by Robin Roseau
“Because I was able to be snotty?”
“No. Because you’re beginning to be decisive again. Welcome back, Princess.”
“Thank you. I wish I didn’t have to go.”
“I do, too. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” Then I smiled, but it was ragged. “Allium?”
“I don’t know what she’s going to say, Darfelsa, but you can either wonder or you can go see. I know what I’d do. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” I said. “I am.”
“Good. Good luck.”
“Thank you, Allium.”
Dinner
I arrived at the glass shop unannounced. Te-la was watching the shop. “Good afternoon, Princess Darfelsa,” she said. “Were you expected?”
“No,” I said. “Is Gretchena available?”
“I’m not sure,” she replied. She frowned. “I’m supposed to watch the shop.”
“I know my way,” I said. I gestured to the hallway that led into the workshop.
“I’m not authorized to allow that,” she said. “Please, Princess…”
“I don’t want to cause trouble, but I’d really like to speak with her. What do you normally do if someone needs to see Holliahta or Gretchena?”
“Yew is on a delivery,” she replied in explanation.
“How about this: I’ll watch the shop. If anyone comes in, I can make sure they do nothing untoward, and I can keep their attention until you return. Will that get you into trouble, Te-la?”
She frowned again. “I have orders,” she said. “I-” She paused. “I can’t leave the shop unattended.”
“You wouldn’t be. I will attend the shop.”
“I’m not sure that counts.”
“Would it count if I were one of Holliahta’s slaves?”
“Yes.”
I smiled, walked to her, and then, as she watched me, presumably with some surprise, I lowered myself to my knees in front of her. “I declare myself one of Holliahta’s slaves until someone of more standing in this household returns to release me again.”
Then I bowed my head and waited. I wasn’t sure this would work. It wasn’t like she could disobey orders, after all. “I will tell Holliahta or Gretchena you are here, but you can’t attend the shop from your knees, Princess.” She held out her hands and steadied me as I returned to my feet. She was smiling.
“Are you going to tell her I did that?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have orders for this slave, Te-la?”
“I don’t have any authority to give other slaves orders, Da.” But she smiled. “Attend to the shop.”
“Yes, Te-la,” I said with a smile.
She turned, but she looked over her head once more, then disappeared in back. I stood behind the counter then wondered whether ‘attend to the shop’ meant more than stand here in case someone walked in. I decided it probably did, but as I had no idea what, I decided to wander, looking at the various things on display.
Everything was so beautiful. Even the display of window glass was beautiful. Holliahta did a good job, and I loved coming here.
No one came in. I hadn’t actually expected anyone, and I don’t think Te-la did, either. Then I heard a noise, and I turned. Holliahta was watching me. I couldn’t read her expression. “Did you really kneel to Te-la, and declare yourself my slave?”
“Yes, Holliahta. I wasn’t sure what she would need to let me take over from her.”
“So, if I ordered you to kneel to me, what would happen?”
“I imagine I would laugh and tell you that I considered myself relieved of my duties, now that you are here.”
“Come here, slave.” It was said in a very commanding voice. I wasn’t sure if she was testing my resolve or simply having fun with me.
I folded my arms. “Is Te-la going to be in trouble if I don’t?”
“No, Darfelsa.”
“Were you testing whether I was still susceptible to that tone?”
“I was seeing how long we were playing that game and am disappointed it ended before I could enjoy it.”
I laughed. “Is Gretchena available?”
“She’ll be a minute. Do I want to know what’s going on, Princess?”
“Probably.” She waited. I said nothing further and finally laughed.
She scowled. “Are you going to tell me?”
“No.”
“Would you tell me if I apologize?”
“For?”
“Gretchena wanted to go to Barrish with you. If it were a month later, I could have spared her, but she personally committed to a commission.”
“Was that an apology?”
“No. It was an explanation.”
“I’m here to invite her on a date,” I said.
“I’m sorry she can’t go with you.”
“The reality of business,” I said. “Thank you for explaining.”
We made small talk for another minute, and then Gretchena arrived. She was flushed from her work in front of their furnace, but I thought she’d taken a minute to try to put herself together. She came to a stop. “Hello, Darfelsa. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were coming.” She gestured to herself.
I stepped forward. “I want you to know something. I talked to Allium before coming here. Her words were, ‘Good luck’. I hope I don’t need luck.” I took her hands and then I did something she hadn’t been allowing me to do, or I tried to, anyway.
I tried to offer a Ressaline greeting.
When she realized my intention, she pulled away. “I’m…” She gestured again.
“I don’t care,” I replied. “Come here.”
Then I waited. She paused, and then she looked down, but she stepped closer, and this time we brushed cheeks and offered kisses. I moved a hand to the back of her neck and held her then whispered to her, “Do you still care about me the way you used to?”
“Yes.”
“Please go for a walk with me, only a few minutes. Or will something break if you leave it?”
