“Like you would have listened to me.”
Her sister had a point there.
Heartbreak was a risk in any relationship. Their mother got no points for that prognostication. Thelove triangleprediction seemed a little eerie—but she still gave her mother’s ESP no credence.
“If, at the end of a year, he decides to marry Alia for the good of the kingdom, then so be it. I knew when I married him it wasn’t going to be forever—that’s why I went through with it. Because there was an escape clause.”
* * * *
Upon returning to her apartment midafternoon, Lewen met her at the door. “Your clothing has been delivered to your bedchamber, Ms. Kismet.” She’d tried to get the butler to call her by her first name, but he insisted on formality, so they compromised.
“Thank you, Lewen.” She hurried to her bedroom, eager to see the ball gown. She’d expected to see the dress draped across the bed, but it wasn’t, so she flung open the wardrobe doors.
“Oh, my god!” Clothing in every color for every occasion filled the closet. She’d been expecting one formal and a few other outfits for informal events—not an entire boutique of high-end alien designer couture. As for ball gowns, there were a dozen of those!
I won’t be here long enough to wear all of this.The extravagance stirred her guilt, but it warred with excitement. What girl didn’t appreciate beautiful new clothes? She would never be a true princess, but she could dress like one. She reminded herself she’d been transported to a different realm, planet, and way of life.
She grabbed her MCD and contacted her sister. “Come to my apartment, now! You have to see this!”
“What is it?”
“My ball gown came,” she said simply, not wishing to dilute the impact when her sister saw her closet.
“Ooh, yeah. Is it beautiful?”
“You have no idea!” Neither did she. She had no idea which of the formal gowns had been intended for the upcoming ball. She hadn’t examined them closely, but they were all beautiful.
“Be there in a flash. Assuming I don’t get lost,” Karma said.
She chuckled. The distance between their residences was a bit of a hike, and her sister had a poor sense of direction. Kismet had navigated their explorations of the palace. “Watch for the waterfall,” she said. There was a courtyard with a huge fountain midway between their residences. “If you’re not here in half an hour, I’ll send out a search party,” she joked.
“I’m on my way!”
Kismet dove into the closet, eager to see what she had.This is like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one.
The lavish overindulgence still bothered her middle-class frugality, but not enough to dampen her excitement. When her sister got here, they could play dress-up. There were enough clothes for both of them—and five other women. Karma had different tastes, but she would find something appealing.
She examined the breathtaking gowns first. A few had billowy skirts; others were sleek and slender. Some off the shoulder, others with full-length sleeves. Silk—did Kaldor have silkworms?—fabrics with net overlays seeded with crystals and jewels.
And the day wear, while much simpler, was just as luxurious.
Compared to these clothes, her own outfits appeared cheap. She squirmed at the sight of the blue dress she’d worn to the museum, cleaned, and rehung. Jaryk hadn’t said the dress was nice—only that thecolorwas appropriate.No wonder he had clothes made for me.
I’ll wear one of the new outfits tonight at dinner—assuming he comes home.
She eyed a simple rose sheath dress.Or maybe this?She selected a lavender tunic with matching pantaloons. Deep in her closet, surrounded by clothes, she heard the butler speaking but couldn’t quite make out the words.
“What?” she yelled.
“Ms. Kismet? You—Maj…visitor.”
Karma didn’t get lost after all.
“Send her in, please, Lewen.”
“In yourbedchamber…”
“Yes!”
