by Robin Roseau
“Interesting clothing.”
“Quite,” I agreed. “You didn’t take your opportunity.”
“Maybe I’ll get a better chance,” she said with a smile. “Good evening, Ms. Cuprite.”
I didn’t ask how she knew my name.
* * * *
We were several minutes into the carriage ride when I realized we were heading in the wrong direction to take me home. “Where are we going, Olivia?”
“The night is young.”
“No, it’s not,” I said with a laugh. “Where are you taking me?”
“The Green Room,” she replied. She squeezed my hand. “Do you mind?”
“Are you assuming something?”
“Only that you enjoy our company. You didn’t know about the undertones in the show?”
“No. Olivia, I’m no more than I appear to be. I’m a reasonably good civil engineer. That is all.”
“No, it is not,” she replied. “You are a woman, and an attractive one at that. You are kind, intelligent, and far more open-minded than I would have expected.”
“Yes, well, I’ve been wondering where that came from. This…” and I squeezed back, “isn’t my usual style. I tend to be far more reserved.”
“Have you come to any conclusions?”
“Guesses only. It may be that I am responding to the sisterhood of all of this.”
“As you may have figured out, I have spent very little of my life around men. I can’t really imagine your life. The closest I can come is my time in Charth. My soldiers and I were outnumbered by the local women by a significant margin.”
“But you held the power,” I said.
“And you do not?”
“No, I don’t. The work crews do what I tell them. Some are nice about it. But many of them mutter behind my back.”
“What do you do about that?”
“Nothing. Do you know? You may be the most powerful woman currently in the country.”
“The queen-”
“Undoubtedly has influence but very little authority. She has a reputation for her beauty. It is said she has been a good mother.”
“I do not believe you are responding to my power.”
“Maybe not your political power,” I said. “But you carry personal power and confidence. You all do. Olivia, your slaves project more confidence and power than many women of Flarvor. But I think what touches me more firmly is this feeling that all of you are being exactly who you want to be. You aren’t forced to put on an act. You’re not trying to impress a man, or perhaps avoid his attention.”
“Well, that’s certainly true.”
“I’ve had a nice time tonight, although I am sorry Bee and Dee were so distraught.”
“They’ll be fine. They’re resilient.”
“I believe you. I was about to say, though, that I have never enjoyed myself more thoroughly than I did last night. I didn’t expect to.”
“I know you didn’t. The dance game is fairly new. It has proven popular, which means dances in general have become more popular.” She chuckled. “And that has caused other ripples.”
“Such as?”
“The requirement for more musicians, which means more music teachers. Neither Ressaline City nor Charth have ever been centers of great culture. I was quite surprised how readily we were able to hire musicians here, and so inexpensively.”
“Nearly everyone I danced with is a far better dancer than I am.”
“Yes, but if you come to Charth and attend one of the public dances, that may be far less true.”
“Ah. I suppose this is the cream of society.”
“Well, some of the cream of society in Charth.”
“There’s something else I wanted to ask you.”
“Of course.”
“I was given to believe slaves were common in Ressaline.”
“They are.”
“You only brought two, unless you’ve been hiding them.”
“I nearly didn’t even bring them. I was afraid someone would attempt to use force to wrest them from me, and that would be cruel to both of them.”
“What changed your mind?”
“They did. First, I have a very difficult time saying ‘no’ when they beg, especially as I knew they would be deeply distressed the entire time I was gone. They told me over and over if they were separated from us, they would find a way to return to me, and then they enlisted Rishia’s promises of help. In the end, Rishia said, ‘This doesn’t need to be a problem. We’ll simply disguise them as crew for the next caravan, and no one will be the wiser.’ We made sure they knew how to find the shipping company, and we received additional promises that any slaves asking them for help to return would be given assistance.”
“That seems backwards.”
“You would expect them to want their freedom.”
“Yes.”
“Clearly, they don’t.”
* * * *
We reached The Green Room. Before we climbed from the carriage, Olivia set her hand on my arm. “I think I need to warn you about something.”
“Now you want to warn me?”
“This isn’t something that directly affects you, but I didn’t want you to be shocked.”
“All right.”
“I’ll be giving Bee and Dee certain permission. I’ve told them they aren’t allowed to do something in front of any Flarvorians who haven’t gone through the cultural ritual.”
“Meaning me.”
“Yes. I’m going to give them specific permission tonight, and it is very likely they will immediately and very obviously attempt to seduce Claary and Rishia. They are also likely to be successful. They may do it openly. I didn’t want you to be shocked.”
“They’re going to have sex right in front of us?”
“No, but they can be extremely forward when given permission.”
“I want to be clear. Does ‘given permission’ imply an order?”
“The temporary cancellation of an order, actually,” she said.
“So, they aren’t being forced.”
“No.”
I nodded. “Thank you for warning me.”
“It may not have been necessary,” she said. “But knowing them…” She trailed off and smiled. “Shall we?”
