To Run and Hide

Part 4: Unexpected Ally

"Don't worry. We can ask someone to fire the maid anyways." I kept my face neautral and ran my cloth over the same spot, unsure of what I should do.

"You know I can't do that Fiorella. Daddy said that if I did he would send me back to the estate, and I don't want to be at court while my baby sister gets to remain here." Visha said to the lady in lavender, who I assumed was called Fiorella. Visha and Fiorella strode from the room, leaving Colette and Yvaine behind. Someone approached me and I stilled, before turning and dropping into a deep curstey. I noted the wine red gown and saw that it was Lady Yvaine.

"I hope you know that you're not going to lose your job." She told me. I dared to meet her eyes, and she smiled.

"We were just sitting down to tea. Care to join us? Winnie told us about you, and we're curious to know more."

I mumbled my thanks as Yvaine left the room to call for a servant, and Colette settled down on one of the couches.

"Come over here Carmyn, sit down." Lady Colette called. I rushed over and sat, keeping my gaze averted in respect. Lady Yvaine came back and sat down in between me and Colette.

"Now, Carmyn, is it?" Yvaine asked.

"Yes, My Lady." I mumbled, shaken from the encounter with Lady Visha. Colette met my gaze sternly. I looked away, but still she stared at me.

"Carmyn, we are not your biggest worry. Please, just relax - you can relax with us."

My friendship with Yvaine and Colette became stronger over the coming weeks. I walked through Colette's garden with her and Winifreda, talking about anything and everything. I had yet to open up about Wynter her baby, but that didn't change anything. My newfound friends told me all about the palace gossip, including who Lady Fiorella was.

"Fiorella Overton." Colette started one evening, as we inspected the flowers she had so caringly crafted. Yvaine was off at the archery range, training. The sun was starting to set over the palace, and carriages were arriving at the entrance to transport guests who were invited to the ball being held tonight.

"Fiorella was my friend when I was young. She was my best friend, in fact. But it all changed when she met my sister Visha, of course. Visha is like poison. She acts nice at first, but over time, she injects you with such toxicity that it becomes to much to handle. You wither, and before you know it, you are as mean and toxic as the worst of people." Colette sighed in conclusion, and I smiled slightly.

The next day Yvaine and Winnie joined us again for our walk. Colette suggested walking in the main palace gardens, but me and Winnie denied on grounds of our uniform being out of place. That, of course, resulted in a trip to the dressmakers. Fabric was bought, dresses were sewn, and before i knew it, I was walking through a garden courtyard in a sky blue gown. It was simpler than most dresses worn by the wealthy, but fine enough that I wouldn't stand out in the gardens. Winnie was wearing a similar dress, hers in a pretty azure that brought out matching shades in her eyes. Yvaine and Colette were both wearing gowns of their own, finer then ours and with embroidery. I marvelled at the beautiful marble fountains bubbling, the smell of the roses lining the manicured pathways. It was all so different to what I had seen before, different even to Colette's garden. I thought the walk was going quite nicely, until I saw the flash of blond hair and the hem of a magenta gown accompanied by a golden laugh that would be enough to make even the most stoic magician fall in love with the bearer. Colette glanced at Winnie, who glanced at Yvaine, who then glanced at me. A general consensus was made. We turned around and started to take a different route, walking quickly so that we wouldn't be noticed. It was too late, however.

"Oh look, Fiorella, it's Lady Visha's sister and her disgraces. Please, introduce us." Drawled a gluttonous male voice. Yvaine bristled at the insult and Colette froze, anger flashing through her eyes. Winnie bent her head down in an effort to appear smaller. I turned around and flashed a generous smile, spreading the skirts of my pretty gown and dipping into a curtsey.

Fiorella frowned as I rose, her eyes darting to Winifreda in wonder. I shifted, wondering why she looked at my friend with that expression - one so layered and intense I had no name for it.

"Of course, Father. There is Lady Colette, and Lady Yvaine, and two who I do not recognise." Fiorella said.

A blatant lie, of course. She knew who I was - we were all there that day Lady Visha decided to humiliate me.

Yvaine gave Fiorella a simpering smile and cleared her throat.

"Our companions are our good friends, Miss Carmyn Laurier and Miss Winifreda March. They are both incredibly smart and talented people, unlike Lady Visha of course."

Fiorella stared at Yvaine in shock, before glancing at her Father. She gave him an adoring look.

"Come, Father, let us not pay any more attention to the riff raff than they deserve."