Her webbed fingers would give her away, and being caught in the city would mean arrest and expulsion, if not worse. They were her great flaw as a spy. Shed finally made the decision to have the webbing cut away, as her superiors insisted, and had planned to take her half day off this weekend to have it done. But Isabels sudden decision to elope had fouled those plans. Oriana hadnt decided if she was vexed . . . or relieved.
Isabel opened the door only wide enough for the maid to pass her something and closed it quickly. She turned back to Oriana, a mischievous grin lighting her face, and held up a pair of maids aprons and two crumpled white caps. See what I have?
Oriana stood there with her mouth open. Why would Isabel ask for those ?
Isabel rolled her eyes. A disguise, she explained. See? If we wear black, we can put these on over our skirts and well look like housemaids.
Well, the only thing more scandalous than engaging in an elopement had to be exposure while doing so. The disguise would make the two of them less noticeable at the train station; most people in Isabels circles didnt notice servants. Surely none would comment on a couple of housemaids dragging luggage about for their mistresses, even this late in the evening.
I understand, Oriana said, trying for an enlightened expression. The black serge skirt she currently wore would pass for a housemaids, but her white cambric shirt and the blue vest wouldnt. Ill need to change my shirt, but it should do.
Isabel tossed the aprons atop the chiffonier and grinned. See? It will all work out.
Im certain youve planned for everything, Oriana allowed, inclining her head in Isabels direction.
A dimple appeared in Isabels alabaster cheek. When it comes to marriage, one must.
Oriana laughed softly. Isabel always had a clever retort on her silver tongue, a talent she envied.
She regarded the pile of garments atop the bed and tried to think of the best way to tackle the task ahead of her. An open trunk waited on the old cane-backed settee at the foot of the bed, although she would have to fold and tuck judiciously to get all these garments into it. She would likely have to add a portmanteau as well. Mr. Efisio had gone ahead to Paris, but he had ordered his coach to pick them up no more than a block away. She could carry their luggage to the coach in two trips if needed.
Isabel watched, tapping one slender finger against her cheek. Now, what have I forgotten?
Nightdress? Oriana reminded her.
Oh, I mustnt forget that. Isabel dashed back to the dressing room.
Oriana folded the blue skirt from the top of the pile and set it in the trunk, located the shirtwaist Isabel wore with it and tucked that in next, and then headed into the dressing room to hunt down the matching jacket. She found Isabel standing before the full-length mirror in the cluttered dressing room, holding up a nightdress. It was her most daring, a white satin that bared much of her bosom like an evening gown.
Isabel glanced over one shoulder at Oriana, her face glowing with excitement. Do you think he will approve? Its not too shocking, is it?
Isabel was blessed with an ivory complexion and thick black hair. She had delicate features, delicate hands, delicate feet. Her hazel eyes had been the subject of many a wretched suitors poem, and her rosy, bow-shaped lips had earned their own paeans. She was everything that Oriana wasntbeautiful by any standard. A good thing too, as Isabels sharp tongue and cutting wit might have earned her enemies
were she less lovely. But shed gathered a court of suitors and held them fast while waiting for a man of both adequate means and malleability to come along. Mr. Efisio had never had a chance once Isabel made up her mind to have him.
Orianas eyes met Isabels in the mirror. Im certain hell like it, shocking or not.
Good. Isabel smiled contentedly at her reflection, but turned back to Oriana, her face going serious. I know you dont approve. Im grateful youre coming with me anyway.
Oriana opened her mouth to apologize for her earlier arguments with Isabel over Mr. Efisios fate, but paused. She still didnt approve. She nodded instead.
I do love him, Isabel said then, the first time shed told Oriana so. Have you never been in love?
Oriana gazed down at her folded hands, her throat inexplicably tight. She was only a few years older than Isabel, but her situation in life had never been amenable to courtship. How many times had her aunts pointed that out? Unlike women within human society, among her people a female often remained alone; there simply werent enough males. Those females not meant for a mate were destined to serve their people instead, as Oriana did.
That thread of Destiny that bound her soul to some others? Oriana didnt think it existed. She had resigned herself to that years ago . . . or shed thought she had. Seeing Isabel so excited about her upcoming nuptials made Oriana wish shed been one of the others those for whom Destiny had chosen a mate. No, she admitted when she found her voice. Ive never been in love, so I suppose I cant understand.