We climbed from the carriage. Everyone else already had, and they were only waiting for us. Holding my hand, Olivia led us to the cluster of other women. Bee and Dee were clutching tightly to an arm of Claary and Rishia, although I again had lost track which sister was which. “Bee,” Olivia said. “Dee. If you wish to play, you may, but before it goes too far, I want you to take your playmates somewhere private.”
Both women began squealing, and then Dee turned to Claary and asked, “Will you play with us, Claary?”
“I can’t say no to you, Dee,” she replied.
“Bee,” Dee said. “Grab Rishia.” Both sisters launched themselves at Rishia, who squeaked but didn’t try very hard to get away. “Claary, help us with her.” The rest of us watched as the four of them, each laughing, headed into the inn, three of them half carrying, half dragging a giggling Rishia. I was pretty sure her struggles were token only.
“Play is a euphemism?”
“Yes,” Olivia said. “It is unlikely we will see any of them again tonight, but quite likely we will hear them.” She smiled. “Jealous?”
I squeezed her hand. “How could I be jealous? I’ve got a duchess wrapped around my finger.”
She laughed. “Well, one of us is wrapped. Come.”
About half our troop headed off to various corners of the inn. Olivia, Lisolte, Kylia, myself, and a few of the other women gathered in a comfortable room. I found myself on the sofa beside Olivia. We cuddled together, which felt very good.
We talked about the play. I didn’t really have more insight, so I grew quiet. When Olivia encouraged me to lie down with my head in her lap, I did. She stroked my hair. It felt good.
Lisolte whispered something to Kylia. The two sto
od, offered their partings, and headed away, holding hands. I watched after them then rolled onto my back and looked up at Olivia. She was watching me with a tender expression.
“Would you like to stay?” she asked.
“If I tell you I’m not sure I’m ready, is it the last time you’re going to ask?”
“No.”
“Good,” I said. “How will I get home.”
“There’s a carriage waiting.”
“And if I had accepted your offer?”
“Then we would have thanked the driver and sent him to bed.”
She helped me up, and I offered general “good night” to the room. Bess also stood and asked, “Lady Olivia, would you like me to escort Allium to her door?”
“Yes, Bess. Thank you.”
“I’ll wait at the carriage.” She stepped past us. Holding hands, Olivia and I walked more sedately. At the front door, she turned me to her.
“Why did Bess make that offer?”
“Because she is a military officer who takes the protection of her charges very seriously. If I go, we would need a significant guard.”
“I don’t need a guard.”
“Perhaps not,” she replied. “I also am guessing she wishes to speak with you. Allium, do you know if Ms. Chrome’s intentions are pure?”
“We’re talking about her event in three nights?” Olivia nodded. “I don’t know. I received assurances she doesn’t kick puppies. Do you know what I mean?”
“Thank you for helping to watch over Bee and Dee,” she replied.
“I don’t know her. She wanted a bribe to meet you.”
Olivia snorted. “What did you promise her?”
“That she could tell you what she thought of you.”
“And yet, she didn’t.”
“She may hope for greater opportunity. Or she may be revising her opinion, especially if she wonders whether your invitation to Charth is serious. I’m sorry, Olivia. I don’t know her any better than you do. Furthermore, she is an accomplished actress. I do not know if that means she is only capable of reading someone else’s lines, but I imagine if she wishes to set forth a particular impression, she is quite capable of fooling me.”
“Don’t worry about it, then. She may not actually contact us. If she does, I’ll decide then if we’re going to attend. I nearly invited her here with us tonight, but I wanted to be free to focus on you, and I didn’t want my attentions divided. If we go, I will pick your escort. If Bess asks you, suggest she choose another night.”
“You assume I’ll go with you.”
She smiled. “You can’t help yourself.” She moved closer and lifted her hand to my face. “I believe saying ‘no’ to me is growing increasingly difficult for you.”
I stared into her eyes then smiled. “I said ‘no’ five minutes ago.”
“No. You said, ‘not yet’. If I had wanted, I could have elicited a different answer, but I want to let you grow more accustomed to the inevitability.”
I laughed. “Cocky much?”
“Yes,” she said. “I am.” Then she drew me in for a kiss, coupled with a deep, deep embrace. I felt myself melt into her arms, and it was a wonderful kiss.
Afterwards, I held her tightly and whispered, “Part of me wants to change my mind.”
“Did you want further nudging in that direction?”
“No. I want to know you’re going to ask again.”
“Count on it, Allium.”
“Good.”
* * * *
Bess was waiting beside a coach. She handed me in then called out to the driver. We looked at each other for a minute or two before Bess asked, “Are you still afraid of me?”
“No, Bess.”
“Good. I would never hurt you. I want to talk to you about something.”
“All right.”
“I know that Olivia is helping you to get to know possible guides for when you come to Charth.”
“Yes.”
