Chapter 5
FIVE
The room is bustling with the seamstress' staff, and I have to admit to being a bit confused about why she needs so many people with her.
But then again, what do I know? I've never even seen a dress as fine as the one I'm wearing, and that includes the wardrobe that was specially made for me when I got here.
"Lift your arms please, Lady Beatrice," the seamstress asks.
I do, trying not to feel too nervous about the fact I'm being fitted for my wedding dress.
It's nothing like I ever expected to get married in.
People in our village would just put on their fanciest clothes to get married, they wouldn't ever have a brand-new dress created with more lace and beading than they could even imagine.
A small part of me wants to ask if it's really necessary, but I know the answer to that already.
The door opens and I'm surprised to find Lord Fallmartin entering with Bastian behind him.
"Ah, good, you're almost done," Lord Fallmartin says.
I nod. "I believe so. "
"Just the veil still to do, My Lord," the seamstress says. "But we're able to do that without Lady Beatrice."
"Good," he responds. "I'd also like you to make Beatrice a new gown for the All Hallow's Ball, you know the requirements."
"Of course, My Lord." The seamstress dips into an awkward bow.
"Do I truly need a new ball gown?" I ask. It seems extravagant that I'm getting this one. Another one on top of it seems like too much.
"The All Hallow's Ball is traditionally a masquerade where everyone wears orange and black," my father responds, without a hint of frustration in his voice.
Perhaps he anticipated the question. "You don't have anything suitable, and the King has informed me that's when your betrothal is to be announced. "
"Oh."
"Once you're done here, would you come to my office?" he requests.
I nod, not really knowing what to say and being a little nervous about the request. He's never asked me to join him there before.
"Good. As you were." He nods once and disappears, leaving me in the room with Bastian and the seamstress' staff.
I watch my brother warily. He doesn't seem as angry as he did the other day, but I'm aware that it could still be lingering beneath the surface, and it hasn't been taking much to set him off recently.
"You look beautiful," he says.
I touch the fabric at the top of my skirt. "Thank you." Even I have to admit that he has a point. I look good in the dress.
"Are you ready to be married?" he asks.
"Are you?" I respond.
He gives me a wry smile, and for a single moment, I feel like I have my brother from before back. "Not even slightly."
"We're done for now, My Lady," the seamstress says.
"Thank you." I step down from the platform and head behind the changing screen where one of the assistants is waiting for me. "Lady Ermentrude seems nice," I say to my brother through the screen.
"I suppose so. I barely know her."
"You know her better than I know the Prince," I point out. "At least they thought to arrange a dinner here so the two of you could meet officially." It was tense and other than amusing myself a little at Bastian's expense, it hadn't been particularly enjoyable. But at least he had that.
"Is that what you want? A dinner with the Prince?"
"What I want is the power to choose my own husband," I respond as I carefully step out of the dress, leaving me in just my undergarments. Despite the fact they're thicker than some of the dresses I used to wear, I feel a little exposed standing behind the screen with Bastian on the other side.
"I don't think that's within either of our powers to have," Bastian says.
"No, I don't believe so," I agree. "A dinner would do."
"I can see what can be done to make that happen. If you want."
A surge of affection towards my brother travels through me. "I'd appreciate that." I know it's only a matter of time before his anger returns.
"Consider it done."
The seamstress' assistant finishes helping me back into my original dress and I dust myself down.
"Lady Beatrice," the seamstress says to get my attention.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering which of these designs you preferred." She holds out a couple of drawings for me to look at. Both are beautiful, with wide black skirts and red highlights. "I'll switch the red for orange for the All Hallow's Ball, and create you a matching mask."
I'm a little taken aback by the fact I get to choose, I assumed it would all be decided for me and delivered to my room like my other dresses. "I think this one?" I point to the drawing on the left.
"An excellent choice." She bows and disappears out of the room, leaving me alone with my brother.
Bastian watches me with a curious expression on his face.
"Yes?" I prompt him.
"I don't think I've ever seen you like this before."
"In fairness, I haven't had much of a reason to have an opinion on ball gowns before." I shrug.
"It's not that, you're different here than you were at home."
I meet his gaze, steeling myself for the insult that I half-suspect might come. "So are you," I respond.
"I did tell you that this place would give us a chance to be who we were meant to be," he says. "Do you at least see now why I wanted to come?"
"I already understood why you wanted to come here, Bash. You explained it just fine the night we arrived." The events of the Golden Moon are seared into my memory and into my nightmares. I'm not about to forget them any time soon.
"I'd hoped you'd really understand. If you like it here..."
"I like not having to worry about the leaky roof," I respond.
"Having good food to eat, a comfortable bed, somewhere safe for Pip where she never has to go without.
" And having someone I can talk to about anything.
But I don't add that part. I'm not supposed to be thinking about Linc like that, and even if I was, I don't think Bastian would appreciate knowing that.
He steps forward. "That's why I did this."
"No, Bastian, you did this because you always wanted more power than you had."
"Didn't you? We were left powerless after Da died, I just wanted to change that." His voice breaks a little.
"I understand," I say firmly, not adding that it doesn't excuse some of the things he's done since he arrived here.
It isn't an excuse for lying to me in order to get me to Castle Sanulieon, or killing a woman in front of me.
But it is understandable. "I need to go speak to Lord Fal-our father now. "
He looks like he wants to say something else, but I don't think there's anything else for him to say. What's done is done, and there's no going back. And if he wants me to forgive and forget, then he's in for a shock.