Page 64 of Of Glass and of Gold

The first batch of ladies was requested, and luckily me and my sisters remained too far back to be approached. Melody and Kenzie conversed amongst themselves until Melody turned to me. “We’re moving forward to try and be selected next. Come.” She extended her elegantly gloved hand.

I would rather walk on hot coals. “No, you go ahead. I need to use the ladies room. I’ll find you after.”

She smiled, and thankfully didn’t insist. Picking up my lengthy pale purple skirt, I shuffled beyond the crowd. Easily confused by the extravagance of the space while on my way to find the restroom I could say to anyone who’d bother to take notice. I padded behind the swarm of women setting all their hopes and intentions on being next to join the dance floor. Their desperation was as tangible as the excess of fabric hanging off me.

I traveled along the border of the room, finally making my way to the spread of delicate treats and sandwiches. One frazzled looking staff member worked to hurriedly refill pitchers that had barely gone down. She looked as pristine as any other person here. Her beautiful onyx hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and her big brown eyes assessed the state of the beverage presentation.

“Oh, this is all so lovely. You really are doing a marvelous job,” I said in my best demure voice.

She was caught off guard by my small talk, and once she looked around, confirming it was indeed her I was speaking to, she turned to face me again. “Thank you, Miss. It’s an honor to serve the prince and his future queen. Please, help yourself.”

“Oh, I’m quite famished already, but thank you.” Lie. I actually wanted nothing more than to bunch my skirts into a makeshift basket and dump a few dozen goodies to take home. “You and your colleagues must be working yourselves to death putting together an event as stunning as this.” I feigned taking in the extravagance with wonder, though it was beautiful.

“Truly, it is good to see this room getting some use. The prince doesn’t host things like this often. It has been thrilling to see it transformed.” She gazed around the room with pride.

The prince didn’t host balls? Interesting. I would have assumed he’d lavish the opportunity to have beautiful women spin around for him on the regular.

“Will the next ball be as exciting?” I baited, pretending the question held no importance.

She quirked her brow at me. “Do you mean the wedding?”

Alright, so the next event won’t be a ball. I brought my white-gloved hand to my cheek, pretending to be embarrassed. “Oh, I apologize. I’ve never experienced anything quite like this, and as there are many beautiful women here, I doubt I will ever get the chance again. Will the wedding be open to the kingdom?” I made my eyes brighten at the thought of a poor girl attending a royal wedding, though it took everything not to roll them.

“The invitations are the responsibility of the first counselor. I’m afraid I do not know his plans as of yet. There will be a reception dinner for dignitaries and the like, with local vendors presenting Highcrest delicacies, but as for the celebration, I’m not sure.” She gave me a consolation smile.

Helpful. “Just as well, I only have this one dress. If I happen to be invited to the next event, do you think the prince will mind if I wear it again?” The way I looked absolutely gutted with concern should win me an award.

She tried chewing on her smile, but it broke free. “I think that dress would be much too formal for the next event, Miss.”

I shared her sheepish grin, hoping to stoke the fire and loosen her lips further. “A more casual affair? How very interesting.” I let the comradery fall from my face, portraying sadness and despair in its wake. “I don’t know if what I own will suffice…I had to trade my last coppers for this dress alone.” I smoothed the glossy purple fabric. If she’d taken notice that it was a decade out of fashion, it may earn me pity points.

She glanced around, as if ensuring our conversation would only be heard between her and me, and my heart thundered. She leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. “After this ball, there will only be a dozen or so ladies invited to an intimate dinner with the prince. If you’re selected, you should find a simple dress. That’s the last event before the engagement luncheon.” Placing her hand on my arm, she offered a light squeeze and a smile. “Good luck.” Then she whisked herself away to continue her duties.

The thought of an intimate affair with Prince Nicholas sent my mind spinning like the dancers currently twirling on the dance floor. Having those brilliant cerulean eyes fall upon me felt reminiscent of a double-edged sword. Something happened to me when he drew near, a pull I hadn’t trained for, and I couldn’t get a handle on it.

However, as an official conspirator against him, fear spread through me like a nocuous gas. Walking into the lion’s den, exposing myself to the enemy, was not on my to-do list. Heat wrapped my torso, my dress suddenly feeling all too heavy and constricting. Staying far away from him was my only course of action.

A few fancily dressed staff remained posted by the walls, presumably to rotate others off the dance floor. I started walking, keeping my focus on the refined spread before me, though I wasn’t really seeing. My rapt attention remained on how to maneuver myself to one of those staff members and clumsily bump into them.

I hadn’t quite figured out the best route to take when someone brutally knocked into my shoulder. In the same breath, their staining red juice tilted and splashed all over the front of my dress. I wouldn’t have cared about ruining my outfit, wouldn’t have cared when Eucinda raked me over the coals if it didn’t cause such a scene.

“Oh, I am so sorry Nora!”

My nose crinkled when I saw the insincere brown of Jenta’s eyes pairing with that vipers smile. Sorry my ass.

“That threatened by me being here, Jenta, that you had to try and sabotage me? Worried the prince would look at me, and be found wanting when he miserably stumbled upon you and that atrocious green smock?”

Years worth of resentment dripped off my tongue like poison before I could even think twice. To even my surprise, I’d remained calm and collected. Any passersby wouldn’t have questioned that this was a formal, polite conversation if they didn’t focus on my words.

If she was at all shaken by my venomous retort, she’d certainly mastered how to maintain a cool composure. Her tight-lipped smile never faltered. “If you’re as confident as you claim, a silly little stain shouldn’t hold you back. See you on the dance floor.” Her eyes glistened with cunning prowess, and her hip bumped into mine as she walked off.

One of the servers appeared out of thin air, offering a napkin to dab at the juice still beading down my pleated skirts. “Here you are, Miss. Is there anything else I can get you? Club soda?”

“No, thank you, I’m not thirsty,” I said, blotting the sodden fabric with a polite smile, as an idea struck. Time to improvise.

32

Nora

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