“I took care of it. That’s why I needed time.”
I stepped away. She turned to her mother. “We’re going for a short walk.”
“Just a few minutes,” I clarified.
Holliahta nodded. I offered my arm. Gretchena didn’t take it, but instead she took my hand. “I’m really dirty. I’ll ruin your clothes.”
I led her from the shop.
* * * *
We walked a half block before I turned us to face each other. “I’m leaving in eleven days.”
“I know.”
“I think I deserve the truth,” I said. “Are we friends?”
“How can you ask that, Darfelsa? Do you think I’ve been spending every minute I can with you for the last three years because of your title?”
“No, Gretchena. That’s not what I think. But I think I had my First, and something changed.”
“Do you have any idea how easily I could have convinced you to become my slave, Darfelsa?” I stared at her. “You have no idea, do you? I could have spent the last six months touching you and kissing you and whispering such things to you. For months, you weren’t saying ‘no’ to much of anything, either. I could have convinced you to have secret practice challenges with me. I’d have won the first few, but then I’d have let you win one.”
“Gretchena-”
“Do you have any idea how much I want to see you in red?”
I stared at her then asked, “You don’t want to wear red for me?”
“Of course, I do, but do you have any idea how long it’s going to take before you could honestly beat me? It certainly won’t be if I’m the only one you have challenges with.”
“You wouldn’t do any of that, Gretchena!”
“Something more than half of all slaves become enslaved within the first year after their First,” she said. “Most of those fall prey to just that exact plan.”
“You wouldn’t do that.”
“Of course, I would!” she said. “It’s
a perfectly legitimate path to citizenship. And you wouldn’t have seen it coming.”
I didn’t know what to say about that, but I’d learned enough not to judge one society by the rules of another. “Fine. But you wouldn’t do it to me.”
“I suppose you think you’re immune.”
“Frankly, yes. Olivia wouldn’t have risked the friendship with my father. She’d have made you give me back.”
“True, and you would have been utterly miserable over it. It would have ruined your life.”
“Which is why you wouldn’t have done it.”
“You’re right. But I absolutely would have engaged in a little whisper campaign. I would readily have had you wrapped around my little finger, and while I might not have been free to permanently enslave you, I may as well have. Of course, the danger of that is that I could lose control over you, and someone too stupid to realize she couldn’t keep you might have lured you into a challenge instead.”
“You wouldn’t. The fact you didn’t proves it.”
“No. The fact I didn’t proves I didn’t, not that I wouldn’t.”
We stared at each other for a minute, then I smiled. “Well, get over it. Gretchena, I’d like to take you to dinner, tonight if you’re available. I have no intention of you going home afterwards.”
She returned my gaze for several long heartbeats. Well, several very short heartbeats, as my heart was racing, and I thought hers was, too. Then she began to smile. “Does Allium know that?”
“She told me ‘good luck’.”
“We can’t do any practice challenges,” she said. “Olivia told me quite pointedly she was controlling your first several.”
“We don’t need challenges for what I have in mind,” I told her. “We only need a bed and two willing women.” I stepped closer and lifted my hand to her cheek. I lowered my voice. “Tell me, Gretchena. Are you going to say ‘no’?”
“No.”
“I thought you weren’t going to say ‘no’.”
She laughed. “I’m free tonight, but…”
“That ‘but’ better not be about spending the night.”
“It’s about the days,” she said.
“I want your evenings,” I said. “There will probably be a few at the embassy or Olivia’s. I want you for all of them. Is that possible?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Good. When I get back, I’m having my challenges, but I’m telling Olivia to include you in her plans. How do you feel about that?”
“I feel pretty good about that, Darfelsa.” She grinned. “You’re going to look great in resin.”
“I’m glad you think so. I’d kiss you, but I want our return to kisses to be when you look less like I took you from something important.”
“Me, too,” she agreed. But she set her hand atop mine, still resting on her cheek. We gazed at each other.
“Darfelsa,” she whispered.
“We’ll talk more tonight,” I said.
“Tonight.”
Then we stood there until I laughed. “Go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Go,” I said. “Tell Holliahta you’re mine.”
She laughed. “I will.”
“Go.”
She pulled away, turned, and began walking. But I stopped her. “Gretchena. It’s that way.”
“Oh.” She turned. “Right.”
I watched her walk away. She looked over her shoulder several times. The second time, I made sure she knew I was watching her backside. She laughed but waved a finger at me.
* * * *
I wore a light lavender sheath dress, and then I did something Mother might not have liked; I wore my best black boots. I added a black hat, trying it different ways before deciding I liked it tipped to my left and slightly forward. Neither the hat nor the boots went with the dress, not by Mother’s standards, but I liked the image I presented.
Commanding.
I looked good in the dress, if I may say so myself. It helped to flatter my figure, and I knew I’d have Gretchena’s attention while wearing it. But I wanted the height the boots offered while maintaining confidence walking in them without having to tread carefully in a pair of heels.
