Chapter 2 #2
I gaped down at the view of, I would say a bit too much of, my chest. “I thought the idea was to stay unnoticed? How can I go to the ball and be discreet, looking like this? For starters, this neckline is way too low.”
“It’s no lower than the other fabulous dress you wore to your last ball at the castle.” She winked, shimmying her shoulders giddily. “Besides, you look ravishing. All the male courtiers won’t be able to keep their eyes off of you.”
“Ah, of course, that’s what I need right now.
To be pursued by all the eligible male courtiers.
” I kicked at the puffy hemline of the dress.
I didn’t want to think about it. I really tried not to, but I couldn’t help my heartbeat racing already at the notion.
“Do you think he will sense my presence there?”
As the Duchess was busy surveying my petticoats and adding embellishments here and there, she responded somewhat absently, “You said so yourself. The link between your swapped hearts stopped working many moons ago. The cursed magic has run out. The king would not sense you there any more than you will sense him.”
Self-conscious, I picked at the delicate lace choker around my neck.
Perhaps she finally noticed my mood. The Duchess’s tone turned slow and careful. “We miss him too, Allie.”
“What?” I gaped at her. “Who says I miss anyone? Please. I’ve been perfectly fine. I have my work, and you guys—” I met her glassy blue eyes in the mirror, then glanced over at the hint of despondence in Chez’s purple gaze.
The Duchess, and in fact, Chez too, had been some of the king’s oldest friends before he took the throne. But it seemed His Majesty was intent on turning his back on everything from his past.
Unwilling to get dragged through overwhelming emotions all over again by rehashing the past, I swallowed the lump in my throat.
It was so very much easier to settle on dismissal, nonchalance.
“He made his decision a long time ago. That is all in the past. We must move on. All of us.” Clearing my throat, I tossed the hem of the dress carelessly.
“I suppose it is not a crime to go out and enjoy oneself every once in a while. And it is a…very fine gown.”
“That’s more like it!” the Duchess beamed, the gleam in her eyes brightening her entire aura so much that the mirror sparkled. “I’m so happy you think so.”
“What about shoes?” Chez looked around as if expecting to see a selection of footwear magically appear around us.
“Oh, no, no.” The Duchess shook her head so vigorously that her curls bobbed about her face.
“I’m not lending a hapless girl another pair of my shoes again.
You’ll just stretch them out with your huge feet or possibly lose them someplace.
Especially not after the last time—such pretty glass slippers.
” Tilting her head, she eyed my Victorian lace-up boots.
“Those should do fine under your dress. At least they’re no longer encrusted in mud. ”
“Fine. Have it your way.” I put one hand up. “For the record, I would much prefer staying home to do my work. I have no interest in bumping elbows with the king’s court.”
The Duchess clapped in glee, ignoring everything I was saying. “You look perfect, my darling!” She let out a sigh. “Shame I can’t come to the ball with you. Only my magic can travel through this looking glass.”
Sighing, I turned to Chez. “What do you think?”
He sniffed, feigning nonchalance. “Good enough, I suppose.”
“Oh, your hair—”
Startled, I jerked back as another burst of sparkly magic swept over me. My long hair, suddenly soft and light, fixed itself into a glamorous up-do with a few fallen tendrils framing my face. It was the way most courtiers wore their hair.
“There you go.” The Duchess nodded in self-satisfaction.
Peering at my reflection, I adjusted my usual jeweled hair clip, tucking it into the loose bun so the brilliant green emerald stood out against my silver-white hair.
Chez tilted his head in assessment. “It’s getting lighter again. Your hair.”
I tugged awkwardly on a pale, wavy tendril by my face—hair, which most definitely used to be a dark chestnut brown. “Honestly, I have no idea what the heck is going on with it.”
“Suits you, though.”
Hiding my grin, I reached out to rub the top of the cat’s fluffy head. He rarely offered compliments. “Thanks, Chez. If I cared much about my appearance, I would say that is a relief, at least.”
I met the Duchess’s gaze in the mirror. “Thank you.” I surveyed my elegant appearance more fully in the reflection, plucking off one more ribbon from my skirt.
“I know it’s been nearly a year, but… I still can’t believe I am in a land of magic like this,” I mused.
“Bickering with a snarky Cheshire Cat, debating dress styles with a mystical Duchess who can wave her hand and whisk me into a much too elaborate gown to go to a fancy ball at some cursed kingdom.”
The purple cat’s grin was more mischievous than ever. “You never know, Allie. This could all still be a dream.”
“Don’t you dare!” I tossed a sparkly fabric bow at him. “Chez, if this all turns out to be a dream and I wake up on some lovely countryside riverbank in my own world, I will be so pissed.”