Page 79 of The Demon's Discovery
“Your presence has been requested at the forge, besides,” Lovette informed Vassago as I tugged on my shoes.
“It has?”
“Yes,” she laughed. “My father and your brother are there. They requested you join them.” She smiled, then it widened when he rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, the celebration will start soon enough, and we’ll all be plenty distracted by food, drink, and music. Nothing much will matter for several hours at least.”
“Sounds lovely,” he said, and we left the hut as a group, splitting off once the main square was in sight.
The infirmary was much busier than I imagined. Dresses were being handed around, flower crows and ribbons being stacked and draped on the empty beds.
“What’s…?” I couldn’t even get the question to form as I watched the flurry of activity.
“For the celebration,” Flora, one of the ladies I’d met in Lovette’s apartment, said, smiling widely at me as she held a silver dress with ornate beading and embroidery against my body. “Yes, I think this one will do nicely.”
“I thought we wanted her to try the blue?” the one Lovette had called Jorna complained, rushing over with a similar dress but in a deep sapphire color.
“No, the silver is better,” one of the ladies in charge of ribbons nodded, barely looking over her shoulder.
“See? Here, put this on.” Flora shoved the dress into my arms, and out of reflex, I accepted it.
“Oh. Thank you, but I?—”
Lovette reached out and pulled both Calla and I into a supplies room at the front of the infirmary, shutting the door behind us.
“Listen, Greta, you don’t have to do anything these busybodies tell you,” she said, her smile wide as she delivered the words. “But that will be absolutely stunning on you. It’s not often those gowns come out of the aunts’ strongboxes. Special occasions only.” She winked at me, reverently touching the beadwork. “Though keeping them well maintained is one of their favorite ways to pass the time.”
“Are you feeling alright?” Calla asked, genuine concern in her eyes.
I touched the silken fabric of the dress, reminded of Bea and her well-stocked wardrobe and that time was edging ever closer to her ball. “I’m fine,” I said, taking a deep inhale as proof. “I’msorry if I worried you. I don’t usually sleep that long when I nap, but I am tired often.”
Lovette nodded, taking the dress from my hands.
“Magical residue,” Calla nodded knowingly.
“Partially, yes.” I shifted, allowing them to pull the dress over my head.
“It’s perfect,” Lovette said, having arranged the dress on my body atop my clothes. She turned me toward a cabinet that had a large oval mirror sitting on top.
The gown was beyond gorgeous, the smallest movement making it shimmer in a different way. The threads and fabric were silver, the beading both iridescent and metallic. Each tiny detail in the flowers and vines was unique and important.
“Oh.” A lump formed in my throat at the sight of it on me, tears threatening out of nothing less than pure joy.
“That’s the one,” Lovette said with a firm nod. “Come on, let’s get you changed for real.”
The next hour blurred into a frenzy of activity as I was fussed over. My chin-length hair was braided tight against my head around ribbons and flowers by no fewer than four of the aunts at once, and I was beautified beyond recognition by a room full of women who had accepted me as their own without question.
There were so many people bustling around between the gown- and ribbon-stacked beds, I had a hard time keeping track, but Calla and Grace were getting similar treatment. Being a guest for a celebration certainly had its perks, if that’s what aggressive and affectionate pampering was.
By the time the infirmary had emptied out, I felt unrecognizable but far lovelier than I ever had before.
All the women in the conclave, young and old, had come through the infirmary to choose a dress at some point. I’d met so many of my kin, there was no chance of me remembering evenmost of the names. I was filled with a joy that was bright and bubbly but unfamiliar at the same time.
Lovette had ended up with the sapphire gown, and it was stunning paired with her eyes. Calla had found one in a deep, saturated red that looked like it had been reserved especially for her. Even Grace had been hustled in. Despite her protests, she left with a gown in an emerald shade that had made Calla laugh and Grace blush. I wasn’t sure of the joke between them about the color, but it didn’t matter. Everyone’s joy was infectious, and it was impossible to worry surrounded by such intense beauty and happiness.
Imogen was the last to arrive and change, and once she emerged from the little side room in her earthy-brown dress, Lovette clapped her hands excitedly and dragged us all down to the square in front of the meetinghouse, where a glorious party was already underway.
I floated with them, gripping the moment so fiercely it had no choice but to become a treasured memory.
Chapter 32
