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1685 Words
Alexanne claps her hands together, causing both Camille and I to flinch. She doesn't apologize, instead a glint sparks in her eye. She says, "Admira, what are we going to do about tonight?"
I frown, "Tonight?" As far as I knew, Alexanne hadn't scheduled any events. All of the nobles were going home tonight after all. I had planned a cozy night within my quarters, lying in bed and reading.
"Yes, tonight. Didn't I tell you about the supper you are hosting?"
"No. I haven't heard about this until now."
Alexanne laughs as if my confusion is the funniest thing she's ever seen, "Yes, the supper. It will be held at dusk before the nobles leave."
"But don't most of them want to leave before dusk? Surely they don't want to travel throughout the night. It was my understanding that most of them planned to leave after the tea I participated in."
"They were all willing to stay a few extra hours with the promise of attending a supper hosted by you. They are all so excited to talk to you, Admira. Perhaps if I ever want more attention, I will go into hiding myself."
She laughs to herself before continuing, "However, you will need a lady in waiting for tonight. You must look perfect as this will be the last time your guests see you."
"I don't understand why the tea wasn't enough. When did you plan this supper?"
"This morning."
I nod, "I see." It was certainly revenge for something that I have done. However, I'm not sure if I can narrow it down to a single act. There are simply too many times I've inexplicably irritated or angered Alexanne.
Alexanne presses her lips together, "Who should be your lady in waiting?"
I shrug, "I don't know. Surely there must be someone within our castle walls who is trained enough to assist me."
Alexanne slowly shakes her head, "Admira, do you not understand? This is the last time the nobles will see you for a while. You need to look perfect. Besides, I've made sure that your courter will be there."
"Who is my courter?" I ask.
Alexanne laughs, "I think it will be more fun to watch you try to figure it out. I'm sure that love will find a way to bring the two of you together."
I'm not sure if an arranged marriage from before we were born could be considered love, but I don't have the energy to argue anymore. I merely nod and say, "So who will help me?"
Alexanne ponders for a few minutes before smiling, "I'll surprise you."
The words aren't as hopeful as I would like them to sound. Will this be yet another one of Alexanne's games?
Alexanne curtsies, "I need to be going. I need to begin preparing for the supper. It needs to be outstanding. What would you like to have tonight?"
I shrug, "Perhaps duck? That is something I surely missed from the castle."
Alexanne smiles, "I think a nice lamb would be lovely. Don't you? That's what we will have."
Lamb is one of my least favorite foods. Alexanne knows this. So, I nod in return and Alexanne strides out of the room.
Camille stares at me, struggling to keep her eyelids open, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"You seemed rather irritated. Are you and Alexanne fighting?"
I want to laugh, but instead I shake my head, "Of course not. Alexanne and I rarely fight. I'm just worried about you. I want you to get better."
Camille watches me for a second longer, "I'll be okay. I think I would know if I wasn't going to survive."
I smile and she says, "You should go back to your room. It sounds like you have an exciting night tonight. I'm sure you want to relax for a few hours."
I shake my head, "Oh no, I can't leave you now."
"No, you have to leave. I just really, really want to sleep."
"Only if you insist."
"I insist." She closes her eyes.
I stand, "I hope you feel better. Once you are better, I'll be sure to take better care of you."
She murmurs without opening her eyes, "Yes, I need to watch out for those dressers..."
As I leave the room, tears gather in my eyes. How could I have allowed this to happen to Camille?
●◊●◊●
A knocks lifts my eyes from the pages of Augustine's book. I'd been trying to read the book for a little less than an hour. But after I'd read a sentence, my mind would drift elsewhere until I realized I'd lost my place on the page. I have had to start over several times, each with more frustration than the last.
I wait for Camille to open the door until I remember that she's lying on a cot in the nurse's room. I hop up from my chair and answer the door myself. Much to my disappointment, Alexanne waits outside, along with another girl.
