The Cadre of Embers

Chapter 7

 Althea awoke the next morning feeling well rested. Her first slumber in her new bed was phenomenal. She had never slept on a mattress that felt as though she were enjoying a peaceful rest on a cloud. It was hard to tear herself away from it, but after a morning spent basking in the feel of the silken sheets and goosefeather pillows, there was a curt knock at the door, pulling her from the tranquillity. Althea stood and made her way across the room. There was nobody beyond the large wooden door when she swung it open, but at her feet sat a box with a note attached to it. Snatching up the box, she shut the door once more and sat at her vanity to open it.

The note read: Dearest Althea, please enjoy these garments handmade for you by our seamstress Layana. Inside are enough clothes to last you the rest of the week until you choose some of your own. - Mistress Stamos from the Division of Fundamental Resources.

Interesting... Althea set the note aside and opened the box. Laying on the top were four sets of clothes, a similar shirt and shortened trouser set to the one she'd worn yesterday, however, the material was different. Rather than being made of cotton, they were constructed of something elastic. If it wasn't for the stretch of the material she would have swore the garments would be much too small, even as she stared at them now, she was baffled as to where she would wear these... were they meant to go under her clothes? They were far too revealing to be worn alone. She moved them to the side, looking at the other items in the box. There were a few dresses, but none were of the variety she was used to. They didn't involve corsets or layers of skirts or petticoats, they were simple, light and delicate, unlike anything she'd worn before. There were also undergarments and shoes, some flat and some with heels.

What was she to wear today? Normally everyday was the same, even days when she did nothing but stay at her aunt's estate, she was still expected to be fully clothed in the latest fashions, in the case that a suitor may make a surprise visit.

Unsure of what to wear, she just slipped on the same dark grey shirt and trousers from the day prior. She'd ask Monique what the proper attire was when she saw her.

Althea finished getting ready by sitting before her vanity and brushing through her long, umber curls, she kept them down for the first time in a very long time. They were almost always styled up in braided corennets or pinned updos in these last months. It felt good to give her aching scalp a break.

It was a bit difficult for Althea to remember the various turns she and Jasper had taken to get to her bedchamber the night prior, considering they had been deep in conversation during the walk. It also didn't help that all the long, narrow corridors appeared the same. However, after a few wrong turns, Althea finally found her way to the dining hall where she assumed most everyone would be for breakfast.

She guessed correctly, judging by the chatter she could already hear from outside of the large room. Her mind skipped to the silence that had been bestowed upon her yesterday evening when she'd entered the room. She silently prayed it was an isolated incident.

When she rounded the corner into the room, the chatter did not stop as it had last night, but she averted her gaze as some eyes lingered on her. She kept her head held high and looked straight forward.

"Althea, over here," there was a call to her left from Monique who sat alongside James and Meg.

Smiling, she walked in their direction and sat beside them. Upon inspection she realised Monique and Meg were both wearing tight fitting clothes, similar to those she had pulled from the box she received but an hour ago. Suddenly she felt silly for her choice of attire.

"So, how'd you sleep?" Monique asked, raising a brow, "bet your bed was pretty comfortable right?"

Althea chuckled and nodded. "Yes actually, it was."