Eight

Adrika

It was well past breakfast when I awoke the next morning. It was just as well since I had no appetite. I sat at my dressing table and stared at my reflection through blurry eyes. The dark makeup was still smudged around them, but at least it detracted from the puffiness. I attempted to run a brush through my tangled hair but was soon interrupted.

A light tap sounded at my door before Damini stepped into the room. She never knocked before. She knew I was still hurt over her betrayal. There had been little spats between us in the past, but they had never kept her from her duties. This time was different, and we both knew it.

“I came to help you get ready. Your father has plans for you for dinner.”

I wanted to protest. If she had not mentioned anything about Father, I could have dismissed her like I had the night before. Had word of my failure already reached him? I glanced back at my reflection. Maybe the steam would help erase the makeup before I faced him. I was dreading the meeting. “All right, but I need a bath first.”

She quietly made her way around the room gathering everything into a bag that I would need for my bath while I donned the loose clothing I would wear between my room and the bathing chamber. Sometimes I wished we had rooms for bathing in our suites like the ones in the castles at Gilvary and Aisling but nothing compared to being able to soak in the hot springs here in Dermot.

Damini surprised me by handing me the ornamental pick I used for my hair. I was still determined not to speak to her any more than necessary, so I stood with the accessory in hand giving her a pointed look.

“You mustn’t get your hair wet. A hair dresser will be here in an hour to style your hair and it will not dry in time if you do.”

“A hair dresser? I hardly think I need to go to such lengths for a meeting with my father.”

She blew her breath out. “Your father will not be there. The king expects you to look your best because you will be dining with the prince in the library. Alone.” Her lips were pursed, and she would not look at me—a sure sign of her disapproval, though she would never say anything against the king or any other man, for that matter.

Her displeasure was no doubt due to the fact that we would not be properly chaperoned. Did she know how far my father was willing to go in order to secure the prince as future ruler? I twisted my hair up, secured it, and then walked out the door without another word. I had learned my lesson. Any concerns I might share with Damini would be carried straight back to Father.

The door to our bathing chamber looked like any other, but stepping into the chamber was like stepping into a cave. The walls and ceiling were red clay with natural portals leading to the outside that allowed steam to escape and a way for light to enter. As soon as I heard the door close behind me, I dropped my clothes to the floor and stepped into the pool. I read in a book once about a hot spring that smelled like rotten eggs. Thankfully, that was not the case here. Mother had believed the springs would offer us good health and a long life. It obviously had not been true—at least not for her.

The familiar earthy scent enveloped me as I sank down to my neck in the warm water. My anxiety seemed to melt and float away. I could hear Damini moving around behind me but did not acknowledge her presence. The strain of the broken bond between us was hard to bear. She had been my lifelong companion. I could give in and let things go back to the way they had always been, but I would not be fooled into thinking I could ever trust her again, so what was the point?

A dampened rag appeared in my view. Still refusing to speak, I sent a questioning look up at Damini. “It is oil for your face.”

Having worn makeup so few times, I had forgotten what she used to remove it in the past. If only I had remembered the night before, I could have saved myself the humiliation of anyone seeing me like this. I rubbed the cloth over my eyes and then used the offered soap to wash away my shame.

After last night, I was not looking forward to another meeting with Rian. It was useless to try getting out of it. Father would never allow my defiance to his demand. Did Rian even want to dine with me, or was he being forced as well?

I finished bathing and allowed Damini to rub oil into my skin before dressing in another outfit that was only used between the bath and my bedchamber. I would finish getting ready there.

The outfit Damini dressed me in after my bath was different from the beaded tunics and silk slacks I usually wore. The long, red skirt flounced out from my waist in layers of gathered material. I wore a simple white blouse beneath a black and white striped bustier that covered from just under my breast to the top of my hips, cinched tight to accentuate my curves.

When I had previously worn this outfit, there had been a short jacket decorated with cogs and gears. I somehow felt exposed without it, but I would not question its absence. This clothing was the type worn by everyone south of the Kearnley Mountains and its obvious purpose was to appeal to Prince Rian, who was from that region.

Just as I slid my feet into a pair of black boots, there was a tap at my chamber door. Damini opened it to find a castle servant standing beside a woman I had never met. If I had, surely, I would have remembered such striking features. Her hair was an unnaturally pale shade of blond and was piled on top of her head to such a height that I had to wonder what kept her from toppling over. Her makeup was as thick as plaster, and applied in a way that exaggerated her features. Who had hired this woman?

She spoke to Damini, but her gaze darted in my direction. “My name is Kariann Fisher. I came to help the princess get ready for her outing with the prince.”

A tingling sensation moved through my chest at the word prince. Was everyone in the kingdom to know of my father’s schemes to get me and Prince Rian together before I was even made aware?