I recognize the girl as Alexanne's lady in waiting Marianne. I don't know much about Marianne. She isn't the same lady in waiting that Alexanne used to have two months ago. Her old lady in waiting was Noelle. Noelle was known for tattling and giving away secrets to William. I realize now that Alexanne kept Noelle around for so long because everyone thought that if you had Noelle for a lady in waiting, you would never get away with anything. It was yet another reason Alexanne's murders were so unexpected.
I guess that once Alexanne no longer needed Noelle for cover, she dismissed her. I wonder what Noelle is doing now. Did Alexanne have the decency to give her some type of money as support? Noelle must be some line of nobles, she was a royal's lady in waiting after all, but does her family have enough money to support her?
I doubt I will ever be able to know. It's not as though Alexanne and I have the relationship where we can easily ask each other questions and expect the other to answer truthfully. Alexanne would probably lie to me just to spite me.
Alexanne charges inside my room. She grins, all a show for Marianne, "I had an amazing idea. I'm going to help get you ready for the supper. Of course, Marianne will be here to help me, but I'm going to do most of this. Oh, it's going to be so much fun. Do you remember when we used to do each other's hair?"
All of us sisters would do each other's hair. We would sit in a circle, braiding and brushing and curling. We had a system where everyone was doing someone's hair. Alexanne would braid my hair while I braided Emilienne's while Emilienne braided Violette's while Violette braided Alexanne's. We would change the order of the circle every time, each of us arguing over whose was the best.
Sometimes we would do each other's makeup as well. Red paste smeared all the way up to our cheeks and powder all the way up into our hairline.
How dare Alexanne ruin such a perfect memory of mine by mentioning it?
Alexanne leads me over to a chair. She shuffles through Camille's collection of powders and pencils and brushes. Marianne stands next to her, murmuring advice. It's likely that Alexanne knows as much as I do, which is nothing. Why would we bother learning which type of brush to use with which kind of powder? Our ladies in waiting have always done that for us.
I find myself wishing I knew how to do my own makeup, mostly because Alexanne doesn't.
Under Marianne's careful supervision, Alexanne paints my face. I'm worried that she might be doing this as some type of sabotage. But, as she turns the mirror towards me, the makeup looks fine. There's no smears or smudges.
Marianne touches up a few spots of my makeup and then they move on to my hair. Thankfully, Alexanne allows Marianne to undo my previous hairstyle. It is still in the tightly braided bun from tea. Marianne easily unwinds my hair until it sits in a wild, curly mess at my shoulders. After being in the tight braids all day, it is more than a little curly.
Alexanne brushes it out carefully, not tugging or pulling as nearly as much as I expected her to. In fact, she's almost being gentle. After what happened two months ago, I would have never expected to use such words to describe anything about Alexanne.
She says, "I think you should go with a different hairstyle than you normally do. Something to catch your courter's attention."
She slowly winds my hair into a long braid down the center of my back. It goes against the common day fashion of twirled high into a bun.
Once she is finished, she smiles, "Now all that is left is your dress."
I say, "All of my fancy dresses are in my dressing room. Camille was going to help me decide on what to wear for my first time meeting my courter."
Alexanne nods, "Let us go. Marianne you can stay here. I want you to be amazed at the final beauty."
She and I walk down the hall. I open the door to the small dressing room and Alexanne follows me beside. Alexanne waits only to close the door before drawing her dagger.
My breath catches in my throat as she slowly circles around me. Is it better to be in the center of such a small room, or with my back in a corner? Dresses hang along the walls, and it would be difficult to move quickly. I could easily become trapped.
Alexanne sighs, "I am sorry, Admira."
I reach beneath my skirts and pull out a dagger of my own. I've kept it strapped to my thigh ever since I've arrived. I knew it would save me.
I manage a smile, "I am sorry, too, Alexanne."
She glares at me and charges.
- Writer
