Read Online Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) by M. K. Eidem - Free Book Online

each other before they broke out laughing. “Oh, Jacinda, my nephew is such a man .”
    “Yes,” Jacinda began to snicker with them, “he is.”
    “Well you know what this means, don’t you?” Javiera said rising and received questioning looks from Palma and Jacinda. “We need to go see Kia.”
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
     
    “He gave you three days notice!” Kia shrieked looking at the three women before her. “For King Jotham’s Annual Assemblymen’s Ball! Jacinda! Did you drop that boy on his head when he was a baby?” With her hands flying, Kia spun around and started screaming for her assistants.
    Jacinda found herself wiping away the tears that were streaming down her cheeks at Kia’s tirade. She’d forgotten how much she liked this woman. “No, Kia, I don’t think I did,” she told her following her deeper into her shop.
    “Well, maybe you should have!” Kia spat over her shoulder. “Men! What do they think that ‘poof’ and amazing gowns just suddenly appear?!!”
    “In his defense, Kia, Danton is a new Assemblyman and single. He has no idea how much time wives put into selecting their dress.”
    “Where did he think you were going to find a gown?”
    “In my ‘closet full’ of gowns.” Her words had Kia spinning around so quickly that Jacinda found herself taking a quick step back.
    “Seriously?!!” Kia spat out. “He thought you’d just go into your closet and pull out something? You! You are Jacinda Michelakakis, the late Assemblyman Stephan Michelakakis’ wife! You set the standard for elegance in the House of Protection! Every woman there tried to imitate you and never could! And he expects you to make your return wearing something ten cycles old? Oh, I could just wring that boy’s neck!”
    “I…” Jacinda looked at Kia in shock. “I… well thank you, Kia, but I’m not sure that’s true.”
    “Don’t argue with me, Jacinda Michelakakis. I’m a designer and I know what I saw and I know how many of those obnoxious women used to come to me demanding to know what you were going to be wearing so they could try to outdo you.”
    “They did?”
    “Of course they did, especially that obnoxious Madame Pajari. She went as far once as to try and bribe one of my assistants to steal a design.”
    “Seriously? Adelaide Pajari did that?” Jacinda while surprised, could see Adelaide Pajari doing just that. Adelaide’s husband, Elliott, had never been a very strong Assemblyman. He always wavered in his decisions, playing both sides. He would wait to see what the ‘popular’ vote was before he would cast his. He should have lost his position cycles ago, but still he kept being re-elected.
    “Yes, so after that I banned her from my shop.” Kia reached into a cabinet and pulled out a nondescript garment bag. “Now this just might work.”
    Gasping as one, all three women stared in astonishment at the gown revealed as Kia removed the protective covering. It was a long, trumpet mermaid-style gown in black. With a scooped neckline that was sheer, except for the violet beading around the edges that formed a thick ‘necklace’ before it moved down the bodice to create an intricate medallion snuggled between the bra cups.
    “I designed this gown cycles ago, playing with what Cassandra had told me about Earth fashions. I’ve always loved it, but once we arrived here, there never seemed to be the appropriate occasion to present it to Cassandra.”
    “Why wouldn’t there be?” Palma asked.
    “Because it speaks too strongly of the House of Protection, so she could never wear it for a formal event, not now that she is the Queen,” Kia told her.
    “Kia, it’s beautiful,” Jacinda whispered, her eyes traveling over the gown taking in its detailed simplicity.
    “Thank you and I think with just a few alterations it will fit you perfectly.”
    “Me?” Jacinda’s eyes shot to Kia. “Kia, I love it. It’s amazingly beautiful, but I couldn’t possibly wear it. I’m too old for