Page 29 of A Dress for the Wicked
Last time, I’d panicked. I’d panicked so badly that I’d drowned out the sound of my own voice and made something I wasn’t proud of. I wouldn’t do that again. I pushed myself up off Sophie’s bed, letting the decisive action drive me, and I walked around to my side of the chamber.
I’d been so preoccupied with Sophie and Mr. Taylor and the new challenge that I hadn’t noticed my part of the room had been transformed. A new wardrobe had been brought up and its doors stood open, a profusion of pink exploding from it. Several white boxes sat neatly next to it, their lids removed to reveal hats, handbags, and gloves nestled on delicate tissue paper. “What’s all this?”
“I think it’s for you.” Sophie surveyed the items. “Francesco said it’s your press attire. He left a letter for you on your bed.”
The dresses and accessories were in the softest shades of pink, but it didn’t matter. If they’d been vomit-green, I’d have been less repulsed.
“I should redesign one of these for the challenge,” I muttered. “Honestly, the only time this shade of pink should be used is for baby bonnets.”
Sophie laughed appreciatively as I walked over to my bed, where a large envelope was propped against my pillow.
The sight of the envelope made my stomach twist. I’d written my mother at least four times since arriving, and she should have gotten at least one of the letters by now. A letter could still be on the way—but I hadn’t heard anything from her.
I thrust my thumb under the flap and yanked the letter out, reading it quickly.
Emmaline:
You are scheduled for three interviews tomorrow starting at 12:00 p.m. in the Grand Salon:
Mr. Tristan Grafton for the Eagle at 12:00 p.m.
Mr. Harold Winston for the Avon-upon-Kynt Times at 1:00 p.m.
Ms. Eugenie Walker for the Ladies’ Journal at 2:30 p.m.
Be ready by 11:00 a.m. I will come and approve your appearance. Your press wardrobe has been sent up, and you will notice that the outfits have been labeled for your various events and interviews.
More notes will be sent up, but your points during the interviews will be:
—The Fashion House’s generous decision to admit you as a contestant in the Fashion House Interview
—Your excitement for Madame Jolène’s fall collection
—The tangible ways in which the Fashion House has worked to become more accessible to the middle-class customer
The following day, you have three social functions. More information on those will be sent up later.
Regards & Kisses,
Francesco
Three interviews, lasting from noon to three thirty, and I’d have to start getting ready at ten. Before then, I’d need to study the interview questions. I wouldn’t have any time to look around the Fashion House for items to improve.
“These will take forever,” I said, more to myself than to Sophie.
“What will take forever?”
“I have three interviews tomorrow.”
“Who are they with?”
“The interviews? TheEagle, theAvon-upon-Kynt Times, theLadies’ Journal.” I crawled onto my bed, holding the letter. I lay down, letting the mattress cradle me and the letter drop from my grasp.
“No, who are the different reportersconductingthe interviews?” Sophie asked. I groped for the piece of stationery and found it lying next to me. I held it up in front of my face and squinted at the cursive.
“Mr. Tristan Grafton, Mr. William Harding, and Ms. Eugenie Walker.”
There was a long pause and then Sophie said, “I see.”
