In Which Camaline Learns Another Lesson

September 1, 1171

Camaline knew she ought to be getting to bed, but she doubted she could sleep if she tried. She wasn't excited--she'd had Issa stuff her wedding dress away in the back of her wardrobe the minute her giddy stepmother had left, and Lord only knew how long it had taken to brush all of those experimental braids out of her hair--but there was a certain satisfaction that came with knowing that it was her last night in her father's castle. She supposed she loved her family, but they were a little... much.

Knowing them, they were probably still awake too. Her father and stepmother were no doubt nestled in bed, talking their mouths off about how marvelous tomorrow would be and how the wedding would be the event of the century and would be talked about for generations to come--their idea of foreplay, no doubt. Ietrin was probably trying to get in one last romp with Ellona before it was officially adultery. Riona was likely chattering away with no end in sight to Elhina and Ramona, who would have just wanted to sleep by this point. Maybe the younger three were in bed, but that was about it.

And Leara... well, Leara was probably doing the same thing she was, only still in her wedding dress and still playing with her hair and still panicking every time she came across a freckle. It was a good thing that of the two of them, Camaline had gotten the lion's share of freckles, as she didn't particularly care. Nor did she even have a reason to; Sparron wasn't attracted to her and probably never would be, no matter how flawless she was.

Not that she cared, seeing as she doubted she'd ever be attracted to him either. At least they had that understanding, which was more than she'd been able to hope for.

Someone knocked at the door. Camaline rolled her eyes; it was probably her stepmother, back for one last look at her all dolled up. She'd probably be furious to see that she'd dressed for bed already. "Yes?"

"Oh good, you're still awake."

Startled, Camaline turned around to see Aydelle lingering in the doorway. She looked sickly and tired and thin, just as she always did these days, but at least she was there--standing, smiling, radiant. She must have come to help with Leara's gown. She was probably staying the night to help in the morning. "I didn't know you were here."

"I didn't expect that you did; I came at the last minute." Her grin drooped for a second as her eyes flickered down to her left hand, but it returned as she looked up again. "You look a little tense--nervous about the big day?"

Camaline shook her head. "I don't think nervous is the right word."

Nodding, Aydelle closed the door, the lock clicking into place before she stepped around the bed toward Camaline. "Here, perhaps I can help."

She slipped in behind her and placed her silken hands upon Camaline's back, the muscles melting like butter under her palms. "Is that better?"

"Yes, thank you." Camaline twirled her hair between her fingers and inhaled, briefly looking up at the mirror to find a wistful smile upon her face. A wistful smile? She rarely smiled--much less, wistfully.

"You have such nice skin--you know that, right?" Aydelle's fingertips lingered at the base of her neck; Camaline swallowed as the world began to spin.

"Not as nice as yours."

Aydelle gave a dismissive half-laugh. "No, it never was--though it used to be nice enough, I suppose." She sighed. "Never have babies. They make a mess of your whole body."

Given the circumstances, she might have flinched had it been said by anyone else--but not Aydelle. When Aydelle said it, it almost felt like a relief, even if she was only joking. "They didn't make a mess of yours."

"Damn sweet of you." The older girl spun her around and kissed her on the forehead. "My husband doesn't quite agree, but I'm past the point of caring. I'm taking the children and going to Armion with your sister and her man."

If the world had been spinning before, it stopped now with a violent halt. "You're... leaving him?"

Aydelle nodded. "It's been a long time in the making, to be honest. I should have left him ages ago."

"Oh." Not sure what else she could say, Camaline jerked away from Aydelle and settled herself down on her bed. How was she supposed to feel? Shocked, perhaps... and she couldn't say she wasn't shocked.

And yet--though she knew it was cruel--she was also pleased.

"Oh, don't be feeling sorry for me," Aydelle insisted, taking a seat on the edge of the mattress and hoisting herself up. "I should have known it was a bad idea, or at least to pick a better man. At least I got the girls out of him, I suppose."

Camaline sighed. "Still must be an ordeal, though; you have to rearrange your whole life now."

"Yes, it isn't as if I was ever in love with the man or anything." She scraped the edged her fingernail against her thumb, as if inspecting it. Camaline had never given half a damn about fingernails, but she couldn't imagine there was anything wrong with Aydelle's. "And at least it's happening while the girls are still young--they can adjust more easily at this age. It's unfortunate, but I think I'll be happier in the long run this way. You'll be visiting at your sister's castle whenever you can, right?"

"Of course." She hadn't really been planning anything, but now that she thought about it... why not? Besides, Aydelle would probably need the company, especially if she was living and working in the same castle as the nauseatingly happy Leara and Lorn. "Sparron said he didn't expect me to just sit around all day if I didn't want to."

Aydelle closed her eyes, then pulled the pins from her hair, letting her silky black tresses cascade to her shoulders. "Sounds like he'll make a good husband, then."

As a compromise, Camaline grimaced. She doubted Aydelle would judge, but she had promised Sparron she wouldn't tell anyone his secret--and if she owed him anything, it was this. "In that regard, yes. He's a good man."

"Or he will be, when he grows up." Enigmatic as ever, Aydelle rose from the bed and approached the mirror. She took a few seconds to study her reflection, then undid her belt and pried loose the laces on her tunic, pulling it over her head and tossing it to the side. "The world could use a few more Sparrons."

"Maybe you'll find one some day," Camaline ventured, though the thought was a little odd--and a little painful too.

Aydelle flipped her hair over one shoulder and shrugged. "Possibly. I'm not sure I want a Sparron, though; I have a lot to figure out. Cammie, would you be a dear and help me with these laces? It's a new dress, and I'm not sure I can reach."

Camaline slipped off the mattress and joined Aydelle by the mirror. The laces were tied at the small of her back; it seemed to Camaline that they were in reach, but who was she to be sure? She'd never had to undo her own laces in her life. "So... do I just untie them and pull?"

The older girl laughed. "If that's what easiest for you."

Shrugging, she did just that, the lace freeing itself of each eyelet as Camaline tugged from the right. When the end crossed through the penultimate hole, the dress slipped from Aydelle's slender shoulders and fell to the floor. Camaline nearly jumped back; she hadn't been wearing a thing underneath. "Oh! Sorry!"

Aydelle laughed. "For what? You did as I asked."

"Yes, but..."

"But what? Do you think I just forgot to put on my shift this morning?" She turned around and wrapped her bare arms around Camaline's neck; in the lower reaches of her abdomen, something began to stir. "I wanted to make sure you knew I was going to Armion Keep. I also wanted to see if you cared for another little lesson just before your wedding day. Are you interested? Or should I have you lace me up again?"

It wasn't a particularly difficult question.

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