The Dreg Trilogy Omnibus by Bethany Hoeflich

Author:Bethany Hoeflich [Hoeflich, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-07T22:00:00+00:00

20

“Miss, please hold still.”

“I don’t see why this is necessary. Why can’t I just wear my own clothes?” Mara pressed herself against her wardrobe, trying to put as much distance between her and the rabid lady’s maid as possible. She would have rushed out of the room already, but the elderly woman blocked her path with her feet apart and arms out as if she were facing a rabid bear. Tamil was completely useless. He sprawled out on her bed, lost in a fit of giggles at her predicament.

“It’s not proper.” The maid brushed a hair back from her face, like it was a crime if even a single strand fell out of place.

“Surely His Grace doesn’t care what I wear,” Mara said, trying to reason with her.

“It’s not up to the likes of me to question.” She put one hand on her hip while using the other to brandish the corset at Mara like a sword. “I’ll have you know that this is the latest fashion. Her Majesty specifically requested that you wear this to dinner tonight.”

Mara muttered under her breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” Mara replied, wide-eyed.

“Well, come on then, Poppet, we’ve no time to waste.” She clucked her tongue, using the corset to herd her to her private bath. “Don’t know what they were thinking. It will take hours just to tame this mess,” she said, yanking on a strand of hair.

After every inch of her body was scrubbed and polished, her hair braided, and her face painted, Mary, her lady’s maid planted her in front of an ornate mirror.

“You look positively scrumptious!” she declared.

Mara looked positively dreadful. Mary had woven ribbons into her braids, making her look like a child. Her cheeks were painted a deep red that stood out unnaturally against the white paint that had been slathered over her skin.

Later that evening, Mara waited in her room, struggling to breathe. She’d managed to convince the lady’s maid to not tighten the corset as much as she’d wanted, but that was a small victory. It was the only thing between suffocating and being able to take short, shallow breaths. The dress itself wasn’t terrible, Mara decided. The light pink fabric swirled around her curves, making her look shapelier than she really was.

A knock sounded on the door and Mara hurried to answer it. Ethan and Alex waited in the hallway.

Alex took one look at her and burst out laughing. Mara’s face flamed.

Ethan pursed his lips like he was struggling to find the words. “Wow, you look . . .”

“Terrifying,” Alex added helpfully. “Do you still have a face under all that?”

Mara raised her hand to her cheek but stopped before she touched her face. Mary had threatened bodily harm if Mara smudged her ‘masterpiece.’ She eyed their attire. “Wait a second . . . Why do I have to wear this, but you two still get to wear your robes?”

“Perks of being in the Order,” Alex said with a wink.

“Ugh, this is so unfair,” she grumbled.

Ethan cocked an eyebrow at her, and a smile tugged at his lips.

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