Gilt by Wade Lewellyn-Hughes
Author:Wade Lewellyn-Hughes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: strong female character, dragons, female friendship, Sword and sorcery, fantasy ballet dancer, high society nobles
Publisher: Wisdom, Wonder, & Whimsy Books
Published: 2017-10-01T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter 8: Golden Threats
Carolle peeled off her glowing costume, dropped it in front of the mirror, and fell into the only chair in their bedchamber. She propped her sore feet on her bed. Braith brought over a tray with heated oil and soap.
Lucille wrung out a steaming rag and laid it over the mouth of the ewer on the bath stand. âIâm only saying you should hear Gaines out.â Carolleâs glower didnât deter her. âDonât do something rash, like. Iâm not being funny; that plat can do a proper lot of good. In your hands.â
âIn my hands? Youâre doing my head in, Luce. I couldnât do what Rodinger can.â Carolle poured the olive oil over the pitch on her chest and began to rub it in. âGaines and his fatherâll use whatever I tell them against our own queenâs wishesâagainst the Bonded Nations. Iâm sure of it.â
âThe Bonded Nations?â Lucille asked, passing over the damp rag. âWhoâs getting ahead of herself now? Weâre talking about one noble and the Warring States. You canât know whatâll occurââ
âI can! Because I wonât do it!â Carolle wiped the last of the olive oil from her chest and slung the rag to the tray. âIâm not my mam! Iâm not a whore!â
Lucilleâs cheeks went ruddy. âI was. The women who reared you were! You look down on them now, do you?â
âCourse not, Luce bach.â Carolle sat forward. âIâm only saying Gaines is buying a part of me thatâs not for sale, man. No coin should give me pause over that.â
Braith said to her fidgeting fingers, âReally makes you a mercenary more than a prostitute, doesnât it?â
Carolle defied Lucilleâs glare with her own and responded with an audible sigh through her nose.
Someone gently tapped twice at the door. It cracked open. âBraith, love?â Dafydd asked. Braith scurried to block his view.
Lucille draped her cloak over Carolle. They sat opposite each other with softened features. âThereâll be Gaines,â Lucille whispered.
âI never wanted to feel this way,â Carolle said. âThe way that coin makes me feel.â
Lucille sulked and studied her hands in her lap.
âThis is whatâs best, Luce.â
Braith put her back to the door and offered a reassuring smile. âItâs not Gaines. Madame Davies wants a word, Carolle. I told Dafydd youâll be there now in a minute.â
Dressed as herself, Carolle sought out Madame Davies in the suites upstairs and found her sitting at her vanity. A letter preoccupied her thoughts among the plentiful bouquets. âMadame Davies?â
âNever thought you the type, Carolle bach,â she said without looking up. âTo marry into security.â Carolle took the note. Rodingerâs formal invitation to dinner.
Madame Davies waved away her words. âIâm not saying I disagree with your methods. I shouldnât be surprised. Youâve always taken care of yourself more than the rest have done.â
âIf that were true, I wouldnât be in the troupe.â Carolle laid the note aside and stood behind her matron. She began removing hairpins from the older womanâs lavender-perfumed curls. âLord Bernard is a friend, not a suitor.â
Madame Daviesâs cackle dwindled into a chortle.
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