You Are Mine (Mine, #1)(41)

Katherine raises an eyebrow at me. After tisking us, Phyllis exits the room. Katherine opens her mouth to speak. Shaking my head, I raise one finger at her. I wait a moment, then move to the stairway. No one is hovering nearby. I close the door, just in case.

“There. No prying ears.” I place a few biscuits on a plate and pour some tea and hand it to Katherine. “Father's gift is a trifle overzealous.”

“Still having problems with her?” Her voice is strained.

“Under Father's orders, she forced me drink a tea that made me obey others command. Twice.”

With a peek at my empty cup, she says, “That explains you not having any tea.”

“I've sworn it off. My expectation of it is rather dismal.”

She sets her own cup aside and nibbles on a biscuit. “What did it taste like?”

“Dirt. Or what I would expect dirt to taste like.”

“Califrasum root. Nasty stuff. It's supposed to be banned, but Councilman Stephen would have access to it, no doubt.”

“Califrasum? I've never heard of it before.”

“The council keeps it quiet.” She sets her half empty plate down. “Does this mean your engagement ceremony didn't go well?”

“No.” My own treats look rather unappealing. “Your dress was perfect though. It was hard enough, but having to go through it in the traditional dress would have been ghastly. Your design really helped me feel more comfortable.”

“Any trouble over it?”

I shrug. “Nothing unmanageable. I'm still here.”

“I'm grateful you liked it and the Envadi didn't punish you for it.”

“I am wondering,” I begin to ask, but then pause. Am I really brave enough to do it?

“What is it?”

“I'd like a new dress. But the only money I have is what is left over from before.” Technically the Chancellor's, not mine, but he hasn't asked for it.

“What type of dress were you thinking of?”

Somewhere a clock chimes. I fuss with my sleeve. This is more rule breaking, and asking her to break it, as well. “An everyday dress but more like what you made for the ceremony. Something I could get in and out of myself and not have to rely on Phyllis.”

She grins. “I'll do it, and you don't need to pay me for it.”

“I must give you something for it.”

“I'm not taking the little money you have for such a request. What about something like what I'm wearing, though altered for society.”

I take in her clothes. A burgundy blouse tucked into a deep violet skirt. They have minimal adornment, just a few buttons down the front.

“I do like the simpler design. Less fanciful is more to my taste. Mother would never hear of it, but the Chancellor shouldn't care.” Unless his punishment with my newest sister is an indication of how things are going to be. But I think I'm willing to risk it.

“I wasn't referring to the embellishments.”

“What then? The two-piece?” A laugh escapes me. When her face stays earnest, I stop. “You can't mean it.”

“You don't have to.”

I spring from my chair and pace in front of the fireplace. “A two piece? Do you know what that would mean?”

She moves in front of me. After grabbing both of my hands in hers, she looks me in the eye. “I know. We would start out subtly. Make them the same color. And fancy them up. You may like simple, but this is too simple for the company you'll be keeping.

“I'd tailor them to look closer to a one piece and put false buttons on the back so it would still look like you needed help. If you're never comfortable, we wouldn't do anything further. But if you like it and no one rejects it, we could maybe try for something else.”

Tarnished clothes. She wants me running around dressed as a tarnished. If I haven't doomed myself to be banned yet, this certainly would get me there. Society would shun me. Yet, I did want something better suited to my difficulties with Phyllis. Dressing such seems like going too far. It is going too far. But her gaze is so earnest. Would I like wearing a two piece?

“Why do you want me to dress like that?” I ask.

Her eyes squeeze shut. “Don't you ever tire of wearing what others demand of you?” She opens them and I can't help but think how right she is. I'm so tired of it. “Plus, you're a Chancellor's bride. If you happen to mention where your new, fashionable gowns come from, it could mean more business for me.”

I laugh, draining some of the tension. “So, even if you don't accept payment, it's still about the money.”

“Money does help. I can't survive on my own without it.” Heading back to her chair, she says, “What do you think?”

“I don't know. It's like what I wanted, but a lot more. I've never done anything like this.”

“The engagement dress I made was a much bigger step than this.”

“That doesn't count. The other options were worse than wearing my underthings.”

“And you liked not having to do that, right?”

I sink into my chair. “That's true.”

“And how could more freedom with your clothes be bad? Freedom not just for one day, but any day you want it.”