Page 17 of Beginning at the End
She walked out of the change room and looked at Fen, who suddenly lifted her leg in a standing split, whirled, and then stepped gracefully with little hops.Pandora’s eyes were bright.“I know a little girl who would love to watch that and then learn how to dance.”
“It starts slow, and then you get into it.That’s how you learn.The formalities are just formalities.The love of movement comes first.”Fen kept stepping and twirling around the shop then stopped at the change room.“This one works.”
Eudora nodded.“It does.Den is going to try his hand at being a cameraman.”
Pandora grinned.“Sern and Den?”
“Don’t be weird.Den is a hugger, but we are not right for each other.I also would never mess with brothers.”
Pandora blinked.“Whoa.That I did not know.”
“You can see it if they are side by side.”
Fen smiled.“You look amazing, Dori.”
“Thank you, Fen.We can’t all be dancing goddesses like you, but I make do.”Eudora turned and looked at herself in the mirror.She needed to do something with her hair, and it would be better with a necklace to break up all the bare skin, but she would just have to improvise or deal with it.
Fen looked at her.“Dori, don’t you have a gold and jet necklace?”
“No.It belongs to Likon.All of my jewellery did, and he got me to dump my costume stuff, so I will just look like a bare canvas.”
Pandora snorted.“Like fun you will.I have something to match every outfit, and if I don’t, I can get someone to make you something.”
“No fuss.I don’t want to take advantage of Sern’s generosity.”
Pandora laughed.“Please.Take advantage.Some of the elves have been around for decades, and a few for hundreds of years.They all have focused on gathering wealth and are very good at their little hobby.”
“That makes me feel marginally better.”Eudora smiled.
Fen blinked.“I can’t believe you don’t have anything from the marriage.You had some lovely pieces.”
“They were never mine.We had a prenup, and all items purchased for events remained Likon’s possession.I don’t know what he will do with the dresses, but that is his business.”She looked down.“I am going to try something else.”
She put on something with a standard V-neck and a wrapped feel.It was in a lovely midnight blue.
The neckline was high with just a hint of cleavage.It was less than a hint; it was more of a whisper.“This is more for church.”
Pandora nodded.“The wrap-style is good on you, though.Try the black.”
She returned to the change room and tried the black.“It’s a little dark for a Sunday afternoon.”
“The amethyst then.”
She nodded and tried the amethyst.It didn’t particularly suit her.
Pandora nodded.“Right, burgundy, yes, midnight colour, yes.Cuts low and wrapped.Embroidery for accent.Let’s do this.”
Fen watched as Pandora locked the door, draped burgundy fabric around a dummy that looked like it had Eudora’s body, and then there was touching and tugging, and a square-necked wrap dress with a heavily embroidered stomacher took form.
When Pandora finished, she went behind the counter and got a box from a display case.The necklace had huge, chunky, deep-red stones set in gold, and the design would work well with the neckline.
Pandora grinned.“Put it on.Oh.Shoes.”She grabbed a pair of shoes that turned burgundy and gold in her hand.“There we go.Now get dressed.”
Eudora took the dress she was handed and enjoyed the soft, slippery feel.When she was changed, she stepped into the shoes and put the necklace on.“Wow.Pandora, you do good work.”
Pandora chuckled.“I know.Now come on out, so I can bask in my magnificence.”
Eudora walked out, and Fen whistled softly.“Heck, I would date you in that.”
