Read Online Promising Hope by Emily Ann Ward - Free Book Online Page A

faint tonight?”
    “Don’t be a baby,” Jade said with a roll of her eyes.
“I’ve been wearing corsets since I was twelve.”
    “That’s horrible.” Sierra grunted as Myra finished
tying off the corset. “Did you even know what breasts were when you
were twelve?”
    Myra and Oma giggled while Jade glared at Sierra.
“You’re so funny,” Jade said flatly.
    Oma gasped, making Sierra spin around in alarm.
    “What?” Sierra said.
    Evan stood in the doorway, about to walk in. Sierra
put her hand on her chest; she was so jumpy after the last few
weeks.
    “Get out!” Oma snapped. She walked toward Evan. “You
shouldn’t be here!”
    “I need to get dressed for the banquet,” Evan
said.
    With a huff, Oma crossed her arms over her ample
chest. “You’re not supposed to see her!”
    Evan hesitated, looking at Sierra. She glanced over
her shoulder at Oma. “Oma, he needs to change.”
    Myra scowled. “All right, come in.” She motioned with
her hand for him to step inside.
    Oma grumbled something under her breath as Evan shut
the door behind him.
    “Don’t be so dramatic, Oma,” Jade said. “Evan, we
brought matching tunics so you can match Sierra!”
    “Which are you wearing?” Evan asked Sierra.
    “The green,” Sierra said as Myra began to brush her
hair again.
    “I told her she should wear the red,” Jade said,
throwing her arms up.
    “Red is Sashe’s color,” Evan said quietly.
    In the reflection of the mirror, Sierra could see
Jade take the matching tunic out of the trunk near the bed and hold
it out for Evan. Then Jade said, “Sashe’s your sister, isn’t
she?”
    “You’re very up-to-date on my life,” Sierra said,
smiling at Jade’s reflection in amusement.
    Jade rolled her eyes. “I’m going to know about the
Haltarian king’s mistress who grew up with Avialies.” She grabbed a
chair and set it next to Sierra, angled so she could also look at
herself in the mirror.
    “Jade, are you going to do anything useful?” Myra
asked.
    “What am I supposed to do?” Jade asked. “You two are
doing her hair and make-up. I’ll help once it’s time for the
dress.”
    Evan went into the washroom with his tunic.
    “Do you need some clean water?” Oma called after
him.
    “There’s a bucket in here I’ll use,” Evan said before
shutting the door.
    A few minutes later, Oma brought out the make-up. She
painted Sierra’s face, emphasizing her heavy-lidded eyes and full
lips. Myra worked Sierra’s hair into a fancy style with braids and
jewels. When Sierra stepped into her dress, Jade gasped, putting
her hands over her mouth. “You look beautiful!” she squealed.
    As the women were tying up the back, Evan stepped out
of the washroom. His dark, damp hair was combed back, and he wore
the matching tunic, the green with the silver designs. His gaze
fell on her, and they stared at each other for a moment.
    “You look beautiful,” he said.
    “Thank you. You look quite handsome, too.”
    “I have to go get ready!” Jade said. She kissed
Sierra on the cheek, surprising her, and she dashed out of the
room.
    Myra shook her head. “The only thing she helped with
was my headache.”
    Oma and Sierra laughed. The women finished Sierra’s
dress and bid farewell to get ready. Sierra let out a breath of
relief as they left. She examined herself in the mirror, and it
almost seemed like Sashe was gazing back at her. She caught Evan’s
reflection as he sat on the edge of the bed, and she sat down next
to him.
    “Where did you go during the meeting?” Evan
asked.
    “Matilda showed me a cave underneath the hill,”
Sierra responded, watching him lace up his boots.
    Evan looked at her in surprise. “She did?”
    “I needed some fresh air.” Sierra paused. “Do you
have to go, Evan?”
    He didn’t respond for a moment. “I want to help kill
him. For all he did to us.”
    “You shouldn’t have said I was making it about me.”
Sierra played with the folds of her skirt.
    He sighed, standing