With my hands folded demurely into my skirt, I examine my reflection in the hall mirror. The queen did not send the dress to our rooms as promised. Instead, she summoned me to the royal quarters and made me get ready under her watchful eye, for she did not trust me to assemble myself into the image she had in mind for me.
Despite the long sleeves and high neck, I am dressed as bait. Still, I’ve never worn silk before in my life. I can’t stop touching the soft fabric of my skirt. It’s gold and ivory brocade paired with a garnet corset that pushes my breasts high and narrows my waist to an unnaturally diminutive span. Beneath the bodice, I wear a sheer organza top to conceal most of the scars on my chest. I look not quite naked, almost demure. With makeupexpertly applied by the queen’s maid and my hair twisted up into an elaborate braid, I can’t help but feel a twinge of pride.
What a pity it’s all to draw Kai’s attention and give his unrelenting nastiness a target.
My momentary satisfaction shatters as easily as the window box did beneath Kai’s ax blade.
What possessed him to do that?
Nana and I scooped up the plants we could salvage and repotted them in old buckets. Their thorns added new scratches to my hands in the process. The sheer blouse has long sleeves that end in ruffles covering most of my hands. Only the tips of my fingers, with nails painted a pale shade of pink, peek out.
“Now is your time,” the footman warns. “Go. Sit at the place near Kai, on the opposite side. Your place is marked.”
His mouth curls in contempt. The other servants don’t like the way I’m being permitted to join the festivities, even if I’m little more than a court jester. I hold my chin high and ignore him.
The red shoes the queen gave me are a little too small, and heeled, which I’m not used to. My steps are confident until I turn my ankle about halfway down the carpet. The queen sits beside Kai in the center of the U-shaped dining table. Important courtiers are arrayed along the outer edge, with less-important people on the inside. There is only one empty place, directly across from Kai, with my name marked on a tented card.
“Your Highness,” I bow to the queen. “Evening, Kai. Welcome home.”
With cramping toes, I hobble to it and take my seat as elegantly as possible. The prince watches me approach impassively. One eyebrow cocks as I arrange myself primly.
His mother has a strained smile pasted on, like she’s ashamed my presence here is necessary.
A servant pours wine into my goblet. I raise it in an unspoken toast to Kai. A palimpsest of the last time we celebrated together superimposes on my memory, twisting my heart. If he is similarly affected, he doesn’t show it. I take a sip and close my eyes against a wave of longing for the boy who helped me tend those roses until their blooms overflowed the box. For the boy who brought me books from the royal library. For the boy who taught me to fish in the castle moat.
When I open them again, Kai fixes me with a hard stare and asks casually, “Where’d you get the dress?”
“From your mother. She invited me this evening in honor of our long friendship.” I raise my chalice again, in an unspoken thanks to her. The queen blanches. Kai’s gaze drops to my chest.
“Interesting choice.”
His implied judgment sends silence crashing down around the table.
“I cannot claim it was mine,” I respond evenly. “I am nonetheless pleased with it. The silk is gorgeous.” With a gesture to the queen, I add, “Her Majesty has excellent taste.”
Kai’s expression crumples into fury.
“Are you insulting my mother?” he asks in the low rasp of a man who is about to seek vengeance.
“Your Highness, I complimented her.”
By pretending I don’t know I’m being mocked, by taking the beautiful gown with its extravagant skirt as gorgeous clothing I could not otherwise afford, and calling them a testament to the queen’s taste, I have ensured that no one will insult my appearance again, lest they insult her fashion sense.
Polite. Calm. Oblivious. That is what I need to be tonight.
In this fashion, I can keep Kai off-balance. He’ll be preoccupied with trying to get under my skin while I’m figuring out how to coax the boy I fell in love with to come out and playwith me. Directness won’t work. I must find a way to attack this problem from the side.
That shard in his eye knows I’m trying to get rid of it. As long as it’s in control, Kai is lost to us.
A plate of food is set before me. I recognize the scent instantly. Nana’s cooking. I poke it with the heavy gold flatware.
“Is it not to your liking?” sniffs a haughty lady who hasn’t stopped glaring at me since I sat down.
“I don’t know. I have never tasted quail before.”
“How is that possible for a girl who works in the kitchens?”
“It is possible, Lady Ashworth, because scullery maids are not permitted to eat the foods they help prepare. That is the sole privilege of the royal tasters.” At first, I’m not sure how to react when Kai comes to my defense. I’m quickly reminded that it’s not me he’s defending. It’s that he wants to take the noblewoman down a peg or three.
