You Are Mine (Mine #1)(63)

“I for one hope you do,” Zade says. “You've done well. We'll have to see what we can do to get Serena to show the dresses off.”

“I was thinking of wearing them while delivering some of the invites,” I say.

“Splendid idea,” he responds.

Katherine's face lights up. “That'd be kind. Thank you.”

“Do you have any other designs we haven't seen yet?” Cynthia asks.

“Mostly variations on things you've already seen, but there's one other thing.”

“What is it?”

“I'm not sure I should say.” She eyes Zade.

“Go ahead. I won't get after you for having ideas.”

She shifts in her chair. “I've made a few pairs of female britches.”

My sisters and I all gasp. Waverly laughs. “We wear those all the time.”

Even if they do it in Envado, it certainly isn't done here. All of Katherine's ideas have turned out to be good, but this one I don't think I'll ever like. Besides, society would never allow it.

“I had heard Envadi woman wear them,” she says. “That's why I made some.”

Zade says, “Perhaps you can talk these three into trying some.”

“I'll see what I can do.” Katherine laughs.

“I think the gardens will look lovely for the ball,” I say, desperately trying to change to subject. I can't imagine wearing breeches. Having those things clinging to my legs all day, I don't think I could stand it. And such little material? Hardly fitting for a woman.

Talk of the ball resumes. Which girls we went to class with that we should invite. Who of them is likely to come. What will they likely wear. The talking continues so long, the girls soon have me lost with all the details again. I yawn.

Zade stands, causing the conversation to halt. “You ladies carry on, I'm going to run some errands while in town.”

As soon as he finishes, they continue, but I say, “Yes, Master,” and look him right in the eye, silently pleading for him to take me with.

“I told you—” his expression lightens, before becoming stern, “woman, that you weren't leaving my side today. Stop being lazy and let's go.”

The conversation halts.

“Yes, Chancellor Zade.” I put on a sorrowful face for the girls. “Do you mind continuing without me?”

“No,” Cynthia says. “We'll take care of things.”

“I don't know what I would do without you,” I say.

“Not have a very good ball,” she says.

“Very true.”

The girls laugh and I join them. I grab my cloak and exit the shop with Zade.

“Thank you,” I say to Zade. “I don't mind a few details, but that was too much. I don't know why they enjoy it so much.”

“So, they'll basically plan it for you?”

“Shameful, isn't it?”

He walks away from the carriage.

The day is clear with a light breeze, but I shouldn't just walk around town. It wouldn't be seemly. At least, Father always said it wouldn't. “Where are you off to?”

“Nowhere. I don't really have any errands. You're not the only one that couldn't sit any longer.”

“Should we take the carriage?”

“Why? It's such a nice day.”

“Should I really be going around town this much? Besides, this is the tarnished side of town.”

“So? You found Katherine here.”

That I did, but how does that make this acceptable? Before I can argue further, he sets off. I pull my cloak tighter around me, making sure it covers the engagement mark on my neck. It feels more conspicuous in the tarnished section of town. Though without being bald and having an inked face, it matters little. It makes me less jittery though.

We walk in silence for a while. Soon, I grow more comfortable and take in my surroundings. Despite always hearing about tarnished being less than nothing, it's a nice area of town. Nicer than some areas inhabited by warlocks, and not at all like the rumors. The shops are tidy. We peek in a few windows. I'm surprised to see they don't look any different than the regular shops, except for the people running them, of course.

When we move to the housing district, the yards are trim and well-kept. The houses are smaller than Father's, but have more wild flowers growing next to them. The walkways are neat and clean. We come to a park, not a person in sight.

“Would you like to wander through?” Zade asks.

“It looks lovely.”

As I follow him into the park, the space between us lessens. I have the strangest urge to touch him. His arm maybe, or perhaps his hand. A part of me really wants to, but it seems like the wrong thing to do. I let a bit of distance grow between us and try to focus on the scenery. There's green everywhere with lots of winding paths. A small river runs through part of it with a bridge over it. A man appears in the distance. I think nothing of him until Zade slows.

“What is it?”

He shakes his head, but there's something. Everything about his movements becomes stiffer. My nerves heighten in response. A small part of me wishes I had a gun to pull out of my pocket. But it wouldn't help anyway, probably would only get us in more trouble. No matter what Zade thinks, women don't carry guns. A moment later the man is upon us.