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Supper that evening was rather subdued. Ella did indeed get the potatoes, but rather than her father returning as planned, a messenger appeared at their door to let them know that Herman had been delayed unexpectedly, and would be returning late the next morning instead. Lady Sidney insisted on having a full table setting set out for him regardless, although she did save the good wine for his real return. Ella thought it was a waste of perfectly good food, but she had long ago learned that arguing with Sidney was a waste of perfectly good air and so said nothing. As her tastes in wine deviated considerably from her mother's though, she didn't mind having the 'good' bottle saved for a later meal.

"I don't see why he couldn't make it tonight," Tiffany whined. "Does he not love us enough to come back when he said he would?"

"Tiffany, love, I'm sure he did his best. Sometimes things just don't go according to plan." While she was obviously disappointed herself, Sidney, like Ella, had long ago learned to take such things in stride.

"But he said he'd be back! Tell her, Ella, shouldn't Daddy come home when he says he will?"

For once, Ella didn't have to pretend to agree with her foster mother. "If he could have I'm sure he would." She bit back he other comment, about how if she was coming home to such a spoiled brat of a daughter she'd never return. As much as she detested Tiffany, Ella did care for her father and wanted to see him home as soon as possible. And while Sidney did share many of her daughter's less desirable traits, she was enough of a lady that Ella could understand why her father had married her.

"At any rate, girls, if you're done with your desserts you may go to your rooms for the evening. Dylan, would you please clear this out for us? Oh, and don't forget to prepare your best dresses for tomorrow you two. You want to look nice for your father's return, don't you?"

Ella didn't think her father would care, but she agreed anyways. Tiffany remained silent, seemingly determined to make her feelings on Herman's delay known for the rest of the evening.

"Shall I toss Master's plate to the cats with the other scraps, Madam?" Dylan asked.

Sidney looked shocked. "Oh heaven's no. How could you think of tossing my husband's food to the animals? No, that treatment will not do at all."

Ella hastily left before she said something she would regret. Once she reached the safety of her room she knew she would be able to relax for the night.

But first, she had to prepare tomorrow's clothes. After kicking off her shoes--the wooden floor was remarkably comforting to her tired feet--she opened the armoire doors to choose her dress for Herman's return. And quickly closed them.

"That can't be right," she said to herself quietly. "There is not a tiny person in my armoire." For that was exactly what she had seen. Two feet tall, with a lithe female body and green hair far too short for any woman want to be seen in public with. "I must have had too much wine tonight. Yeah, that's it. I'll get my clothes ready in the morning when the wine has worn off. Yeah, that'll work. There can't really be a tiny naked person in my armoire. That's crazy"

Her mind was spinning more, not less, when she awoke the next morning to find her best outfit already laid out for her to put on.