Matt's perusal of his reflection was interrupted by a noise from the doorway "Uh hum..... Amelia?" He immediately recognised it as Melody's voice.
Matt turned to see the transformed Cheryl looking at him through a partially opened door. 'Melody' appeared ready to attend a ball in the long red dress she had borrowed from Amelia's wardrobe. Embarrassed about how he now looked in the presence of his fiance Matt felt himself blushing. "Hi Ma..... Melody...." Matt almost called Cheryl by her previous cover name "I'm almost ready. Come in. I just need to put my shoes on"
Melody entered the room not taking her eyes off her transformed boyfriend "You've brushed up well.... You look stunning. I was thinking you must have already headed downstairs"
"No I foolishly washed my hair but Penelope came to my rescue. She's remarkably good with the hairbrush and makeup"
"She certainly is" Melody turned to the maid who had been standing silently by 'Amelia's' side. "Si alguna vez necesitas un trabajo, llámame. Esto es increíble"
"Gracious senora" Matt caught a smile of pride on Penelope's face before the maid picked up the shoes 'Amelia' was to wear. She bent down and Matt allowed her to fit the shoes to his dainty feminine feet. Matt immediately gained 4 inches in height but did not feel uncomfortable.
"Shall we go?" Matt asked 'Melody'
"No señorita. Tu olor y tus... jewells" Penelope sounded slightly panicked.
"You should wear Pedro's favourite" suggested 'Melody' with a slight smirk on her face
Matt had not fully understood what the maid had said but he clearly knew she was suggesting Amelia was not quite ready to go. "Ah... yes Penelope. Do as Melody suggests"
'Melody' addressed the maid. "El perfume y las joyas que Pedro le regaló a Amelia"
"¿Los pendientes de diamantes?"
"Si" Penelope rushed back to the closet.
Cheryl came closer and whispered quickly "Are you ready? You certainly look the part. Just try and stay calm. Follow my lead in conversation. I expect there may be other guests. You are the lady of the house"
Penelope returned. In one hand she had a jewellery box in the other an ornate spray bottle. Instinctively Matt raised his arms. Penelope sent a waft of scent under each then gently lifted Matt's hair and gave another waft onto his neck. Matt immediately smelt a familiar but pleasant scent. He recognised it as the same scent he had detected on the borrowed clothes he had worn from the jail.
Penelope then went to work on Matt's ears. First she removed the diamond studs then from the box pulled out two pendant earrings. If those stones were diamonds they were the biggest Matt had ever seen. They felt heavy on his ears. Matt expected a necklace as well but none was forth coming. He asked Penelope "Am I ready now?"
"Si Senorita. I will be at your call"
"Thank-you Penelope"
..........
'Melody' took 'Amelia's' hand as the two women descended the stairs. They could hear conversation down below. Matt wondered who the other guests would be.
Cheryl was actually quite thrilled to be a statuesque latino making a grand entrance down the marble staircase in her red ball gown. It felt like something out of "Gone with the Wind'. However she was aware that her own entrance would be overshadowed by the presence of this beauty that her fiance had become. Although shorter than 'Melody', thanks to Penelope's makeover, Matt had become a stunning beauty and would garner all the attention. Cheryl inwardly chuckled at the irony of being envious of her fiance's femininity.
In fact 'Melody' was having more difficulty negotiating the stairs than 'Amelia'. She had grasped Matt's delicate hand at the top of the staircase to comfort and steady him, but Matt seemed poised and descended gracefully. If the medallion had granted the ability to walk in heels to Matt it seemed to have diminished Cheryl's ability. Cheryl regretted that her shoes were tight and guessed that Melody did not wear such high heels frequently. At close to 6 foot tall without shoes she didn't need to. Indeed she was the one grateful for the steadying hand of 'Amelia'
They turned a corner in the staircase and got their first view of the guests. It seemed it was only a small gathering. All the males were in black dinner suits. Matt immediately recognised Pedro talking to older, relatively short man who he did not know. The other two people in the room were Ted Drexler, Pedro's lawyer and Amelia's associate/boss. He was talking to an stout, older woman in a long blue dress.
All eyes turned to the staircase as the group became aware of Matt and Cheryl's approach.