A Dove's Tale

Chapter 102

Bright sunshine flooding through the room woke me well before I wanted to wake up. I rolled away from it, pulling the blanket up over my face. Someone yanked it away.

"Ivetta!" Theresa shouted.

My eyes snapped open at her voice in my face. Her green eyes, inches from mine, startled me into jerking backwards and tumbling to the floor.

"Ow..." I moaned, sitting up and holding my pounding head.

"Oh, my gosh, did you hit your head?" she asked in a panic, scrambling over the edge of the bed to join me on the floor. "Wait. Why are you still dressed? Ivetta. You could have woken me up if you were having trouble with the laces," she said, her tone immediately changing to one of gentle scolding. I looked down at my dress and blushed.

"Um...I guess I fell asleep, and Chevalier brought me back here," I said sheepishly.

"He saw me asleep?" she shrieked. "A man was in my bedroom without me knowing about it?"

"It's my bedroom, Theresa," I reminded her, massaging my forehead. Her expression fell, and I dropped my hand to my lap, hastening to reassure her. "I didn't hit my head. I just have a headache."

"You're hungover?" she asked, her eyes lighting up.

"No, I'm not hungover," I told her, exasperated. "I always get a headache after I cry."

Her face fell again. "Oh." She sighed and stood up, offering me a hand to pull me to my feet. "Once, just once, I'd like to see you come back hungover and laid," she muttered.

"Theresa!" I moaned, covering my blazing hot cheeks with my hands.

"What? Is it too much for me to wish for your happiness?" she asked, heading for my bureau. "What do you want to wear today?"

I shook my head and crossed the room to the glass doors. "I'll figure it out later. Right now, I'm going back to bed."

She looked back at me questioningly. "What about lessons?"

"Chevalier arranged for us to have the day off," I replied, pulling the curtains closed.

"That's probably a good idea. You were out really late last night, and you'll be busy tomorrow. Here's your nightgown. Let me get those buttons."

"Thanks," I said gratefully, dropping my hands to my side while she undid the buttons and laces at the back of my dress. "Do you mind if I tell you about last night later? After I get some sleep?"

"I take it you didn't spend the entire night crying, then," she said, mischief creeping into her voice.

"No, I didn't," I said, smiling to myself as I stepped out of the dress and pulled on the nightgown.

"Good. I'll have something to look forward to while I'm washing the ceilings," she said happily.

"Washing the ceilings?" I asked curiously, climbing into bed.

"Yes, washing the ceilings. Marge is going all out for the coronation ceremony. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event, but I don't think that's the only reason she's obsessing over every detail so much."

"What else could there be?"

Theresa smirked. "You."

"Me?" I asked, confused.

She nodded. "This is your debut, and she's living in fear of the day you decide to take revenge on her."

"But I wouldn't do that."

"I know. But it's fun to watch her squirm," Theresa said, her green eyes dancing even in the dim lighting. "When do you want me back?"

"Um, lunchtime, I guess."