Risking her heart
974 Words
*Linnie*
I stare at the gorgeous emerald green gown spread out over my bed. I'm stunned by how quickly and efficiently the seamstress has worked and how rapidly the days have passed.
Countless times I've told myself I wouldn't attend the ball, but now that the moment is here, that it's the eve of Christmas, the notion of not going fills me with profound sadness. I'll never again have the opportunity to attend such a grand affair.
As soon as I can, I'll move to Blackrock City and open my bakery. I'll never again see Marsden or have a chance to dance with him.
The tavern keeper has given me the night off. Most of the gents will be with their families tonight, and the other girls can handle the few who aren't. I haven't told my friends about the invitation to the great castle, haven't wanted them thinking I'm putting on airs.
Besides, I don't have many friends, as most of the villagers assume I'm more than friends with Marsden. I've never told him because I fear he'll get angry and make matters worse. Or maybe I'm afraid he won't get angry at all. That my father is right. That I'm little more than an amusement to the Alpha Prince.
Perhaps tonight is designed to confirm my place in this world, as though I don't already know it. Only if that's the case, it's the Luna princess’ scheme, not her son's. I trust Marsden, always have. Still, I waver. Is it best to step into his world for only a night or never to have stepped into it at all?
He's questioned my bravery just as I had done his when we first met, when I egged him into climbing the tree. If I don't go, I'll be angrier at myself than at him.
The soft knock nearly makes me jump out of my skin. No doubt my father coming to issue an abundance of warnings, but when I open the door, he's standing there with a young dark-haired she-wolf who couldn't be much older than me.
She curtsies. “Miss, I'm Sarah Barnaby. The Alpha prince sent me to help you dress and to serve as your chaperone.”
“At least he's going to take care with your reputation,” my father says.
With that, he heads down the hallway to the main living area above the shop. I turn back to the girl. “Come in, Miss Barnaby.”
“Oh, you must call me Sarah. I'm merely one of the parlor maids.”
I smile, “Then you must call me Linnie.”
“I couldn't be so informal.”
“We're not that different.”
“You're attending the Luna princess’ ball. I'll never get to do that.” The girl steps into the room. “Caw, blimey! Is that your gown?”
I nod, “It is, yes.”
“It's gorgeous.” She pivots around. “I can put up your hair for you.”
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
“Let's get to it, shall we?”
*****
An hour later, I stand before the mirror admiring my reflection. I've never considered myself much to look at, but the green gown is the perfect shade for my complexion, and it has the added pleasure of matching Marsden's eyes. What a silly girl I am to care about that. Sarah has pinned up my hair and left curling tendrils to frame my face.
“Oh, I forgot,” the maid says. “The Alpha prince told me to give you this.” She removes a leather box from the pocket of her skirt.
I've never seen such a gorgeous package and feel a bit nervous about what it might contain. When I open it, I see that my trepidation is justified. A gold chain is threaded through an emerald shaped like a teardrop. “I can’t accept this.”
But oh, how I want to.
“You must. I’ll get in trouble otherwise. The Alpha prince might think I nicked it.”
“I’ll make sure he knows the truth of it.”
She smiles, “You should at least try it on.”
“No harm in that, I suppose.” Only once it's on, I don’t want to remove it. It is the perfect accompaniment for the gown.
“You should wear it to the ball,” Sarah says.
I can do little more than nod as she and I leave my bedchamber. My father is waiting for me in the main living area, my heaviest cloak draped over his arm.
“Don’t look so worried,” I tell him. “I’m not going to do anything foolish.”
He shakes his head, “This that you’re doing tonight seems foolish enough to me.”
“You encouraged me to go,” I remind him.
“Which no doubt makes us both fools.” He holds up my cloak. I turn my back to him. As he drapes it over my shoulders, he says in a low voice, “You look beautiful, Madeline. You deserve fine things but never forget that they come at a high price.”
Swinging around, I rise up on my toes and kiss his cheek. “I’m not my mother.” She had always dreamed of more than a life in the village. One day she had run off with a traveling coppersmith who had sold pots from his wagon.
“It’s an easy thing to have one’s head turned.”
“I know my own mind… and my own worth.”
“And your heart? Do you know your heart? It can betray us quicker than anything.”
“I’ll take care, I promise.” Even if promises are easily and quickly broken as well.
- Writer
