She leaned forward, raising a hand to thesoft curls framing her face. The dress was pale-green satin, likenew leaves on aged vines, and clung to her figure. The bodice laysnug about her rib cage, the thin shoulder straps supporting ascoop neckline in front and a plunging V in back. Her arms werebare, the queen’s scabbard her only accessory. At midthigh, thedress flared out to a short shimmering train. She had known thedress had a cutaway that began halfway down her calves, the satinof the train draping away on either side, exposing her bare feet.Still, she held her breath as she took in the effect of their twohours of primping and prodding.
Delicate green lace overlay the tops of herfeet, secured at the ankle with a satin tie and looped around hersecond toe. The soles of her feet tingled as she considered theimport of approaching Russal in bare feet.
From her temples upward, combs pulled herhair taut and smooth to her head, meeting a froth of waves andtwists secured snugly to her scalp. Strands of loose ringlets edgedthe line of her cheek and neck.
She had demanded simplicity be their guide,and other than the amethyst-headed hairpins that gleamed by turnsas she looked side to side, they had followed her instructions.“This will do nicely,” she said, allowing herself a shred of asmile.
The lead dresser clapped her hands twice, andthe last assistant dodged past her and out the door. The dressercurtseyed and followed her out.
Lady Laurents set a flat velvet-covered boxon the chest. “These arrived for you. I hardly think you need asingle addition to improve upon their work, but the populace willexpect you to wear the wedding jewels.” She flipped the boxopen.
A circlet of braided silver and gold restedon black satin. Within the space in the center of the simple crown,a braided necklace with a delicate dangle of amethyst beading andmatching earrings glimmered. Lady Laurents nodded approvingly. Sheran a finger over the crown. “Mya wore this on her coronation day.I think you two would have gotten along. Mya was unpretentious andfavored simplicity, as well.” She lifted the tray. “Would you likemy help?”
Kambry stared at herself in the mirror.“Don’t I wear the crown after the coronation?”
“Kavin has already accepted you. Now it istime for you to accept Kavin.” She held the tray out.
Kambry’s hands shook as she lifted the crownand set it in place, the ends tucked within the froth of curls.Small, dull teeth at the bottom of the crown’s curved ends held itin place. There was a slight pinch as she seated it. Russal hadwarned her crowns weren’t comfortable. She smiled, imagining hisgrin that she now shared the discomfort with him.
She steadied herself before taking anearring. The crown held her gaze, her hand pausing at her ear.
“It is overwhelming, but you will get throughit,” Lady Laurents said. “This is the easy part.” A note oflaughter marked her voice, and Kambry looked to Lady Laurents,expecting to see a smile. No such expression presented itself. Didshe ever smile?
Lady Laurents pointed at Kambry’s otherear.
Feeling her face warm, she took the remainingearring and put it on.
“I’ll help you with the necklace. Turnabout.”
Her fingers were ice, the necklace just aschill. Kambry shivered.
“My, you are warm, my dear. Do you need tosit a moment?”
Before she could answer, Kambry heard thedoor to her apartment open.
Gordy’s voice bounded into the room. “MissKambry, it’s time.”
“You’ll sit later.” Lady Laurents marchedaway, the tapping of her cane a solid cadence. “Guardsman Gordanza,are you Miss do Brode’s only escort?”
“No, my lady. The others wait in thecorridor.”
“Are there twenty?”
Gordy’s eyes crinkled at the edges as Kambryentered and their gazes caught, and he answered, “Twenty-four, mylady.”
“Very good,” Lady Laurents said stiffly. “Wewill proceed.” She started for the door and then stopped. “You’vehad the corridor checked for debris and brushed everyone’s boots?Nothing must injure the queen’s feet.”
“Twice, my lady.”
“Very good.” She gazed at Kambry. “I’ll seeyou in the audience chamber. Chin up.” She pierced Gordy with hereye. “Guardsman Gordanza, I leave Miss do Brode in your care. Youenter through the queen’s doors, you know.”
“We’ve practiced, my lady.”
“Very good.”
Why was she hesitating? Was Lady Laurents asnervous as Kambry? She’d already been informed that the doorsopposing each other in the audience room had designations specificto who was to enter by them. The queen’s entry was on the northside of the chamber, the king’s directly across.
“It is time,” Gordy said.
Lady Laurents raised her chin and exited withsilent dignity, and Kambry stepped to Gordy’s side.
“What do I do, Gordy?” She gazed up at him,feeling quite small. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember the detailsbeyond that she was to enter by the queen’s door.
His answer was kind and instructive. “Theguards line the corridor. Walk between them. When you reach thecenter of their lines, they will keep pace. I will walk behind you,my sword drawn. Do not worry that they have their hands on theirhilts. It is proper form to be ready to protect our queen.”
“All right then. I suppose I am ready. Will Iknow any of the guards?”
“You’ll see some familiar faces.” He smiled.“Don’t distract them. Though I’m not sure any of them will avoidstaring at you. You make a lovely queen.” He gestured for her tofollow him out.
He drew his sword and stood two paces behindthe last guards. Kambry stepped between the two lines of guards andheard his footsteps follow her to the midpoint. Her feet pressedinto the carpeted boards of the hall, reminding her of her nakedsoles. At her next step, the guards moved in sync with her.
Excitement and tension made her stridestutter, but she continued forward, smoothing her gait.
The corridor was endless and filled hervision. Each door she approached took ages to drop away behind her.Would anybody be waiting for her when she arrived? At last, theguards leading turned, facing two doors wrapped in pale-green clothpulled taut. The handles of the doors shone like mirrors.
She recalled Lady Laurents telling her tobreathe, so she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Thenarrowed vision that had led her through the corridors receded.
She lay her hand on Gordy’s arm.
