Amber's Dilemma by Madelyn S. Palmer

Author:Madelyn S. Palmer [Palmer, Madelyn S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781490767437
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Published: 2015-12-11T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

THE ROYAL BALL

The time neared for Amber's birthday ball. Queen Elinore gave Amber her permission to wear the lacy ball gown Amber had found in the attic. However, it was too long, and the neckline felt a little low. Amber stared at herself in the mirror, wishing she had more bust to fill the dress. Shelley entered her room right then, and saw Amber's expression.

"Let me look at you, Princess Amber," Shelley told her, putting down the armload of clean linens. "Turn around."

Amber obeyed, stretching herself as tall as possible.

Shelley pulled a pincushion out of her apron pocket. "If I hem up the skirts, the length will work."

"What about the bust line?" Amber asked.

Shelley gazed at her critically. "We could stuff the bust of the dress with cotton."

Amber rolled her eyes. "I'm so flat-chested, people will know it's not me." She pulled up on the front of the bodice, trying to hide her lack of cleavage.

Shelley stroked her chin. "We could take some of the fabric from the extra hem, and lay it across the chest area. I can find a little more lace for the edging. Would that work?"

Amber looked at herself in the mirror and tried to picture how it would look. "Okay. You may do it."

Shelley knelt down and pinned up the hem to the right length. She made it a little shorter in the front, so Amber's toes would just show, and a little longer in the back so the skirts swished around behind her. Amber was delighted.

Just then they heard a knock on the door. "Come in!" Amber and Shelley called together.

Matthew peeked his head in around the corner. "Cousin Harry is here!" he announced. "Father wants you downstairs right now." His eyes widened. "Wow, you look beautiful in that dress!"

Amber smiled. "Thank you, Mattie. I'll be down as soon as I change."

Matthew shut the door. Amber sighed. She was not looking forward to Cousin Harry's visit. She remembered past years, when Harry was only interested in boy activities with Matthew, and she was forced to tag along. She was not interested in hunting, hiking, or throwing rocks. And Cousin Harry had acne.

Shelley helped Amber out of her dress, and she threw on one of her nicer every day dresses. After one last glance in the mirror, and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she dashed down the main stairs to the front hall doors.

Matthew was out front, helping Harry unload his belongings. Amber watched from the doorway. Harry was fifteen going on sixteen. He had grown at least eight inches in the past year, and he looked strong, tossing bags or lowering trunks from the top of the carriage with ease. He laughed and joked with Matthew and George as they unloaded. From this distance his features appeared handsome, and she really couldn't discern any acne.

They finished unloading, and the castle staff began carrying the bundles inside. Harry directed a couple of the packages as being gifts for Queen Elinore and King Robert.

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