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.

Susie said, a bit

but didn’t say

as I put the finishing

come over here.”

skipped over to me, and I

a second,” I

in place. I tied the ribbons securely behind her head,

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

rather than chance it

for a while,

her mask, her

teeth and gums,

a wolf!” She gave a little howl and then scurried around the room.

laughing, started to chase

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

without anything.

me stiffen, he followed the length of

“Forgive us. You should have made your presence

to a stop. She was in the

closer.

to me and noticed my tension. Once

more behind my