Page 43 of Courting the Tiger King

“Unless you’re paying me in coppers, this bag is much too heavy for the fee we agreed.”

Honestly, Neah would have paid thrice just to see the look on Sonnet’s face when she realised Neah was getting her a new dress and Zennon’s reaction to the admittedly beautiful red-headed woman. But more than that, she had a good feelingabout Romi, especially if her mother’s opinion was anything to go off. “Half now, half later when you deliver the dresses.”

Romi’s eyes widened. “That’s—No, it’s too much, Lady.”

“Neah,” she corrected. “And you’re starting a business from scratch, talent should always be invested in—plus, if you’re as good as I think you are then I want to snap you up early so that all my outfits can have pockets.” Neah grinned and pressed the bag firmly into Romi’s hands when she attempted to hand it back. “Don’t you have dresses to make?”

The risk might have been minimal, but Neah wasn’t ready to sit with half the court at the feast after a poisoning attempt less than forty-eight hours ago. So, instead, they had dinner sent to Neah’s room where she carefully sniffed at it and then passed it to Sonnet to test magically. Only when they determined it was safe to eat did they dive in.

They were still waiting on Romi to arrive with their dresses, which was a good thing because it allowed some time for the enormous amount of food they’d indulged in to digest before they were stuffed into a corset.

Zennon was mid-stretch when the knock at the door came and Neah snickered when her sister began smoothing down her hair.

Romi strode in, her assistants each carrying a garment bag, and Neah found that she was actually excited to see what the seamstress had dreamed up for each of them. Each assistant approached one of them, helping them out of their night dresses and into three resplendent gowns.

“Wait, don’t we need a corset?” Neah raised a brow and was confused when Romi laughed.

“Only if you want one. The boning is built in for some shaping, but I prefer to let my curves breathe.”

Zennon looked like she was about to choke at the mention of Romi’s curves, but Neah just ran an eye over the seamstress’ dress and nodded. It was the same one that she’d been wearing earlier and it worked with the swell of her hips, the softness of her belly, and full chest.

Romi insisted they close their eyes while they put their dresses on, so as not to ruin the effect supposedly, but Neah was the only one who didn’t cooperate. She was sure Romi and her assistants weren’t assassins in disguise, but one couldn’t be too careful.

Still, Neah dutifully attempted to keep her eyes averted from the dress as she stepped into it and was baffled by the lack of fastening. Instead, the material draped along her slim form, pooling across and over her breasts in a wide scoop that gave the illusion that more skin was on show than was reality. What shocked her more, though, was that it was absolutely weightless. If she hadn’t felt the material when she’d slipped it on, she might have thought she was naked.

Gasps rang out and Neah immediately looked to Zennon and Sonnet, relieved that they were okay and instead found them admiring the dresses they’d been given. Though, dresses felt a little trivial—these gowns were works of art.

Zennon’s was a blue so dark it was nearly black, the skirt full without being puffy, flaring out over her hips, and the top was a sweetheart framed corset in a contrasting gold that brought out the warmth in her eyes. She was stunning and, when Neah told her so, she beamed.

Sonnet did a twirl of her own, as if to saywhat about me?

Neah laughed and catcalled the witch, her dress only moderately more scandalous than Neah’s. The material was a pale pink dusted with a silvery overlay that was nearlytranslucent. The neckline slashed across the tops of Sonnet’s collarbones and rested on her shoulders, long strands of the material fluttering down against her bare back where the dress ebbed and came back together at the base of her spine.

They were stunning, and Neah was very glad she’d taken her mother’s recommendation.

“Skye’s going to swallow his tongue,” Sonnet said, laughing, and Zen grinned. “Thank you, Romi. This is the loveliest thing I’ve ever owned. And thank you, Neah.”

“Anytime,” she said, and meant it.

They’d waited to do their hair and make-up until they saw the dresses, so they put the finishing touches in place and allowed Romi to do a few last minute tweaks before she nodded and declared them ready.

“Aren’t you coming too?” Zennon asked Romi after Neah paid her more coin while ignoring her protests.

The seamstress’ smile was a touch bitter as she shook her head. “I’m no one. People like me don’t get invited to balls with the king.”

Zennon lifted her chin, jaw straining, and Neah knew her sister’s stubborn streak had reared its head. “They do now.” She held out her hand and, hesitantly, like she expected it to be ripped away at the last second, Romi took it. “You too,” Zennon added, nodding at the assistants who seemed surprised to be included. “I mean, if you want. It’s not mandatory.”

They smiled and trailed them as Neah ushered everyone out of the door. It was time to dance.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

WREN

Wren was… antsy. It wasn’t a feeling he was particularly accustomed to, especially because of a woman. Even one as exceptional as Neah.

“Do you think they’re okay?” he asked Gabe for the tenth time and his friend grimaced as he surveyed the dancers twirling elegantly around the dance floor.

“Yes.”

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