“I can help you with the back,” I said, setting mine down, to guide her to spin.
Jocelyn slipped out of her outfit and stepped into the new one.
“Hold still,” I said. “I’ve never done this on another person before.”
“I think I can reach it,” she said, trying.
“You and what arms?” I asked. I moved her hand from my path to tie it. “You’re petite.”
“It’s fine, really,” she said.
“Stop,”I ordered her, swatting her again. “Let me fasten it,” I said.
Josie half-turned, nervously. “This feels wrong,” she said. “I should be dressing you.”
“In your dress?” I asked.
“No, I meant-”
“Hush.” I shook my head. “I know what you meant. Why should it feel wrong for a friend to help you tie the back?” I asked. “We’re both adults, and I think I can defeat this corset right and proper.”
“We’re adults, but one of us is a princess,” she explained. “I can’t imagine my fate if the Lord Commander saw us right now. He would tell you father, and your father would fire me in a moment for wearing something he had made for you.”
“Oh, you put too much stock into our Eli’s interest,” I said. “The poor man would likely either leave immediately or simply ignore the whole ordeal and pretend like he never saw us disrobed at all. Besides, this dress was paid for by the Prince, and are dresses really made for one person in particular?”
“In this case, yes,” she said. “These dresses were literally designed for you, Your Highness.”
“There are ladies in Dawne at my mother’s school who trade their gowns,” I said. “My aunt told me once.” I drew the binding tighter around her chest, bringing her hand to her rib.
“You don’t want any of my clothes,” she said.
“If I don’t, it’s only because I have so many of my own, and I have so many of my own because I have nothing else.”
“What?”
“Sorry, I meant…”I paused. “I’m just happy you agreed to wear this. With any luck, Willough will forget he is at work and think of this more as a…. Well….”
“A courting?” she asked.
“Aye, you words,” I said.
“Willough,” she repeated.
“Hmm?”
“Nothing, I… I just like the way you shortened Willoughby. It suits him.”
“I can’t take credit, I’m afraid. Mr. Evergreen called him that first.”
“Willow trees are so graceful,” she noted.
I wrapped her bow. “You think my cousin is graceful?”
She nodded. “And tall. And resilient, and strong, and likely flexible.”
“Flexible?”I asked.
“Yes, just like the tree,” she said. “I’m sure nothing phases him. He is completely at ease at all times just as a willow is.”
