tales of the latter kingdom 08 - moon dance Read Online Free

air of desperation about them. Adalynn would not be quite so high and mighty if her younger sister also managed to betroth herself to the son of an earl.
    And no wonder that Mayson himself was beginning to feel a bit desperate. It was clear enough to me that he felt no real attraction to her, although she was nearly as lovely as her older sister.
    Well, he was a grown man of twenty-two. He was not bound to stay here, could make his excuses at any time and leave. Such a departure might lead to some recriminations from his father, but after all, Carella was not the only unmarried woman of good birth in the kingdom. My uncle was quite wealthy, apart from his title, because of the tin mines located on his lands, and so I supposed that made Carella somewhat more of a catch. Still….
    My aunt appeared then, pausing in the doorway so she could take a look at Adalynn. Her expression was generally one of amiability, but it softened even more than usual as she took in the sight of her daughter resplendent in rose and pearls. In the next instant, however, she became all briskness and business, and strode toward the bed with an air of exasperation.
    “Look at these gowns!” she cried. “All thrown willy-nilly! Where is Delanis, and why has she allowed things to be left in such a state?”
    “I wanted her to take in the bodice slightly, and she had left her sewing basket in her room,” Adalynn said carelessly. “She will set all this to rights when she returns.”
    Aunt Lyselle did not appear mollified by this reply. She gave her daughter a more critical look this time, then shook her head. “My dear, if you take in the seams of that bodice any more, you will not be able to breathe. That, or you may find yourself exposing more of yourself than you would like if you do take a deep breath.”
    Her sisters and even Janessa giggled at this remark, but Adalynn did not seem at all pleased by her mother’s observation. “It will be fine,” she said. “I do not plan to take it in much, as that would disturb the embroidery at the neckline. But the side seams could do with an extra half inch.”
    “Hmm.” Lyselle went closer to her daughter and inspected the seams in question, then gave a sigh. “If you must. But if Delanis is going to be occupied with tearing out those seams for the tenth time, then perhaps the rest of us should tidy up this mess. Come girls,” she added briskly, “let us do what we can to make order from chaos.”
    For the barest second, Carella’s lower lip stuck out in mutiny, but then she did as she was bidden, and went over to the bed and began gathering up the discarded gowns. Likewise, Theranne and Janessa put themselves to work picking up chemises and stockings. I made a move to help, but my aunt shook her head at me. Adalynn and I were of an age, and for that reason my aunt was careful to avoid asking me to do much in her service, of doing anything that might make it seem as if I were her inferior.
    So I stayed where I was, in my post not too far away from the door, while Aunt Lyselle busied herself with tidying up the rather dizzying array of slippers that lay scattered on the floor. She put away several pairs, then picked up the next and let out a sound of dismay.
    “Goodness, Adalynn! Whatever have you been doing with your shoes? They look as if you’ve been sweeping the stable yard in them!”
    “What?” Adalynn demanded in annoyance, finally turning away from the mirror so she could inspect the shoes in question. At once her expression altered to one of consternation. “The new embroidered ones you brought me back from Bodenskell?”
    “The very ones,” my aunt said, looking none too pleased. The slippers she held were very pretty indeed, or at least had been once upon a time. Now I could see that the soles had been shredded almost to nonexistence, and the delicate embroidery in shades of blush and ivory and pale green had been torn, with loose threads hanging everywhere.
    “But I have only