Keira's Fire

Chapter 27

"I'm sorry about my clothes," I told Cecily when we had a minute to ourselves. My feelings hadn't changed regarding what I wore or what people thought about me for it, but I didn't appreciate all the less-than-charitable looks directed my way for my sister's sake. I might not care about clothes and impressions, but Cecily always had, and this was her world now. These people were her friends. I didn't want to be an embarrassment to her. At the moment, I'd have done just about anything to make her proud.

Although, I wondered if any of these women were even sincere. They were all polite enough when they were speaking to Cecily because, as I'd heard again and again, they simply had to meet her sister, but the distaste was clear in their eyes. When they walked away, it wasn't hard to figure out what they were talking about as they directed more open disdain my way.

Cecily laughed. "And how would I have recognized you if you'd been dressed any other way?"

I smiled sheepishly, glad that she didn't seem to care.

"Of course I wouldn't mind seeing you in a dress. I don't think that's ever been a secret. But this has been...interesting."

I was confused by what she meant. It was wonderful and amazing that we were able to reunite after all this time, but I didn't think that's what she referred to.

"Don't worry about all those spiteful old cats," she said. "They're flustered because you've managed to upset their whole world."

"I didn't do anything," I tried. Well, besides playing a big part in overthrowing the ambassador, I mentally corrected. But why should that matter to them? These were all people loyal to the king. And for the most part, the women didn't seem to care a bit about politics.

"You dare to be different," she said. "They're terrified to do anything unexpected or out of the ordinary. And here you are, completely different from any idea they've ever had about what a woman is supposed to be. Most of them are downright homely without all of this." She gestured to her own beautiful dress. "Yet you show up dressed like that, and half the men in the room still can't take their eyes off you."

Me? Why? She had to be mistaken.

"See for yourself if you don't believe me." She smirked.

Peeking around the room I noticed several men quickly look away when my gaze landed on them. Some blatantly stared, and one man winked and grinned, making my face feel warm. I turned back to Cecily, wide-eyed.

"Why?" I hadn't noticed any of the scorn I saw from the women in the room. "Because I'm...strange?"

Cecily laughed. "They think you're pretty, Keira."

Pretty? Me? Impossible. Not when I was surrounded by women who, despite what Cecily said about them needing help, looked pretty enough in their lovely dresses and made up hair. And certainly not while I stood next to my sister.

"I'm sure the fact that you're unusual has made them look, but that's not enough to hold a man's attention the way you have. If you actually adhered to the usual ideas of beauty and shown up in a dress, I might have to watch my own husband's eyes."

She said it as a joke, but she wasn't exaggerating. She really thought I could be as beautiful as she was.

"That's crazy." I shook my head, suddenly very self-conscious.

She didn't answer, instead directing her attention behind me with a smug smile.

Turning, I suppressed a groan, seeing Owen approaching.

When I looked back to Cecily, she had that same I-told-you-so expression that Stephen sometimes wore, and I wished that I had time to ask her to stay with me. Unfortunately, within a few seconds Owen was standing in front of us.