Hours passed in the room before two maids walked in – scowls on their faces. Neither of them looked pleased to see me. One was around my height with a crooked nose and straggly hair. The other was short and looked exhausted.

Neither of them spoke a word to me, rather they walked over, each grabbing a wrist, and pulling me to my feet.

“Don’t touch me.” I snapped, pulling free. “Is courtesy lost on the both of you?”

“Courtesy is only for the real family.” The maid, who had the crooked nose, sneered.

“Oh?” I leaned forward, stopping inches from her face. “So, by your logic I can grab you around the neck because you’re not part of the real family?”

She flushed a deep red and staggered back, touching the base of her throat. “You wouldn’t dare do such a thing.” She hissed.

“Touch me again and find out.” I walked past them both, and pulled open the door. “Shall we go? We can't keep Madam Poshlyn waiting now, can we?”

“H-how dare you. I will-”

“Stop it, Annette.” The other maid grumbled, following after me. “She’s right.”

“This is absurd.” Annette muttered, briskly walking past me. “I’ll report you to the headmaid and-”

“Go ahead.” I stopped abruptly, crossing my arms. “But you’re going to have a bigger problem explaining why I never showed up for the fitting.”

“What do you mean?” Annette whirled around, eyes flashing. “We’re already-”

“I’m not going.” I shrugged, leaning against the wall. “Not with you.”

“You have to go.” She ground out, stomping up to me. “It’s the Duke’s orders.”

“Annette, just go back to the kitchen.” The other maid said, tugging on Annette’s sleeve. “If we don’t take her – the only people going to be punished will be us.”

“Why are you giving into her of all people?” Annette snapped, rounding on the other woman. “She’s nothing but a price tag. If she was the young master I would understand but-”

“I’m not arguing with you Annette.” The woman held up her hands. “Really, I’m not, but she’s not going to go unless you leave.”

Annette let out a huff, stomping toward me. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today.” She grinned, jamming a finger into my chest. “ Otherwise I’d-”

I didn’t let her finish – my body moved before I had the chance to consider what was happening. I raised my arm and smacked her hard across the face. Annette’s eyes widened in shock and pain as her head whipped to the side.

Oh. Well…she deserved it after all.

“I told you not to touch me, didn’t I?” I snapped, ignoring the stinging in my hand. If the Duke hears about this he’s going to throw a fit. I knew that, but I was getting sick and tired of the treatment I had been getting in this hell hole.

“How dare you-”Annette snarled – raising her own hand.

“Annette. Don’t.” The other maid snapped, grabbing Annette’s arm mid-swing. “Just walk away. Please.”

“Did you not see what she just did to me?” Annette fumed, trying to dislodge the girl.

“I know, but she’s already late.” The girl tugged Annette back, pushing her down the hallway. “Go before we both get a pay cut.”

Annette let out a sound between a growl and a scream, turned, and stomped down the hallway threatening to feed me dog crap later.

“She’s gone.” The maid said, averting her gaze. “Will you please follow me?”

I shrugged, pushing off the wall. “Lead the way.”

The maid scurried ahead, glancing over her shoulder every so often. I couldn’t tell if it was out of fear I would hit her or if she was worried I’d disappear. Realistically, it was probably a mix of both.

My instinctual response to Annette wasn’t something I intended to do, but I had no regrets. Hilariously enough, every time we passed by maids in the hallway who started to whisper at me and jeer – the guiding maid shook her head quickly – silencing them.

Interesting. I mused, narrowing my eyes at them. The maids turned away quickly, faces turning white. I wonder what’s going to happen if – no when – rumors start to circulate that I had hit the damn kitchen maid.

A few minutes later, we reached a set of white double doors. The maid stopped and knocked politely before opening it.

“Pardon, madam. I have brought Lady Kyla.” She said, bowing.

“Let her in you dolt.” A sharp, high-pitched, woman’s voice snapped from inside. “I don’t have time to listen to you.”

The maid flushed a deep red, bowed slightly at me, and scurried down the hall.

I suppressed a laugh that bubbled up and stepped inside the expansive room. Madam Poshlyn stood in the center of the room, with various fabrics surrounding her. The mess was comical to see, but her attire was far more interesting.