“The, um, the custom is the sort that can be revisited over and over. Each time, you choose a guide. How you choose can be simple or elaborate. Then there is a sort of opening ritual. Do you see?”
“Sure,” I said, not sure what she was getting to.
“That first ritual is done one way for your first time and done a different way for your second. After that, there are variations, but it follows the pattern of the second more than the first.”
“Okay.”
“The queen has declared any foreigners who wish to do business inside Ressaline will experience this custom at least once. There is no further obligation beyond that. It is optional if you wish to practice it again.”
“Kylia and Rishia said they look forward to the opportunity. Does that mean they stay in Charth for two months at a time?”
“Not necessarily. The custom only requires a two-month duration, or possibly even longer, the first time.”
“Ah.”
“So. I am not a particularly good guide for someone during her first experience.” And finally, I thought we might be getting to the point of the entire conversation. “Or her second.”
“And?”
“But I enjoy being a guide for someone after that. All that is a way to say two things. The first is this: I am not offering to be your guide the first time you do this. There are far better choices. If you decide you agree with Kylia and Rishia, and you invite me in the future, I would very much enjoy it.”
“Thank you.”
“In the meantime,” she continued. “If you are amenable, I would enjoy if we could get to know each other better.”
“And everything else you said was a prelude?”
“I wished clarity. I don’t want to confuse you regarding Lady Olivia’s plans for you.”
“This getting to know each other wouldn’t be contrary to her plans, but outside them.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for being as clear as you could,” I told her. “I would enjoy getting to know you.”
“Excellent,” she said brightly. “To that end, would it be possible to call on you for the noon meal tomorrow?”
“Could I propose an alternative?”
“Of course.”
“I find myself in need to update my wardrobe. I intend to work through lunch tomorrow and then leave work even earlier than I have been. So, you could call on me the day after tomorrow for the noon meal, or you could join me when I go shopping.”
She smiled broadly. “I would love to go shopping with you.”
“If you come to the Ministry of Transportation at two hours past noon, the shops I intend to visit are within walking distance.”
“I’ll be there.”
Chapter Six
I looked up at a knock on my door. A smiling Bess was framed. I found myself smiling and invited her in. “They said I could come back,” she said in greeting.
I stepped to her and kissed her cheek. She seemed surprised, but said nothing. “We have no secrets here,” I told her. “That is two ministries over.”
“I don’t actually know what you do here.”
“This is the Ministry of Transportation. I am one of the engineers responsible for infrastructure. That primarily means bridges and roads.”
“Okay, but I don’t see any roads on your desk.”
I laughed. “Collating reports so that we can prioritize projects. Staff planning. Resource planning. Cost planning. Reviewing the history of some projects so we can detect trends. It never ends.”
“I suppose not.”
“Well, I’m ready to go.”
* * * *
We talked easily as we walked. I told her a little about the area we were in. She talked about Ressaline City. “When was the last time you were back?”
“Eight years ago. My home is Charth now.”
“What about your family, your parents?”
“My mother,” she said. “We write. Mother…Well, she isn’t a sentimental woman. I don’t really know how I came out the way I did. I s
hould be…” She trailed off.
“Cold?”
“Brusque, anyway.”
“You don’t seem brusque.”
“I think I’m trying to be as different from her as I can while also being proud of who I am.”
“Ah.”
“Don’t get me wrong: I do love her. But she could easily visit me, and she’s never even responded to my suggestions, not even enough to say, ‘it’s not the time’.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
She shrugged. “I have very good friends. I have an excellent life. I’ve had my share of hurts, and I’ve done my share of hurting, but it’s never been intentional, and so there are no people who hate me, and many who respect or like me.”
“That part is good, then. What about during the war?”
“It wasn’t much of a war,” she said. “A series of skirmishes. We won far more through guile than strength, but you understand I can’t talk about details.”
“Of course.”
“I have no nightmares for anything I did or saw,” she continued. “You understand: at the time, I was fighting an enemy of my country. I didn’t know any of those people. I wasn’t friends with any of them. It was easy to be professional. Cold, I suppose. I didn’t have to kill anyone, so that helps.”
“Well, here we are,” I said with a gesture.
* * * *
We had a nice afternoon together. I decided I liked Bess, and later, I told her that.
“I like you, too, Allium. I don’t know how free your schedule will prove to be, but I’m glad we had at least this much time.”
“I am, too.” We hugged briefly, and then she held my door for me as I stepped into my home.
I had intended to buy two new cocktail dresses; Bess had talked me into four. I eyed my choices, narrowing things down to teal with heels or black with a pair of boots. I really wanted to wear the boots, but they’d seen me in black already, and so I settled on the teal.
I had ample time to dress and primp before there was a knock at my door.
Lisolte looked… I smiled. “Wow.”
She returned my smile then stepped forward, collecting my hands and offering a kiss to my cheek. “You look divine.”
“Thank you,” I said.
She offered her arm. “I’m still growing accustomed to the styles here. We could never wear something like this in Ressaline.”