And I liked the hat.
Five minutes later, I presented myself to Allium. She smiled and nodded. “I like it.”
“Thank you for your advice earlier.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been acting like a child.”
“You were frustrated, and I didn’t realize the full range of your frustration,” she replied. “Part of your frustration is that, while you’re now an adult, you aren’t always treated like one. And frankly, I’m not sure how quickly that is going to change. Adult or not, you’ll still make mistakes for a while.”
“I’ve heard it said that people make mistakes their entire lives.”
“True, but as one matures, the nature of the mistakes changes.”
“I suppose,” I agreed.
“Where are you taking her?”
“Dinner and dancing,” I replied.
“There’s dancing somewhere?”
“Yes,” I said. “Perhaps I should have talked to you about it. I sort of appropriated your ballroom.”
She laughed. “Yes, you should have.”
“If other people want to dance, that’s fine,” I said. “But I don’t want anyone asking either of us to dance. If I decide to share, we’ll make the offers.”
“All right. Are you making that offer to be polite?”
“No. It would be nice to share the floor.”
She nodded. “Then I think you’ll have some company.”
“Is Gionna still wearing red?”
“Three days,” Allium replied. “Is that a problem?”
“No. Are you going to be upset if I ask to dance with her?”
“No.”
“All right then. We’ll see.”
“Enjoy your dinner, Darfelsa.”
“I think I will.”
* * * *
Renalla was very sweet; she loaned Va to me. We used the embassy carriage, with Va driving. When we pulled up in front of their home, both Holliahta and Gretchena stepped outside, Holliahta’s arm around her daughter’s waist. They both smiled as I stepped up.
I offered a Ressaline greeting to Holliahta, which she returned warmly. I offered another to Gretchena, and I teased her ear a little as I did so. She gave a little giggle. Then I offered my arm, leading her to the carriage. Va held the door for us, and we slipped inside. A moment later, we were rolling.
“You look nice,” I said.
“A little better than I did this afternoon?” she asked. “You look nice, too.”
“I want to talk to you about something. I don’t want you to pull away from a proper greeting just because you’re a little dusty. I can tell you’re dusty. If you don’t want to greet, that’s your choice, but I’d rather you didn’t make decisions for me.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I was feeling self-conscious.” She gestured. “Am I mistaken? That’s your cousin, right?”
“Yep.”
“How did that happen?”
“Renalla loaned her to us for a couple of hours,” I said. “Just to manage the carriage.”
“Ah.”
“You thought she was mine?”
“I wondered,” she replied. “I came to an agreement with Mother.”
“Good.” I didn’t ask for details. “So, I don’t have to play the spoiled princess to get my way.”
She laughed. “No. Does that typically work for you?”
“No. Allium and my parents are immune. I tried it with Olivia once and it went even worse.”
“Poor you.”
I laughed. Then I lifted her fingers and kissed her knuckles.
* * * *
I took her to the Golden Tulip. I’d thought about the Baby Blanket, which was our go-to place, but I decided more upscale was better. We listened to th
e specials and then decided to share a fish dish. It was from one of the local lakes, so different than what we might get at home, but it was light and delicately prepared.
We didn’t talk about anything in particular. We held hands, and we gazed at each other a lot. I was nervous, but at the same time, confident, perhaps more confident than I’d been in a while. I realized that, and that made me feel good. What a difference a few hours made!
Eventually we declined dessert. I paid our bill and then took Gretchena’s hand for the walk back to the carriage.
* * * *
“You jump right to it,” Gretchena said when we pulled up in front of the embassy.
“And you jump to conclusions,” I replied. “Come on.” Laughing, I pulled her from the carriage then wrapped her arm in mine as we headed for the door. Gretchena cooperated, and it wasn’t until I led her away from the stairs that she missed a step. “I told you that you were jumping to conclusions. I hope you can dance in those shoes.”
“I hope you can dance in those boots,” she countered. “Seriously? There’s an event?”
“There is a ballroom with musicians,” I said. “Soon, there will be us. There may be others from the embassy.”
We reached the ballroom, the music greeting us as we drew closer. Inside, several of my coworkers at the embassy were dancing together. We didn’t interrupt them, but I simply said, “May I have this dance, Gretchena?”
“I’d like that.”
I held up my arms as the lead. She stepped into me, and then we were dancing.
It was far from the first dance we had shared, but there was something special about it this time. She felt so good. She smelled so good, too. I was a better dancer. Of course, I was; I’d had a lifetime of lessons from Mother. But she was better than she had been when we’d first become friends, and I enjoyed dancing with her.
It was our third song before she asked, “Are you going to let me lead?”
“It wasn’t my plan,” I replied. “If you push, I will.”
“We’ll see,” she replied. “We haven’t said ‘hello’ to anyone.”
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
“We’re just dancing, Gretchena.”
“You have something planned.”