At the very least, I would be able to hear Alys’s opinionated thoughts on the gown before it debuted. My thought process was that I'd rather be nervous and upset about whatever remarks may come out of my sister’s mouth now, than on the night of the ball. That was a lesson I learned the hard way.
Alys and I might currently have a truce when it came to barbed comments and backhanded compliments, but that wasn’t guaranteed to last.
After almost an hour, I thought that Poppy and Cormac looked to be almost done with their alterations. They were working together to put the dress back together the right way when Alys swept through the door.
I have no idea how she always managed to enter a room at the best possible time, but it was one of the skills that I had always admired about my sister.
Alys was wearing a beautiful plush crimson gown today, with a ridiculously wide train that barely fit through the door behind her. I had to admit that it looked wonderful on her, fitting tightly to her ample curves in a way that still looked comfortable. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy, knowing that I would never look that good in the same gown.
A similar look of jealousy crossed Alys’s face when she looked at the chainmail gown on the mannequin. Her eyes widened so far that I worried they’d fall out of her head.
“Oh my god, this is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen,” Alys squealed. “This is just stunning, Gen!”
I couldn’t stop a grin from spreading across my face.
“You should see it on her,” Poppy chimed in. “She makes it work even better than I imagined it.”
Alys kept circling Poppy and Cormac as they worked, seeing the gown from all the possible angles.
“Oh, it’s lovely. Just wait until Avery sees you in it!”
“Avery, eh? Have you got a beau, Genevieve?” Cormac asked around a mouthful of chain links. Poppy had gone quiet, apparently focusing on the work in their hands. Alys looked taken aback at the familiar tone that Cormac used with me and downright shocked when I laughed.
“He’s hardly a beau, you old gossip. He’s the King’s son, and that doesn’t leave this room.”
“Aye, aye. Would ye like him to be your beau, though? That’s an ambitious match, even for the heiress of the house of Teagan.”
“And yet, it’s a perfect one. Duke Avery’s a wonderful man,” Alys said. “Plus, he and Genevieve would make such a great pair!”
“I don’t believe I’ve met the Duke…” the blacksmith mused. “How about you, Pop?”
“I’ve never had the pleasure,” Poppy said formally, diving back into the seam they were taking in on the bodice.
I caught Cormac’s eye, confused by their sudden distance from the conversation. He shook his head and changed the subject.
“What brings you to this fitting, Lady Alys? I wasn't expecting to see you today.”
At that comment, Alys took a closer look at the blacksmith sitting on the floor.
“You remember Cormac, don’t you, Alys? From Teagan?” I prompted. Recognition lit her face up.
“Ah, of course!” she declared. “I didn’t even recognize you! Not that I was expecting to see you, of course.”
I grinned at the two of them.
“Surprise!”
“What were you expecting, if not me, my lady?” Cormac asked with a gentlemanly smile.
“I was expecting to just find our fabulous tailor finishing up the gown after the final fitting.”
That was my cue.
“Alys has a request for you, Poppy.”
Poppy looked up, joining the conversation intentionally for the first time since Alys had arrived. They took the spare needle out from between their teeth, stashed it in the fold of their sleeve and smiled genuinely.
“How can I help you, dearie?”
Alys turned shy suddenly, staring intently at the floor where she was grinding the toe of her slipper. I rolled my eyes, which of course Alys saw. With a deep breath, the words tumbled out.
“Um, I was hoping… wondering really, if you had any time to take on an additional gown for the ball?”
Poppy raised their thick eyebrows at the request.
“Left it a bit late, haven’t you?”
Alys’s face turned pink, and she nodded, still not meeting Poppy’s gaze.
“Let me finish up your sister’s gown, and then we can sit and see what I can do for you,” Poppy said. “It shouldn’t be more than half an hour before we’re done here. Right Cormac?”
The blacksmith nodded, continuing with his work. I cleared a spot on the couch for my sister, sliding my bare feet under her behind where she sat.
Alys slid onto the open-sided couch much more gracefully than her query had been, looked at me and stuck out her tongue. The childlike gesture drew a laugh from both of the craftspeople on the floor, and a smile from me. Gesturing to the messy stack of books beside her, I silently offered them to her. She peered at the stack and pulled one from the middle. After all these years, I was almost convinced that part of Alys’s magic was keeping everything balanced, because the books did not collapse onto one another like I was sure they would have if I’d tried.
The room fell into companionable silence, the four of us each at our own tasks. The quiet was only broken by Poppy humming lightly to themself, and Cormac getting their attention to hand them the pieces of mail as he finished them.
The tailor rose from the floor slowly after a while, circling the gown repeatedly where it hung on the mannequin. I got a little dizzy watching them before they clapped their hands together.
“Yes, I think this will do nicely. Ser, I’ve left it a chain looser than I normally would have, which ought to give you a little more freedom of movement. Would you like to try it on one more time before I tend to the Lady?”
“Oh heavens no. I trust the changes you’ve made here, and I wouldn’t want to take up any more of your day. You’ve been here for ages!”
Poppy nodded with a pleased smile. Alys took advantage of this to slide between us, brandishing a rough-edged piece of paper at the tailor.
