57. Blue Dragon
~ BREN ~
I went to lunch without Donavyn. Our first agreed separation since the night Hanson propositioned me. I left him pacing the bedchamber, his face a mask of aggression. Ihatedhow this affected him, but I was so grateful he didn’t fight me on it. I was determined to get to the bottom of Hanson’s claim about the dragon, and hoped he’d be there for the meal so I could lay the trail for tonight’s conversation. But the dark-haired Lord didn’t attend, so I was left sharing lunch with Faye.
Lady Faye had offered to make a maid available to me to assist with dressing for tonight’s event, which I gathered was more formal than the previous ball, though I wasn’t sure how that could be true. I was still in my leathers from the trip to the dragon stables. I’d hoped I might run into Hanson who had implied he’d enjoy seeing me in trousers. Instead, when Faye saw me, she clucked at me and shook her head.
“I hope you have a glorious gown for tonight’s ball,” she said, pointing at me with her butter knife as she spread her toast.
I let my chin fall. “I have the rose gown. My Queen was very kind—"
“The rose? From the welcome banquet? No, no, no, Brennan. This won’tdo! That gown was lovely on you, but you must be much grander than ever before. Tonight, the dignitaries attend from three Districts! The queen is quite willing to accept simplicity in style—especially when it’s so fetching on you. But with so many high-ranking attendees, you need to show appropriate respect for theevent.”
I looked at her helplessly. “I don’t have a choice. I don’t have many gowns. I’ve already worn the ones that were sent with me, and that is the nicest of what I own—which was a kindness of my queen’s. The ball is only a few hours away—”
“I’ll help,” Faye said, nodding to herself and smiling.
“Help how? No one can make a gown that quickly!”
“Never you mind, never you mind. You just come with me when we’ve finished the meal. Are you wearing a corset? No mind. We’ll fix this.”
Despite myself, I smiled. Faye could be annoying, and she was definitely ambitious. She’d also been kinder to me than any of the other women. And even if that was motivated by her desire to impress and be aligned with Vosgaarde’s Queen, it was still a kindness.
“Thank you, Faye. I appreciate you,” I said, laying a hand on her arm.
She stopped buttering her toast to look down at her arm. “Oh! You’re very welcome, Brennan. Of course.”
She brushed me off and I let her babble of gossip and rumor wash over me for the remainder of the meal, then followed her out of the dining hall, reaching for Donavyn in my mind.‘No sign of Hanson. But Faye is determined to get me a new gownfor tonight. She says I can’t wear the Rose again, even if I’m common.’
‘Lucky you.’
‘You know, even if she’s annoying, she can be kind. She doesn’t want me embarrassed. It’s sweet.’
‘Then tell her that I’m grateful too—but return to the rooms when you’re done so we can arrive together. Men like Hanson need to see you as something they can’t have. We need him determined to entice you.’
‘I know. I will.’
“Do you have a favorite color, Bren?” Faye asked as we hurried through the halls of the Palace’s other wing, where she was housed.
“I like blue. And silver?” I said.
“Excellent. No, not that way, we’re going to the royal modiste.”
“Where?”
“The modiste—they make gowns to order.”
“But, there’s no time!”
“They’ll have other dresses they can alter. I assure you, you aren’t the first woman to need a magnificent dress in a short period of time. Our challenge is only to make certain that they are willing to give one toyou.”
“And how will we do that?”
Faye winked at me. “I have powerful friends.”
Then she took my elbow and pulled me down a quiet side-hall to a set of doors that looked very similar to those leading into Donavyn’s quarters.
She rapped the door once, then stood aside, smiling smugly.
