Page 51 of The Shadows Between Us
13
I look distastefully at the swaths of dark cotton in Leandros’s outstretched hands.
“You expect me towearthat?” I ask.
Leandros grins from where he stands inside the receiving area of my rooms. “I have an evening planned for us, but you can’t go dressed like that.”
“What’s wrong with how I look?”
I took great care dressing today. My gown is a light purple that clings tightly to my legs. No bustle or petticoats in sight. I’ve never felt more comfortable. The outfit was, of course, chosen because it matches the new shawl Kallias gifted me. Made from lavender satin, the shawl has woven tassels hanging from the ends, dripping with amethysts. I thought perhaps it might irritate him if he ever learned I wore it while entertaining another man.
Although, that other man is currently dressed like a servant. With cotton trousers, scuffed boots, and a threadbare white shirt, he looks ready to crawl under a bridge to sleep for the night.
“You look rich and irresistible,” Leandros says. “That won’t do for where we’re headed today.”
I feel my face scrunch up into an uncomfortable frown, but I can’t seem to care. “Where are you taking me?”
“It’s a surprise.”
I still don’t reach for the clothes.
“Look, you can either go to bed early tonight, or you can do something a little dangerous and a lot of fun.”
He thrusts the clothes into my arms and shoves me toward my bedchamber.
When I emerge, I look down at myself.
I wear a white blouse with loose sleeves gathered at the wrists. The overskirt is a plain black, wrapping tightly about my breasts and midriff before falling loosely about my legs. It’s plain, boring, peasantlike.
Leandros stands behind me and lets down my immaculate hair.
“Stop!”
Too late. The strands fall about my face in loose waves.
“It took my maid an hour to do that.”
“And it was lovely,” Leandros says. Something about the wicked gleam in his eyes stops me from protesting too much.
This will be an adventure, even if I’m clothed poorly. And Leandros will pay me attention the entire night. It’s what I’d told him I wanted from Kallias. And having another man vie for my attention—one who isn’t blackmailing me to do so—is too good an opportunity to pass up.
It’s petty, I know. But I want to punish Kallias. And I need a distraction—just for a night—from the baron and constable who are set on ruining me.
“Let’s get out of here before anyone sees me,” I huff.
Grinning, Leandros shuffles me down the hallway before we turn into a servants’ stairway and make our way down.
Behind the palace, two horses are saddled and ready for us, a stableboy holding them by the reins. Leandros flicks the boy a coin before bending down next to me and cupping his hands together.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you onto your horse.” Realizing my confusion, he adds, “You can’t ride sidesaddle. Peasant girls don’t do that sort of thing.”
“I am no peasant!”
“Tonight you are; now step up.”
I realize right then that I have a choice to make. Either I do this, or I don’t. But no more shrieking because I’m a lady. I didn’t opt to go off with Leandros because I wanted to be treated like a lady. Ladies don’t spend time alone with men who aren’t their relations. They don’t cavort with the former best friend of the king to get more information about how to seduce said king.
