Page 99 of Unrivaled
“When you move in it, it’ll flatten against your body.If that’s something that concerns you...”Ivy let it trail off.I didn’t care.“Best for days when you’re quite busy and then wish to relax.If it was well embroidered, you’d have more leeway with crumpling from sitting.”
“I love it,” I repeated.
More sketches were offered up, sensible adaptions that maintained modesty and allowed room for movement.Shirts with wide belts in the place of bodices.Riding habits with jackets that featured sleeves much like men’s.Collars that would sit comfortably atop a cloak.Not a hoop or bustle in sight.
The last sketch was different from the others.Many different poses were scribbled on the page, sensuous and almost feline.Matilda leapt forward to conceal it while Ivy simultaneously tried to shuffle it under the pile, but I snatched it up too fast for them to hide.
Here was a woman, back bare, the curve of her spine exposed, the muscles in her arms hinted at by quick, sensual strokes on the page.The fabric lingered over her buttocks.Her hair was piled up on her head.One hand was buried in her hair, the other hidden behind her body.Beside her was the front view, fabric barely covering her breasts and leaving her bare from throat to navel.A heavy belt rode low on her waist.Her lips were parted, her expression one of bliss.Other views were of her dancing, her arms held up over her head, curtseying with a wicked grin, made excitement hum in my veins.
She was a kraken.
I still had the bolt of silk I had sitting against the wall in a corner.Ihadmade a promise.
“Apologies, my lady,” Matilda said, reaching for the parchment, her cheeks blazing.“’Twas late, and my mind wandered.That wasn’t supposed to be in the proposal.”
“I want that.”I had the perfect fabric…and the perfect person to wear it with.I let her take back the parchment.“I may never wear it.”Where any of you would see.“But I want it.”I could modify it so I could wear my Matri’sion war-belt with it, too.The thought of the smirk on Elnyta’s lips made anticipation rush through me.“What can I do to have you make it for me?”
They looked at each other.Matilda’s face was on fire, but Ivy had the gleam of a merchant in her eye.
“We want to dress you.Exclusively, we want to dress you, during the faire.You wearourdesigns.”
“Or my old ones,” I said.“But I won’t commission anyone else this year to make me formal wear.”
She shook her head.“You’re not going to find tailors like us, my lady.Dressing will become a source of joy.You’ll have clothes that show your strength and boldness as well as your pragmatism.And everyone who looks at you will know where to go for their wardrobe.”
“I don’t do exclusivity,” I said flatly.“No matter how brilliant you are, I can’t promise I won’t be excited by someone else’s designs.”
“Just the dresses,” Matilda said.“Shirts, skirts, cloaks, pantalets, mantles—get them from others if you must.Let us make the dresses.And if you’d prefer what you’ve already got, all we’d ask is that you tell people it isn’t our work.”
Ivy shot her an irritated look, but the quiet woman’s excitement was reassuring.“Can you dress my friend?”I asked them, waving to Sandra.“She’ll be attending the festivities and needs a wardrobe.”
Sandra’s eyes bugged.She looked at the sensual dress, white as bone.
Ivy slid the first sketch into place, with the modified calvary jacket and simple skirt.Sandra let out a long breath.
“We’d be honored, m’lady,” Ivy said, smiling.I saw the quick, knowing way her eyes skimmed Sandra’s form, and knew she’d be figuring out how to keep the younger woman comfortable.
“Write me up a contract,” I told them.“Three full wardrobes: myself, my handmaid, and my friend.And that dress.Allow clauses for me to provide materials, as I’ve some that would work, and costing for accessories and undergarments if requested.If it’s all or nothing, then price me for all, and I’ll see if it’s feasible.”
I stood, and so did Ivy.“With our experience of Azashi, and having a Stitcher to help expedite the process but requiring magical reagents—” she began.
“You don’t work for free,” I confirmed.“That’s just fine.I’m not agreeing until I’ve seen the cost, but I expect, with such a request, you’ll need to hire on a local or two.”
They exchanged looks once more.I could feel the excitement in that one quick exchange.
“Specifically, I’ve a high-quality silk for this dress,” I told them, leaning over to tap on the parchment Matilda had half-hidden.
She looked at it hungrily.And she should’ve.I was throwing open the doors to my treasury for that.
We all needed a specialty.
Mayhap mine wasn’t being a kraken, but it’d be nice to play pretend occasionally.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
CHAY
You’ve never taken one of their sorcerers alive?Not even my trackers have captured one?Do I need to send you more trackers?A war mage?—in a letter from General Dieudonné, Count of Black Borough to General Victor, Duke of La'Angi