“The gown I’d like to commission is not a particularly difficult one, if you'd like to take a look?”
I took that as my cue to leave and began unlacing the back of the gown from the mannequin. I jumped when Cormac knelt next to me, lifting the gown from the bottom.
“Let me help you carry this, Genevieve. It’s quite unwieldy when it’s not on a frame.”
“You know I can handle it, Cormac. I could lift you if I needed to.”
“Aye, you could try!” He laughed. Neither Poppy nor Alys spared us a glance.
“You’re welcome to accompany me, at any rate. I’d be glad for the company.”
He smiled gently, and gestured for me to lift the gown from where he had it bunched at the mannequin’s waist. I did so, fixing my grasp so that I could lift the extremely heavy garment without injuring myself. I placed my arms over his, allowing him to pull away, but he didn’t. Instead, he kept his hands at the ready in case I dropped it.
Behind us, I could hear Alys and Poppy talking animatedly and quietly about the gown she wanted.
“Would you care to assist me, Cormac? I’ll need help getting the doors opened with this in my hands as I make my way to the Knight Commander’s office.”
He stepped around me to do just that.
“With pleasure, my lady.”
* * *
AVERY
I had finally settled into a peaceful spot in the back corner of the palace library, ensconced in a plush armchair with a novel in my hand. Everything was perfect, until a tentative voice broke into the near silence.
“Excuse me, Duke Avery?”
I looked up to see a servant dressed in the simple black and white palace uniform looking down at me. Bright blue eyes looked at me from under nearly white blonde fringe with a polite smile on their lips. Their hair was tied back with a mulberry ribbon that made me think of Genevieve.
“Yes, how can I help y
ou…?” I waited for them to tell me their name. They didn’t take the bait.
“I was sent to ask you to come to Knight Commander Cedric’s office at your earliest convenience.”
I snapped my book closed with a sigh. The remainder of this novel would have to wait for later.
“I suppose now is as convenient as any other time. Thank you for coming to fetch me. I appreciate it.”
They dipped into a bow and walked away. Pulling myself up from the chair, I wondered what could have cousin Cedric summoning me right now. He had taught me to fight many years ago, but with less than two weeks till the ball and with a bevy of pages and squires under his command, he had to have his hands full. Nevertheless, I made my way out of the library and up the two flights of stairs that would bring me to his office. I crossed paths with several of the older knights, though they didn’t acknowledge me, and several servants I recognized from the kitchens.
Knocking lightly on the door, I didn’t wait to enter. I immediately regretted that choice. A familiar form twirled in a gown that looked to be made of a combination of silk, leather and …chainmail?
“Duke Avery! What are you doing here?”
The shock was clear on her face, which was almost the same deep blue color as her gown by now. I knew my cheeks would be a similar color. She was stunning. I turned around quickly, trying to hide the blush on my face. Genevieve and I hadn’t seen each other since I’d returned from Wolvington.
“Oh my gods, I’m so sorry Ser Genevieve,” I spluttered. “I’m sorry, Knight Commander. I didn’t realize you were busy.”
Knight Commander Cedric looked confused.
“Come in boy, it’s not like she’s naked in here. Now why are you here?”
“One of the servants mentioned that you wanted to see me?”
Cedric’s look of confusion deepened, making the wrinkles in his face look permanently carved into his stone-like face.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, my good Duke. Do you know the servant?”
I felt my face pucker in confusion, matching my cousins much older expression. Genevieve’s face reddened even more, but I had no idea why.
“I vaguely recognized them, but I couldn’t tell you a name. They were about yay high, very pale with white blonde hair and wearing a palace uniform?” I gestured to my shoulder.
Genevieve’s expression clouded, her face growing stormier by the minute.
“Were they wearing a mulberry ribbon in their hair?”
“Why, yes, they were!” I cried, happy that someone knew who I was talking about. She covered her face with her tan, callused hands.
“I suspect that would be my maidservant Juniper, sirs. They have quite the mind of their own,” her voice trailed off.
“Juniper, you say? Well, that would explain it,” Cedric said, his voice gravelly with amusement. Petra had been rather famous for her pranks before Genevieve had hired her away. “I see that she hasn’t lost her touch since she left the palace.”
“No, ser,” Genevieve said, laughing nervously before regaining a little bit of confidence. “Nor would I want them to.”
“Indeed.”
I was still confused, but I felt like my face was a normal color again, which was a relief.
“Right, so does anyone know why I’m here, exactly?” I asked.
“Well, I was about to duel with our knight here, to test out this… something of a dress for the prince’s ball. But since you’re here, would you like to do the honors?”
My mouth fell open. Glancing at Genevieve, I saw her expression mirrored my own.
“Knight Commander, I am hardly a warrior of Ser Genevieve’s caliber,” I protested. “I’m hardly qualified-”
Cedric silenced me with a wave of his hand.
“Nonsense, my boy. You are perfectly capable of helping her with this test. I would know! I trained you myself, did I not?”
That was true, but I still hesitated. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, which was sure to happen if I dueled Genevieve. Glancing at Cedric’s determined expression, I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders.
“I’ll do whatever you require, my lord, as long as it is acceptable to our knight.”
