La Petite Mardi Gras: Part Two
The Crowning of Lily and Jamie Potter

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As I walked across the crowded ballroom, I noticed how polished the wooden floor looked. I could tell somebody had poured out a mint to have the floor waxed and polished. I mean you could comb your hair in the reflection. All eyes turned toward me as I strolled across the floor toward the refreshment table. The Benton orchestra had paused in their playing for a moment. I collected my thoughts as my eyes fell on Ben who was drumming his fingers on a crystal cup of punch.

 
Supplement 3 - Agreement
 
“It’s like balancing over a thin line. Feminine inside and not masculine outside. Like tomboy. No obligations. But then puberty will come. It always comes. And that thin line becomes a razorblade. It will cut you in half.”

This is my third story I've shared with my little sister for her ongoing project of chronicling all possible  ghostly and paranormal encounters that have taken place in and around Benton. I'm flattered my stories are included. According to an old family legend, the gift of clairvoyance is supposed to run in the Bell family. My late mother Lisa Avery Bell was supposed to have the gift. I suppose she passed that gift onto me and my sister. Anyway putting that aside let's get down to business shall we? You want to be scared, and I have just the tell for you.

She still fit into my arms as well as she ever had.

NB Although all of the great houses and historical figures are real, current period characters are purely from my imagination and have no link with anyone living or dead.

Part 7 The Next Shoe Drops

The next local paper came out on Friday and it had an article in it about “What about that Frog?” which took the reader though the other half of the witches spell and had pictures of Tristan giving his presentation dressed in his Tudor garb. It was all right, fair and factual but lifted the lid on the whole shipment of worms.

Reluctant Diva 26
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 26 – Working girl

La Petite Mardi Gras: Part One
Pleasure Dies At the Stroke of Midnight

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The antebellum south was steeped in tradition, some of those traditions vanished after the Civil War, some endured through the turbulent years that followed and are still carried on to this day. Among those traditions that started in antebellum Benton was the annual Carnival Ball that's hosted each Carnival by the aristocratic families of Benton. Chief among those are the Potter Family who were among the earliest settlers of the town.

Reluctant Diva 25
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 25 – Sisters

Emily has compromised the safety of their safe house at Canal Cottage.

Reluctant Diva 24
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 24 – In the mood
It took some days to become acclimatised to my new sleeping arrangements. More than once I found myself running up to my old room by mistake. It seemed there were some other changes which were harder to get used to if, in my mother’s eyes, I were to lead the life of a young woman as fully as possible. One which was less welcome was that my constricting corset should be a permanent feature of my night attire.

NB Although all of the great houses and historical figures are real, current period characters are purely from my imagination and have no link with anyone living or dead.

Part 4 Playing a New Part

I knew I was in trouble when he didn’t put his arms around me. When I had kissed him I brought my own arms down and stepped back. I said “I’m so sorry Tristan, I am so new at this girl thing I assumed you liked me.” He looked sad and then said the fateful words.

I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired

"I'm telling you no son of mine is gonna go in front of our family in a dress no you better change right now" my dad said.

Reluctant Diva 23
Inspired by Lipstick Discipline
Chapter 23 – The watershed