“I believe there was a multi-volume set printed a few years ago that was incredibly thorough. Off to the history section we go!”
I held out my hand to her and she took it without a second’s hesitation. Someone else might have blamed the spark on the fact that we were bundled in wool, but I knew better. I ran a bare finger along the books on the cart as I searched for the section I wanted, clucking my tongue lightly as I made note of books I wanted to look at later. I couldn’t allow myself to be distracted so easily or Genevieve would think I had forgotten our purpose. I could feel her eyes on me as I searched, and heard her turn and look in the carts opposite me after a moment.
“Let me know if you find it first,” she told me. “I’ll call you if I do.”
I rounded the cover and spotted the tooled leather cover that I was looking for among a very wide selection of books that my hands itched to get ahold of. I called out to her and waited next to them, perusing the other titles in the section. It was rare for me to buy books for myself that were not magic-related since I had easy access to both the Academy’s library and my mother’s, but I always kept an eye out for texts that would fit well in her collection.
Father had never been particularly interested in the contents of the library, but Mother had made expanding it her life’s work. Wolvington was her home duchy, and she had insisted on bringing me up there, rather than the palace that was also my birthright. I had grown up to love the rolling hills and forests as much as she did, and to have a strong sense of responsibility for everyone who resided within our townships. Safety and an education were the most important things that I could give the people that relied on me, and you couldn’t have true education without a library.
“Now, we’ll want to avoid any translations by Williams or Bossuet, because they’re terrible on several levels,” I informed her. “Starting with the fact that they completely ignore the realities of life in our duchies for those who aren’t nobles.”
Genevieve guffawed. The bright sound echoed off the carts around the two of us. She laughed so loudly and freely that a snort escaped from behind the hand she used to cover her mouth and nose, and I was transfixed. I never would’ve heard anything similar from her younger sister, who tended to be prim and proper at all costs.
After the sound escaped her, a small wrinkle formed between her eyebrows, but a grin from me had it smoothing out just as quickly. I thought I spotted a single dimple on her right cheek and knew that I would do almost anything to see it again. She doubled over in laughter that I couldn’t resist joining her in.
“Well that was a thing that happened,” she said once she regained her composure. She wiped drops of water from her eyes. “That was just so unexpected, especially from a scholar and a duke. Those two are big names from what I remember from my studies.”
“Yeah, and they’re awful human beings. Have you met them?”
The wrinkle reappeared between her eyebrows as she stared at me. When she spoke, her voice was an octave higher than normal, and slightly breathy.
“Met them? Why would I have met two of the most well-known historians in Elisade?”
Oh. Right. As a knight, she would have more important things to do than waste time in King Bayard’s councils.
“I forgot that you wouldn’t have met historians so easily as I would have, not being a politician or a scholar,” I admitted. She raised her eyebrows at me, a smile wide on her face. I caught an uninterrupted glimpse of the dimple on her right cheek. It made my heart ache.
“No, no I’m not. I’m not quite as important as all that in the grand scheme of Elisadean politics. I’m much better at the hacking and slashing in general.”
“And I’m sure you’re wonderful at it, to be on my nephew’s honor guard as a first year knight.”
She ducked her head.
“I’m all right, I guess,” she mumbled. She turned her attention to the shelf of tomes in front of them. “So, what do you think of Welton and Pina?”
“Oh, they’re delightful people. Their histories tend to be pretty inclusive, too, though they tend to be more accurate the further north you go. I’d love to see if they have Brusseau’s collection…”
My eyes glanced over the names on the shelf, from Baxter to Quexada to Valencia, until finally I found what I was looking for.
Grabbing the first volume of the set from the shelf, I brandished it at Genevieve like a dagger.
“Did you know that my mother tried to set me up with Ursula the last time she came to the library at Wolvington?”
She stiffened, then smirked at me. The sunlight from above the carts caught the twinkle in her eye. She was beautiful.
“What, is she a troll or something? Your life must be terrible, being set up with all these women.”
I laughed loudly.
“They aren’t all bad, but I have been on more than my share of dates since my first season. Ursula has a true adoration for the female form, and not into anyone romantically, so I wasn’t quite her type. But we did have a lovely time at the opera together.”
“I see. And how does that affect her history telling skills?”
“Oh it doesn’t. It’s just one of my favorite stories to surprise people with. The third and fourth volume are those that apply most to Teagan and Wolvington, but the full set is really worth buying.”
I turned the book over and nearly choked on the gasp that burst from my chest at the number.
“Well, maybe. How much do you actually like your sister?”
Genevieve laughed, and it felt like my heart was trying to take flight from my chest to join the sound. I couldn’t remember ever enjoying an afternoon with a new person so entirely, and I didn’t want it to end.
GENEVIEVE
I nearly floated out of the carriage later that evening when it arrived at my home. I didn’t even care about the interrogation that was inevitable as soon as I stepped through the doors.
