“Who? Princess? But they will only be here tomorrow..” replied Georgia. She was sure she had talked to her friend for the plan only the day before and had heard no updates as to otherwise. George must have heard wrong.

“Who told you that?” continued Georgia before George could reply.

“Pa just called. The plane will land in an hour. There was a misunderstanding of the time zone.” replied George. That Pa himself sounded surprised on the phone didn’t escape George. Things had always gone the way the family had planned and changed if they were not. They were not used to being caught in surprise.

“Oh, that stupid friend of mine. Stupid. Stupid.” said Georgia, slamming her palm against her head. She should have known better to check with their butler instead of relying on her friend’s words. “So, what is the plan?” asked Georgia to George.

“Mary is now calling the hotel for catering dinner and supper. Pa said tonight will be a private dinner.” replied George. There wasn’t much of anything they could do but play by the ear as the events unfold in front of them. They were preparing for the arrival tomorrow. Everyone, including the servants, were unprepared and would be impossible to prepare a dinner for the guests so close. Just as they stood in the middle of the room thinking about the sudden torrent of surprises, Mary came into the room in a hurry.

“George, the hotel said they could make it. Both of you are still not prepared. Go get change.” said Mary.

“I too would change to the dress.” said Malee, turning around to walk towards the room once again for the dress on the floor before she went into the tub with Georgia. She was nearly at the door when Georgia reached out to stop Malee.

“No. I can’t have you wearing that dress and present in that messy hair in front of them.” said Georgia. She walked towards the wardrobe and took out a blue one piece dress and threw it on the bed. “You will wear it. Mary can prepare my hair and I will do yours at the same time.”

Mary nodded. For such emergencies, Georgia was natural. Her intelligence along with the outspoken personality meant she was a natural leader, more than George was.

“George, you get change too.” added Mary. George nodded and left the room into the hallway, leaving three of them standing.

“Malee, bring that foot rest to here and sit.” said Georgia, pointing a small footrest under the table to Malee. Malee nodded and promptly did as she was told while Mary opened the drawer below the large mirror beside the bed and took out a box and placed it on the bed. Georgia opened the box to reveal larger rows of makeup pencils and color plates. Mary and Georgia picked a few of them and stood in front of the mirror behind Malee. So there they were, from front to back, Malee, Georgia, Mary with Mary preparing makeup and hair as Georgia did the same for Malee.  It took them whole half-an-hour before it satisfied them enough for the occasion.

“Done.” said Georgia as she put back the brushes in the box and closed it. Mary looked at Georgia in the mirror and smiled. “You have grown so much in a short time. Your mother would be proud.”

“Yes. Ma would be.” whispered Georgia. “Let me change.”

“I will leave you two girls to change then we meet at the door in 20 minutes.” said Mary as she left the room in a hurry. She needed to prepare herself for the dinner too. Malee picked up the dress on the bed and looked around for the zip.

“Wear it down from the top. I will help you pull it down.” said Georgia. Malee nodded and held the dress on her head, but Georgia’s help wasn’t necessary. It was smooth enough to come down Malee’s body with no one pulling it down.

“You look wonderful. Now, come and help me with this.”  said Georgia, holding a black dress of the same design.

“Isn’t it the same design as mine?” asked Malee.

“Yes. But I am not supposed to be the star of the show. George is.” replied Georgia as she held the dress on top of her head. Unlike Malee, the dress didn’t flow all the way. Instead, Malee had to come forward to help to pull it down to her legs.

“I need to lose weight.” remarked Georgia as she slipped into her heel at the same time as Malee. “Lets go down.”