Not to mention, it seemed Mom and I were pretty badly cursedalready.
In other words, I knew to keep my mouth shut on that score.
Something I sensed was going to make it difficult to recruithelp by being honest with people, telling them I wanted to get home, and justwhere that home was.
“I think you’re ready, milady.”
I came back into the room.
And it was a gorgeous room, with a huge bed with scrolledhead and foot boards padded in buttoned pear-colored velvet, with creamy coversaccented with a green floral design,ruchedpillowcases and a forest-green velvet bolster.These colors and accents, alongwith the soft, dove gray flocked wallpaper on the walls, completed the roomwith its impossibly delicate, feminine furniture and fixtures.
I was seated at one of these impossible pieces, a daintydressing table with bi-fold oval mirrors on the top.It was covered inpearlescent tubs and crystal bottles and vials.All mine, I knew, as one thingmy dad-not-dad was not was a man who skimped when it came to presenting hisproduct to its prospective buyers.
I’d learned this the last few weeks, considering, after Iwas given a brief, harrowing visit with Mom and Maxine of this world, the onlypeople I was allowed to see were Dad-not-Dad, a dressmaker and her assistant,and a cosmetologist, who created powders, paints and scents personally for me.
Edgar had been at every one of these meetings, overseeingthem, acting an ass and making certain I said nor did anything untoward.Andeven if the women openly, in manner if not verbally, shared they thought thisodd (like they thought my clothes were odd, considering the fact, until thedressmaker made some for me, I wore my jeans and tee), that was how ithappened.
Otherwise, I lived in his house with him, and he took greatpains to make sure his servants, which I heard, but never saw, also never sawme.
Now, I had Idina, who I’d met the day before we left.
And I could not get a bead on her.
She was definitely shy, although very good at her job, ifthe new, and utterly gorgeous, soft, upswept hairstyle she gave me (along withall the others she’d done, as well as the subtle makeup) was anything to go by.
She also seemed reserved.
This was a problem.
I needed to make friends with the servants.
As far as I could tell, they were the only hope I had tohear things or get into places I could not, hopefully discovering where Momwas.
Also, helping me get to her.
And then helping me find a witch to get us home.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to communicate this, because Ithought it was probably imperative not to bring a curse on Mom and me prior tous getting the hell out of here.
But I’d have to find a way to do it.
I made another attempt at this by catching her eyes in themirror and saying, “It’s beautiful, Idina.”
“I’m pleased you like it, milady.”
I smiled at her.“I’m sorry I gave you more work by gettingdrenched.”
She appeared a touch confused.“It would have had to havebeen redone for dinner regardless, milady.You can’t wear a day style todinner.”
Of course it would.Edgar had told me, on most days, I’dhave at least two changes of outfit, it could be three or more.
A morning gown, should I be staying at home, inside.
A traveling or strolling outfit, should I be going outside.
And evening attire, always, for, “We, in this world, haveproper decorum, unlike what I saw briefly in your world,” he’d said.“Therefore, wealwaysdress for dinner.”
And dinner was a fraught affair.I knew this with how manytimes he’d struck my fingers brutally with a thin rod after I went for thewrong wineglass or fork.
