Chapter 67 For tonight
SOMA
After the bath, we settle down for dinner in the living room. Nerves flutter in my belly as I watch the time.
“Do you want to wear something of mine?” I ask.
She’s been wearing the same maid uniform she had at the palace. They must have enough because she shows up each day looking neat. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to do anything about it until now. Not like I have the capacity.
“My lady.”
“Just for tonight,” I quickly add.
Tristan might always seem aloof, but I suspect he’ll show up looking his best. If that happens to be the case, Jade can’t be left out. It’s not my date, but I want it to go well.
“Since I came here, I haven’t worn any of the fancy outfits you packed. They’re just wasting away in there. We’re almost the same size.” She hesitates, and I say, “Don’t worry. You’ll stay in the room with me.”
That gets a big sigh out of her, and she nods. “Okay.” After a few more bites of her dinner, she asks, “Why are you doing this? You’re being nicer to me today.”
“Because today is a good day.”
Jade giggles and digs into her meal. We finish, and I help her into a green dress that brings out the color of her eyes. It fits her body perfectly, hugging her curves in the right places. Her hair is easier to tackle, and I pack it into a messy bun.
All done, we take a few pictures together and of her alone. The room goes silent as she inspects herself in the mirror. With only a minor change, she looks different.
“It’s so soft,” she mutters.
Awe spreads over her face, and my chest bubbles with warmth. I know what she’s feeling because I felt the same way the first time I wore a new dress. While she’s caught in the moment, I grab a pair of silver heels to match the dress, and she slides them on without complaint.
Jade twirls, and the dress rustles before settling back over her legs. A tear escapes her eyes. “My lady.”
“You can call me Dee,” I tell her. “For tonight.”
“No, I can’t.” She shakes her head, her smile making it difficult to be upset at her disobedience. “I’m afraid I’ll get used to the name, and I’ll be in trouble if anyone hears me call you that.”
It’s hard to disagree with her argument, so I nod.
“The dress is so pretty,” she says. “Thank you.”
“You can keep it.”
She gasps. “My lady. This is too much.”
“It’s not enough,” I counter.
Her eyes cloud with tears, and she twirls, bowing like a royal would. “I feel like a princess already.”
A knock sounds on the front door, interrupting the moment. It must be Tristan. He’s early.
I push Jade toward the door, saying, “Go check who it is.” She glares down at her dress, and her lips pull into a thin line. “It’s okay, I promise. Trust me on this.”
With a shaky breath, she steps into the living area, and I call out after her. “Pretend I’m not here, okay? Let your guard down and have a good time. Everything is fine.”
Leaving my bedroom door open by a crack, I watch her pause to take a deep breath before asking: “Who’s there?”
Whatever she hears makes her head turn toward me, but I back off until I hear the front door opening. Tristan steps inside, the door shutting softly behind him. Both of them stare at each other like they don’t know what to do. I was right. He cleaned up. His messy hair is smoothed away from his face, his shirt is ironed, and his shoes look different from what he wears to school.
Jade bends to curtsy, but he stops her. “Your Highness.”
Those words undo him. He pins her against the door, and I shut my door quietly before the scene escalates.
The next few hours pass in a blur, but the next day, Jade is in a great mood, ready to join me in class.
Tristan is waiting for us at the front door when we step into the foyer, and I suspect it has to do with her. Either way, I don’t mind the company. We pass Helga as we approach the class, and I’m reminded that I haven’t seen Brynne since yesterday morning. He was probably with her, doing what lovers do. Why did I let him kiss me?
We pause at the front of my class, and Tristan stops me from entering. Jade looks between the two of us, panic flaring in her eyes. With Tristan, I never have to worry about being hurt, so I nod, and she walks in.
“I have to tell you something,” he says.
“What?”
He spent over fifteen minutes in the living area with Jade yesterday, but I didn’t care since the night ended with an overly excited maid who didn’t let go of me until I threatened to report her to Lilith. It’s safe to say their date went well, and judging by Jade’s swollen lips, too many kisses were also involved.
“It was really an accident.”
“Huh?”
“Helga,” he clarifies. My fingers curl at my side, but my heart doesn’t race. It no longer hurts as much to hear her name. “The food tray. It was an accident out of her control.”
My brows furrow, and I ask, “How do you know that?”
“Well…” Tristan shrugs, and I know I won’t get more answers or explanations. “Take care of Jade.”
With that, he walks away. I glare at his retreating figure.
“Take care of her,” I mumble. “What about me?”
Who’s going to take care of me? I enter the class, and Jade’s eyes find mine. She relaxes when I slide into my chair and wink. We try to maintain the expected dynamic between a lady and her maid as students and lecturers enter, but it’s hard when she looks confused for half the class.
We attend the morning classes together, but she leaves after lunch. In her absence, I keep to myself, speaking to no one unless necessary. Again, the day ends with no issues.
The second I step into the house, a sweet scent hits me. I glance at the dining table, but dinner hasn’t been served. Whatever the chef made today must be delicious.
As I head upstairs, the scent thickens. I can almost taste it. Shivers race down my back, and I rub a hand behind my neck, not understanding why I feel too warm.
The hallway is empty, but Brynne’s door is open. Is he in? I tone down my curiosity and the buzz that flares in my chest. I don’t care about him or his absence. Yet when I’m at my door, I can’t help looking toward his, and that turns out to be a mistake.
Helga is on her knees before him. Unlike the day I found him with the palace maid, he’s on his feet, his erection aimed at her mouth. This is why he left his door open. For me to see.
Our eyes meet, and I think I whisper, “Don’t.”