Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Author:Jaclyn Dolamore
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Published: 2011-11-15T19:04:57+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

When Ginnia came to help her dress the next morning, she carried a bundle of new clothes in her arms—men’s clothes.

“Mr. Dare suggested that you wear these for flying,” she said.

Esmerine unfolded the pieces—a linen shirt, a storm-gray vest, dark-blue breeches, stockings, and knee-length spats like Alan himself wore. “I can put these on by myself, Ginnia,” Esmerine said. “Thank you.” She could hardly conceal her glee.

Esmerine would not have liked such clothes a week ago, when she was unused to wearing clothes at all—the tight spats and breeches made her more aware than ever of her individual legs—but compared to women’s clothes, they were comfortable and easy to move in.

“Do they fit?” Alan asked when she came out.

“Maybe a little snug, but better than my other clothes.”

“You’re taller than my mother,” he said. “I’ve been giving you her clothes, I hope you don’t mind. My father brought me a trunk of them and told me to bring them to market for some pocket money, but I kept putting it off, and good thing I did.”

“How do they look?” She did a half turn. “It feels so funny to wear boy clothes!”

“That’s what Fandarsee women wear all the time,” he said. “Dresses simply don’t work, the way our clothes fit. So I don’t see them as boy clothes at all. Oh, and you should braid your hair so it stays out of your face.”

They ate a substantial breakfast and packed a bundle of extra clothes along with the winged statue, which Alan thought his father might accept as part of the bargain. Swift came around to say good-bye, as did Belawyn, who didn’t seem as surprised as Esmerine expected. Esmerine still felt guilty for dragging Alan away from the shop, even if it was his idea.

“Don’t worry yourself, my pearl. I managed this shop before Alan came along, and I’ll manage it without him. Besides, thanks to your siren song this week, there’s a little extra to go all around. Anyway, do you think I’ll miss him and his meddling father?” She laughed, but when she told Alan and Esmerine to be careful, Esmerine knew she meant it.

“Don’t do anything foolish, now,” Belawyn said. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, and you might want to avoid most things I would do as well.”

Swift looked the most upset. “It’s too bad you can’t stay longer. The customers were nicer because of your songs.”

Esmerine smiled, but she knew she couldn’t honestly tell Swift she’d be back, or that the shop would be just fine.

She gave them both a hug, while Alan offered a polite bow. “We ought to get going. Esmerine, are you ready?”

“I guess so.”

He looked out at the nearly empty street. The sun had barely risen, and the hustle and bustle of daytime had not yet begun. “You’ve never been up so high before,” he said. “You might feel scared.”

“I might feel scared, you’re right, but I’ve also dreamed about flying with you forever. I trust you.”

Alan reached down inside the top of his spats and pulled out two leather loops.

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