Honor and Desire (Gold Sky #3) - Rebel Carter Page 0,8
Barnes was downright intimidating to those he didn’t love, but even so, the man kept them all close and under strict rules. The effect was only compensated for by Forrest Wickes’ tendency to over indulge them to the point of spoiling. Seylah much suspected Will’s behavior to be in reaction to Forrest’s soft touch with them all. “Then keep this your little secret, hmm?” She advised her little sister.
Rose winked conspiratorially at Seylah. “I think you mean our little secret, big sister.”
Seylah held up a hand. “Oh no, I’ll not be included in that plan.”
“But you just advised me to keep it secret.”
“Precisely. I am only involved in an advisory capacity, not a participant.”
Rose pouted and turned to Rosemary. “I’ll do it, but Seylah is right. We musn’t let daddy know or he’ll get in one of his moods.”
Rosemary tutted while pulling out her glasses and turned towards her work table. “That man is a storm cloud. However, I suspect he’ll let you do as you please. We all know it. You’re the baby, after all.”
Rose preened. “True, true, but I aim to spend the holidays with Grandmama in New York City, so I have to keep up appearances of obedience. You understand?”
Rosemary laughed, unfurling a measuring tape. “I do.” She winked at the girls and then gestured for Seylah to come forward. “It’s time for your fitting, Seylah. Come stand up on this platform and I’ll get to measuring.”
“Can’t you just use Rose’s measurements?” Seylah asked as she slowly walked towards the small raised platform next to Rosemary. Her mind was already wandering, there had been a ruckus at the Yellow Rose saloon just the night before and she longed to inquire if all was well within. Though her job title was secretary to the sheriff’s office, it was not outside of her range of duties to check in on townsfolk and do her own fair share of policing. She’d been doing it for as long as she’d had the job and the locals looked to her for their safety as much as they did her fathers, or any of the other deputies.
Rose snorted and pointed at the top of her head. “You’re nearly half a foot taller than me, Seylah. That would never work.”
“A lady’s measurements must be exact to achieve the most flattering silhouette,” Rosemary said coming forward to catch Seylah’s hand when she made as if to step towards the door.
“I’m not a lady,” Seylah said, the words bursting from her before she could stop them, and she winced. The suddenness of her outburst silenced the other two women, and Rosemary froze where she stood, holding Seylah’s wrist.
“Why,” Rosemary pursed her lips and leaned closer, giving Seylah a scrutinizing look, “would you think that?”
Seylah cleared her throat and looked away. “No reason. I mean to say that I do not aim to present myself in a very ladylike fashion. All of this,” she nodded at the dress shop around her, “as lovely as it is, isn’t for me. It’s more for women like Rose or Delilah.”
Rose crossed her arms and pinned her with a stare. “You always get like this when anyone tries to fancy you up a bit.”
“Get like what?”
“Twitchy. Odd. Close mouthed and shifty-eyed,” Rose said too quickly for Seylah’s liking. “And don’t think I don’t know you’re already thinking on how you’d much rather be patrolling, looking for vagrants than here getting fitted for something pretty.”
“I do nothing of the sort,” Seylah replied with a jut of her chin. “I just am not interested in the same things as you, and that is—”
“Perfectly fine,” Rosemary said, breaking in between the two sisters. “You can like what you feel drawn to, but this is a special occasion with the dance announcement, after all, and being your ma’s special project….” her voice trailed off, the unspoken implication that it would mean the world to her mother hung in the air between them like a heavy smoke. If Seylah breathed too deeply she would surely choke on it.
As such, she cleared her throat and opted to give Rosemary a delicate shrug. “It is an important event.”
Rosemary smiled encouragingly at Seylah, and as if sensing Seylah wavering, she pressed forward. “It is! We need your measurements to make a dress as uniquely lovely as you are. I can make you a dress that will make you shine like the special young woman we all know you to be. Will you trust me to do that?”