The next day, I awoke in my own bed, surrounded by Misty and Pippin and their three-month-old kittens. It was well into the afternoon, a blade of golden sunlight slicing through the gap of my heavy velvet curtains. I took Daffodil, a sweet-tempered kitten despite being a ginger, and buried my face into her fur.
Are you going to tell me what happened?Misty said from above. She was perched on the headboard, her green eyes peering over me.
I almost sobbed at the sound of her voice in my head. “I missed you so much,” I croaked.
And I missed you. You’ve been gone for the better part of the month.Misty slinked down from her perch and rested her head on my shoulder.You’re upset.
“I’m fine.”
You don’t fall asleep in a pile of cats when you’re happy.
“I missed you and Pippin and the kittens. That’s all.”
I think you miss your husband.
“He’snotmy husband,” I said resentfully. “And I see him every day.”
So it is about your husband.
I huffed. Misty placed a paw on my hand.Now let go of my daughter and tell me what happened.
I obliged, though reluctantly, and told her how Bennett had been acting and the whole debacle of him turning into a cat. Misty seemed amused by the latter.
Was he a calico?
“He was,” I said, surprised.
Misty sniffed.Thought so.
I laughed. It felt good to.
I wonder who would do such a thing, Misty meowed.
So did I. Giselle said the culprit would reveal themselves once Bennett returned to his normal self. Perhaps they would tonight. Whoever it was, they would surely be punished for crime against the crown. My heart seized at the thought of Bennett being the target of attack. Would they strike again?
It seems to me,Misty said, pulling me from my thoughts,that your fiancé has been preoccupied with work. Think of what he was like before he fell in love with you. He’s probably back to his old habits.
I stared at the ceiling. “Then did he fall out of love with me?”
Don’t be ridiculous, Misty said.No one can fall out of love with you.
I rolled over and buried my face into my pillow. “I don’t want to think about it anymore,” I mumbled.
Misty let me pet her for a bit before she said,You don’t think you deserve him, do you?
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I’m scared, Misty,” I said quietly. “I’m scared Bennett will think the same.”
Misty meowed softly and nuzzled my cheek, her presence comfort enough. I had nearly drifted back to sleep when a knock came at the door, waking me and the kittens.
“Milady,” Tizzy called from the hall. “Miss Giselle is here for your dress fitting.”
I SURVEYED THE DUSKYlilac gown Giselle had whipped together for the Ambassadors Ball. The shade matched the hydrangeas in Queen Cordelia’s garden. It wasn’t unflattering, but I had gotten used to wearing sprightly greens or stately jewel tones. The lilac made me feel fragile.
“You look like a princess,” Giselle said. She pinned a jeweled brooch to my left shoulder. Gauzy chiffon flowed from the brooch to my opposite hip, then waterfalled to my feet.
I touched the matching comb nestled in my hair. Diamonds and pale amethysts, sparkling clear and watery pink. The latest fashion had all society girls wearing jeweled combs, but the pointed shape of mine looked far too much like a crown.
