Honor and Desire (Gold Sky #3) - Rebel Carter Page 0,7
going to be the finest dance yet, you know!”
“I suppose it--wait,” Seylah stopped short and gave her sister a confused look. “Why is this Mama’s last year doing the dance?”
Rose shrugged, looking at a swath of periwinkle fabric. “She says it’s time she steps aside and lets the next generation take the reins.”
Seylah’s eyebrows shot up. “The next generation? What does that mean?”
“It means,” Rose turned to her sister and shot her a bright smile, “that the way is open for us to plan the next dance! Won’t that be fun? Oh, I just can’t wait for it, and this dance is when she’ll announce that we are taking over.”
“I mean, well…” Seylah shrugged unsure of what to say when her sister looked so happy at the idea. The thought of planning the spring dance was enough to make Seylah want to run for the veritable mountains. “What do you mean we?” She finally asked when she could think of nothing else to say.
Rose blinked at her sister. “What?”
Seylah pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long suffering sigh at her baby sister. “I mean, what do you mean when you say we? What do we have to do with the spring dance planning?”
This time it was Rose who gave the long suffering sigh. She rubbed her temples and shook her head at her sister. “It means that we Baptiste women are taking over the planning. Carrying on with Mama’s good work and all that!” Rose punctuated her statement with a punch of her fist in the air.
“Oh no,” Seylah murmured eyeing the door. If she moved fast enough, she might be able to make it outside before anyone was the wiser. Perhaps she would be able to make it home in record time, where the only thing awaiting her hand at planning was when she might take apart her newest firearm, or deciding whether she would head out to help mend the fences before or after dinner.
“Oh yes!” Rosemary sang as she sailed into the front room. “And what brings the oldest and the youngest Baptiste ladies to my lovely shop?”
Seylah darted towards the door but Rose was far quicker than she appeared and caught her before she’d made it more than a foot. “Don’t you dare,” Rose hissed at Seylah who gave a pitiful moan at being detained.
“But Rose…” Seylah pouted.
“But nothing,” the younger woman growled at her sister before she rounded to face Rosemary. “Mrs. Rosemary, how are you? We are here for our fittings for the spring dance.”
Rosemary tilted her head to the side and gave the pair a considering look. “Then why is it that your sister looks like she might faint?”
“She skipped breakfast. She’s peckish,” Rose replied without sparing her sister a look. “Isn’t that right, Seylah?” She asked giving Seylah’s hand a hard yank.
“Ah, yes,” Seylah nodded with a weak smile, “that’s the measure of things.”
“If that’s all it is I’ll have something sent over from the cafe, hmm? Can’t have you fainting now that I’ve finally managed to get you to a fitting appointment. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am at the chance to dress you, Seylah.”
Seylah cleared her throat. “You’re thrilled?”
“Over the moon!” Rosemary trilled waving her arms before motioning them to follow her. “If you both come right this way, I’ll start by taking your measurements, Seylah. Rose, I believe we have yours on file from your last visit to us. You looked lovely by the way, in that summer outfit. I have half a mind to start commissioning you to wear our newest looks about town. If enough of the new arrivals see you looking so beautiful they’ll be beating down our doors for sure.”
Rose flushed, but gave Rosemary a pleased look. “I, ah, do you mean that truly?”
“Of course! How about we talk it over after your fitting? We have the entire summer line in the works and I’m quite sure more than one piece would suit you.”
“Like a fashion model?”
Rosemary wiggled her fingers at her. “The one and the same. Why you’ll be just like a Parisian girl!”
“I wouldn’t let daddy hear you say that,” Seylah said, hiding a grin at the dark look that crossed her sister’s face.
“Oh pish,” Rose said waving a hand. “He never lets me have any fun.”
Seylah nodded along, thinking of her overprotective father. He was, for all intents and purposes, aloof and quiet with anyone not of their family or trusted circle of family friends. Will