Page 7 of Enchanted Heir
“Why?” She shook her head. “You didn’t wish to be switched to Krew’s Assemblage?”
Now I was the one shaking my head. “No. I did. I just dread the reaction to the switch from the other women.”
She patted my shoulder. “Aiyana will be more insufferable than usual, I’m sure.”
I nodded. “And I don’t think Keir is particularly happy with all of this either.”
“I think he is wise enough to take some responsibility for how this is all playing out.” She shrugged. “Tonight will be the worst, but they will all get used to it. And now that I think about it, it’s shocking something like this hasn’t happened before tonight. They each had to pick their thirty based off of one night with all of you? Seems like there would be a margin of error in that. Or consorts they would both want to get to know.”
She wasn’t wrong.
“Oh, and you’ll have to wait to see your dress until later. It isn’t done yet,” she offered as an afterthought.
“Molly and I aren’t just swapping dresses for this ball?”
She shook her head. “Goodness no. Krew asked for a new one for you.”
“Oh no,” I groaned. “I hadn’t even thought of how this might put the castle seamstresses in a bind.”
She put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, dear. Not your fault. More his than yours, and he told them such. And then paid them handsomely for their time.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure how she knew all this. I supposed Molly and I switching was more of a scandal than the castle had seen in years.
“Go soak,” Silvia commanded. “And then I’m sticking cold spoons to your eyes. If not sending you right back to bed.”
“Fine,” I muttered.
As I lowered myself into water so hot it almost stung, I looked around the bathroom. Krew’s bathroom was just as large, but somehow felt darker than Keir’s. Maybe it was the stone tiling that formed the walls of the shower instead of glass doors. I did not know why he had this enormous tub in here either. I was pretty sure Krew didn’t take the time to do something as relaxing as take a bath. Since I was sleeping in the main bedroom of the wing, in Krew’s bed, I’d have all the access I wanted to this tub.
Well. If I was going to have to be in Krew’s Assemblage at least there were perks.
* * *
Silvia had just takensome sort of mask off my face when the main door opened, and I heard Renna’s laugh. Krew and Renna came in together.
The shame and guilt rose in my throat. They were meant for each other. But to save me, Krew had to pretend to be in love with me now. What was that going to do to this picture-perfect couple before me?
Renna headed for the sitting room closer to the other bedrooms while Krew came our way.
“Silvia,” Krew greeted not unkindly. “Can I steal Jorah from you for a bit? I am having some lunch brought up for the three of us and I’d like to spend some time with Jorah and Renna.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” She gave me a smile of encouragement.
“Go get some lunch for yourself and make sure you drink some water,” I told her as Krew spun to walk away. “You’ve been going non-stop all morning.”
She winked at me. “We do have an important ball tonight, my dear.”
“Which I will look horrible for if you pass out from dehydration on me,” I argued.
She huffed.
I had her and she knew it.
“Fine. I will get some lunch. And a brief break. Have Owen send for me when you are ready.”
With a pat to my shoulder, she was gone.
I slowly left my seat by the large mirror in the bathroom and headed to the second sitting room, Renna and Krew on the couch. Renna was in a day dress, Krew in a muslin shirt and pants. No vest. No jacket. I had never seen him dressed so casually. But then again, I was living in his space now. Maybe casual shirts or no shirts at all were the norm for Krew’s wing.
