Ally of the Crown by Melissa McShane

Author:Melissa McShane [McShane, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Harbor Publishing

21

The gown Mrs. Moreton, the housekeeper—it seemed such an unlikely title for someone with responsibility for a palace—had found for Fiona felt both awkward and comfortable at the same time. It fit her perfectly, the full skirt with its many petticoats swishing pleasantly around her ankles, the bodice fitted but not tight, the deep green color contrasting beautifully with her red hair that fell loose over her shoulders. She’d never worn anything like it before, and maybe that was the problem: she knew, if no one else did, that she was an imposter. She felt as if the Queen might at any moment denounce her to the rest of the family, strip the gown off her and thrust her out into the winter night.

She’d used Sebastian’s dressing room to change, thanking heaven that high fashion for women was, unlike the styles of thirty years previous, easy for one to don unassisted. She didn’t think she could keep a straight face if she had to have a lady’s maid dress her.

When she emerged, Sebastian was there in the bedroom, straightening his formal tunic and knee breeches. His eyes widened. “You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you. So do you.” He looked unbearably handsome, making her wish she really were the lady her gown proclaimed her to be.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” he went on. “Just watch me to see which fork to use. It’s not hard.”

She wasn’t worried about which fork to use. Well, that was a lie. She wasn’t worried much about which fork to use. She was more worried about encountering Sebastian’s family. Reminding herself that they put their trousers on one leg at a time just like everyone else was small comfort when she considered they probably had servants to dress them. “I’ll be fine,” she said.

“Of course you will. Fiona—”

“Don’t say it.” His eyes were dark and intense and she wished she could hide from them. “This is all make-believe. It doesn’t change anything.”

His lips compressed in a tight line, and he turned away from her. “It’s just a small family party,” he said. “But I think Doug will be there.”

“How many of your family members know the truth?”

“I doubt anyone but Mother knows, aside from us. Landon might, but he’s so painfully forthright I could see Mother thinking he’d be a liability. She’d never tell Great-Uncle Sebastian or Emily. We should behave as if we know nothing, either.”

“I can do that.” She hesitated, then said, “Tell me about your family. What should I expect?”

Sebastian took a seat on the long sofa and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Landon only cares about two things, food and hunting,” he said. “He’ll talk about those for hours if you let him. His wife Veronica is so reserved it’s hard to get her to talk about anything, but she won’t seek you out. It’s not an insult—she’s just like that. My sister Emily, though, will want to befriend you.”

“That makes me uncomfortable.”

“You won’t be. Emily was born understanding social graces.

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