Chapter 3

Everything about the dress Bastian got for me feels foreign. The laces are too tight and the skirts are too heavy, though I'm guessing that's because I'm not used to either of them.

"What do you think, Pip?" I ask my dog.

She cocks her head to the side and studies me intently as if she's actually considering my question.

"I feel ridiculous," I tell her. I open the wardrobe door and look into the mirror on the inside of it. The dress doesn't suit me, and if I have to hazard a guess, I'd say it was made for someone shorter than I am. At least the lacework is beautiful, and I don't think it's going to be too uncomfortable to wear for the evening.

I open the jewellery box that is the only thing of my mother's I have left. I don't remember her, and most of what she left us was sold when Da was still alive, but there's a pair of wooden combs within the box that I can use to pin my hair in place. No one is going to mistake me for a lady of high birth, but I have to admit that Bastian is also right, I do look better in this dress compared to the one I normally wear.

I run my hands through my light brown hair, teasing out the tangles and getting it into some kind of manageable state, though I'm not sure how well I actually manage. It only takes me a few minutes to pin my hair in place, with a few loose curls to frame my face.

"Now it's your turn," I tell Pip, crouching down by my dog and combing through her coat with my fingers until she looks somewhat presentable. A single scrap of lace still rests in the box, and I attach it to her collar as a bow so she also has something fancy to wear. I'm sure it's an unnecessary touch, but it makes me feel as if she's playing the part.

There's nothing I can do about the fact I only have a length of twine to use as a lead, but it's better than losing her.

"All right, I think we're done," I say to her.

She cocks her head to the side and studies me intently.

"You can look at me like that all you want, but I don't know any more about what's going on than you do." I push open my bedroom door and step into our living space, unsurprised to find Bastian already waiting there.

"Finally," he mutters.

"I'm ready on time," I protest.

He looks me up and down and gives me a nod of approval until his attention reaches Pip. "You're not bringing the dog."

"I am bringing Pip," I counter. "You said you didn't intend for us to come back here after tonight, I'm not leaving her." I have no idea what exactly the Golden Moon has in store, but I'm not risking leaving Pip behind.

"Fine. Just don't let her get in the way. If she ruins this for us..."

My fingers tighten around the makeshift lead. "She won't."

Pip presses herself against my legs as if she knows she's being talked about. I hope she doesn't understand how unreasonable Bastian is being.

A knock on our front door makes me jump.

"It's the carriage," Bastian says. "Count yourself lucky that we don't have to ride in the stagecoach with all the others going up to the castle tonight."

"Why don't we?"

"Because I arranged better for us," Bastian responds as he opens the door.

A sallow-looking man on the other side bows to each of us in turn. "I'm here to escort you to the castle."

Bastian simply nods and strides past him to climb into the carriage. I follow, offering the man a smile. "Thank you."

He nods. "It is an honour, my lady."

I resist the urge to point out I'm not a lady, and that his cravat is probably worth more than the dress I'm wearing. Instead, I focus on getting Pip into the carriage. She lets out a whine as she looks at it, which I assume is because the steps are too high for her to jump up by herself.

I bend down and scoop her up into my arms, placing her on the floor of the carriage. She still doesn't look particularly happy, but at least she's in.

My skirt catches on one of the steps and it takes me a moment to unhook it so I can climb up to join Bastian and Pip. My hand shakes as I take my seat and the footman closes the door behind me. An odd feeling settles within me, but I'm not sure what's causing it.

Bastian leans back in his seat, looking as if he's been taking carriage rides like this his entire life and not as if this was the first time. Pip doesn't look so sure. I lean down to stroke her gently, hoping it'll soothe whatever nervousness she's feeling.

"I don't know why you insisted on bringing the mutt," Bastian mutters.

"She's our family, I couldn't leave her behind."

"She's a dog."

Pip growls at him.

"Shh," I tell her. "He doesn't mean that."

From Bastian's expression, I'm not so sure, but while he's chuntering about the fact I've brought Pip, he hasn't actually stopped me from doing it.

She finally settles down, putting her head beneath her paws and watching us both with wary eyes. I take the chance to look out of the window, watching the town as it passes me by and fades away until it's replaced by the darkness of the woods.

Nerves worm their way through me the further we get from our home. I don't have many possessions, but I have none of them with me besides the combs in my hair. I hope that when Bastian says we won't go back there, he doesn't mean that we won't be able to collect our things, but he's acting strange tonight.

The moon appears between the trees and I gasp. There's a yellow hue to it that almost looks like it's shimmering gold. I don't think I've ever seen it look like this before, but as it's been five years since the last Golden Moon, it's possible I've just forgotten.

There's something magical about it, which does something to dispel the nerves. How can anything go badly wrong on a night like this?

We pass through the woods and head towards the winding road up to the castle. Without the trees in the way, it's possible to see all of the other carriages making their way to our destination. The gold light of the moon bounces off the gleaming wood and materials of them all, making it a wondrous sight. I try to count how many there are, but it's impossible to. Every time one of them goes out of my range of vision, another one is replaced. It's strange to think that other people may be looking out of their carriage windows and seeing ours the same way I can see theirs.

Bastian isn't anywhere near as interested in the journey as I am, seeming as relaxed as when we first set off. It does make me wonder whether he knows more about what's going to happen when we get to the castle and it's putting him at ease.

I wish it gave me the same kind of confidence. I hate not knowing.

Pip lets out a small whine, as if she can sense the direction of my thoughts. I reach down and pat her, which seems to help. I don't know what has her so on edge, but I don't like it. Maybe it's the magic of the moon.

The carriage starts to bounce up and down as we approach the drive of the castle and the smooth road makes way for pebbles. I reach out to steady myself against the side of it, already wishing for this part of the journey to be over.

It isn't until the carriage pulls to a stop that I realise we're actually here, at the castle Mrs Potsworth told me to avoid, and the one that always makes me feel as if there's something ominous about it. I can't explain where any of the feelings come from, but now we're here, they're out in force.

The footman opens the door and Bastian descends first.

"Come on, Pip," I say, picking up the rope and heading towards the door.

I'm careful not to catch my dress again on the way out of the carriage and then lift Pip down. She pushes against my legs, probably uncomfortable with being in a strange place. I don't blame her. I'm nervous myself.

The castle is even more imposing up close than it is from the town. A warm glow comes out of the front doors and I feel like it should be inviting, but something about it isn't, even if I can't put my finger on what that is.

I step backwards, everything within me screaming that we should turn around and never come back.

Bastian has other ideas and propels me forward with a firm hand on my back. "Remember to smile, Beatrice."

"For who?"

"Everyone," he responds.

My eyes widen. Something about this isn't right, and I dread to think what it could be.