‘Ivy, remember what you told me?’ Olivia said.
‘Don’t let the coffin bugs bite?’ she replied, zipping up the side and twirling in the mirror.
‘This is our family,’ Olivia reminded her, ‘and they are going to love us just the way we are.’
Ivy took a deep breath and Olivia could tell she was forcing her smile. ‘You’re right. They will love me just the way I am . . . while I’m wearing one of your dresses.’
How weird, Olivia thought as she started to get ready herself. It was supposed to be me feeling like I didn’t fit in, not Ivy.
Chapter Four
A little less than an hour later, Ivy teetered at the top of a steep, twisting stone staircase.
How can I possibly survive this? Ivy thought. Four flights of stairs in these shoes . . . The heels weren’t high, but she was used to chunky boots, not dainty slippers. She gripped the handrail and willed herself not to collapse.
In front of her, Olivia stepped confidently down the stairs in her pink dress and silver Grecian sandals.
Ivy took a first tentative step, holding up the short train of satiny fabric that trailed behind the borrowed blue dress, and her ankle wobbled.
‘These shoes are impossible!’ Ivy declared, stopping.
Olivia turned back a few steps below her. ‘Just remember, toe first, not heel.’
‘I’m trying!’ Ivy replied.
What’s more embarrassing? Ivy thought, wishing Olivia had let her wear her own shoes. Boots with formal wear or falling flat on my face?
‘What if I get it all wrong?’ Ivy said. ‘What if I embarrass Dad in front of everyone?’
Olivia looked up at her. ‘You won’t. Besides, I’ll be right by your side the whole time. Now, come on.’
‘Good evening,’ Horatio said from the bottom of the last staircase, making Ivy jump. ‘May I show you to the drawing room?’
‘Yes, please,’ Olivia said.
More like show me to the firing squad, Ivy thought but followed anyway.
‘The guests have already arrived, including the Queen.’ Horatio led them back through the entrance hall and down one of the other long corridors.
Olivia gasped. ‘The Queen?’
Ivy stumbled in shock and nearly twisted her ankle.
They passed a fierce-looking suit of armour that was standing to attention, holding a huge battleaxe. Ivy half-expected it to come thumping after her, shouting, ‘Intruder!’
The sisters walked past a pretty young girl, a little older than them, with long, black braided hair wearing a white linen apron and black dress. She was heading in the opposite direction but paused to curtsy.
Ivy stopped. ‘Hi,’ she said. ‘I’m Ivy.’
‘Um.’ The girl glanced from Ivy to Olivia to Horatio. He gave her a small nod, as though granting her permission to speak. ‘Hello, miss. I’m Tessa.’
‘Hi, Tessa,’ Olivia said. ‘Nice to meet you.’
‘I love your bracelet,’ Ivy said, admiring the black eyelet ribbon wound around her wrist.
Tessa smiled. ‘Thanks. It isn’t technically part of my uniform, but Madam doesn’t mind.’
Horatio coughed lightly.