am, Daddy, and I’m looking forward to the Ball tonight. Will you let Holly and I have some champagne this time?” Julia batted her eyes at him.

“I’ll think about it. Did I hear Theresa’s voice around?”

“She’s here, a bit early I would think, but she’s here.”

“Good, good…” Julian murmured, fretting as if something very important was going to happen. “I want her ready early. She has to be over at the Ball before we arrive, but more on that later. Now at elevenish, I want you all decent because I have some things I want to go over with you. And you must make sure Rebecca does not see her!”

“Of course, Daddy,” Julia said with a smile, and gave him a kiss for no reason. Having him buttered up all the time was a very good thing in Julia’s opinion. “Oh, and there’s a message on your business answering machine.”

“Did you go in my study unsupervised?” Julian demanded.

“Of course not, Daddy,” Julia lied. “I was looking for you so I peeked my head in. You weren’t there, but the machine light was on.”

“Why were you looking for me,” Julian asked warily.

“To wish you a good morning, of course!” Julia replied brightly. “Silly Daddy!” Julia gave him another kiss on the cheek and bounded away.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Holly rolled over in bed, glancing at the clock. Deciding against snuggling under the covers a bit longer, she climbed out. Theresa would be here any time now, if she had estimated her personality right—as if one needed all day to get ready for a party in the evening!
Once her initial morning toiletries were accomplished, Holly returned to the list of names she, as Julia, would have to be seen with. Every single one of them like Jonathan Hotchkiss—currying favor with Crane Industries through the Crane daughters, wanting their names linked with the Cranes heedless of what the girls wanted. She nearly crumpled it in her hand. She would play her part in the charade. She would smile at them and be seen with them, and make it clear she would do nothing to advance their positions with the Crane family!

And the worst part would be that Reese would have to watch her do it! She would have to find him and let him know that it was Julia with Jonathan and that she was just acting on orders. That moment of crisis past, Holly gently tapped on Julia’s door. She heard the faint sounds of the shower running. Sighing, she pulled on some comfortable old clothes, waiting for a touch later in the day to take a shower and get ready.

Picking up the book on stars that Reese had given her for Christmas, Holly was reading when the adjoining door creaked open.

“Good, you’re awake,” Julia said. “The gold-digger is already here.”

Holly groaned. “I was expecting her to arrive this early. How long does she think it takes to put on a dress and do hair and make-up?”

“We have to be available at eleven. Father wants to talk to us.”

Holly groaned again. “As if we need briefing on how to behave at such a function. Perhaps he should speak with Aidan and let his son know that trying to throw ice cubes down a woman’s dress is not considered apropos in polite society.”

Julia sniggered. “I think it has something to do with logistics. And Ethan left this weird message on Daddy’s answering machine…”

“OK, I’m showered!” Theresa yelled from Julia’s room. “What now?”

The twins looked at each other and sighed.

“Well, it’s 8:30 now,” Julia called back. “I wonder if we should pick out some jewelry?”

“Sounds wonderful! Will I get to wear the Crane Pearls?”

Holly rolled her eyes. “Why did you have to mention jewelry?” she hissed at her sister. “As if we would want her to wear any of our heirlooms!”

Julia grinned. “I’ve got a whole box full of stuff that I never wear. I could give it to her, it wouldn’t matter. It’s all glass, she wouldn’t know the difference!”

Holly clamped her lips together. In their silent language, she conceded, “If that’s what you think is best.”

Julia arched an eyebrow in victory. “You have her clothes and hair. I get the accessories,” she replied in the same language.

Theresa spent the next hour cooing over Julia’s costume jewelry, large gaudy stones and broaches from years gone by. When Theresa’s hand moved to the pile of rings, Julia slapped it away. “No rings,” she muttered. “Nothing must distract from the wedding ring.”

“But Mrs. Crane… Ivy I mean, used to wear rings all the time.”

Holly patted Theresa’s shoulder. “Well, the first time Mama appeared in public as Father’s wife, she wore only the engagement ring and the wedding ring. The rest came later. When you’re being announced as a bride or a fiancée, you must highlight only the ring that marks you as such.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize.”

Holly sighed. “We hadn’t told you that. I wasn’t planning on jewelry. The dress is ornate enough as it is.”

“But it’s just the dark green!” Theresa protested.

“One color does not a simple dress make,” Holly said. “It is the style, or haven’t you noticed. The type of jewelry which would look appropriate with it would be a chain girdle with a chatelaine’s keys hanging from it.”

“Oh,” Theresa pouted.

Julia closed the current jewelry box and brought out another. “These are some of the more unique pieces I have,” she said opening the box. On top sat a pair of golden-colored combs set with a row of faux emeralds.

Holly snatched them up and pulled back Theresa’s damp hair. “These would be perfect!” she smiled. “Add a little sparkle, not too much, and get the hair off the face in one fell swoop!”

“I’d hate to say this,” Julia started, “but Theresa, you are going to be beautiful.”

Theresa glowed under the compliment, oblivious to the first half.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Promptly at eleven, Julian knocked on Julia’s door. A bit awkwardly, for he was in the company of his two teenage daughters and his young wife, he sat on the edge of Julia’s bed.
Three pairs of eyes looked at him expectantly.

Julian cleared his throat. “Here’s what I want for tonight,” he began. “Theresa, to keep this as much of a surprise, I will not be able to escort you around until I have announced that you are my wife. Aidan has volunteered to escort you, but don’t you have that friend? Eve’s daughter?”

