Chapter 17

15 3 0
                                    

 Althea slept in the next morning, enjoying the break from her training. While most of the girls had already begun their prepping for the autumn equinox ball tonight, she did not mind getting a late start if it meant keeping her sanity in check. She honestly didn't know what to expect tonight. The night before, in the dining hall, it had been a bit rowdy. She had never seen it so full and loud with chatter. Nearly every seat had been taken and their groups usual seats had been occupied by faces she'd never seen. She and the Candidus girl had opted to take their dinner to the courtyard where it was much more quiet. There were still people who had managed to flood out into the cool night air with them, but not nearly as many as had been inside. It made her feel cramped, and the air had been humid from so many bodies. She just hoped that the ball tonight wouldn't feel the same, with people practically walking on top of each other.

Althea combed through her long brown curls, running herself a bath filled with some of the more luxurious oils she'd gotten from Florence at the apothecary. The mixture consisted of rose geranium, sweet orange and honeysuckle oils along with some of the last remaining summer peony petals she'd managed to snatch up. The aroma that filled her bathing chamber was intoxicatingly delightful. Althea closed her eyes and breathed in the scent deeply, savouring it.

There was a long eeow from the door separating her bathing room and her bed chamber, followed by a scratching. Shaking her head, Althea cracked the door open, allowing the calico cat with his half black, half white face, to enter the room. Archie sniffed the air, froze for a moment, then let out a sneeze so powerful it sent the poor feline flying backwards into the door.

She couldn't help the giggle that arose from her throat at the creature. He didn't seem too pleased at her reaction though, as he glared up at her with those gleaming multi-coloured eyes.

"Maybe coming in here wasn't the best idea," she mocked, loosening the tie on her robe, to remove it so she could climb into the hot, steaming water.

The funny little cat turned away, not looking at her, as she ridded herself of the fabric and climbed into the tub. The water was hot, but felt amazing on her skin.

"Okay, Archibald you can look away from the wall now," she mused, finding the small cat more interesting with each passing day. She looked up to stare at the exquisite emerald gown, hanging down in front of her. Althea had gotten the dress perfectly sized to her body thanks to Layana. When she had slipped into that soft, whimsical gown she no longer felt like the weak girl who had travelled to London after being cast away by her father. No, when she had stared at her reflection in Layana's mirror upon trying on the dress for the first time, she felt like a woman, and she looked the part too. The fabric had cinched ever so nicely around each of her curves, the heaviness of the crystals only making her feel more powerful.

...

Zella arrived at Althea's bed chamber right at three o'clock just like she said she would. For reasons Althea could not begin to understand, the girl wanted Althea to do her makeup. Despite her numerous attempts at coaxing Zella into getting her makeup done by someone who actually knew what they were doing, the stubborn girl had insisted it be her. Even though she didn't understand, it still made her feel good to be needed. She just hoped she could meet Zellas expectations.

Althea was twisting her damp hair around a thin piece of cloth in the hopes of making some kind of style from it later, when Zella gave a small knock and entered Althea's room carrying a garment bag slung over her shoulder. She had never been in Althea's rooms before, and her reaction made Althea wonder if her room was special compared to others. Zellas eyes widened as she gazed around the large bed chamber with its grey satin canopy bed and the delicate hand carved wooden ceiling and vanity. She had the large hearth at the room's centre burning with warmth, now that the weather outside had begun growing colder.

The Cadre of EmbersWhere stories live. Discover now