It had been such a good afternoon. We both kept losing track of time, and I had bought many more books than I had originally intended. In my defense, so had Avery.
“Did he seem to be interested in you as a romantic partner?” Mama demanded before I’d even hung up my coat.
“Well, I think it’s a little early for that, don’t you?” I asked, looking to Alys for help. Taking my cue, she stepped into the discussion and allowed me to take off my outerwear.
“I don’t think that he would have invited her to go shopping with him if he hadn’t been interested in her romantically. Not without telling her, anyway.”
It warmed my heart to hear Alys say that. Despite my previously unrequited crush on him, I didn’t know him all that well. Hopefully, I could fix that soon.
“I suppose that you are right. He has never been one to lead anyone on from all the gossip I’ve heard…” Mama tapped a finger on her nose then nodded. “Well, we’ll just have to find new ways to push you two together. I will find out which galas he is scheduled to attend for the rest of the month and which ones we can make work for your schedule.”
I groaned. I knew what that meant. I was going to need more fashionable gowns than what I had, if I was to make a good impression on the court in my role as heir to Teagan as well as a knight. I would soon be headed back to the Merchant’s District, probably with my mother and sister in tow. My much more fashionable family members would certainly find me something beautiful to wear. I could only hope that I would still be able to walk in whatever they decided to put me in.
6
POPPY
I couldn’t keep myself from fidgeting with the flat, rounded collar of my gown with my free hand. My other arm was held straight out in front of me with the heavy gown encased in a burlap sack that would protect it from any road dust we’d encountered on the carriage ride over.
“That has to be heavy holding the dress like that. You’re going to put your arm to sleep, love. Let me hold it for you.”
I blushed at the sound of him calling me “love” but pulled t
he dress away from him.
“Are you saying I can’t hold this gown up? It’s a dress, it isn’t that heavy, Cormac.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Sure, and if it was a normal dress I would never question your strength. But that dress right there weighs more than a good suit of leather armor, and it's taller than you are. I'm just saying that I would be willing to hold onto it while we wait for Ser Genevieve to come fetch us.”
I thought about it before realizing that he was right. I offered him my arm and he took the gown gently.
“You drop it and you die, blacksmith,” I reminded him ominously. “I don’t care how cute you think you are.”
He grinned at me. Carefully, he lifted the gown over his left shoulder, holding the hanger with three fingers. It fell against his back and nearly knocked the wind out of him.
“I underestimated how heavy this would be, even knowing what it’s made out of,” he said with a grimace.
“I’m not taking it back!” I laughed. “You offered your big strong man arms, so now you get to put them to use.”
He chuckled and nodded. We fell into a companionable silence, letting the sounds of the hustle and bustle that came from the servant’s entrance wash over us. I hadn’t been at the palace since I was very young, and it was a very different experience being back at the servant’s quarters. As if sensing I needed a distraction, Cormac asked me a question.
“Is this your first time visiting the palace?”
That was not exactly a distraction. A harsh laugh escaped my mouth while I shook my head. It didn’t sound like me, but I didn’t want to hide this from Cormac.
“I used to live here as a child alongside my mother, but I haven’t been back since she passed.”
He raised both eyebrows at me in shock.
“You lived in the palace? How did I not know that?”
“I didn’t really want anybody to know. Ma was a maid for Queen Amelie before…” I allowed the sentence to trail off, and Cormac understood.
I only nodded. Queen Amelia had been murdered, and through the investigation, it had been revealed that a servant had delivered the fatal poison, though the country eventually learned it was sent from Linbourne. Her bevy of servants had been dismissed, as they were no longer needed.
“She couldn’t work as a lady’s maid after that, so she took up work as a seamstress. I could never bring myself to come back, till now.”
“I didn’t realize. I wouldn’t have made you come back if I’d known, Poppy. Are you sure you’re all right with being here? I can take care of the delivery.”
I smiled up at him through watery eyes. The guilt was plain on his handsome face.
“You cannot take care of the delivery. If there are any alterations to be made, you do not know how to make them in the silk without destroying it, and you know it. But I dearly appreciate the offer. Don’t worry, dear. If it had been a problem, I would have asked Genevieve to come pick up the dress instead. We all have to face our fears sometime. I’m nearly fifty years old. It’s time to face this one, now that I have an opportunity.”
His gaze was fixed on my face, searching for something. I could only guess that he found it.
“I suppose. But if you’re uncomfortable, you can always leave. I’ll make an excuse for you.”
He smiled tentatively at me and I bumped my shoulder against his elbow. He bumped me back gently.
“You two waiting for Ser Genevieve?”
A servant stood in the doorway, watching us expectantly. His arms were crossed over Teagan-colored livery. We both nodded.
“Well, come along then. Can’t keep the knight waiting all day, now can we?”
The servant didn’t wait for a response before turning and walking away. Cormac passed me an amused glance.
“It’s your time to shine, love. You go first.”
I took a deep breath before taking my first steps into the castle for the first time in more than thirty years. Cormac waited for a moment, then followed after me.
