“Uh-huh.”
She hummed. “I must admit I… I wasn’t sure you were earnest when you invited me. It kept me up all night. I… I wore the other dress in case you were joking. It’s between outing and work. I do have some other choices. If you prefer I-”
“Are we still discussing what you’ll wear?” I asked. “I think I should be angry that you insist upon refusing. Ismydress ugly?”
“No, I-”
“I’m joking,” I told her. “I really didn’t mean to say anything ill of anything. I like what you wore. I like everything you wear. I just… Mr. Evergreen suggested that I struggle in social settings. I think he’s right.”
“He said you struggle in social settings? That’s incredibly rude, Your Highness.”
“Well. He didn’t say it that way, but he’s also not wrong. He said I was naturally unpleasant.”
“That’s worse. And welikehim?” she asked.
“I just meant to say, the dress I like has beads, Jocelyn. Beads. For a horse ride. In the country. With two brutes. It’s a bit much, and just like me, it may not fit in if left alone.”
She smiled. “Daniel is hardly a brute.”
“Right. A brute and a nobleman,” I corrected.
“He’s soft and kind,” she said. “Mr. Evergreen is a brute. I’ll give you that. I can’t believe he called you unpleasant. You’re so great.”
“I’m great?” I asked.
“Yes! I really enjoy your company, Your Highness.” She arched her brow. “Your Highness?”
“You like my company?” I asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“I…” I handed her my dress and quickly presented her my back. She helped me transfer from my nightgown to the next. “I have to say this is significant news. At risk of sounding stupid, I just… It really scares me to meet new people. So your reception of me is… Well, I feel sick when I do,” I explained. “Thank you for saying you like me.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” she said. “It’s true.”
“Whenever I must present myself to a Lord or Lady, or when I am presented, I feel actually ill. Mostly dizzy, or my heart races, but almost always, something is not right,” I said. “It feels as though there is a weight of impending doom upon me. Even with our staff. I am always afraid they will hear stories about me and then…” I steeled myself. “Then I am judged before I ever have a chance.”
She was silent a moment longer.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Would you like to know what they say?” she asked.
“What?” I cleared my throat. “Who?”
“The staff,” she said. “I could tell you what’s said about you. It’s the least I can do for all your kindness.”
“...Will I hate it?” I asked.
“Maybe, but it might feel better to know,” she said.
I nodded.
Josie smiled. “Most of the footmen comment upon your beauty, that is, behind the Lord Commander’s back. None ofthem would dare admit the appeal to him, or to anybody who might snitch about it, but one of them is so against the idea of complimenting you, I think he might love you. The knights say nothing.”
I folded my arms. “Is that all?”
She shrugged. “A couple of the girls in the kitchen think you might be high maintenance, but they don’t have actualproofwhen asked, but I’ve discovered it’s because you don’t eat meat,” she said. “They’ve mostly all come over with Ms. Krog, and now they’ve had to change some things from their last assignment, but you’re not the first vegetarian to ever exist, or even the first in the castle, and your previous cook left extensive notes that they chose to throw out, so really, who’s the problem, I ask?”
