Emma kept her eyes on the grey dress in her hands. “I daenae ken,” she admitted. “Perhaps it was the noise we heard that day during training.”
“What noise?” Ava asked.
Emma shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Emma,” Ava pressed. “What noise?”
“It was like a rustle in the woods,” Emma answered. “Jack heard it, too. There was someone there. He wouldnae say more. And we saw smoke and fire in the far field this afternoon.”
Ava went still. “So what did ye think happened?”
“I daenae ken what I think,” Emma said. “I guess I’m scared. That’s all.”
For a while, the only sound was the small scrape of Ava’s boot on the floor. Then she stood, crossed to the wardrobe, and reached inside. She came back with a dark wine-red dress and laid it over the grey one.
“This should work.”
Emma touched the fabric. It was heavier than the blue dress but warmer than the green one. The color seemed to sit well against her hands as well.
“Aye,” she said. “Thank ye.”
“Ye can wear this ribbon as well.” Ava handed her one of the many ribbons lying at the foot of the bed. “It seems to match the dress.”
“I ken what it matches,” Emma said, but there was no bite in her voice.
Ava smiled. “If he looks too pleased, ye can scowl,” she suggested. “Ye cannae give him any reason to be too confident while talking to ye.”
“Nae once has he ever spoken to me without confidence, Ava,” Emma said.
“Good to ken.” Ava folded the pale blue dress and stacked it neatly. “I will send Lara to lace ye.”
“I can lace me own dress,” Emma protested.
Ava arched an eyebrow. “Ye will do it crooked and swear at me for letting ye. Let me be useful.”
“Ye are always useful,” Emma assured, and the words came easily this time.
Ava’s mouth softened. “Ma will want news,” she warned. “Nae the whole tale, just enough to keep her from fretting.”
“I will tell her that I chose a dress,” Emma said. “And that I didnae faint.”
“I would have paid good coin to see ye faint,” Ava snorted.
“Ye are a bad sister,” Emma mock scolded. “Bring me the pins.”
Ava fetched the small tin and set it by the mirror. “Do ye want the ribbon plain, or tied at the back?”
“Plain,” Emma said. “Nay fuss.”
“Nay fuss,” Ava echoed, then made a face at the pile of dresses on the bed and the floor. “Tell that to this.”
Emma gave in and smiled. “Get out of me room. I will change, and ye will come back and pretend that ye are surprised.”
“I am always surprised by ye.” Ava leaned in and kissed her sister’s cheek, quick and warm. “Daenae let him talk ye into anything daft.”
“He never could,” Emma said.
“Mm,” Ava murmured, not convinced, but slipped out anyway, pulling the door shut behind her.
