“My absence isn’t because of Silas. I won’t even let him see me while I work,” I told her. “I am working on something big. Something new. It will help a lot of people.” I moved away to hold her shoulders at arm’s length. “It is my fault for shutting myself in. I promise I will not do it again.”
She mumbled something under her breath before reluctantly nodding.
I would take that as an acceptance of my apology.
“Will you consider vermilion?”Phoebe asked as she looked up at me on the block. The seamstress was pinching and pinning a dark-green dress around my body in the places that needed to be hemmed and taken in.
“Won’t that be too flashy?”
“That’s the point! It’s a gala. It’s the best time to flaunt bold patterns and colors!”
“Are you going to wear something other than pink?” I arched my brow.
“I will be wearing yellow!” She gleamed.
I stepped down from the small podium and looked at myself in the mirror. I liked the way the dark green brightened my eyes.It was the only color I was comfortable in besides black, though a shade so grim would be too bleak for a gala. I would not have cared before, but now I knew I needed to blend in a little more than usual. Nothing stuck out quite like mourning clothing.
“What set you off earlier? Why do you hate Silas so much?” I asked her suddenly, speaking to her reflection in the mirror.
“Why does anyone hate the flashier breed of men? I am tired of him getting involved with things he shouldn’t,” she mumbled, a blush creeping up her fair cheeks.
Phoebe was not allowed many friends in childhood, keeping a small circle even in adulthood. She had me, but that was it when it came to fraternizing with people who were not some sort of blood relative. We were only allowed as friends because of our fathers’ business relationship and how often mine was at their estate.
A guilty swell of my heart clutched my chest when I realized she might have thought I was abandoning her. I understood the hatred she held for anyone who tried to take me away. Her panic was making more sense to me as I thought about it.
“Tonight will be fun. We can stop by and pick up the dresses after tea. How’s that?”
She grinned at me and nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
The rest of the preparations were done at Phoebe’s place. We wanted to arrive together, and she would lend me some jewelry for the occasion.
My dress had a square neckline and no sleeves. The silhouette was kept close to my tall figure and cinched around any curves, emphasizing the waist and hips. The dark-green fabric was decorated with small hints of black and gold along the hemlines and through the design. There was a subtle train in the back that was fitted with an elegant bustle, letting the fabric fold and drape its way down to the floor. I wore black gloves to match, and Phoebelet me borrow an emerald necklace with matching earrings. This time, I kept my hair up, extending my long neck and figure. I was a bit hesitant with the bite scars on my neck, but they had healed enough that they would not be too noticeable under a velvet ribbon tied neatly at the back.
Phoebe’s outfit was a lot brighter than mine, to say the least. It was a warm yellow gown with a matching square neckline to mine. The sleeves were long, and there were many buttons down the front. The yellow fabric bunched before draping down the sides, exposing a lavender underskirt that went to the floor. The trim of the yellow train behind her matched the soft purple. A nice fashion-forward piece—it was suitable for her. The yellow complemented her strawberry hair. She wore gold earrings with amethysts dangling about. She was currently adjusting her white gloves.
“What catalog is that one from?” I circled her to ensure that there was not even a hair out of place.
“I picked from a few and just told the tailor to combine them in some way.” She beamed. “Do you like it?”
“It’s very bright, very you.” I smiled. “Do you think we are ready?”
“Should be!” She shrugged on an overcoat before handing one to me.
I pulled the black overcoat on and followed her toward the door. I paused before leaving, grabbing my small purse that held my knife and tinctures from the coat hanger. The most important items for a night out.
45
THE CREATURE
One might think having so many valuable items in one room would be a liability. I guessed no one thought of that when they organized this circus.
There must have been enough paintings and pieces of art to add up to millions in value, yet they sat here without even so much as a rope barrier to keep nosy patrons from touching them.
The museum had closed off most of the rooms and kept the event contained to just one wing, but it still baffled me how much they trusted these guests with their precious items just because they were paying for them. The only redeemable quality about this overly pretentious display was the complimentary liquor.
I took a long sip from my glass. The liquid only burned, though I could taste the peppery whiskey notes as I drank. Events like these were so boring. I did not know why my father insisted I come. I know he disapproved of my time away from the Nest, so attending this frivolous thing was the least I could do toget him off my back. I was not looking forward to the next family gathering.
A thick Russian accent cut through the noise. “You know that you really should smile more. You’re scaring away the food.”
