EIGHT

ADALENE was dressed for a banquet or, as much as a peasant maid like her could possibly know, it felt like she was dressed for a banquet. The gown that she wore was the most beautiful, luxurious gown she had ever worn in her entire life that she almost fainted upon first sight of it!

The skirt, flaring from a high belt tightly tied on her ribcage, was dark blue. The underskirt was in brighter turquoise. Her headdress was like a cone sitting atop her head, and a pale blue veil cascaded from its peak down her back. It concealed her hair which had never appeared that shiny or soft or lovely, and enhanced the blue in her luminous, wide eyes. She spread her arms so she could see the embroidery of gold threads trimming the sleeves in the biggest mirror she had ever seen in her entire life. Under her skirt, she was wearing the softest undergarments. And on her feet were the most beautiful scarlet slippers.

If her mother could see her now... or her friends, but she could barely recognize hers