Stolen Promise by Kimberly Nee

Author:Kimberly Nee [Nee, Kimberly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Psychic, Marriage of Convenience
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Despite his insistence Kristian be brought before him the next morning, King Andrei did not send for her. She saw little of anyone for the first few days following her arrival at the White Palace. Instead, the time was spent becoming acquainted with Alena Dubovska, the large-boned, high-spirited woman in charge of making Kristian into a queen.

Although it involved dry subjects, such as learning Mordainia’s history, there were also interesting ones as well. Dancing was her favorite. There were several traditional dances she was expected to know, and she had great fun learning them, even with Alena playing the role of Stefan. There was also proper dining etiquette to learn, and her eyes nearly popped from their sockets when, during her first lesson, she sat down to a place setting that nearly blinded her from the sheer amount of silver utensils surrounding her fine china plate. And the crystal! A different goblet for each type of wine? She would never remember which held what, or which fork she should use. But all in all, learning to be a queen was a fascinating endeavor.

Her favorite part by far was Alena. It took all of five minutes for her to come to adore her teacher. She was vivacious and cheerful, with a boisterous sense of humor to match her flaming red hair. Her greatest asset was her apparently endless supply of patience, for Kristian was fairly certain she stretched Alena’s to the breaking point.

Still, Alena’s wide smile never dimmed. She was full of questions about Kristian’s life in Lestav, and full of heated anger when she learned the truth of Kristian’s upbringing, all the while assuring her that she would still make a most impressive queen when the time came.

Alena was not alone, either. She brought with her an army of seamstresses, and Kristian spent the better part of four days being fitted for an entirely new wardrobe. When she wasn’t being poked with pins, or told to remain still, she pored over plates and drawings in all different styles from the most sedate of morning gowns to the fanciest of ball gowns. Even the plain gowns were beautiful beyond compare. She goggled over at the sumptuous silks, rich velvets, cool satins, and delicate muslin samples brought to her for approval. A far cry from the drab linen gowns she washed and wore day after day back at home.

“You must have at least two dozen ball gowns,” Alena told her sternly, as two seamstresses fluttered about Kristian, taking measurements and draping various fabrics over her shoulders. “And twice as many day dresses. Oh, and let us not forget, your wedding trousseau.”

It was difficult, forcing a smile to her lips. Still, Kristian managed, despite the stiffness in her shoulders, the ache spreading through her lower back. Pure torture, standing in the same position for so long. Not to mention, the ladies weren’t always careful about where they stuck their sharp pins.

She saw very little of Stefan during that time as well, which was a bit disheartening.

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