“You mean Whit?” Theresa asked sadly. “She’s still mad at me.”

“Damn,” Julian swore. “I was counting on you having friends you could go with. Don’t you have a brother or several around someplace?”

“Miguel is going with Charity as usual,” Theresa replied, “And Luis is going with a friend.”

“Your mother then!”

Holly cleared her throat. “Pilar wouldn’t approve of this scheme. She wouldn’t help us.”

Julian ran a hand through his hair. “Then it will have to be Aidan,” he muttered. “Stupid miscreant.”

“I-I-I wouldn’t mind having Aidan escort me,” Theresa stammered shyly. “He’s been nice to me.”

Julian made a sound low in his throat. “Just remember that he is your stepson,” he growled at his little wife. “I don’t like having Aidan involved. He’s an unknown. I suppose he can’t do much damage though. Julia,” he began.

“Yes sir, Daddy, sir!” Julia barked.

“I’ll bring you around to all those gentlemen on Father’s list. Don’t give them a heart attack. It would be very bad press if someone died at the party!”

“I swear that I will not give them heart attacks or strokes,” Julia said with all honesty. Holly might, she amended privately, in that red dress.

“Holly, you’re all set with Jonathan Hotchkiss. Don’t embarrass us.”

“I won’t Father,” Holly said quietly. “I’ll do my best to be pleasant to him.”

“You better damn well be more than pleasant!” Julian snapped.

Julia broke in before Holly could bite back at their father. “I’m sure she will,” Julia promised for her sister.

“Which reminds me,” Julian remarked, “Mr. Hotchkiss has asked that you join him for lunch, Holly. In just a few minutes, he’ll arrive.”

Holly and Julia exchanged wide-eyed looks.

“Father, may I speak with you?” Holly asked, rising.

Julian ignored her plea, having decided he was through with the conversation, his orders issued and to be followed. “You will meet him downstairs, and for God’s sake, put on some better clothes!”

Holly’s face flared, but she dared not make a scene in front of Theresa. “What about getting your wife ready for the Ball,” she said with gritted teeth.

“He’ll have you back in plenty of time,” Julian said, brushing some imaginary lint off his coat.

The sound of a doorbell cut through the tense silence.

“Ah,” Julian said cheerfully, “that would be him now. Now be a good girl, Holly, and change your clothes and don’t muck up the merger!”

Holly’s nostrils flared. She pushed past her father, and stormed in her room. Once there, she grabbed the unopened Christmas gift and stormed back into the hall, still clad in a pair of wind-pants and a beat-up sweater, her hair pulled back into a ponytail.

Jonathan, as always, was impeccably dressed. Though not overly formal, he certainly looked ready for a Country-Club Luncheon. His grin widened as he saw Holly descend the stairs like a thundercloud.

The wrapped Christmas gift acting as a shield, Holly stopped just short of Jonathan, noticing how tall he was while she was in her stocking feet. He could probably rest his chin on her head without a problem.

“I thought I picked out a much nicer outfit for the Ball,” Jonathan noted. “Haven’t you even started to get ready?”

Holly rolled her eyes. “Honestly, how long do you think it takes to put on a dress? The dinner part starts at seven, do you think I need to start before eleven fifteen?”

“Didn’t your father tell you about our lunch plans?”

Holly pushed the present in front of him. “Here. I told you a week ago I didn’t want it.”

Jonathan sighed. “I can’t say I was expecting you to open it. Keep it anyway, it does belong to you.”

“No,” Holly replied coldly, depositing the present in his hand.

Jonathan grinned and put it back on the foyer table. “You’re sounding like a spoiled child. And here, I honored your recovery wish, and left you in peace. Tell me, my little Snow Princess, did your Holiday Spirit return while I was away? Gwen told me about all the terrible things that have happened to Rebecca. I personally liked the damp sheets on the bed.”

“That wasn’t us, it was the maids,” Holly said instantly, then covered her mouth. It was just for the merger, she reminded herself. Jonathan is no better than the rest of the money-grubbing patriarchal men of her class.

“Careful, Snow Princess, you might melt,” Jonathan said with a grin. “I was going to take you someplace nice, but dressed like that.” He raked her with his eyes. “I might just take you anyway, to teach you a lesson.”

“Pig,” Holly spat.

Jonathan grabbed her wrist and held it in an iron grasp. Holly tried to pull away, and as she whirled, she saw her father looking quite displeased.

“Don’t worry Mr. Crane,” Jonathan said, “I will have her back in plenty of time for the Ball.”

“Let me go!” Holly hissed.

Julian dropped a pair of shoes on the floor by Holly’s feet. “I’m sorry she wasn’t more prepared. I wanted to make sure she was healthy before I let her know.”

“I hate you father!” Holly shouted.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Julia winced at Holly’s shout. If only they had more time, Julia thought, she could have had Johnny out of the door before Daddy even realized that it was Julia and not Holly with him. When would they realize that forcing Holly into being with Johnny was not in Holly’s best interest?
A maid tapped on the door and delivered a note.

Ignoring Theresa, Julia opened and read the note. “Julia,” it read, “I will return your sister to you in plenty of time to go to the Ball. Do not worry, I would do nothing to harm her, even if she doesn’t realize it yet. As far as the letches, I’ll do my best to help you out.” The note was signed, “Jonathan H.”