Balloon Part 13 (brief snippet as I get back into the swing of things)

13

 

Liza sat in the small closet for a moment while the maid went off to finder dress. She was perplexed as to how she was ever going to find Cogsworth if even the help would not talk.

There was a small knock not he’d or and Ethel opened the door and shoved in the dress.

“Here you are ma’am. Put it back on and go find your friend. Perhaps you should call it a night before you get into real trouble? But in the future, look around more, not everyone enjoys the city you know.”

“Wait, what?” but Ethel was gone, leaving Liza alone in the cramped china closet.

 

A few moments later she emerged, dressed again and made her way upstairs. The party was, if anything, louder and brighter than before. It took her several minutes to find Mary, whose expression upon seeing Liza said much more than her words. 

 

Several minutes later they were bundling into a waiting handsome cab to go back to Liza’s Grandfather’s house. As they made their way back Liza regaled Mary with the tale of her narrow escape. Mary was in turn horrified and then angry with Liza for taking such risks.

 

When they got home it was still early and both the General and the Colonel were still playing cards.

“Well, how did it go?” The General asked, and, again, Liza told her tale. After she was done the General sat quietly for a moment. “So… we are still in the dark about Cogsworth.”

“Yes, I Am sorry Grandfather, but maybe if I had more time to look around…”

“Well, I ‘d say it was good that maid stopped you from opening some door that held a nasty surprise” The colonel said.

“Yes, well, I suppose so” Liza replied. “She was helpful. Wait! When she handed me my dress she mentioned something.”

“What?” The general asked, his eyes lighting up.

“Something about how not everyone likes the city…”

“What does that mean?” Mary asked.

“Well, I for one am not a big fan of it!” The colonel said theatrically. “Dirty filthy filled with people, give me the countryside anytime…”

“That’s it!” Liza said, jumping up.” Of course, I saw it in the painting!”

“Saw what?”

“The Iggelsdin’s country house of course. I know where they have Cogsworth and it isn’t in the city, it’s in the country!”