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“Is that what you’ve chosen to wear?” She smiled as she rose and sunlight from the window danced across her flawless porcelain skin and enviably high cheekbones. “Please forgive my forwardness, but the warden hoped that you’d wear a new dress. The best seamstresses in Guldtown made them.”
“I—what—no. I grabbed the pants because I thought you were Roar, and I wished to cover myself.”
Clemencia’s brown eyes brightened. “He asked you to call him by his given name?”
He had, quite soon after we’d met, perhaps in an attempt to ease my nerves, though I hadn’t used his given name before that very moment. I’d been more careful in front of him.
“It’s a good sign,” Clemencia added.
“Thank you.” I supposed it was. Another feature of my time with Lord Roar rose to the forefront of my mind.
The proposed arrangement—a fake engagement. I’d had little time to consider such a matter, but when faced with the luxury I stood in and what gold could really do, did I actually need much time? I wanted to flee as far from the Vampire Court as possible. Gold and guards would help me. I’d travel comfortably over mountain passes. I’d be safe.
I only had to play at being in love for a period. So easy, especially as the warden seemed very amenable. It was a paltry price really . . .
I was leaning toward saying yes, but was there a downside I wasn’t seeing yet?
“This is for you.” Clemencia extended a hand in which a vial of green liquid gleamed and walked toward me. “It speeds up healing and will reduce scarring in your wings. Althea will supply you with three vials a day until we leave, and I’m to make sure that you take them.”
I accepted the elixir. My wings felt tender but given that a dozen metal rods had been extracted from them, it was a miracle I wasn’t writhing in pain. I popped the cork top and downed it. Just like the one I’d taken to make me sleep, it tasted pleasant, a bit like citrus. Althea knew what she was doing.
“I’ll take that.” Clemencia held out her hand for the vial, which I passed back. “I was present when the others brought the dresses to the castle. Might I make a suggestion for your attire?”
I nodded. “Please do.”
“Now that I’ve laid eyes on you, I believe the indigo would be lovely with your hair and eyes. And it is not too formal, suitable for daily wear.”
I turned back to the closet and found the dress she referred to. She was right that out of the bunch, it looked to be on the simpler side, which suited me. The dresses with beading and embroidery, and certainly the silks, needed to be used for any events I would go to at court . . . if I accepted his proposal. I chuckled dryly, already knowing which way I was leaning on the matter.
“Yes.” I hung up the shift dress and took down the indigo one. “Good choice.”
“Perfect!” Clemencia’s eyes twinkled. “The warden also asked me to invite you to breakfast with him. He will be down in just an hour. That gives me time to prepare you.”
“What do you mean by prepare?”
She glided over to a vanity and opened a drawer. Inside, powders and tubes rolled about. “You’re very pretty, but might I suggest freshening up and doing something with your hair?”
Growing up, I’d never used beauty enhancers even though I’d often wished to. I only knew how to do the most basic plaits and how to pull back my hair with a ribbon. “Do whatever you think looks best. I’m afraid I don’t know how to do much with cosmetics or my hair.”
“That’s where I come in.” Clemencia sashayed into the bathroom and called over her shoulder. “I’ll draw you a nice hot bath, and after, I’ll make sure that you’re the most stunning faerie in all of Guldtown.”
Chapter 10
Clemencia had magic indeed. My lady-in-waiting’s ministrations curled my hair to perfection and made me look like a highborn lady fae.
The apples of my cheeks had a rosy hue, my lips shone a perfect shade of pink, and for the first time ever, I didn’t see the scar over my right temple because she’d covered it with a powder. All that combined with the dress, which hugged my wide hips and accentuated my ample bosom, and I barely recognized myself. And somehow she’d managed all that just in time for breakfast.
Not knowing the way to breakfast myself, I followed Clemencia down the corridors to find Warden Roar sitting at a table large enough for at least six, reading a sheet of parchment with his eyebrows knitted together. Platters of food were spread across the table, though they looked untouched.
“Good morning.” I stepped into the room, taking in the few paintings on the walls, the only decor besides the heavy crimson drapes hanging to the sides of the windows.
He turned and his lips parted as he folded the page and put it in his pocket. “Neve. You look stunning. How are your wings? Healer Althea told me the procedure went well.”
“My wings feel tender, but I’m fine. And thank you for the kind words, though I cannot take credit. Much of my attire was Clemencia’s doing.” I gestured to my lady-in-waiting.
“Nonsense. She’s a natural beauty. I merely enhanced her features,” my lady-in-waiting said. “I’ll allow you to eat breakfast in peace. When you are done, I’ll be in the next room.”
I wondered what she would do, but the question proved short-lived as Warden Roar approached and held out his hand to me. “Please, take a seat.”
