Lori Wick Short Stories, Christmas Special by Lori Wick

Author:Lori Wick
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736968447
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Two weeks later Shani summoned Rashad, her personal eunuch, to her chambers. She gave him a message to deliver to Indira, and then she waited for a reply with ill-concealed impatience. There was never a time she wasn’t welcome in her mother’s rooms, but on this occasion Shani wanted privacy.

As she waited, she told herself to stay away from the mirror, but found it couldn’t be done. A huge smile broke across her face as she beheld her image for at least the tenth time that day.

Her dress was made of red wool. The sleeves were long and narrow and the neckline high and stiff. Shani had never worn clothing that covered so much of her person. She lifted the front of the skirt and nearly giggled at the pale linen pantaloons and woolen stockings that covered her legs. Shani was still amazed at the amount of clothing she’d had to don. There had been pantaloons, a camisole, a shift, the stockings, and a petticoat. All of this was before the dress. She was literally swathed in clothing, but Shani was having such fun she didn’t care.

She continued to study herself, turning to the side to see her profile and smiling with satisfaction. What she loved most about her new outfit was the way it disguised her body. She was still as straight up and down as a reed, but no one would be the wiser with the full skirt of the dress she now wore.

“What is so urgent,” Indira’s amused voice pulled Shani from the mirror, “that I must dismiss my maids from their duties and come to your chambers?”

Shani knew she was not angry over the disturbance. She stood waiting for her mother’s inspection and verdict. Shani turned in a full circle when Indira directed her with a wave of her hand. She tried to stay silent, but it was impossible.

“Just look underneath,” Shani chattered with the enthusiasm of a girl. She lifted the front of her dress to show Indira a network of underclothing. Indira’s eyes widened as she took in shift, petticoat, and bloomers.

“So much?”

“That is what Calla said,” Shani told her, referring to the woman who’d been brought from the north border to sew for the emir’s young ward.

“Maybe the day you visit this ship will be cool, and you will be glad for much cloth.”

“Indira,” Shani said, suddenly very serious, “do you know what day I’m to go?”

“No, little one. Poppy has not spoken of this to me.”

“Indira,” Shani questioned again, her voice now a little frightened. “Is Poppy angry with me?”

“No, little one.” Indira’s voice was gentleness itself knowing they had not hidden their emotions as well as they had believed. “Much is happening in the palace,” she explained.

“Rashad tells me the centennial approaches.”

“And so it does, but Poppy’s mind is full of many things, one of which is your happiness. Always understand, Shani, his only wish is to see you happy.”

Shani’s mind was put to rest and she turned back to the glass.

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