Not again… I bite my lip, shaking my head as I step back. The tremor starts in my hands, and my legs follow. I can’t breathe, my chest overcrowded with panic. I shut my eyes, and not even a breath later, a light touch against my shoulder causes me to flinch. My eyes fly wide as the redhaired woman pulls her hand away, concern on her face.
“You’re safe in here,” she says. “Have no fear.”
I take one slow breath at a time.
“What do you say? Shall we get you cleaned up?”
CHAPTER 12
Durvla
My hands trembleas I begin removing my prison clothing. At least this time, I’m only wearing trousers and a top, so undressing is less prolonged, less painful.
The redhead’s olive green eyes survey my appearance, and she reaches for my left hand, her face dropping. She holds my arm up, scrutinizing my branding, then gently lowers my arm to my side. “Those brig guards are monsters. We are not. Alright?”
I nod.
“I’m Ellynne.” She makes an aloof gesture over her shoulder. “And that’s my sister, Lowri.”
Lowri smiles coyly at me and waves before turning back to her task of dumping something from a vial into the tub.
“Come, let’s get you in the water,”says Ellynne.
I nod and follow her toward the tub, one arm across my breasts, the other hand in front of my crotch.
“Relax, I’ve seen my fair share of tits and cunts,” says Ellynne.
Well, that’s blunt. Warmth floods my cheeks.
“Don’t be … ; you have a lovely figure. You’re going to look stunning in the dress … for you.”
My lips part, but no words come to mind. I climb the marble steps to the tub and dip my toe into the water. It’s bordering on too hot, forcing me to grit my teeth as my injured arm submerges for a moment. But as my body sinks beneath the surface—my left arm exempt—the tension in my muscles melts away. I sigh blissfully and close my eyes, reveling in the warmth that I’ve been denied for the past couple of days. Then someone touches my arm.
I open my eyes, and Ellynne holds up a damp washcloth. “We’re going to lather you now.”
Water sloshes from the abrupt shift as my body tenses again. “I can do it myself.”
Both women laugh. “Don’t be …” says Ellynne as she passes the cloth to Lowri.
I sigh. It takes me a moment to decipher her words. Apparently, modesty and privacy are preposterous in Mainland. Understood. I pretend that I’m anywhere but here as Lowri scrubs me clean. Ellynne disappears behind me and tugs on the ribbon and pins lost in my hair. Frizzy curls tumble down onto my shoulders before hot, fragrant water flows into my face, forcing my eyes closed. I hold my breath as a fresh stream pours over my head. Ellynne works her fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp in a way that almost makes me purr like a house cat. My body sinks further into the water and I almost—almost—forget that I’m naked in front of strangers.
When Ellynne and Lowri help me out of the tub. I’m not sure what to do with myself as they walk around me, drying my skin witha large towel and bandaging my left forearm before applying fragrant oils and creams to my skin. They dress me with practiced efficiency, donning me in a chemise and petticoat to begin.
Lowri lifts my arms to press a corset against my torso. She holds it in place while Ellynne laces up the front with impressive speed. This thing is squeezing the air out of my lungs. “It’s kind of hard to breathe,” I say.
Ellynne smiles warmly. “You get used to it.”
At last, a mauve gown with loose, long sleeves tapered and ruffled at the wrist covers the layers beneath. The gown is simple in design, but the quality of the fabric is beyond anything I’ve ever dreamt of wearing. I run my hands over the lower portion of the dress, in awe of its softness.
“Come. Let’s see what we can do with these glorious curls.” Ellynne takes me by my unbranded right arm and leads me to a chair. I sit gingerly.
“My mum had curls like yours,” Ellynne says. “She hated them, but I always found them so beautiful.”
She probably hated them because they’re a pain in the rear to manage. I smile at Ellynne regardless. “Thank you.”
Ellynne stands behind me and pours oil into her hand before running her fingers through my ringlets from roots to tips. She adeptly works through the knots while I grit my teeth against the tugging. She steps back and Lowri slips a pair of knee-high stockings, and the finest ankle boots I’ve ever worn, onto my feet. “Alright,” says Ellynne, appearing in front of me again.
She takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. “Have a look.” She gestures toward a full-length mirror against the wall. I approach the mirror and gawk at the stranger in the reflection. There’s no sign of the botanist from Cluain Baile. A crown of curls rests atop my head and the stay beneath my dress cinches my waist, the silken fabric embracingthe full curve of my hips, my breasts appearing deceptively larger. My cheek is still slightly swollen and discolored from Cadet Bronn’s assault, but surprisingly it barely hurts now.
