“Milady, the carriage is ready and pulled to its usual spot.” Hauptman called from outside her bedroom door while she put the finishing touches to her attire for the evening. The Duchess Witershins and her husband were having a grand ball to celebrate their newly remodeled garden. Near anyone who was anyone would be there. And of course, Miss Fortune just had to make an appearance. Bright Jade eyes looked into the mirror from behind a deep Raven colored mask, a mix of deep blues, black, and purples. Even adorned with Raven feathers for flare. The colors matched that of her silken brocade ballgown. Black base, and brocade was a stencil of feathers down the skirts in the same blues and purples, just enough that when she moved, they would ripple along the skirts in the light, almost looking ethereal. Charcoal liner around the eyes with a smoky fade to her makeup, her lips a matching green to her eyes. Not much worn except around All Hallow's Eve in these parts. Her corseted bodice was a silk bace, and embroidered with a lace design to match the skirt, and lace elbow gloves.
Midnight curls were piled up to drape from the crown of her head and down her back like a whimsical waterfall of darkness. Teardrop earrings adorned in silver, onyx, and Emeralds swung from her ears, with a matching Festoon necklace of the same materials. A few Jade hairpins to help keep her curls in place, and slipping on her black heeled slippers, she was ready. She would step from her room as she grabbed her clutch and smiled at the elderly man before her. “Going to be a grand night, Hauptman.” She smirked to the man. He had never approved of her antics; thought she should have remained how the world seen her.
To the outside world, she was Lady Jhazala Leilani, the most recent addition to the courts, having only just reached the proper age to start courting. She inherited her family's estate and wealth when they passed away. First her mother in illness when she was seven. And her father in a horrible carriage accident where the horses became spooked by a large snake in the woods when she was twelve. Because she was not yet of age for the courts, she was to keep hidden away until she was eligible as was proper. In a sense, she had, and in another sense, she had ventured out to see the city here and there, and wore a mask to conceal her in case she was caught. She had been and had been mistaken for a highwaywoman. She played along and found that she had liked the thrill of it. After a time, she had her look, her name, and her plans all figured out, and she only got better with age. Hauptman had found out soon, and tried to talk her out of it, having seen this woman grow since she was but a baby. When she refused to listen, he decided that he would at least help to keep her from getting thrown into jail.
Lady Jhazala was timid and shy, and very proper. Miss Fortune was risqué and unafraid of taking what she wanted. Lady by day, and tempting Highwaywoman by night. Lady Jhazala traveled in a white and silver ornately designed carriage with four white Arabian horses pulling the way. Miss Fortune had a deep black and silver carriage, squarer in its shape, with thick curtains in the windows, and six black Friesian horses to pull her for fast getaways that are lost in the night. No one had caught her yet. But lately there was a competition in the city. Some Highwayman named Sir Prize. She had yet to run into the man, but she knew as the parties became more and more important in the guest list, it was a matter of time before they would meet.
Following Hauptman out and to the carriage's hiding place, she was smiling nearly ear to ear. She made it a point to always arrive at the busiest time of guest arrival, so that she wasn't singled out until it was too late. Tonight she was after a special Emerald set that the Duchess herself would be wearing. But before she made the big haul, she would tease and take amongst its guests.
