Dancing with Deception

Dancing with Deception (9)

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Chapter 9 – Surprises 

“Talia wake up!” Eleanor said from across the room.

I groaned, rolling over with difficulty.

“We have to leave now if we’re to beat the morning rush to town, hurry up Tally!”

The use of Prince Alexander’s nickname for me jerked me upright, even before a pillow connected with the side of my head.

I turned around with a glare, catching Ella’s amused smile before it transformed into a look of wide-eyed innocence.

“It slipped,” she joked.

I threw it back at her, catching her in the stomach as she laughed, before dropping a pile of clothes at the foot of my bed, gesturing for me to get dressed.

Trying to hide the many protests of my body against the action, I dragged myself out from under the covers.

Pulling the clothes into my arms I ran my fingers across the coarse material and felt my skin chafe just at the thought of having to put them on. Glancing down mournfully at the bland, shapeless pile of practice clothes, I made a decision on the spot.

Dropping the garments back down I moved to the wooden chest I’d brought from home and gently opened the lid. All the clothes I’d so carefully packed in the weeks before coming to court were still folded neatly and untouched. Digging around I pulled out the simplest outfit I could find, a pale blue cotton dress, modestly cut and edged with lace around the neckline and sleeves.

Ella raised an eyebrow but made no comment as I walked into the small dressing chamber in our room.

Feeling the smooth cloth against my skin was like the softest caress and I felt myself relaxing into the familiar folds of fabric. The mere two weeks I’d spent in borrowed castle clothes seemed an eternity and just this one thing made me feel lighter than air.

I’d noticed some of the upper class girls wearing practice clothes of a finer material purchased from the castle stores rather than the sets provided to us freely.

With that thought in mind I snatched up the change purse my mother had sent with me and vowed to find something that suited me better.

Ella smiled faintly at my wardrobe choice as she rushed me out the door, threading through the halls towards the front entrance where we meant to meet Clara.

“What are you wearing?” Clara asked with amusement, forgoing any sort of greeting.