Genevieve snapped her mouth shut as both Cedric and I turned to her where she stood in the center of the room. A blush flooded across her face again, spreading through what I could see of her chest.
“What weapons shall we use, then?” she asked.
“How about the short swords?” the Knight Commander mused. “Those are more useful in close combat like you’re likely to find if someone comes after Prince Julian.”
He whirled to me, looked me up and down and nodded.
“Well, that’s settled then,” Cedric said with a cheerful clap. “Let’s get you suited up, my boy! We’ll meet you at the practice grounds in half an hour, shall we?”
“Yes, ser.” I bowed to the Knight Commander and repeated the motion to Genevieve. Without speaking further, I walked out of the Knight Commander’s study. Pausing to pull myself together, I was surprised to hear the two knights speak again.
“Well, this ought to be a good way for you two to get to know each other, now won’t it?”
There was a note of amusement in the older man’s voice. I pressed my ear to the door, wanting to hear more. Genevieve spluttered and Cedric laughed.
“What are you talking about?” she asked the man who had been in charge of her training for over a decade.
“What, did you think that I was actually surprised by Juniper sending in the lord Duke? Come now, my girl. My acting skills aren’t that good.”
It was then that I realized that I had been played.
“Oh my gods,” I muttered. “I’m going to get my royal behind kicked just to get to know a pretty lady, aren’t I?”
That was exactly what would happen, but I didn’t regret the opportunity one bit.
* * *
GENEVIEVE
I could not believe Juniper’s nerve. And yet, I was more surprised that my mother had gotten the Knight Commander involved in the scheme to force us together at every opportunity. He’d arrived back in the capital only yesterday.
Now I stood in my ball gown in the red brown dirt of the training ring in the castle courtyard, shifting my weight from foot to foot as I got used to the weight of it on my body.
Avery leaped over the simple wooden fence with ease, having changed into a simple long-sleeved linen tunic and trousers. He walked as if he belonged in the ring as much as I did. A servant I didn’t recognize handed him a simple leather vest that would protect him from any body blows I managed to land on him during the duel. He shrugged it on and the servant handed him a pair of palace issue rapiers. I hoped that that was a good sign. As he'd said, he wasn't as practiced a warrior as I am, no matter how well Knight Commander Cedric had trained him. And I knew that he would be trained well if Cedric had been in charge of him, even if he did prefer to spend his days working in the library or using his glamour magic to help heal warriors. This meant that he was likely to be out of practice - something that I was not.
I watched his glance sweep around the ring, checking for hills and valleys in the packed dirt beneath our feet, or weak points in the fence that encircled us. He wouldn’t find anything, I knew. I had done the same check on my arrival.
“Are you prepared for battle?”
Knight Commander Cedric’s voice rang out. We both turned to where he perched on the sturdy, waist-height wooden fence. It was a familiar sight to all in the palace who had seen him cast his eagle eyes over the pages and squires in his care.
Avery grinned at the man, showing off his gleaming smile, before turning back to me. I couldn’t help but hope that the feelings that were burgeoning in my chest wouldn’t cause me to lose the ability to fight in the gown I already loved. Pages, squires and my fellow knights had gathered around the outside of the fence. I spotted my friend and former knight master Ser Raoul in the crowd, and knew that t
hey would be taking bets on who would win. I only hoped I wouldn’t disappoint them, and myself. A deep breath worked to steady me.
“Ready, Knight Commander!” I called, raising my right hand and sword.
Avery raised his left hand and blade to echo my call. I was intrigued to note that that his left hand was his dominant hand, filing it away for reference later, and stepped toward the dueling lines.
“Take your places! This’ll be a clean fight, with wrapped swords.”
Two of the squires hopped over the fence with lengths of linen that would be perfect to ensure there were no unsightly gashes made during this duel. They would not, however, make the strike of the blades any less powerful. I didn’t recognize either of the squires, but Avery thanked the one helping him with a kind smile that made my heart flutter. He really was one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen. The fact that he was kind to everyone he came into contact with only enhanced my attraction to him. Without saying a word to each other, we wrapped our blades and got into position. The dueling lines were marked with flat stones carved deeply into the packed dirt floor of the ring with about a foot of space between them.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked, too low for any of the others around us to hear. The bystanders were chattering around the edges of the fence, waiting for the duel to start. Avery offered me a crooked smile and a small shrug that made my pulse race.
“I do as my Knight Commander commands. Plus, we can all use the exercise, can’t we?”
“I suppose so,” I said dubiously. “Are you ready?”
He squared his shoulders.
“Ready as I’ll ever be!”
“This is an exhibition, so show off your skills, you two. First one to strike flesh or to knock the other’s blade to the ground wins. Let the duel commence!” Knight Commander Cedric punctuated the roar with an ear-piercing whistle.
We began to circle each other in the ring, getting a feel for the other’s movements and body language. We were relatively evenly matched, as far as our physical builds went. They were similar heights, though I suspected that I was more muscular. I allowed my gaze to linger for just a moment on the way his biceps bulged with his grip on the rapiers. Pulling my gaze back to his weapons, his first thrust came from the right.
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