The Peace Offering

Chapter 1

The sudden arrival of various women streaming into my room wakes me from my sleep. They're moving and talking so fast that I can't even determine how many of them are now bustling around my room. But I'm able to see that they are being directed by a clear leader, a well-dressed middle-aged woman.

It takes me a few moments to wake clearly but in that time she'd had a bath brought in and filled while other maids have begun looking through my wardrobe. Their appearance here is so sudden that I can only stare in shock trying to understand what they're doing here. I've never had even one maid of my own so to now have so many rushing around is incredibly confusing.

Scanning the room the lady in charge gives a subtle nod of approval before turning her attention to me. Even from the centre of the room I can feel her judgement of me, there's no way to hide from her gaze but I find myself pulling my knees close to my chest anyway to at least make myself smaller.

"What are you doing?" She asks giving me a look that is somehow confused and disappointed at the same time, "You should already be up. Quickly now, your brother will be here soon. We need to get you dressed to greet him."

"I don't understand," I manage to say quietly as I'm urged out of bed by one of the maids to stand in front of this woman, "Who are you people?" None of them give me an answer as they start to undress me without giving me any warning. My panic increases as I try to cover myself with my hands. I've never been naked in front of anyone, let alone strangers, before.

"I'm Lady Catherina Verano, you may call me Lady Catherina. Your brother has employed me as your governess for the foreseeable future. Previously I served as a lady in waiting for the dowager queen, so I know everything there is to know about proper etiquette. It is now my duty to prepare you for a life at court. Surely you should know this, it was all in the letter your brother sent ahead so that you would be prepared for his arrival," She introduces herself placing her sharp gaze directly on me rather than the maids, who've begun pulling my dresses out to examine, buzzing around the room.

Each dress is scrutinised by them and most seem to be discarded although a few do make their way to Lady Catherina's view. I don't understand the problems they seem to have found with most of my clothes as they've served me well but if they've come from court then no wonder they have different standards.

"I'm sorry my Lady I never received any letter," I reply shocked at the sudden news of my brother coming home. I don't have any memories of him at all since he left Slaris when I was only 3 years old, this is the first time that he's been back ever since.

"Clearly," She says unimpressed as the maids finish showing her my dresses that have passed their initial examination, "It's a good thing I always come prepared. None of these dresses will do, not for a lady of your standing, we'll have to have new ones made before we leave for court. For now though I've brought a dress with me in case this happened, it will be too big on you though. You are smaller than your brother described."

It doesn't take the maids long to have me dressed in the outfit provided by Lady Catherina, a light purple silk dress with a wider skirt than any of my own dresses. It's still a smaller skirt than the one that Lady Catherina wears which must be the fashion at court at the moment. The dress is initially too big but the maids have managed to expertly pin it for a better fit especially around my waist which is smaller than usual due to how tight they've pulled my corset. Tight enough that I can't take a deep breath despite feeling the need for one or several as the idea of meeting my brother has me incredibly nervous.

Lady Catherina gives her approval on the dress, so the maids have me sit down in a chair as one of them starts brushing and styling my hair. Not having a maid of my own I've always dressed and done my own hair, usually in a simple braid, so having all of this done for me is strange especially with the difference in styles.