Page 87 of Dragon Fight

My hair had been plastered down against my skull, gleaming in the light, like a lad. But, unlike a lad would do, she’d arranged it so it showed off the shape of my head more clearly, small strands of hair by my ears forming stylised curls against the sides of my head. It worked together with the earrings to create an unconventional but absolutely feminine appearance.

One I loved.

“I think you’ll start setting a trend, milady,” she said as I stared at myself. “I’ve already had quite a few high-born lasses coming in to enquire about those suits. This style does something many women can’t emulate, though. You’ve got a good shape to your head, a proud one, and an elegant line to your neck that only good breeding will gift a girl. No need for wigs, or fussy curls or styles to hide behind.” She let out a little sigh. “Only what the gods themselves have given you.”

“You are a… wonder,” I said, then turned to face her. “I didn’t catch your name?”

“Thank you, milady,” she replied, beaming. “It’s Eloise.”

“Well, I’ll be passing on your details to anyone who’ll listen,” I said. “If you can do this for me.” I gestured to the whole ensemble.

“I had fine clay to work with, that’s for certain. Now, should we show the wing commander?”

Gods, I was married to the man and last night had shared a sexual romp that would have the whole of Wyrmpeak gasping. So why did I feel so nervous at the thought of leaving the change room? I grasped my courage along with a handful of my skirts and then stepped out.

Brom stood near the windows, looking out to the street. At the sound of fabric swishing, he turned around. And then he just stared.

“Tell me you like it,” I ground out. “Please tell me you like it.”

“Oh, Pippin…” Brom said.

“I bloody love it, lass,” and he walked towards me, taking my hands and drawing me closer.

“Watch the dress. We can’t crush the skirts.”

I hadn’t been in a dress since the ball and even that had been a fraught experience. However, I felt protective ofthisdress, because of how it made me feel.

“Never.” As Brom promised, he very carefully stepped forward so that the skirts flowed around him like water, so that he could reach me. He held my hands and then, leaning down carefully, pressed his mouth to mine. “I’ve only ever seen you as the most beautiful girl in the world, and now everyone else is going to see why.”

52

“No. No! Pippin can’t go anywhere looking like that,” Flynn declared later that night. I’d had a long and exhausting day with Eloise as she measured, altered, and held swatches of fabric against my skin, keeping some and discarding others. “I won’t let her.”

Each of my men was dressed in his formal uniform in unrelieved black, except for the silver of their insignias, ready to go to the Duke of Skane’s private residence.

“Every man there would already have wanted to fall upon my girl, like the wolves they are, but now?” Flynn took my hand and scanned the dress more slowly. “Where’s my bloody sword? I will be fighting duels before the night ends.”

“On your bloody hip, as it should be,” Soren drawled, but then he smiled down at me. “Lass, you look—”

“Radiant,” Ged supplied. “That’s the big knob word for pretty, isn’t it? Though you look more than pretty. Pippin…”

I didn’t know where to look or how to respond as each man paid homage to me. My training prompted me to demur with graceful, polite responses, but my tongue didn’t cooperate. I couldn’t, wouldn’t say a thing, and I felt my cheeks flush bright red.

“You do, my love,” Brom said, then held out my daggers in their scabbards. “And I need you to wear these.”

“Gods, yes. A voice of reason,” Soren said. “Walking into this nest of vipers.”

“I feel like I should defend my countrymen,” Flynn said, “but I can’t. Make sure they’re in easy reach.”

“And stay with at least one of us for the entire night.” Ged seemed so much more serious since we’d visited Marcus Lighthands. “Don’t even duck to the privy without an escort.” He glanced over at my dragon. “Glimmer too.”

She preened under the attention, then focussed back on my earrings.

They know you to be a queen, she told me,but now they show you real honour. Tell them you like those shining stones very much. We need many more of them.

For your hoard?I asked, looking at how her eyes were shining.I’m sure your mates will bring you every pretty stone they find if you tell them.

And where would be the fun in that?she asked.They should just know.

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