Page 99 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Your Highness.” A slightly older man with salt and pepper hair bowed at the waist before righting himself.

“Sterling!” Rainier beamed at the man, who returned the smile.

“I did not realize you would be back today. You have my apologies for the state of the house. It has only been me, at your insistence, but I have called the others back, and we will have everything ready by nightfall for you.”

“A little dust never hurt anyone, Sterling. It’s no rush. As you said, you didn’t know because I am an irresponsible madman who forgot to send word.” Sterling’s answering smile told me he was used to Rainier’s boyish charm. Rainier turned his stunning smile toward me, and I watched his eyes soften before he turned back to the man waiting at the door.

“Sterling, I’d like you to meet Lady Emmeline Highclere. Emmeline, this is my butler, Sterling Tiller.” I was taken aback when Sterling bowed to me, realizing I’d turned into some sort of heathen, forgetting the niceties of court. I’d need practice before tomorrow. I found myself falling into a curtsy while Sterling gaped at me in horror. Rainier gently cupped my elbow and pulled me out of the curtsy, chuckling as he did it.

“The servants don’t particularly like being bowed and curtsied to, Em.” He turned to Sterling then. “Not that you don’t deserve the same respect and reverence I do, Sterling. I just know you hate it. If he had it his way, I’d be calling him Mr. Tiller.” I felt my skin turn what I knew was a bright shade of red as Sterling nodded his agreement with Rainier.

“I’m so sorry. I’ve been away for a long time. I forget myself.” My vision dropped to the ground.

“It is nothing. A pleasure to meet you, my lady.” Sterling directed his attention back to Rainier. “If you and your guests would like to make yourself scarce for a few hours, sir, I would suggest it. I’ll open all the windows, but I can’t imagine the dust won’t affect you all, especially His Grace.” Rainier chuckled before he replied.

“Noted, Sterling. We will plan accordingly. I have business in the city I must attend to; I’ll bring Dewalt with me.” I started, realizing the person they’d been referring to was Dewalt. The butler gave a shallow bow before walking back into the house.

“I am so embarrassed.” I buried my face into Rainier’s chest, and his arms wrapped around me.

“Don’t be. As you said, you’re out of practice. You can practice your curtsy with Lavenia while you’re in the city.”

“I’m going into the city?” I turned my head so he could hear me but stayed pressed up against his broad chest. He was warm and solid, and I didn’t want to move.

“To Lavenia’s seamstress, remember?”

“Oh, Rain. You don’t have to do that. I’m sure the dress I brought will suffice.”

“Nonsense, I want to.”

Anhourlater,Iwas at a small shop in the city center with Mairin and Lavenia. The store boasted so many different fabrics and colors along its walls I could barely concentrate on what the woman in front of me was saying. The ceilings were tall, and there was fabric shoved into every shelf, every color in the rainbow and a multitude of patterned fabric represented. Eventually, Mairin gripped me by the arm and took me back to the dressing room the woman had been telling me about while I ogled the walls.

“Strip,” Mairin ordered, no small amount of annoyance in her tone.

“Naked?” I knew things were different in Astana, in the city, but when the seamstress visited Ravemont, I always wore a slip or some sort of petticoat, and I hadn't thought to pack one.

“Down to whatever you plan to wear beneath your dresses.” Lavenia walked into the room then, and I turned my back to Mairin, giving her access to the buttons I needed help with. I’d changed into my cotton dress before we left—the time for traveling clothes had passed. If I were to be referred to as a lady and bowed to, I decided to act the part. When I stepped out of the dress, Lavenia took one look at my undergarments and shook her head.

“Gods, you’ve been away too long. You need to lose the stays and shift once we get back.” She tossed me a short satin robe from the back of the door, and I slipped it on before heading back out to the back of the shop. The seamstress squinted up at me when I stood on the dais. I was not tall by any means but still managed to tower over this woman. Her hunched back and jagged teeth recalled a story to me Elora had once read about a crone, one that gave her nightmares. The woman mumbled to herself as she took my measurements, pulling a pencil out from between her teeth to jot down the numbers. When she removed my robe and got to my bust, she shook her head and climbed down, disappearing into a storage room in the back.

I crossed my arms over my chest, standing awkwardly above my friends, completely naked save for my underwear. Though I’d been daring and allowed myself to be naked with Rainier, I wasn’t remotely comfortable standing there with so much of my body on display. About to step down and put my robe back on, I stopped when the woman came fussing back into the room, holding two different garments out to me.

“This is a brassiere. I assume you’ve never seen one?” I shook my head; I had never seen such a thing. “Try these—they should be the right size. They’re more comfortable than stays.” One garment was a dark cream color and plain, while the other was a deeper navy color, covered in lace. I took the cream one from her and went to make my way back to the dressing room, unconvinced I’d be able to figure out how to put it on. The seamstress clucked at me, a scowl on her features.

“Everyone in here has them. Just put it on.” She seemed impatient, but the woman was doing a huge favor by getting at least one dress ready for me by tomorrow, so I obeyed. I made eye contact with Mairin, allowing her to see my discomfort at exposing my breasts. She made a face toward the seamstress, who was bent over digging through a basket of materials, then pulled Lavenia away to inspect some of the fabric lining the walls. I studied the garment in my hand, discerning where certain parts ought to go but had no idea how to fasten it behind my back. I struggled only a moment before the seamstress helped me. The fabric was soft, and I understood the appeal immediately. I caught a glimpse in the mirror and couldn’t help but stare at myself for a moment. The fabric clung to my breasts and helped appealingly support them, and it wasn’t digging into my skin or squeezing me half to death. A definite improvement over stays.

“There you go. You can have both. I have bottoms to match that you can have as well.” The woman went to measure my bust then, making tiny sounds of approval as she did.

“You don’t have to do that!”

“Rainier is footing the bill, Emma. Calm down.” Lavenia laughed at me as she approached, grabbing my old stays from the dressing room and unceremoniously dropping the garment in a bag in the back of the shop. It seemed to be full of discarded remnants intent for repurposing.

“He offered to pay for a few gowns so I’d look appropriate for court, not a whole new wardrobe.”

“Funny, then why did he tell me to help you pick out a whole new wardrobe?” Lavenia didn’t spare me a glance, her eyes on her nails while she picked at them instead. I glared but got no response.

After the measurements had been taken and noted, I went back into the dressing room with Mairin so she could help me button up my dress, where she revealed the seamstress was likely a witch based on her aura. It made sense, and I figured that was how she planned to deliver a gown so quickly. When we left the dressing room, Lavenia was going over a list with the woman, detailing all of the different items Rainier had sent her for. Mairin grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the shop after we waved our quick goodbyes.

“Come, I want to show you something.” She pulled me out into the sun, and I shielded my eyes, giving them a moment to adjust to the bright light. Though the wind was biting, and we were well into autumn, it was a warm day, likely the last of them before spring returned.

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