Page 25 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
Lady Vivian turned to me with a smile. “I had more than one dress prepared for this ball, and one of them simply does not suit me, but I think it’ll look divine with your colouring. Would you humour me by trying it on?”
“I couldn’t possibly accept a dress from you.”
“Of course, you can. I cannot see the eldest daughter of Marquess Vermillion attend the biggest ball of the year in a dress from the rack. Besides, as I said, it doesn’t suit my colouring.”
“Are you sure?”
“Quite sure.” She peered out of the window. “Ah, we weren’t too far away. We’re almost here.”
She was right. The Trelawney estate appeared before I knew it, and I quickly became acquainted with Lady Vivian’s no-shit attitude. I was swept out of the carriage and into the mansion by her with our maids scurrying along behind us. Lady Vivian gave orders as we moved, sending maids scattering through the house.
By the time we reached her dressing room, the most gorgeous green dress I’d seen in either of my lives was already waiting for us.
It was the exact colour of my eyes.
It had a strapless sweetheart neckline, and the bodice was adorned with exquisite silver beading that was concentrated in the centre of the bust. It stretched down as if it resembled a stomacher jewel, and the adornment lightly petered out as it reached the skirt.
The skirt itself was made of light material, and the layers of it fell like waves, giving it an almost asymmetrical look. More layers of a lighter material were attached to the waist, and the main layer had stitching that perfectly matched the beading of the bodice.
No.
Beading was wrong.
It was jewelling.
The dress was adorned with tiny diamonds.
There was no way I could accept this dress.
“Lady Vivian, I—”
“There are also matching gloves,” she said, taking a small box from a maid. “They’re quite short, but we felt long ones would take away from the bodice.”
“I can’t accept this,” I said quickly. “It’s far too much.”
“Nonsense.” She handed the gloves to Bella. “We’re the same height and about the same size, so it shouldn’t need too much altering. Everyone will help you try it on.”
“I can’t—”
“Think of it as a token of our friendship.”
Damn it.
She had me.
I stared at her for a second, then sighed. “You win.”
She grinned. “Then call me Vivi.”
“Only if you call me Allie.”
She clasped my hand in hers, and that playful twinkle was back in her eye again. “Deal, Allie.”
Lady Vivian Trelawney—your worst enemy or your most loyal friend.
I’d earlier wondered which one she’d be to me.
I had my answer.