Upon her head a large, extremely wide, purple brimmed hat – with bright pink and green feathers – sat at an angle. The dress she was wearing was low cut, bright pink and yellow, and hugged her body. On her feet she wore four inch green heels – ones that looked like they could kill a man.

“Welcome, sweetie!” Madam Poshlyn strutted forward, embracing me in an awkward hug. She planted a kiss on each cheek and pulled back, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you thinner than the last time I saw you?” She stepped back, crossing her arms.

“Granted the last time I saw you, you were about this high.” She held out a hand, hovering it to show the height of what a child would be. “You were skinny as a rail then.” She clicked her tongue. “No matter, no matter. Follow me.”

She turned around and walked across the room toward a triptych cheval style mirror. I followed behind her, stopping when she spun around, grabbing my shoulders.

“Why are you barefoot?” She demanded, glancing at my feet. “Oh never mind. I have a pair of heels you can wear.”

She released me, bent down, and tugged off her heels. “Put these on.”

“I-”

“Oh, don’t worry.” She grinned, thrusting them into my hands. “I know you don’t wear heels this high.” She cackled, walking back toward her fabric. “I’ll take that into consideration when I measure you.”

Do I have to wear these? I stared at them. Would they even fit?

I glanced over at Madam Poshlyn. She was in her own world, humming as she picked up fabric, muttered to herself, tossed some aside, and continued looking.

“They won’t bite, you know.” She called, not even sparing me a look. “Put them on, young lady.”

I’m afraid to say no. This woman is the embodiment of a hurricane.

I bent over, slipping into the shoes. Strangely enough they did fit. The problem was I was afraid to move. They weren’t sturdy and I felt like if I sneezed wrong – I’d end up on the floor.

“Good. Good.” Madam Poshlyn marched over with two different fabric swatches. She held a pink one up to my face, and wrinkled her nose. “Nope. You’re too vibrant for pink.”

She tossed the fabric over her shoulder – holding up a deep red one. “Hmm. Hmm.” She tapped her chin, standing on her toes to stare directly into my eyes. “I think you’re a red. Yes.” She muttered to herself, walking away. “Red may be imperial colors, but I don’t care.” She chuckled, setting the fabric down and grabbing a spiral of measuring tape.

“Do you care, sweetie?” She bound back over, wrapping it around my chest. “No, you shouldn’t care.” She answered before I could even open my mouth. “It’s bold and bright and simply stunning.”

“Perhaps I could do a white or black instead. I don’t want to-”

“Oh hush.” She tapped me on my back side, and continued circling me and measuring like a demon. “So long as I don’t add any gold into the gown no one will say anything.”

She stopped before me, glaring at my chest. “Why are you so busty? It’s unfair to someone like me. Anyway,” She continued, wrapping the tape around my hips. “Even if someone does say something, who cares?” She cackled. “I can give you a pair of heels that you can use as a weapon.”

“I really don’t think that’s necessary. I’m not planning on-”

“Every woman needs a weapon.” She cut me off again, crouching down and measuring my feet. “I won’t make them as tall, but I can make them sharp. Sharp enough to stop any wagging tongue from flopping for too long.”

“Madam Poshlyn.” I said, a laugh slipping out. “Just what kind of fighting do you think I’ll be doing?”

“Well, that’s just the thing.” She bounded up, strutting across the room. “I’ve heard many stories about you from loose lips – I might add. You’re bound to run into someone who wants to pick a fight.” She laughed to herself. “Anyway, the order only included a ball gown and six outer wear dresses. I’m adding the shoes as a favor to you.” She winked. “Trust me on this, sweetie.”

“Thank….you?”

“Oh, stop.” She giggled. “I’m going to make you untouchable. Well, I must be off.”

She snapped a finger and all the fabric that had been lying around the room floated through the air –returning to the box she had brought. “Toodles, love!”

Madam Poshlyn skittered across the room, the items trailing behind her.

“Oh. Silly me.” She laughed, running back over to me. “My shoes, doll face.”

“Oh. Yeah. Right.” I bent over and quickly took them off, handing them over.

She quickly stuck her feet into them, kissed me on the cheeks again, and fled from the room.

Why does it feel like I was just hit by a train? I wondered as the doors swung shut behind her. Madam Poshlyn is, without a doubt, a force of nature.