Who: Alyssa and Chloe What: chatting while Chloe helps Alyssa dress Where: Alyssa’s room When: After her log with Kol Warnings: should be low Status: closed/g-doc
Alyssa awoke and stared outside her bed for a moment. She should, in theory, feel tired after a short night in bed. But visiting the land of Faerie always invigorated the secret Fey and after a moment she sat up and stretched. She’d continue trying to win the heart of Adamus, although not without Kol poking around and doing what her brother did best: watching out for his little sister.
It meant some sort of breakfast and help from Chloe to get her dressed. After she got gossip from her trusted Lady-in-Waiting. Sure, she had other servants, but Alyssa only entrusted Chloe with her secret of being hidden Fey. Chloe knew Alyssa went out last night because she assisted in dressing Alyssa.
She donned a robe and sat in a chair, waiting for Chloe.
Chloe had made sure that no one tried disturbing her beloved Lady all night. She knew where she had gone and as always had guarded her door with her life. No one dared to cross the tiny lady because it was well known that she would lay down her life for her Queen. She was tiny but she was fierce and there was something in her eyes that usually made the most stonehearted people back off.
Once she made sure that Alyssa’s breakfast was prepared, she knocked lightly on the door and then let herself in. One of their maids came in with the tray and set up the table before being dismissed by Chloe.
Once the two were alone, Chloe curtsied. “Did you have a good night, my lady?”
Alyssa waved her hand. “Chloe, you do not have to curtsy to me when it is just us.” Really, Alyssa didn’t care if she didn’t curtsy when others were around, but then people would talk.
She knew how lucky she was to have a Lady-in-Waiting as loyal as Chloe. Nobody tried to cross her. Possibly not even Kol, although as the other person who knew his sister’s secret, he didn’t really have to worry.
Once seated at her table, Alyssa answered Chloe. “Very much so. I danced most of the night.” With a certain someone, but Alyssa didn’t mention that part, although she never did do a good job hiding things from Chloe. The blonde took a bite of breakfast. Nothing ever quite tasted as good here, but at least it was warm.
“I brought you back a gift.” Alyssa held out a hairpin, in silver, with a lovely jeweled flower. “It will look beautiful in your hair.”
Chloe gave her a grin. “It’s probably the last one you’ll get today unless we’re surrounded by horrible gossips that I can’t take care of by myself,” she assured her.
Alyssa was one of the only people who knew about the things that Chloe could do and had never turned against her or turned her in because of them. Chloe would always be grateful and her loyalty could not be bought off.
“I’m glad you had so much fun,” she said sincerely as she fixed Alyssa a plate and placed it before her. When she saw the hairpin, her face lit up. “Oh, Lady, that’s beautiful! Thank you!”
“Good. Speaking of gossip, do you have anything interesting to share with me?” Alyssa liked a little bit of gossip that didn’t affect those in her house. Or Lydia now.
She didn’t judge those close to her for mistakes. After all, her brother certainly made a few. Alyssa took a bite of food and chewed slowly, as hungry as she felt, she couldn’t rush how fast she ate.
“I think you deserve something beautiful.” She enjoyed gifting Chloe pretty things now and again.
Alyssa noticed her shoes and sighed. “Find someone to clean my shoes please, to avoid the annoyance of my mother. Next time I will go barefoot.”
Chloe shook her head. “Nothing that is any fun or of interest to us,” she said matter-of-factly. “Some of the maids have been talking of the handsomeness of new visitors to the town but of the ones I have managed to see they do not hold candles to ones we know.”
Alyssa knew of Chloe’s interest in a blacksmith but also knew that she would choose her lady before following her heart. There were precious few they could trust nowadays and Chloe didn’t trust many other people with Alyssa’s well-being.
“It is appreciated.” She grinned and then nodded. “I promise you that she will never see them. But I have heard that the grass can feel nice on bare feet.”
“Perhaps a lack of gossip is for the best.” Alyssa didn’t feel any disappointment. “As long as none of them pry Lydia’s attention away from my brother, I do not care.” Not that Alyssa worried too much. “I will continue my correspondence with the prince, but Kol and I decided it might be best to look elsewhere.”
Selfishly, she didn’t want Chloe to leave her side, but she did want the young woman to find love herself. Chloe deserved it after all her loyalty. Finding a replacement, though? No thank you.
“I appreciate it, Chloe.” After a few more bites of food, Alyssa added, “Could you please see that the dressmaker visits sometime this week? I find I need a new day dress.” By which she meant one she could wear in her trips to the Land of Faerie.
“I do not think a battalion of armed soldiers could pry Lydia’s attention from your brother,” Chloe assured her as she finished preparing the dress for the morning. “The two of them are utterly besotted with each other and none should dare to try to come between them.”
And if any tried, well, as much as she could not risk revealing her secrets, she would use one or two of them to keep Alyssa’s family together and happy.
“Is the prince not making things to your satisfaction,” Chloe asked as she found the shoes that matched the dress she had selected. “I already sent a messenger asking her to visit as soon as she can.”
Chloe was good at what she did, after all.
Alyssa laughed. “Woe to the armed soldiers who attempted such a move.” She, too, could tell how taken Lydia and Kol were with each other.
She wouldn’t ask Chloe to reveal her secrets. The lady could handle things herself with her Fey background.
“I do not love him. I want a marriage like what my brother will have.” And one where she wouldn’t play second fiddle to a commoner.
“Thank you, Chloe. What would I do without you?”
“Love is important in a relationship and I am glad that you will not settle for less than loving someone and being loved in return when you wed.” Chloe wanted Alyssa to be happy and she could tell that the prince just had not been the man that her lady wanted to be with.
“I should hope that we never have to find out!” Chloe said with a smile as she held up the dress for Alyssa to step into. “Just like I don’t know what I would do without you,”
“Something else on which you and my brother agree.” Alyssa smiled. Besides, truthfully, she couldn’t marry someone who annoyed her brother.
“Then let us hope we never find out.” Alyssa squeezed Chloe’s hand before she began to eat more food.
Chloe smiled and squeezed Alyssa’s hand back. “Yes, let us hope we never find out such a thing.”
She was content to ready Alyssa’s dress and shoes while the other kept eating. It was going to be a good day.