Stasiya gathered her skirts and danced up the steps.
“Stepmother...” Ashlin paused. They had no money. Every penny that she earned at the palace had to be saved for food and fuel. They had already spent what little they had on the blue silk. “We cannot, we should not...” She wanted so badly to take the gift that was being offered to her. It was her work that had earned the money to purchase the silk and her work that had turned the silk into a beautiful gown. However, she could not be reckless with the fragility of their current living situation. “We cannot afford a ready-made dress. Let me wear an old gown from her, or even you. It does not have to be perfect. I won’t embarrass you, I promise. I won’t even be dancing with the prince, just watching the dancing from one of the balconies...”
She stopped talking as Lady Cabril turned to her with a sorrowful face. Tears glistened on her stepmother’s eyelids even as a small smile graced her lips.
“That beautiful soul does not have a selfish bone in her body. You could do well to learn from her Ashlin. After all she has been through, to offer you her own gown.” She paused, composing herself.
“I am quite touched by her kindness, truly I am. But this is a weighty expense, which is not necessary and we truly cannot afford.” Ashlin could feel the determination in her own voice, and she was instantly proud of herself for standing her ground. Not only was she calmly stating her opinion on a household matter, she was denying herself the chance to wear the gown of her dreams. No matter what her stepmother said, this was an entirely selfless act on her part.
“If we cannot afford it, that is on you,” Lady Cabril said, dismissing her statement. “I, for one, will not say no to my daughter. She has seen not one father, but two, pass away. If this is what she wants to do, I cannot deny her this small pleasure. We will find a way to make it work. You will wear the blue gown and join us at the ball. It will be a wonderful evening for all of us to enjoy together.”
“I want that, I truly do.” Ashlin wanted to accept the invitation being handed to her from the two people who made up her remaining family. But she also knew how hard it was to work from dawn until midnight to acquire the few measly coins that were currently sitting in the box above the mantle. She herself did not even have the basic clothing necessities, much less an extravagant gown for an extravagant event. “But what about... I’ve...” She too had suffered the death of both her parents.
Every day she went out of her way to make sure her remaining family was as comfortable and happy as possible. She sacrificed her comfort and happiness for the sake of theirs, and she asked for nothing in return. She felt a small seed of resentment settle in her stomach. She twisted her hands together in front of her, feeling the anger grow. “You cannot say no to her, but you can say no to me?” she whispered to her stepmother, unable to hide the accusation in her voice.
“Oh, my dear.” Her stepmother moved towards her with a face full of compassion as understanding dawned upon it. “That is not how it is at all. I am just so thankful that you would never be so cruel as to ask me for something I cannot give you.”
She reached out to embrace Ashlin, but Stasiya returned at that moment with the small box from the mantle. Lady Cabril reached into her pocket and found the appropriate key on her small key ring. Unlocking the box, she pulled out the five remaining coins, four copper and one silver. For Ashlin, those coins represented ten days of working long nights at the palace.
“This won’t even be half enough to buy a dress, but hopefully Mistress Cedrice will accept it as a first payment.” Lady Cabril transferred the coins to her pocket and closed the empty box. “Come Stasiya, let us go to her shop right away to make sure she still has gowns available.”
Stasiya had already removed the blue dress and changed back into her fur-lined forest-green kirtle. “Yes, Mother.”
“Come along with us, Ashlin. This is a moment we should all be celebrating together.”
Wishing she had found time to turn the brown wool into a proper cloak, Ashlin followed them out into the chilly morning air. She did not want to think about her stepmother’s earlier words. Had she created her own unhappy situation because she was not brave enough to ask for what she needed?
She followed her stepmother and sister to the seamstress’s shop. The two women in front of her chatted comfortably as they walked, and Lady Cabril occasionally threw a compassionate glance over her shoulder at Ashlin. Neither invited her into the conversation.
Once they arrived, mother and daughter quickly reviewed the three dresses that Mistress Cedrice still had available. Stasiya immediately chose one in a deep burnt orange that actually made her cheeks look full of color.
Ashlin held up a small mirror so her sister could see herself in the dress. Stasiya twisted and turned in front of it, admiring certain elements and pursing her lips at others.
“This color makes your skin quite glow,” Ashlin complimented.
“It does, doesn’t it?” Stasiya pinched her cheeks to bring a spot of red into them. “Mother, what do you think?”
“Hold still, girl,” Mistress Cedrice reprimanded through a mouthful of pins. The seamstress was closing up the seam in the back to ensure the dress would fit her properly. “I’m bound to stick you with one of these if you don’t stop moving.”
Stasiya stilled.
“You look absolutely ravishing, my dear,” Lady Cabril purred. “Wouldn’t you agree, Ashlin?”
Ashlin nodded in agreement.
“Mother,” Stasiya said, moving her head carefully so as not to disturb the seamstress, “I think you should consider the burgundy gown.”
“What?” Lady Cabril placed a hand on her heart. “A new dress for me?”
“Why ever not?” Stasiya continued. “Your ballgown is so old. And besides, it’s what you wore when you married Cabril. Will it not make you sad to wear it again?”
Lady Cabril took a shaky breath. “You are so very right. I have been nervous about wearing it again.”
“Go stand next to the burgundy gown, see how it might look on you.”
Ashlin watched in disbelief as her stepmother held up the wine-red fabric. In her head, she could only add the number of days at the palace it would take to pay for two entirely new dresses. Not to mention how they were going to purchase their next meal, since the box on top of the mantle was now empty. She shook her head at her stepmother.
But no one noticed her movement except for Mistress Cedrice, who raised her eyebrows.
