Open Read Online Free

stores. Tansy unhooked a large velvet sack
from her waist, one which usually lay at the bottom of Mera’s
wardrobe, and started removing neatly folded clothes.
    “ Don ’ t just watch!
Start stripping, we can ’ t do
much abut the boots, but you ’ ll be out side. Look at these clothes, wrinkled! I wont be
surprised if I get demoted to a chary after this! Do you dislike me
so much? Step into the dress, turn around. Well
it ’ s nice to see you at
least got a masque …I, oh. It
really is quite beautiful. ”
    Tansy tied
the laces on her dress, a deep maroon, dark pink petticoats, creamy
lace at neck, cuffs and hem. It tickled her hands and chin. She
sighed, formal wear was always uncomfortable, and now she would
have to be careful all night. She knew the dress was expensive, and
she had a habit of staining or tearing them. Tansy had finished her
ties, her hand briefly lingering on the soft velvet, and Mera knew
that she would do much to own such a fine dress. She moved to the
front of her, using her other dress, already dirty, to buff up her
boots. She stood. “ Stay
here. ”
    She
disappeared through the door, taking the dirty things with her
returning moments later, her cheeks rosy from the heat of the
kitchen. The clothes were gone and she had a damp hanky in her
hand, using it to wipe Mera ’ s face, hands, and finally calves.
    “ Tansy! Stop
it, I ’ m not a baby, I can
wash my own face, wh- ”
    “ We
don ’ t have time!
You ’ ll only dither or
question why first, their Highness ’ are leaving the throne room now! We have moments to present
you to them, before they meet with the main party, unless you want
us both disgraced in front of as many people as possible. Please,
Princess. ”
    “ No! You
can ’ t take me to them!
I ’ ll hurry, please. I was
going to sneak round to the Gardens, go through the training yard.
Please, they don ’ t have to
know I ’ m late again, I
don ’ t want to get in
trouble! You don ’ t want to
get in trouble either! Please, Tansy,
I ’ m
sorry. ”
    Tansy frowned
down at her, wringing the cloth. Obviously considering the
suggestion. “ Alright,
alright. No lying though, we ’ ll make it seem as if you were waiting in the Gardens. But
no lying, if their Highness ask you tell the
truth. ” she sighed “ We ’ ll both have to
accept the consequences. I ’ ll take you through the servants quarters,
it ’ ll be much quicker, now
let ’ s
run. ”
    She grabbed
Meredith ’ s hand, and they
didn ’ t run, but she led a
fast pace. There was a fine tremble to
Tansy ’ s hand, a gleam in her
eye. She was actually not that much older than Meredith, a woman
grown, but perhaps only five years older. Meredith suspected, now
that she had said sorry and they had a plan, that Tansy was a
little excited. She had helped cover for her in the past. She led
them through the main corridors, into the narrower, winding ones.
In all was a steady stream of Palace servants, dressed in the
household colours of cream and maroon, hurrying as they were. Many
cast knowing glances their way, but Meredith knew word of their
passing would not reach her mother. The job of the servants, after
all, was to make everything run smoothly. The corridors
occasionally gave way to stairs, they took those leading down. They
took a more direct root under the palace, rather that traverse it.
Tansy increased their pace, suddenly turning to one side, leading
them up a long spiral staircase. At the top she paused, gently
opening the door, and peeked through.
    “ Come on, I
can ’ t see
anyone …”
    The door led into the guest wing, overlooking
the Gardens. They hall they entered was a small one, at the end of
which was an elegant door, thrown open to the night. It opened onto
a shallow balcony, the well tended expanses of the Gardens awaiting
beyond. She could already hear the skirling music of reed
instruments, and a low murmur of voices. If it was low then the
main party had not arrived yet. She shared a