Page 26 of A Rose Among Snakes

I rolled my eyes and sighed. Raking my fingers through her curls and pinning them behind her head in a loose style.

“Are you almost finished? I’m starving.” Kezara reached her hand up to touch her hair and I swatted her away.

“Don’t rush me,” I chastised. “You should have had more of your supper and less wine.”

“I wasn’t hungry then.”

Her gaze dropped to her lap, and I pinned another curl as I asked, “How are you feeling?”

Kezara’s shoulders raised with an exaggerated inhale as she met my eyes in the mirror and beamed. “Perfect! The sun is shining and I’m ready for a new dress.”

I raised a disbelieving eyebrow and held her stare. Hers only faltered when I snagged a knot with my fingers.

Still smiling, she said, “I don’t want to dwell on it, Mihrra. So let’s simply enjoy our day.”

I bit my lip, resisting the urge to prod her into honesty, knowing she would open up when she was ready.

With the last pin put in place, we were ready to go downstairs. We ate breakfast separately and then departed the manor to head to a dress shop in town.

As Milner helped Kezara out of the carriage, she said, “We’ll be here all day, Milner, so there’s no need to wait around. Please return by seven o’clock this evening, though.”

“Certainly, Ms. Blaise,” he replied as he helped me down to the ground next.

The dinging of a bell signaled our arrival as Kezara waltzed into the dress shop. An elderly woman, the shopkeeper, toddled out from behind a counter to greet us. She gripped a cane with one bony hand and with the other, she clutched the black, knitted shawl draped around her hunched shoulders. White hair sat piled atop her head in a neat twist.

“Hello, Ms. Blaise. It’s wonderful to see you.” Her voice was as frail as her appearance, but her smile was warm as she asked, “How may I help you today?”

Kezara greeted the shopkeeper with a kiss on each cheek. “Hello, Mrs. Drusen, it’s wonderful to see you, as well. This is Mihrra, and we are both in need of a new gown for the ball next week.”

“How exciting, I did hear a rumor about that. An engagement for the prince, what a thrill! Have they announced who the lucky lady is?”

Kezara tossed a curl out of her face and sniffed. “No, I haven’t heard.”

Mrs. Drusen clapped her hands together and said, “Enough gossip—do you know what you are looking for?”

Kezara strolled around the room, scrutinizing the sample dresses presented on mannequins. She ran her hands along a shelf lined with bolts of fabric. Though I yearned to do the same, I stood in the center with my hands clasped in front of me feeling out of place. Kezara occasionally picked up scraps of fabric, rubbing it between her fingers before putting it back; what exactly she was looking for, I wasn’t sure. Kezara pointed to one of the gowns on display and asked,

“Mihrra, what do you think of this one?”

“It’s beautiful. It would look incredible on you.”

“No, not for me. We’re looking for you first.” She turned to Mrs. Drusen trailing behind her. “Let’s try this one on Mihrra.”

The old woman nodded, and with a strength belying her appearance, she carried the mannequin to a back room down a narrow hallway.

Knots formed in my stomach as I made my way over to Kezara. “I don’t think I can afford this, Kezara. I don’t need a new gown.”

She looked at me with a sparkle in her eye. “What, do we not pay you enough?” She turned back to the shelf and sifted through more fabric.

“Oh, no, I am paid plenty, but I can’t justify this.” I flipped over a tag hanging off a gold gown and widened my eyes.

“Never you mind, I’m paying for it since I’m the one dragging you into this. It’s the least I can do.” Kezara grabbed a bolt of burgundy chiffon and a swatch of black lace and held it up to me, shook her head, and put it back. This continued for several more minutes until she had found plenty of options to hand to Mrs. Drusen.

Once we were in the dressing room, the old woman pulled the corset laces so tight I thought my bones were cracking, but the gown fit perfectly. I wasn’t full-figured, but I had never considered myself skinny either. Now, I hardly recognized the cinched, curvy reflection in the mirror. Mrs. Drusen picked up my trailing skirt and followed me out of the room to where Kezara was still browsing.

“What do you think?” Mrs. Drusen asked in her wavering voice.

Kezara flicked her gaze over me, her jaw dropping. She swept between the shelves and grabbed my hand, lifting my arm to spin me around.

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