“It is quite nice and soothing. Tell your apothecary she did well, and I appreciate her going to the trouble to prepare it.”
Rill made one of her happy little sounds that was a cross between a soft giggle and a kitten’s purr. “She will be so honored to hear it, my lady. So honored, indeed.” She continued applying the cream on Lexi’s neck and décolletage. “Yer skin is fair glowing, my lady. I believe it likes the balm verra much.”
Lexi opened her eyes and looked in the mirror. Rill had not exaggerated. Her skin did look very pleased with the extra attention. She touched her scarred cheek, smiling at the much calmer surface. “You’ve taken years off me, Rill. Thank you for talking to your apothecary. I appreciate your going to the trouble as well.”
The maid covered the jar, placed it on the dressing table, then proudly patted herself on the chest. “’Tis my duty to take the verra best of care of ye, my lady, and I shall always strive to do just that. And now for yer jewelry. I think the sapphires with this gown.”
The satin gown with the empire waist was a most flattering shade of dark blue with gold trim at the waist, neckline, and sleeves. A pair of elaborate gold buttons fastened it at the bust, then it flared out to reveal the inner gown or petticoat, which was a lighter blue, diaphanous material embroidered with the tiniest gold stars. How the tailors had managed to create this extraordinary outfit, and all the other outfits, in a single night, boggled the mind, no matter how commonplace the maid tried to make it sound. The modiste Rill had spoken of must have an army of seamstresses.
“How did Prince Jeros come to have all this jewelry? It’s as though there’s a set for every ensemble.” Lexi had been amazed the first time the maid had opened the cabinet that held all the sparkling treasures. It couldn’t have been his mother’s necklaces, bracelets, and earrings because the woman was still alive, and from everything Jeros had hinted at, the queen would be loath to give up anything that belonged to herself. “These aren’tstand-byshe was holding in reserve for potential mistresses, were they?”
Rill looked suitably shocked. “Oh no, my lady. Each piece was fashioned with yerself in mind. His Highness so commanded it.”
“But I only arrived yesterday.”
“Fae jewelers and precious metal workers are quite efficient.”
“Obviously.” Lexi turned her head to catch the light on the teardrop sapphires dangling from her ears. Always the tomboy, she had never owned much jewelry, but that didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate such fine pieces. A larger teardrop sapphire hung at her throat, and a matching bracelet encircled her wrist. She made a mental note to thank Jeros and let him know how lovely she thought the pieces.
“Shall ye wear yer hair up again, my lady, or do ye wish it down and swept to the side in a more intricate style for dinner?” Rill stood with her hands raised, ready to attack Lexi’s unruly tresses as soon as she heard the wordgo.
“Uhm…” Lexi never really thought that much about her hair. She kept it long because it was easier than going to the stylist every few weeks, and long hair could be swept up in a ponytail or hair clip in an instant. Long hair was so much easier to deal with than short hair. She threw up her hands. “Whichever way you think would look best. I trust you.”
The young Fae glowed as if lit from within. “Why, thank ye, my lady.” She opened the dressing table drawer and retrieved an astonishing amount of sparkling gold hairpins. “The intricate style it is, then. His Royal Highness will love it.”
His Royal Highness.When Jeros had told her he wasn’t disgusted by her scars but bothered by them because he had failed to prevent her suffering, she had nearly wept—and crying was something she tried to never do. No one had ever said anything like that to her before, about relating her scars to her suffering and empathizing with her. And all herpeople reading sensorsswore he spoke the truth. That wasn’t just some line he was trying to feed her, nor an act like the one he had put on at the bathtub. No, Jeros had meant it. Her eyes misted over at the memory.
“Are ye all right, my lady?” Rill asked. “Be anything wrong?”
Lexi sniffed and blinked away the unshed tears. “No. Nothing’s wrong. Must be allergies. I spent quite a bit of time with the unicorns and toured the stables and paddock. Fresh hay sometimes makes my eyes water.”
“Shall I speak with the apothecary or Mrs. Shimmerhill? I feel sure one of them will know of an herbal to help ye.”
“No, I’ll be fine after a little while. Just need some fresh air to clear out my nostrils.”
Rill rushed over to the balcony doors and propped them open wide. “’Tis a balmy evening, my lady. I should have already had these open, along with the windows. Do forgive me.”
Lexi felt guilty for the lie. “Don’t apologize. You are taking wonderful care of me. Spoiling me rotten.”
The maid tipped her head to one side. “Spoiling ye rotten? Be that a good thing?”
“It is a very good thing. Trust me.”
After much poking, prodding, and one or two stabs with an ill positioned hairpin, Rill stepped away. “What say ye, my lady? Do ye like it?”
“Wow.”
“Is that good?”
“Very good. I had no idea my hair could look so beautiful.” And it did. Swept over her right shoulder, then braided and strategically curled, Lexi couldn’t remember the last time her hair had been so fancy. The scented oils the maid had massaged into her scalp gave her dark brown locks a gleam like never before. “Thank you, Rill. You are a wizard.”
Eyes flaring wide with shock, the maid threw up her hands and stepped back. “Oh no, my lady. I swear I am no wizard. Please dinna have me taken away.”
Lexi jumped up to calm the girl. “Rill, Rill, no! It was just a figure of speech because my hair looks magical. I promise I’ll never call you a wizard ever again. It was meant to be a compliment, not something to make you panic.”
The maid calmed, but was still obviously unsettled. “Wizards are good in yer world?”
“The wizards in my world are harmless. At least, I think they are. I used that word in the context of saying that you were brilliant, excellent at working with my hair. It’s never looked this stylish before.”
