Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

A mber shot up in bed with a yelp, cold sweat coating her skin. The blankets tangled around her, sticking to her in an uncomfortable mess, trapping her legs in place.

Rose looked down at Amber from where she stood near the window, parting the drapes, concern covering her face as the early morning light shone down on Amber.

“Are you all right, Amber?” Rose asked, moving to come stand beside the bed.

“Of course. Everything is fine,” Amber replied, heart pounding in her chest as she did her best to push the nightmare from her mind. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Rose’s frown deepened. “That’s good, but I didn’t ask how things were. I asked how you are.”

“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t call it the same thing. Now, answer the question. If I wanted to know about everything, I would ask about everything, but I didn’t. I only asked about you.”

Amber huffed out a half laugh, fumbling her way out of the thick blankets. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t. I’ve been with you far too long for that, so you might as well just tell me.”

“Very well, but will you pour some water while we speak? I’d like to wash off a bit before I need to face the others.”

“Of course, but I expect you to talk while I work.”

“Of course,” Amber agreed.

She sighed as Rose poured water into a bowl, setting it beside the bed with a rag for her to wipe off the sweat. “It was nothing, merely a dream. It’s best just to try to move on with my day.”

Rose tutted, “Didn’t you just mention how hard it is to hide something from me?”

“I’m not, I really did have an unpleasant dream. Now that it’s over, I just want to move on with my day.” She tossed the rag into the bowl with a bit more power than intended, wincing as some of it splashed onto the table below.

Rose shot her a look.

Amber huffed, crossing her arms. “Do you have my ensemble for the day picked out already?”

“Of course, I do. I know what’s expected in the mornings by this point, but there’s no need to rush this morning, especially after the night you had. Give yourself a moment to breathe.”

Amber shook her head, shoving out of bed and onto her feet. “I don’t need a moment to breathe. Also, ask if we can have other bedding brought in. this one was far too hot. I just need to get on with my day, so can we just get on with it?”

Rose sighed. “If you’re sure that’s what you want.” She set a breakfast tray in front of Amber, motioning for her to sit back down. “Why don’t you get started eating while I show you what I picked out for you to wear today.”

“Thank you.” Amber let out an exaggerated groan, flopping back into her spot but not before shoving the ruined blankets out of the way. “Glad to see you know how to do your job.”

Rose rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. Just eat up.”

Amber ate her breakfast while Rose went to fetch her clothes, but Amber found she didn’t have much of an appetite, mostly just picking at the toast more than anything else.

It wasn’t long before Rose returned with yet another drab black gown. At least this one had a small bit of her embroidery along the hem. It wasn’t anything too special, just a few small fish swimming along the edge done in deep reds and golds.

The look was finished off with a ruby hair pin her mother had given her for her birthday last year. It was a small simple thing, but it was the only piece of jewelry she put on for the day.

“There you are.” Rose sat back, looking her over. “Does your hair feel secure?”

“It’s perfect, thank you.”

“Very good. I’ll see you when you come to change for dinner.”

“Unless Simon sends me back to my room early,” Amber grumbled before making her way from the room.

As she went, she grabbed one of her projects to work on and made her way back to the sitting room. She took up residency on a small deep blue sofa near a large window. It was in the corner. Amber preferred to be in the corner when applicable. It allowed her to keep an eye on the whole room, and by extension Simon and the wretched man he had decided to throw at her, so that she might be able to make an escape if needed.

It wasn’t long before Felicity approached her, her brother being tugged along behind her whether he wanted to be there or not.

“Good morning, Amber!” she greeted, coming to sit beside her. “Did you sleep well?”

She hesitated. “As well as can be expected.”

“I can understand that. I never sleep well when we have to stay over at someone else’s house. It’s never the same when you have to sleep in a strange bed, is it?”

Amber bit back her words. She wasn’t sure what to say without going into her dreams, and she did not want to do that. “Thank you for your concern.”

“There’s no need to be so formal. I told you, we’re friends.”

“Yes,” Amber smiled. “I suppose we are.”

“Well, now that you have a friend to keep you company, I will be going,” Christopher said as he turned away.

But Felicity wouldn’t let him go that easily. “Oh, come now, you can’t abandon us so soon. Besides, Amber might have something to show us!”

Amber blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re embroidery! Were you able to find any?”

“A few pieces, yes, but I doubt His Grace wants to see them.”

Felicity crossed her arms. “He might not, but I do, so show me, please!”

Amber hesitated then pulled out a basket, sliding it over to her. “I didn’t bring much with me.”

“That’s all right! I’m happy to see whatever you want to show me!”

“Go on then and look,” Amber suggested.

Felicity didn’t need to be told twice. Amber couldn’t bring herself to watch their reactions. She stared at the wall and waited.

When they didn’t say anything after a few minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Well?” she demanded. “Say something?”

Felicity shook her head. “Forgive me, Amber. I wasn’t expecting this. These are incredible.”

“What?” She looked over in shock at Felicity’s words.

“I mean it. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like these before. Where did you learn this?”

“I don’t know—I mean no one taught me if that’s what you’re asking. My mother taught me the basics of embroidery, but most of it was a long process of trial and error.”

“It’s incredible that you were able to come up with all of this on your own!”

She ducked her head. “It’s nothing, really.”

“You’re being too humble. Christopher, tell her!”

Amber’s eyes flew to the man who up until now had been silent. He had one of her pieces held in his hands, looking down on it with an unreadable expression. “It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, that’s for sure.”

“I can’t tell if I should thank you or be offended.”

“He means it as a compliment,” Felicity glared. “Don’t you.”

“Of course,” he said in a tone that made her no less sure of his sincerity.

“Lady Felicity,” a voice called from the other side of the room.

She turned with a sigh. “I promised Rebecca I would go for a walk with her. Don’t worry, we can catch up more when I get back. I shouldn’t be too long.”

Amber nodded. “Of course. Enjoy your walk.”

She turned to go. Amber turned to Chistopher, but he was already getting to his feet.

As he stood, he leaned in close.

“Come to the study in ten minutes. We need to talk.”

Then he was gone.