On the tenth day since arriving in Seafoam, Merrigan and Elli and the hired girls were hard at work in the back room of the inn, which Rosa had convinced her father to let them use as a workshop without charging them any rent. Merrigan had advised the girl that while she appreciated the generosity, such a gift couldn't be good for the inn's business. Rosa had laughed and told her that whenever a woman came to the inn for a fitting or to order a dress, her husband or son accompanied her. They couldn't sit in the main room of the inn without ordering at least a mug of cider or a pastry, could they?
That morning, Merrigan was ruminating over the arrangement, trying to wrap her mind around why Rosa would admit that the inn was not only benefiting from her dressmaking work, but they had enough profits to share. She didn't think the innkeeper girl foolish at all, but rather clever and forward-thinking. Quincy had as much as said that Rosa would inherit the inn when her father was ready to retire because she was so much better at running the business than her brothers. They would all be smarter to go to sea full-time, instead of dividing their time and strength between the inn and fishing. If Rosa was so talented at business, why share her profits? Merrigan concluded that such a decision was just who Rosa was, part of why she was so good at her business, and why the inn was so popular. It was an odd way of handling life and business, but if it worked ... Merrigan wished it could work for her.
She paused, her hand trembling for just a moment, at the oddness of the thought and the wistful feeling that made her eyes ache and feel warm and wet.
"Mistress Mara?" Rosa scurried into the room, weaving between the three long tables set up for the girls to do their sewing.
"Is something wrong?" Merrigan put down the needle she had been holding and staring at without really seeing it for the last ten minutes or so.
"Oh, no, nothing wrong at all. Queen Adele has sent a carriage. She wishes to know if you would be kind enough to come for luncheon and to discuss sewing for the royal family." Rosa smiled broadly. "When you have time. She specifically said you weren't to hurry, and if it was inconvenient, she can send the driver and coach another day."
Merrigan bit back a bubble of laughter and the remark that this just proved what a silly woman the queen was. Her second reaction was an astonishing wave of gratitude for such courtesy.
"Not inconvenient at all," she said instead, and stood slowly. "The queen is so kind and considerate, it would be rude to make her wait. Elli, I think you should change into—"
"Oh, no, I can't." The mermaid went so pale, the gill lines in her neck stood out like ink drawings. "Please, can't you deal with them by yourself?"
Merrigan squashed down an urge to slap the girl and tell her to grow a backbone. How was she going to survive in the world, whether it was under the sea or on dry land, if she let such a little thing as standing before royalty frighten her? After a few heartbeats, she found it much easier to smile at the girl and assure her that it would be all right to stay behind. After all, Merrigan reasoned, feeling her good humor return, Elli was smart to fear royalty. If more people had a healthy fear of royalty, the world would be in much better shape.
She left Elli in the sewing room to oversee the hired girls, took the time to change into her dark blue dress and comb her hair. Then she gathered up the pad of bound paper Miles had obtained for her, inkwell and quills, and her measuring tape. She tapped on the door of Warden's room, where he was having king-making lessons with Bib. After ten days of devotion to grooming, deportment, and the new, military-style coat and trousers Merrigan had made for him, he did look the part. Bib was an excellent teacher.
"Would you like—do you need an escort, Highness?" Warden said, bowing to her after she told them where she was going.
For a moment, she was tempted. It would certainly raise her status in the eyes of the royals if she showed up with such a dashing escort. Then she shook her head, realizing what a disaster that could be. Right now, Dulcibella still believed her nighttime visits to the inn, to talk and play checkers and take nighttime walks along the shore with Warden, were all just dreams. Merrigan didn't doubt the girl was just flighty enough she would take one look at her suitor and faint. Not a good introduction to his future in-laws.
"No, thank you. The first time you go into the palace, it will be with an invitation addressed to you, to discuss the terms of marriage to the princess." She patted his arm. "Thank you, though. That was very gallant and well-spoken. You will make a fine king."
It took all Merrigan's self-restraint not to sit up tall and wave to the populace as she rode to the palace. Yes, people stopped and gestured at her. Several people who knew her face and name called out to her, and children ran after the carriage. Merrigan reminded herself she wasn't royalty on display. She was merely a seamstress being honored by a ride to the palace.
Someday, she promised herself, she would indeed ride through the streets of Windward on a grand,