Damini eyed the woman with a look of disdain. “We do not want her to look too made-up. Just a few curls atop her head will do. And her makeup should look natural and yet . . . alluring.” She looked nervously at me from the corner of her eyes when she said that last part.

“No makeup.” I did not want a repeat of last night.

Damini turned and looked at me. “What was that, Princess Adrika?”

“I said, no makeup. Prince Rian does not like it.”

“Your father has given orders.” Her words were clear, but judging by the look on Damini’s face, she did not approve of Father’s command. This gave me a small measure of satisfaction.

So be it. If Rian was unhappy with my embellished appearance this time, Father would carry all the blame. I stared straight ahead at my reflection in the mirror, determined not to say another word.

Kariann stepped around Damini and placed a bag on my dressing table. “I know just what to do. Princess, if you would stand for a moment, I’d like to turn your chair. It will be easier for me to get to my supplies, and this way you won’t see yourself until I am done. Don’t you just love surprises? I know I sure do. You have the silkiest hair I have ever had the pleasure of running my fingers through.” She kept up her tirade for the entire time she was there. She sprinkled in plenty of not-so-subtle hints that she would like to have a permanent job—as if I needed a daily makeover.

Damini went around straightening my room while the girl worked on my hair and face. She was constantly glancing our way to check the progress without making eye contact with me. I hoped she felt shame for betraying me to my father, but it was doubtful. Duty came first with her. My mother had been bound by that same duty, and I suppose it was true for me as well, considering what I was going through at the moment just to please Father.

It did not take nearly as long as I expected for Kariann to declare me ready. She stepped back to inspect her work with a huge grin on her face, but I could see the nervousness in her pale blue eyes. There was a lot at stake where she was concerned. If I did not like it, she would not get another chance. I was determined to give no opinion at all. What did my opinion matter anyway? Father was the one who hired her. He had ordered this makeover, and he was the one she would have to please.

Damini stepped closer, staring at me with her lips slightly parted. Did I look that hideous? I wanted to pretend I did not care about my new look, but I did not want to be humiliated in front of the prince again either. I started to turn toward my reflection.

“Wait. Let me get your jewelry. Don’t look yet.” Damini reached for the jewelry box on top of my wardrobe and pulled out a diamond studded comb. Kariann exclaimed over it as if she had never seen one before. Damini gave it to her to place in my hair and stepped behind me. I felt the matching necklace fall just below my collarbone. Next, she added the earrings. Once they had finished their administrations, both women stood staring at me.

“You can look now.” I was touched by the smile on Damini’s face. It made me miss our broken bond even more.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly turned around to face the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked more like my mother than myself. My hair had been braided and twisted up to the top of my head where cascades of curls hung all around with the diamond comb peeking out from the left side. The makeup was natural, yet alluring, as Damini had requested. I did not know if it was the barely discernable dusting of blue shadow on my lids or the thin liner across the top edge that made my eyes look a richer shade of brown than usual. My lips were painted a deep berry tone that was only slightly darker than my natural color.

By the way, I liked you better without all that makeup. Rian’s words popped into my head, reminding me of how useless these efforts were. Why did I want him to find me attractive? I needed him to want me for my father’s sake and for the sake of my own future. That had to be it.

I noticed the reflection of the two women standing behind me. They were waiting for a reaction from me, but I could not give them what they wanted. How did one show excitement and disappointment at the same time?

Using my most regal tone, I turned to the hairdresser. “Thank you, Kariann. That will be all.” I stood and walked over to the window, pulling the drape back to look out. I did not hear anything behind me for a moment, and then there was the rustling sound of Kariann gathering her things. I felt guilt at the despondent sound of her goodbye. I let out a breath when I heard the soft click of the door closing.

“I know you are upset, but could you not show some enthusiasm? She did a wonderful job on your appearance—much better than I had even hoped for.”

I could tell Damini was standing close behind me, but I refused to look at her. “What do you care as long as my father gets his way?”

“I do not always agree with the commands placed upon us, but as women, what choice do we have but to obey? And if you were to choose not to obey in this instance, where does that leave you? You have nowhere to go, and your father will just choose someone else. What if his next choice is even less appealing to you? What will you do then?” She seemed desperate for my understanding. Her meaning was clearer to me than she suspected.

“I mean no disrespect to Queen Babree or your father, but you have been like a daughter to me. I know you. As much as I respect the men of my country, you would never be happy married to one of them. Prince Rian just may be your only chance at true happiness and freedom. Have you thought about that?”

She had stepped even closer to me and the last part of her speech had been whispered, as if she was afraid someone would overhear her bold words. I turned toward her and without thought, fell into her arms. She whispered more words that poured over me like a healing balm for my soul. She spoke of how sorry she was and how she only wanted the best for me. Surprisingly, there were no tears on my part. After accepting that she was right about my choices, I focused my thoughts on my meeting with Rian.