The Luna Choosing Game

With the Second Ball only a few short days away, the dressmaking was underway and took up most of my time. My room had become something of a command center, with Charlotte, Elva, the nanny, Mark, and I as regulars. Susie visited quite often, sometimes with a maid or two in tow.

Her gown, leopard–themed, she shared, was already completed.

“The design wasn’t overly complicated,” Susie said. “The leopard–print fabric is what makes it.”

“I’m sure it’s beautiful,” I told her.

“So am I,” Mark added. When Susle looked at him, he quickly glanced away.

She continued to watch him as she said, “Thank you, but I truly have little interest in this event.”

Mark, surprised, finally glanced back at her. “But if you don’t do well, you might not make it through the

elimination.”

If she did stay, it would have to be at the selection of one of the princes. If Nicholas knew Susie and

Mark liked each other, he might select her, just to help them be together. Although he tended to be a

stickler for the rules, of which Susie and Mark were definitely breaking, by crushing on each other.

I supposed there was no easy answer for them. Whatever time they had together was likely to be brief.

know,” Susie said, a

frowned but didn’t say anything

on,” I said, a few minutes later, as I put the finishing touches of a wolf mask

come over here.”

me, and I

a second,”

and kept the mask in place. I tied the ribbons securely

so the ribbon should be enough. I wanted to test it

rather than chance it at

for a while, okay?”

Through the holes in her mask, her eyes were wide

all crooked teeth and gums,

She gave a little howl and

to chase her.

rose off my chair, about to join in, when I noticed Terry enter the room unannounced. He

without

me stiffen, he followed the length of my

“Forgive us. You should have

Susie skidded to a stop. She was in the back of

closer.

to run, until she came to me and noticed my tension. Once she spotted

behind