She nods. “Ring if that changes.”
She helps me into bed, tucking the blankets tight around me. After she leaves, I stare at the window. Why is someone trying to attack the Chancellor? Is it because he's not acting eager to marry me? The kiss was supposed to fix that. I toss and turn, fear chasing away any hint of sleep.
Chapter Twenty
A knock sounds at my door, and Waverly enters, carrying a tray. I leave the window seat to sit at the table.
“Are you all right this morning?” She sets the tray down and pours some chocolate.
There's no sign left of the struggle last night on either of us or the room. Inside myself though, the same couldn't be said. I'm exhausted from jumping at every noise I heard last night. “Shaken.”
“Me, too. If truth be told. I didn't sleep very well after that.”
“Me either. Do you know any more about why it happened?”
“Only what Zade has told me.” She looks at the tray. “Have some chocolate, maybe that'll help.”
I take a biscuit and a cup. “Thank you.”
“No problem. Warm milk soothed me, but I figured this would work better for you.” She fixes a crease in my already made bed. “A note was sent for you. Someone named Katherine will be by to see you this morning.”
“Good, I was hoping to see her soon.”
After I've eaten and dressed, Cynthia enters wearing a dark teal gown with matching metal bracelets and necklace, and helps herself to the last biscuit. Part of me wants to tell her what happened last night. But I don't want to scare her and Chancellor Zade said not to tell anyone.
“I've heard your famous seamstress is going to join us. Is it true?” Cynthia's eyes are bright.
“It is.”
“Oh, goody! Do you know when she's going to arrive?”
“She should be here about now,” Waverly says. “Would you like me to send her in if she is?”
“Please do,” I say.
Waverly leaves and a few minutes later returns with Katherine who's laden with packages. While setting them on the bed, she says, “You're not wearing the dress. Didn't you like it?”
“Come sit,” I say, some of my stress from the previous evening grows lighter at seeing her. “Have some chocolate.”
“Chocolate?” She hurries to get a cup. “Thank you, but is this your way of not talking about the dress? It's fine if you hate it.”
“No, I just remembered you like chocolate. The dress I love. I wore it yesterday. I was just telling my new servant, Waverly, about it.” I gesture to Waverly. “The Chancellor's family sent her to me from Envado. I'm already learning new things from her. She's wonderful.” And she risked her life for mine last night. I motion to my sister. “And this is Cynthia, the eldest of my sisters.”
“Good to meet you both.” Katherine gives them both wide grins.
“I've been anxious to meet you since seeing Serena's engagement gown,” Cynthia says. “It was superb.”
A small smile graces Katherine's mouth. “Thank you.” She turns to me “You liked your new dress then. Good. Did you wear it for the Chancellor?”
For some reason, my cheeks grow warm. “I did.”
She tilts her head closer to me. “And what did he say?”
Waverly and Cynthia also give me their full attention. My cheeks grow warmer. “He said it was nice.”
They smile.
“Good for him,” Waverly says, but her expression is more subdued than usual. Why is she somber? Did she not want my dress to get approved? Does she think it gives me too much freedom? It better not become an issue she convinces Zade about. I like it too much to have her pushing me back into traditional dresses.
“Wonderful,” Katherine replies. “It means the things I brought won't go to waste.”
“What did you bring?” I eye the packages on the bed.
“Work's been a bit slow lately. I had to do something to keep me and my workers busy.” Her face glows, but I can't help but feel guilty. Doesn't she need something she can get paid for?
“Please tell me they aren't all dresses for me.”
Her cheeks grow rosier. “They are. There should be enough that you won't have problems finding something to wear.”
“All the time your workers spent and the materials, I simply can't accept this. You should try to sell them in your shop.”
Katherine frowns and moves to the bed. She opens a package on top. “No tarnished would wear such a thing, and you are my only other customer.”
In the package is a black gown. She holds it up. Another two piece. Embroidered with silver thread, almost too light of a shade to be acceptable, but such a small amount, it will pass. She's right, it's decorated more than anything a tarnished would wear.
“Katherine, it's—” I don't know what to say.
“It's lovely.” Cynthia moves to brush the gown with her fingers. “It matches your hair.”
“That's what I was hoping,” Katherine says.
I press my lips together and reach for one. “May I?”