“These are most certainly Herlinde’s work,” Yanna whispered, fingering the sleeves of a muted green number with a pretty lace shawl whose patterned edges were shaped like snowflakes. “These are her enchanted dresses. Rumor is they transform length and size for the occasion and the wearer.”
“You know about them?” Lilac asked. “About her?”
“Of course we do,” said Isabel, not taking her eyes off the dresses. “Herlinde fashions our masks at the brothel. On occasion, Madame Toranaga has tea with Herlinde at Miss Quillrose’s shop in over in Paimpont. Many of our elite courtesans and their clients shop at The Hemlock Haberdashery.”
“Yes, but none of them haveeverbeen able to afford her arcane garments,” added Yanna. “The price for just one of these is steep. We’ve never even seen one of her arcane gowns, she never has them on display. They cost more than I’ve ever held in my pockets. She must fancy you.”
“She is generous.” Swallowing, Lilac ran her fingers along the sapphire dress. Expensive silk, sweeping gossamer sleeves that sparkled subtly, even in the dim light. This one was without a flared waist, the hem looking like it would waterfall to her toes.
“You must wear one,” Yanna said. “You’d be stupid to let these rot in your closet.”
Piper hadn’t said anything. She watched from the corner of the bed, blinking at the pile of clothes.
“Piper?” Lilac said. “What do you think?”
“I’ve never seen anything so luxurious.” She cradled her arms to herchest, eyeing a deep red dress with frills and a high neck. “Dresses so beautiful.”
Isabel snickered. “If it was your intention to enchant or devastate someone at The Fool's Folly, Your Majesty,” she began, exchanging glances with Yanna, “and that person happens to be here tonight, then I reckon any of these dresses will do the trick.”
These gowns were so beautiful she’d be foolish not to wear one. Lilac agreed upon one condition—that Yanna and Isabel were in attendance with her and Piper at the feast, and that they each pick one of the gowns to go in. The sisters refused at first, panicked at the thought of attending last minute. It would take much too long, they’d argued, and their builds were different than hers and Piper’s.
But it would take no time at all, and Yanna herself had said they’d form to the wearer. Piper had become an expert at wrestling Lilac into her dresses, and Lilac was primped often enough to know how to do it for someone else.
Yanna and Isabel exchanged dubious glances, but in the end, they agreed to at least try them on. They’d been correct about the sizing, after all.
Lilac stepped back and stared into the vanity mirror. Dressed in soft lavender, Isabel was pinning Piper’s long braid into a bun and embellishing it in gold emerald pins that contrasted with the carmine gown she’d chosen. Yanna’s scowl softened as she turned this way and that in the juniper dress that swept her ankles.
In their reflection, Lilac saw four women who suddenly knew each other’s secrets, ready to take on a feast after spending the evening laughing and crying. She was the only one wholookedlike she’d been crying. Her deep sapphire gown with its plunging sweetheart neckline and shimmering long, bell-shaped sleeves that caught every fragment of light would serve as distraction enough.
There was no need to hide her tears from Garin. She’d gladly let him see how distraught she’d been.
Her stomach knotted. Had he truly come to ensure she’d make the right decision? Or had he come because he’d changed his mind and wanted to discuss a Daemon alliance?
Something more?
She watched her cheeks flame in the reflection while Yanna shuffled forward and added the final touches of powder and color upon Lilac’s lips, matting out some of the sweat on her forehead. Just in case, Isabel handed her the salve tin from her pochette, which Lilac promptly tucked into her bosom.
There was no telling what Garin’s intentions were. But tonight, she’d find out.
25
Fortunately, it didn’t sound like the night of formalities Lilac had feared it to be; between Marguerite and Hedwig, it could’ve gone either way. Music and laughter filled the keep, floating up the stairwell as they made their way down. The prayer and speech were either foregone or they’d missed it in the time it took them to get ready and swallow the fit of nerves that overcame them as they approached the stone doors.
Yanna grasped the handle below the gargoyle. “Piper, stop that fidgeting,” she snapped.
Piper forced her hands to her side, off the ribbon that cinched her waist. “Sorry. This is most uncomfortable.”
Thinking of the dozens of times Piper had wrestled and bribed her into dresses in their childhood, Lilac swallowed herI told you soand fixed the choker at her neck, squaring her shoulders.
Isabel beamed, tucking a dark wave behind her ear. “Are you ready, Your Majesty?”
“Hardly. But I shall smile and bear it.” Lilac looked over at Piper, whom she could tell was stifling the urge to tear her corset off. “We all shall.”
With a nod, Yanna and Isabel opened the doors.
Four tables lined the room, two on each side of the dance floor. Foodand drink filled them to the brim, with ample enough space between for seating. Hardly anyone was seated, however.
In the corner to the right of the doors, musicians played on a lute, a couple of drums, and a fine mahogany harpsichord. The dance ended as the quartet concluded their song. Every pair of eyes slowly turned to the doors, but Lilac barely noticed.