GENEVIEVE
A knock sounded on the door, echoing through the medium sized dressing room that mother and I were waiting in.
“Come in!” I called.
It opened to reveal the people we were waiting for, guided by Juniper. The craftspeople were dressed so sharply they would have fit in among the nobles they were there to dress. Poppy and Cormac filed in and looked around the room.
Noticing Mama, Cormac bent at the waist in as deep a bow he could manage in the crowded room. She nodded at him, then gestured for him to rise.
“We’re not standing on ceremony here. I cannot wait to see this creation!”
She stepped out of their way so they could get to the center of the room, where a tailor’s pedestal was set up.
“Well, are you pleased with the results?” I asked the team that stood before me.
They both answered with huge grins and sparkling eyes. This was a good sign.
“Well let’s see it then!” Mama implored.
Cormac turned and presented the burlap bag to Poppy. Without further ado, they unfolded the burlap from the hanger and let it drop to the floor.
“Oh, it’s a masterpiece,” I gasped. I heard Mother mutter something that sounded positive to each other.
Cormac excused himself to wait in the hall while the tailor helped me get into the gown. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a man to be in the room for that. As soon as Poppy had stepped away, I spun a tight circle. The layers of silk and chainmail blossomed around me like a deadly blue and bronze rose. I watched everything in the mirror. I didn’t want to take my eyes off of myself, but had to glance at Poppy, who had kneeled down next to me and was placing pins in the back of the gown.
“It would have been absolutely stunning with a corset in it,” the Duchess said wistfully.
“It may have been stunning, but it would have left me stunned if I’d had to fight in it,” I reminded my mother airily. “Besides, it doesn’t need it. The chainmail does exactly what a corset does, and it’s not like anyone will notice the lack thereof.”
“I suppose,” she sighed dramatically. “It really is beautifully crafted, my dear. You chose your tailor well.”
“Thank you, Mama. I’m glad to hear you approve,” I replied, turning my head away so that Mama wouldn’t see me roll my eyes. It didn’t work.
“Tut tut! A lady does not roll her eyes.”
“Then I guess it's a good thing I'm a knight and a lady - and knights definitely roll their eyes.”
I turned at Poppy’s gentle urging while they worked, just in time to see Mama roll her eyes.
“Aha!” I crowed. “Now who isn’t acting like a lady, Mama?”
She smiled impishly back at me, a glint in her hazel eyes.
“A lady gets to have a little fun every once in a while.”
I could hear Poppy trying to stifle a giggle while they worked. I didn’t bother to hide my own laughter.
“Duchess Vivienne, would it be okay if we brought Cormac in? I need him to take out a few links in the bottom so that I can make it fit properly.”
“Oh, that isn't a problem. Let's get Genevieve into something else so you can work on that gown more quickly.”
Poppy nodded, and the Duchess leapt gracefully from her chair, holding up the simple dressing gown that I had taken off in the first place. Poppy lowered the chainmail gown to my ankles, allowing me to step out of it without issue.
Mama helped me into my gown, then brushed wisps of my brown hair away from my eyes with a soft smile.
Poppy allowed the gown to rest on the floor, straightening their back with a series of pops that had Genevieve grimacing.
“Not to be worried, miss. It happens when you spend your life bent over around other people’s behinds.” Poppy grinned.
Mama let out a giggle that turned into a snort at the tailor’s frankness.
“Poppy, I like you,” she declared. “No matter how this turns out, we’ll definitely be visiting y
ou more often when my family is in town.”
“I look forward to seeing you, my lady.” Poppy curtsied politely. “Would it be all right for Cormac to come in now?”
The duchess waved a hand, realizing she’d gone off topic when they were in a time crunch.
“Oh, of course, of course. We’re all appropriately clothed now.”
Raising their voice, the tailor called the blacksmith in. Cormac had to duck his head to enter the arched doorway without bashing it.
Poppy and I welcomed him with smiles.
“Now, Cormac, it’s been years since I saw you! I won’t take up much of your time, but I would love to visit your forge and catch up once this is done. I’ve got to run and see to everything else for our other children, but I’m so glad you were able to help my Genevieve with this little project of hers.”
I stiffened at having this called a “little project” but Mama didn’t notice.
She swanned out of the room in a cloud of silk and taffeta, leaving the three of us alone together.
“I’d forgotten how strong a presence milady was,” Cormac said. He wiped the back of his hand across his brow to mime wiping sweat off. Poppy laughed.
“Come on now, we haven’t got all day to get this done.”
“You sort of do, actually?” I told them. “I only have to show the Knight Commander and get his approval before the ball, which isn’t until next week.”
“Aye, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to use all that time for alterations. These are minor. We can, and we will, fix it now.”
Poppy was so determined that I didn’t dare argue with them. They both declined an offer of refreshments, but I had nowhere to be, so I settled into the chair in the corner of the room with my book. There was no point getting in their way, at least until Alys arrived.
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