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‘And then the lace that the sleeves are made up of, could come back as a waist-enhancer. Maybe even add a bow at the back, if the event asks for it.’
Maddie supported her words by drawing on the piece of paper in front of her. Her purple pencil moved quickly over the paper, adding more and more lines until the dress she had in mind was given a solid form.
Ingrid studied the drawing with interest. The lace sleeves that Maddie had mentioned were tight, and would cover the wearer’s arms all the way from the shoulder to the wrist. The rectangle neckline was simple and elegant, fitting with a bodice that would put just enough emphasis on feminine curves, but without the great discomfort that a corset would bring. Below the potential lace ribbon that Maddie had just added around the waist, shiny fabric flowed out into a wide, playful skirt, falling all the way to the ground. Ingrid now pointed a finger at it.
‘There’s more than enough room here to hide a knife or two, if you want.’
The princess nodded enthusiastically. Before she could grab another pencil to indicate where exactly the pockets would have to go, however, there was a knock on the door. The sound was followed by creaking, as said door was opened, and Cassandra peaked into the room.
‘Maddie? Oh- hi, Ingrid.’
Ingrid moved, wanting to get off the bed so she could make a proper curtsy as befitted greeting the Crown-Princess-Regent of the Kingdom, but Maddie firmly gripped her wrist, keeping her from doing so.
Mom!’ she exclaimed, calling for Cassandra’s attention. ‘Perfect timing. Would it be okay if Ingrid stayed the night? She’s off-duty, so she doesn’t have access to the servants’ floor. And I kinda don’t want her to travel alone to the village so late. She could just stay in my room.’
Pursing her lips, Cassandra gave the idea some thought. She knew Maddie had been making short nights, as she patrolled the woods around the Castle in Gilan’s temporary absence. In all honesty, she had only come to Maddie’s room to make sure her daughter would go to bed early, getting enough sleep.
But Maddie didn’t seem tired. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes big and sparkling. Cassandra took a closer look at the two young women, huddled together on the bed. Maddie’s hand was still tightly gripped around Ingrid’s wrist, but the other didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it seemed that Ingrid had taken the opportunity of collecting all the drawings that lay sprawled out over the bed to move closer to her daughter. A daughter who, Cassandra realised, looked happier now than she had any of the days since her return to Castle Araluen a week ago. All, only at the prospect of her former servant spending the night.
Really, there was only one thing Cassandra could do.
She smiled at her daughter.
‘Sure honey.’
Maddie’s smile widened. She looked só excited that Cassandra couldn’t help herself. She smirked, winked, and added a final comment.
‘Sleep well.’ And with that, she left.
When she was sure that her mom had closed the door and was out of earshot, Maddie let herself fall back into the pile of pillows, suddenly way too conscious of her surroundings.
‘She knows,’ she concluded.
Ingrid had finished piling up their sketches. After putting them on Maddie’s nightstand, she looked down at her, planting as much confusion on her face as possible.
‘What does she know?’
Maddie’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth to say something, but the shock that Ingrid’s response had initiated made it feel as though an invisible hand was choking her. She didn’t even know what she wanted to say. Had she really so grossly misinterpreted all the time that they’d spent together?
Sensing her fear, Ingrid dropped the confusion and smiled at her.
‘I’m kidding.’
When the words didn’t erase Maddie’s worries, Ingrid decided that more drastic measures were necessary to put her mind at ease. Rearranging her skirts so that she wouldn’t get tangled up in them, she placed one of her knees on either side of Maddie’s hips. Then, she leaned forward, grabbed Maddie’s face with both of her hands, and kissed her.
The kiss was soft, and slow, and sacred. It was refreshing, and reassuring, and - most importantly - it was real.
Maddie remembered the first time they’d kissed, a few months ago, during one of their unaccompanied trips between Redmont and Araluen. A recent wound in Maddie’s side had been torn open by the constant riding and Ingrid had volunteered to renew the bandage for her. One thing had led to another, and before she had known it, their lips had met. Maddie hadn’t realised how much she had longed to taste her, until she finally did.
Now, she couldn’t get enough.
Maddie had closed her eyes the second that Ingrid had pressed her mouth on hers, allowing herself to take it all in. Her fingers blindly played with the two braids falling over Ingrid’s shoulders, pulling her down to ask for more.
But Ingrid wouldn’t cooperate. Instead, she pulled back, increasing the space between their faces until they could see each other again.
Reluctantly, Maddie opened her eyes again. She beamed at her girlfriend, and her girlfriend beamed at her. Ingrid fell into the pillows next to Maddie, her head leaning on Maddie’s shoulder.
‘You think she knows that?’ she asked innocently, and slightly out of breath.
Maddie snorted, but didn’t reply. She moved her head closer to Ingrid’s and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Unfortunately for her, the other woman was unwilling to let her ignore the topic that easily.
‘Maybe you should tell them, Lynnie,’ Ingrid said.
But Maddie shook her head.
‘I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
It was silent, for a few moments, until Maddie had found the courage to confess what had been weighing on her, ever since the realisation had dawned on her. Then she said: ‘I’ve already disappointed them so much by not wanting to get reinstated as a Royal Princess. I can’t tell them that their only daughter, their only child, prefers girls over boys.’
More silence. Ingrid didn’t really know how to respond to that. She’d told her own parents several weeks ago already. They hadn’t minded. But then again, they didn’t have the future of an entire Kingdom to worry about. And in truth, Ingrid didn’t know the Princess-Regent and her Consort well enough to quash any doubts, no matter how much she wanted to.
There was only one thing she could do: distract her.
‘I could get started on the dress after the midsummer ball, if you want,’ she said.
‘Actually, I was hoping you could get it done before,’ Maddie admitted, appreciating the change of subject. Ingrid furrowed her brows in confusion - genuine confusion, this time. She pushed herself up on one arm and looked at Maddie.
‘Why? Don’t you already have a dress? The dark green one, with the leaves all over, no?’
Maddie had commissioned that dress months ago. It paid tribute to the Ranger training she would soon complete, but hinted at that secret just subtly enough that most of the attendees would be none the wiser. Now, the Ranger’s apprentice grinned sheepishly.
‘I do. The purple dress… I was thinking you could wear it. You know, since it’s going to be your coming-out as a full-fledged Lady-in-Waiting, and all that. I know you don’t have a dress yet, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable at your first ball.’
The confusion on Ingrid’s face transformed into a huge smile.
‘I would love to wear it. On one condition.’
‘What?’
‘You really have to tell your parents about us soon, Lynnie.’
Maddie sighed.
‘But what if they don’t accept it?’
‘They will.’
‘But what if they won’t?’
Ingrid pressed a kiss on her lips, before snuggling against her again.
‘Then I’ll still be at your service.’
‘Forever?’
Ingrid pressed another kiss on Maddie’s face, this time against her cheek.
‘Always.’