“I don’t think the dress will be enough to fool them.”
Clara approached her with a pot of powder and a brush. “No, but it’s a start. This’ll help a little too.” She said as she applied the powder to Aoife’s face.
When she finally stepped back from applying all the powders and lotions, Clara seemed satisfied. Aoife caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and almost didn’t recognise herself. She took a step forward, trying to see the trick. Clara had made her cheeks look fuller and her complexion clearer. Her eyes seemed to sparkle, and her eyelashes were full and fluttery.
“How did you do this?” Aoife said, turning her face from side to side and examining her makeup from every angle.
“Do you like it?” Clara asked.
Aoife stopped. She’d been so absorbed by the magic of the transformation she hadn’t stopped to think whether she liked it. She remembered Cormac’s words, ‘Don’t let them change you.’ Would he even recognise her like this? But she hadn’t changed. All of this was outside. It wasn’t who she was. That hadn’t changed.
Had it?
She finally settled on “Lord Halverton will like it.”
Clara’s face fell a little, but before Aoife could reassure her, the door opened.
Lord Halverton froze when he saw her. It took a moment before the spell broke, and he fully entered the room.
“You look incredible.”
“Clara did a great job.”
Halverton looked around, spotting Clara for the first time. “You may go.”
Clara curtsied, picked up her things, and slipped out of the room.
Halverton circled her with a critical eye, clearly pleased with what he saw. He reached for her hand, and she gave it to him.
“The Lords will be enchanted,” he beamed, kissing her hand. A shiver ran up her spine as his lips touched her skin. The sleeve at her wrist rode up a little, revealing the leather bracelet Cormac had given her.
“You cannot wear that,” he said, already reaching to take it off her.
“It was a gift—”
He finished pulling at the knot; the bracelet slipped from her wrist for the first time since Cormac had tied it there. Halverton held it between two fingers as if it might bite him and dropped it on the dressing table.
From his jacket pocket, he pulled out a velvet box. “You will wear these instead.”
Inside lay a necklace and matching bracelet, fine silver set with small green stones. His fingers lingered on the inside of her wrist as he fastened the bracelet. Aoife’s head spun as he brushed the soft skin. By the time he moved behind her to fasten the necklace, her heart was racing.
“There,” he said, brushing her hair into place. “Stunning.”
He kissed the side of her neck, and Aoife’s knees turned weak. As he stepped away, she reached out for the bedpost to steady herself. Was it fear or fervour? She wasn’t sure.
“If you remember everything I have taught you, tonight will be a resounding success, and tomorrow I shall be inclined to grant you a favour.”
“Could we send the leftovers to the village?” The words were out of her mouth before she took even a second to think. She would guess he had expected her to ask for new dresses or jewellery. If he were displeased, he did not show it.
“If you keep your composure tonight, speak properly, carry yourself well, I shall consider your request.”
A knot of tension uncoiled in her. Finally, there was something she could do to help her family and her friends.
Halverton turned towards the door, and Aoife grabbed Cormac’s bracelet from the dressing table and slipped it into her pocket, hidden but close.
As they descended the stairs and joined the household staff outside to welcome the visitors, the knot of tension reformed in her chest. How she behaved tonight might dictate whether Eoin and Maire ate tomorrow or went hungry. The pressure to be perfect sat heavy.
The guests arrived in a grand carriage, their laughter carrying on the crisp air. Aoife stood beside Lord Halverton, a piece of art on display.
